The Empty Office (ePub)

the empty office

It is generally believed that unless you have the calling of God in your life you cannot pastor, oversee a congregation or let alone attend pastoral school. Having a call is generally described as having one of the fivefold offices in your life as means; an apostle, a prophet, evangelist, pastor or teacher. As much as it is traditionally thought so, it is Biblically not so. For Biblically there are ministers of God that are born ministers but there are also ministers of God that are created by circumstances.

The born and the selected minister ought not to be contrary one to another. Or presume one more privileged than the other, for the work is of the Lord. One can sure discern by the exploits of the first deacons being Stephen and Phillip ( two of the first seven; Acts 6) that their exploits were wondrous to this day. Phillip did travel spiritually (appear and disappear instantly) and Stephen did see even in to the direct realm of heaven from here on earth; and was expressed to have worked mighty signs and wonders. So, they are both in the offices of servitude, meaning they will both be rewarded for their service of leadership to the value of their works. Theirs is to endeavor in the services of the Lord to bring Him a concerted outcome. Whether we be born or selected, we are branches of the same tree, engrafted to bear fruits.

1 Peter 5:1-4 KJV The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof , not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.

Whether we be born or selected by men or self, we are charged with the mandate to lead the church as examples and not by constraint or by being lords over them. The crown of glory is thus what all strive for and should be our bigger picture as leaders in all areas of ministry. Some will thus attain it as a birth rite but some will thus attain it by merit, by being ensamples to the flock of God. Meaning there are men who are holding the office of God not because men desired them to but because they were so diligently serving Him that they left men no choice but to elect them bishops or deacons.