This is a very important question and one that every believer on the Lord Jesus Christ should be aware of.  First, let’s see what a minister is according to the scriptures.  The first time we see the word ‘minister’ in the Bible is in Exodus 24:13, “And Moses rose up, and his MINISTER Joshua: and Moses went up into the mount of God.”  The Hebrew word here is “sharath” and it literally means a servant.  This word is used throughout the Old Testament and is often translated as ‘served’ (Genesis 39:4), ‘servant’ (Exodus 33:11), and ‘to do service’ (Exodus 35:19).

In the New Testament, the Greek word, ‘diakonos’ is translated as minister, servant, and deacon…each one denoting someone who was in service, like an attendant or a waiter.  So, we see that a minister is speaking of someone who serves.  We read in Romans 1:1, “Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God.”  Paul called himself a servant of Jesus Christ who was called to be an apostle. 

Let’s look at Ephesians 4:7-8 which says, “But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.”  The Lord has equipped His church with gifts or abilities in order to fulfill their roles in the church.  It is so important that we realize that no one in the body of Christ is useless.  There is something for every believer to do.  EVERY BELIEVER has been called into the ministry because every member has been called to serve the Lord Jesus.

We have some of those gifts mentioned in Ephesians 4:11 which tells us, “And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers.”  The apostles and New Testament prophets laid the foundation of the church as we read in Ephesians 2:19-20, “Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone.”  Since the foundation has been laid, the gifts of apostles and prophets are no longer in effect today.  We do not lay another foundation, rather we build upon the foundation that has already been laid.  Some of the gifts that are given to the church to build with are evangelists, pastors, and teachers. 

We read of more gifts given to the church by the Lord in Romans 12:5-8, “So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.”  We see the Lord has ably furnished His church with all the gifts necessary to minister to each other and to share the Gospel with the lost. 

Are you called into ministry?  If you are a believer on the Lord Jesus Christ, you have indeed been called into ministry.  As you grow in the knowledge of the Lord, He will use your gift to serve Himself and others.  The Apostle Paul exhorted Timothy in 1 Timothy 4:14, “Neglect not the gift that is in thee…”  As you study your Bible, ask the Lord to help you follow Him into service.  You may have a more prominent gift, or you may have a more subtle gift, but the important thing to remember is that as we follow the Lord and let Him use us, He will put us into service that pleases Him and fulfills His purposes in the body of Christ.  The Lord will lead each one with all the varying gifts so that we might please and serve Him. 

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