INTRODUCTION

I have noted three stages of ministry revealed in the New Testament through the lives of the apostles of Christ.

I believe understanding these stages can help a lot of people have direction and understanding of where they are. I know and understand that the Holy Spirit can take us through different routes, but it helps to know these stages anyway.

The three stages of ministry are: Calling, Ordination and finally Commissioning and Empowerment.

There may be more stages than these, but these three are the ones I am going to expound on.

CALLING

Matthew 4:19 (WEB)
He said to them, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers for men.”

The first stage of ministry that I will look at is the CALLING stage. This is where you have a personal encounter with the Lord Jesus and he is reveals that he wants to use you in his work.

Luke 5:27-28 (NIV)
27 After this, Jesus went out and saw a tax collector by the name of Levi sitting at his tax booth. “Follow me,” Jesus said to him, 28 and Levi got up, left everything and followed him.

Different people are called in different ways. It may be through a dream or a vision, or direct encounter, and it may come by word of prophecy. You may dream of yourself preaching before millions, praying for the sick or leading churches. All such dreams can come during your calling.

It can feel so real, and like it’s going to happen tomorrow. However, it may take many years before you get to that stage.

For the 12 apostles, they had a face to face encounter with Jesus. The Apostle Paul heard a voice from heaven, and it was confirmed to him by a prophet called Anannias.

Acts 22:12-16 (NIV)
12 “A man named Ananias came to see me. He was a devout observer of the law and highly respected by all the Jews living there. 13 He stood beside me and said, ‘Brother Saul, receive your sight!’ And at that very moment I was able to see him.

14 “Then he said: ‘The God of our ancestors has chosen you to know his will and to see the Righteous One and to hear words from his mouth. 15 You will be his witness to all people of what you have seen and heard. 16 And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name.’

You will note that, God revealed the general idea of why he was calling each person. For Peter, it was to be a fisher of men. For Paul, he was being called to know the will of God, and bear witness of Christ to the people.

A calling is not a commissioning. At this stage God is putting you into a time of training. At this stage, Christ will begin to equip you for the work. He will work on your character, he will give you the word, he will transform you and mould you to be the person that you should be.

Soon After Paul was called, he began to preach and witness, but he was rejected and got frustrated.

Acts 9:26-30 (ESV)
26 And when he had come to Jerusalem, he attempted to join the disciples. And they were all afraid of him, for they did not believe that he was a disciple. 27 But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles and declared to them how on the road he had seen the Lord, who spoke to him, and how at Damascus he had preached boldly in the name of Jesus.

28 So he went in and out among them at Jerusalem, preaching boldly in the name of the Lord. 29 And he spoke and disputed against the Hellenists. But they were seeking to kill him. 30 And when the brothers learned this, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus.

Paul spent 11 Years in this stage of his calling. The twelve, who lived, walked and ate with Jesus directly, spent about 2 years at this stage.

ORDAINMENT

Ordainment is the stage when Christ positions you to begin to work in the church. You are given a ministry office and ministry gift to operate in the church.

Matthew 22:14 (ESV)
14 For many are called, but few are chosen.”

After many disciples had been called, Jesus then chose some whom he ordained into offices. 12 were chosen to be apostles, and 72 were chosen as evangelists.

Luke 6:13 (WEB)
When it was day, he called his disciples, and from them he chose twelve, whom he also named apostles:

The moment they were ordained by Jesus into their offices, this came with authority and power.

Luke 9:1-2 (WEB)
1 He called the twelve together, and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases.

2 He sent them out to preach God’s Kingdom and to heal the sick.

However, take note that the twelve were now serving in offices, but still under submission to the Ministry of Christ.

Luke 10:1 (WEB)
Now after these things, the Lord also appointed seventy others, and sent them two by two ahead of him into every city and place where he was about to come.

They were not yet ready to have their own ministries. They carried the titles, but we’re still meant to serve in submission. Jesus himself would go and finish the Job.

As for Paul and Barnabas, they were ordained as Prophets and Teachers in the church of Antioch.

Acts 13:1 (ESV)
1 Now there were in the church at Antioch prophets and teachers, Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen a lifelong friend of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.

Notice that, Paul at this stage was still serving under submission in the church as one of the prophets and teachers. He did not have his own ministry. Paul spent 2 years at this stage of ministry. The 12 apostles who walked directly with Jesus spent about 1 and half years at this stage.

Once someone is ordained, they learn to handle responsibility. At this stage you experience the politics, the challenges, the weight of running a ministry, yet, you will be doing it under the supervision of elders.

At this stage we saw the apostles leant how to use their power, when they tried to bring fire from heaven. They leant how to not abuse authority when they stopped a person who was preaching but not among them. They leant how to handle difficult demons, when they failed to cast out a spirit from the paralytic.

But in all those instances, Jesus was there to assist and help them, as they grew in their gifts and callings.

There are people who once they get to this stage, they now want to leave and start ministries. Usually they then face struggles that they can’t overcome. Some end up entering into deceptions of the devil. Some may become financially successful, but never actually realise their true purpose. Having gifts and a title, does not mean you should start a ministry.

COMMISSIONING

Commissioning is like a second ordination.

There are some people, who like Judas, went through Calling and Ordination, but failed to reach the commissioning stage.

Commissioning comes with two things. Purpose and Empowerment and Positioning.

The twelve apostles were sent specifically to be witnesses of the death and resurrection of Christ. However, Christ never told them that this was their purpose until the very end.

Acts 1:21-22 (ESV)
21 So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, 22 beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us—one of these men must become with us a witness to his resurrection.”

Acts 1:7-8 (ESV)
8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

The apostles had already received power and authority to preach the gospel and cast out demons, when Jesus ordained them as apostles. However, the very thing that would be the centre of their commission, (witnessing the resurrection) came at the very end.

For Paul and Barnabas, this is when they are finally told what their specific purpose is. Paul received the empowerment through the laying on of hands.

Acts 13:2-3 (ESV)
2 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” 3 Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off.

Of the six prophets and teachers, only two were commissioned. The rest remained in Antioch, serving under the Bishop of Antioch.

At this point, Paul and Barnabas finally understand their unique word, and purpose as apostles to the gentiles.

Acts 13:47 (ESV)
47 For so the Lord has commanded us, saying, “‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’”

Some people, know they are called, but they are wondering if God has sent them as yet. If you are not sure, then it hasn’t happened yet. When God is now commissioning you, he makes it clear and direct.

In the case of Paul and Barnabas, the word came as a word of prophecy. The church laid hands on them, and officially they were released to do this work among the gentiles. It was clear, not just to Paul and Barnabas, but even to those they worshipped with, that they had been sent.

Please note that the church of Antioch was the first fully gentile church. It was planted by a group of African Believers. So, for the first 11 years of Paul’s life, he had never witnessed a fully gentile church, until he was brought too Antioch. The very thing that would be the cornerstone of his commission, came at the very end.

If Paul had refused to come to Antioch, and gone on to start his ministry. He would never had fully understood his purpose. He may even have planted many churches, but he would not have become the apostle to the gentiles. Most likely God would have chosen another person at Antioch for the work.

God is faithful, and he directs us in our path to our destination. It’s important for us to be patient and wait for his leading. If God is quiet, then let him be quiet. When God wants to send you. He will let you know.