Many people say they are apostles or prophets because God has called them to this ministry. Many say they are pastors and teachers, because God has called them to this ministry, but they have not yet been chosen.
According to Paul, the prophet’s ministry is considered the second most primary ministry in his writing to the Corinthian church.
1 CORINTHIANS 12:28 AND GOD HAS APPOINTED THESE IN THE CHURCH: FIRST APOSTLES, SECOND PROPHETS, THIRD TEACHERS.
I have been set in the office of a teacher. I am called to be an apostle but have not yet been chosen to operate in that gift and may never be because there is a difference between being called and being chosen.
It takes all my time to be a teacher laying the apostolic foundation, that I have not actually started a church yet just got the name and website for it.
Once the church starts functioning and I am able to bring people into maturity, then the Lord may choose me to be an apostle, where I plant churches or teach others how to be a Pastor, and the word I speak is confirmed with signs and wonders following.
Some have said that the apostle, prophet, teacher is not a rank of importance. However, the original text is exact and definite in placing a position of prominence.
1 CORINTHIANS 12:28 AND GOD HAS APPOINTED THESE IN THE CHURCH: FIRST APOSTLES, SECOND PROPHETS, THIRD TEACHERS.
However, being called does not mean that God has chosen us to these ministries.
We know by the fruitfulness of our ministry whether He chooses us. It takes time to mature both the gift and the character needed to be effective.
Furthermore, we need the wisdom to move effectively in the church.
CALLING VERSES CHOSEN
We see in this following scripture that God makes a difference between called and chosen.
MATTHEW 22:14 “FOR MANY ARE CALLED, BUT FEW ARE CHOSEN.”
CALLED INTO THE FAMILY OF GOD TO BE CHOSEN AT THE END OF THE AGE
This passage of scripture concerns the marriage feast at the end of the age.
Those who God refuses are those who try to enter through the law. Those who do enter are those who believe in Jesus Christ and have learned how to put on Christ.
The character of Christ is our wedding garment. We have to learn how to put on Christ or the new man or the wedding garment, referring to our clothing or what we are emanating in the spirit realm.
GALATIANS 3:26 FOR YOU ARE ALL SONS OF GOD THROUGH FAITH IN CHRIST JESUS. FOR AS MANY OF YOU AS WERE BAPTIZED INTO CHRIST HAVE PUT ON CHRIST.
We put on Christ when our old ways are nailed to the cross.
EPHESIANS 4:23-24 AND BE RENEWED IN THE SPIRIT OF YOUR MIND, AND THAT YOU PUT ON THE NEW MAN WHICH WAS CREATED ACCORDING TO GOD, IN TRUE RIGHTEOUSNESS AND HOLINESS.
CALLED INTO THE ARMY OF GOD
REVELATION 17:14 THESE WILL MAKE WAR WITH THE LAMB, AND THE LAMB WILL OVERCOME THEM, FOR HE IS LORD OF LORDS AND KING OF KINGS; AND THOSE WHO ARE WITH HIM ARE CALLED, CHOSEN, AND FAITHFUL.”
CALLED TO BE A DISCIPLE
We are called to be a disciple.
MATTHEW 4:21-22 GOING ON FROM THERE, HE SAW TWO OTHER BROTHERS, JAMES THE SON OF ZEBEDEE, AND JOHN HIS BROTHER, IN THE BOAT WITH ZEBEDEE THEIR FATHER, MENDING THEIR NETS. HE CALLED THEM, AND IMMEDIATELY THEY LEFT THE BOAT AND THEIR FATHER, AND FOLLOWED HIM.
CALLED TO DISCIPLE OTHERS
We are called to disciple others.
LUKE 9:1 THEN HE CALLED HIS TWELVE DISCIPLES TOGETHER AND GAVE THEM POWER AND AUTHORITY OVER ALL DEMONS, AND TO CURE DISEASES.
The disciple’s calling to become Apostles happened after returning from their commission.
LUKE 9:10 AND THE APOSTLES, WHEN THEY HAD RETURNED,
But just because they were called it does not mean they moved in the ministry gift of apostles RIGHT away.
This teaches us that fruitfulness is essential in the transition from call to chosen. One of the pieces of evidence of being an apostle is miraculous powers.
CHOSEN TO LEADERSHIP
ACTS 6:5 AND THE SAYING PLEASED THE WHOLE MULTITUDE. AND THEY CHOSE STEPHEN, A MAN FULL OF FAITH AND THE HOLY SPIRIT, AND PHILIP, PROCHORUS, NICANOR, TIMON, PARMENAS, AND NICOLAS, A PROSELYTE FROM ANTIOCH,
Depth of Character to Lead takes Time.
God may call us to leadership; this is not an automatic confirmation that He has chosen us.
1 TIMOTHY 5:22 DO NOT LAY HANDS ON ANYONE HASTILY, NOR SHARE IN OTHER PEOPLE’S SINS; KEEP YOURSELF PURE.
APPOINTMENT OF ELDERS
Paul appointed elders approximately two years after he planted the churches. So, we also need to be careful in rushing to put people into leadership.
