Pursuing Faith

Sunday was a special day in the life of University Baptist Church. We ordained a member into the ministry. The following were my comments about the call into the ministry and the real call that we have been given as believers.


Psalm 84


1. The Call Into the Ministry Requires a Great Desire for God.—vs. 1-2
a. You must See the Beauty of God—he and everything about Him is beautiful and wonderful, a treasure greater than anything. He is your greatest treasure but not one you want to hoard to yourself, but you are called to give away.
b. You Must Desire to Be Close to Him--
c. You must Worship God with all your heart
d. You must Desire Him above all else and allow nothing to compete for His place in your life.

2. The Call Into the Ministry Requires Relying on God’s Strength and Following Him Anywhere—vs. 5
a. Your Own Strength is Not enough—on your own, despite all your skills, and experience, you don’t have enough to get by for long even in your hometown, much less some of the places God can take you.
b. Your Heart Will Be Set on Pilgrimage—You have not arrived at your destination, you are not the be all end all of the ministry mind. You see your faith as a journey where the end is not in sight—you may be here, but at any time, God can move you and lead you on to another destination

3. The Call Into the Ministry Requires a Genuine Prayer Life—vs. 8
a. Prayer is linked to God being your strength. When you cry out to Him, He will supply the strength, the wisdom and the courage you need to fulfill your calling.

4. The Call Into the Ministry Requires that You Won’t Find Satisfaction in Life Doing Anything Else—vs. 10a. Satisfaction comes from knowing that you are serving where God wants to use you. As a minister for God, there is nothing else in the world you could be doing that would give you the same.
b. If He calls you to be a doorkeeper for His glory, then know that there is nothing greater you could do with your life.

5. The Call into the Ministry Requires Integrity—vs. 11-12
a. God is your light and your shield--
b. He gives grace and glory
c. Withholds nothing
d. But your integrity of your life is key. A consistent life of faith is vital for your service.
e. Phil, I believe all of these things are true of you. Your desire for God is genuine. You rely on God’s strength and will follow Him anywhere. You have a genuine prayer life. I believe you won’t be truly happy doing anything else but serving Him. As I believe this about you, and

6. I know this is what all of you have been called to as believers in Christ
a. Each of You have been called to Desire God above all else. You have been called to rely on His strength and be willing to follow Him anywhere. You have been called to have a genuine prayer life. You have been called to Serve Him in Whatever you are doing, like Colossians 3:17—“And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” You have been called to a life of integrity—to be Holy for He is Holy.

7. This psalm is written about serving in the Temple, and as a Kingdom of Priests, which is what each of you are as believers—1 Peter 2:9-“you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His possession, so that you may proclaim the praises of the One who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.”