ACTS 14:23 SO WHEN THEY HAD APPOINTED ELDERS IN EVERY CHURCH, AND PRAYED WITH FASTING, THEY COMMENDED THEM TO THE LORD IN WHOM THEY HAD BELIEVED.
CALLED TO THE MINISTRY GIFTS
God called Paul to be an apostle at his conversion.
ACTS 22:21 THEN HE SAID TO ME, ‘DEPART, FOR I WILL SEND YOU FAR FROM HERE TO THE GENTILES.’”
ROMANS 1:1 PAUL, A BONDSERVANT OF JESUS CHRIST, CALLED TO BE AN APOSTLE, SEPARATED TO THE GOSPEL OF GOD
Paul recognizes that he had the calling of apostleship on his life.
Here is his long road from called to chosen:
PAUL’S ROAD FROM CALLED TO CHOSEN
Let’s look at the New Testament example of Paul, from the time of being called to an apostle, to when he was chosen. His journey starts with His conversion in 33A.D, three and a half years after Jesus’ death and resurrection.
Paul’s Conversion 33AD: Paul (called Saul) is born again on his way to persecute the churches in Damascus:
ACTS 9:4-5 THEN HE FELL TO THE GROUND, AND HEARD A VOICE SAYING TO HIM, “SAUL, SAUL, WHY ARE YOU PERSECUTING ME?” AND HE SAID, “WHO ARE YOU, LORD?” THEN THE LORD SAID, “I AM JESUS, WHOM YOU ARE PERSECUTING.
Call to Apostleship 33AD: Paul travels to Damascus and receives his call to be an apostle.
ACTS 9:15 BUT THE LORD SAID TO HIM, “GO, FOR HE IS A CHOSEN VESSEL OF MINE TO BEAR MY NAME BEFORE GENTILES, KINGS, AND THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL.
WILDERNESS 34AD: Paul’s Sojourn in Arabia.
GALATIANS 1:17 NOR DID I GO UP TO JERUSALEM TO THOSE WHO WERE APOSTLES BEFORE ME; BUT I WENT TO ARABIA, AND RETURNED AGAIN TO DAMASCUS.
Return to Civilization
36AD: Returns to Damascus where he stays for many days,
ACTS 9:23-25 NOW AFTER MANY DAYS WERE PAST, THE JEWS PLOTTED TO KILL HIM. BUT THEIR PLOT BECAME KNOWN TO SAUL. AND THEY WATCHED THE GATES DAY AND NIGHT, TO KILL HIM. THEN THE DISCIPLES TOOK HIM BY NIGHT AND LET HIM DOWN THROUGH THE WALL IN A LARGE BASKET.
However, he has to leave because of the persecution. We know this happened before 39AD when King Aretus IV died.
2 CORINTHIANS 11:32-33 IN DAMASCUS THE GOVERNOR, UNDER ARETAS THE KING, WAS GUARDING THE CITY OF THE DAMASCENES WITH A GARRISON, DESIRING TO ARREST ME; BUT I WAS LET DOWN IN A BASKET THROUGH A WINDOW IN THE WALL, AND ESCAPED FROM HIS HANDS.
Revelation Shared
36AD: Paul then goes to Jerusalem for TWO WEEKS.
GALATIANS 1:18 THEN AFTER THREE YEARS I WENT UP TO JERUSALEM TO SEE PETER, AND REMAINED WITH HIM FIFTEEN DAYS.
ACTS 9:28-29 SO HE WAS WITH THEM AT JERUSALEM, COMING IN AND GOING OUT. AND HE SPOKE BOLDLY IN THE NAME OF THE LORD JESUS AND DISPUTED AGAINST THE HELLENISTS, BUT THEY ATTEMPTED TO KILL HIM.
INTO THE WILDERNESS AGAIN
In God’s view, Paul is still not ready for the ministry of the prophet or apostle. Therefore, in 37AD, God sends him to be a tentmaker in Tarsus for approximately 7-8 years.
ACTS 9:30 WHEN THE BRETHREN FOUND OUT, THEY BROUGHT HIM DOWN TO CAESAREA AND SENT HIM OUT TO TARSUS.
Some people think Paul was preaching to Syria and Cilicia during this time. Although, as part of his second wilderness experience, he may have done so, there is no evidence for that until Acts 16, in around 49AD.
MINISTRY OF TEACHING
It is in approximately 43AD that Barnabas seeks out Paul in Tarsus.
ACTS 11:25 THEN BARNABAS DEPARTED FOR TARSUS TO SEEK SAUL.
They return to Antioch whereby Paul spent a year as a teacher.
ACTS 11:26 AND WHEN HE HAD FOUND HIM, HE BROUGHT HIM TO ANTIOCH. SO IT WAS THAT FOR A WHOLE YEAR THEY ASSEMBLED WITH THE CHURCH AND TAUGHT A GREAT MANY PEOPLE.
PAUL’S MERCY MINISTRY
In 44AD, Agabus prophesied the famine that extended from Jerusalem to Judea and extended to Greece and Italy.
ACTS 11:28 THEN ONE OF THEM, NAMED AGABUS, STOOD UP AND SHOWED BY THE SPIRIT THAT THERE WAS GOING TO BE A GREAT FAMINE THROUGHOUT ALL THE WORLD, WHICH ALSO HAPPENED IN THE DAYS OF CLAUDIUS CAESAR.
It was so severe that the church in Antioch sent Paul and Barnabas with funds to help the church in Jerusalem.
ACTS 11:29-30 THEN THE DISCIPLES, EACH ACCORDING TO HIS ABILITY, DETERMINED TO SEND RELIEF TO THE BRETHREN DWELLING IN JUDEA. THIS THEY ALSO DID AND SENT IT TO THE ELDERS BY THE HANDS OF BARNABAS AND SAUL.
Acts 12 refers to the death of Herod Agrippa, which occurred in 44AD.
MINISTRY OF A PROPHET
The first time Paul (still called Saul) is referred to as a prophet is in 47AD:
ACTS 13:1 NOW IN THE CHURCH THAT WAS AT ANTIOCH THERE WERE CERTAIN PROPHETS AND TEACHERS: BARNABAS, SIMEON WHO WAS CALLED NIGER, LUCIUS OF CYRENE, MANAEN WHO HAD BEEN BROUGHT UP WITH HEROD THE TETRARCH, AND SAUL.
CHOSEN TO THE MINISTRY GIFTS
Paul became an apostle between 13 and 17 years later:
ACTS 13:2 AS THEY MINISTERED TO THE LORD AND FASTED, THE HOLY SPIRIT SAID, “NOW SEPARATE TO ME BARNABAS AND SAUL FOR THE WORK TO WHICH I HAVE CALLED THEM.”
Therefore, it took 14 – 15 years (from 33AD to 47AD) from when Paul was called to when he was chosen and sent.
Jesus- 30 years from Calling to Choosing
Jesus’ Call
Jesus’ call was at His dedication.
LUKE 2:28-29 HE TOOK HIM UP IN HIS ARMS AND BLESSED GOD AND SAID: “LORD, NOW YOU ARE LETTING YOUR SERVANT DEPART IN PEACE, ACCORDING TO YOUR WORD;…
Jesus’ Preparation
HEBREWS 5:8-9 THOUGH HE WAS A SON, YET HE LEARNED OBEDIENCE BY THE THINGS WHICH HE SUFFERED. AND HAVING BEEN PERFECTED, HE BECAME THE AUTHOR OF ETERNAL SALVATION TO ALL WHO OBEY HIM
Jesus’ Choosing
MATTHEW 3:17 AND SUDDENLY A VOICE CAME FROM HEAVEN, SAYING, “THIS IS MY BELOVED SON, IN WHOM I AM WELL PLEASED
King David – Calling and Choosing
Calling at between 13 and 17 years old.
1 SAMUEL 16:13 THEN SAMUEL TOOK THE HORN OF OIL AND ANOINTED HIM IN THE MIDST OF HIS BROTHERS; AND THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD CAME UPON DAVID FROM THAT DAY FORWARD. SO, SAMUEL AROSE AND WENT TO RAMAH.
David Received Partial kingship when he was thirty years old.
2 SAMUEL 2:4 THEN THE MEN OF JUDAH CAME, AND THERE THEY ANOINTED DAVID KING OVER THE HOUSE OF JUDAH. AND THEY TOLD DAVID, SAYING, “THE MEN OF JABESH GILEAD WERE THE ONES WHO BURIED SAUL.”
Full kingship when he was 37 years old.
2 SAMUEL 5:3 THEREFORE ALL THE ELDERS OF ISRAEL CAME TO THE KING AT HEBRON, AND KING DAVID MADE A COVENANT WITH THEM AT HEBRON BEFORE THE LORD. AND THEY ANOINTED DAVID KING OVER ISRAEL.
Apostle Peter – Called and Chosen within three and a half years
JOHN 21:15 SO WHEN THEY HAD EATEN BREAKFAST, JESUS SAID TO SIMON PETER, “SIMON, SON OF JONAH, DO YOU LOVE ME MORE THAN THESE?” HE SAID TO HIM, “YES, LORD; YOU KNOW THAT I LOVE YOU.” HE SAID TO HIM, “FEED MY LAMBS.”
ACTS 2:14 BUT PETER, STANDING UP WITH THE ELEVEN, RAISED HIS VOICE AND SAID TO THEM, “MEN OF JUDEA AND ALL WHO DWELL IN JERUSALEM, LET THIS BE KNOWN TO YOU, AND HEED MY WORDS.
Summary
The moment our Heavenly Father calls us into the family of God, here on earth and we accept; the process of choosing becomes complete. Calling and choosing happens instantaneously WHEN WE ARE BORN FROM ABOVE.
We may be called by God to the ministry, but that does not mean that God has chosen us to the ministry straight away.