Text:
1Timothy 4:14:
“Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.”
Theme:
What Is Ordination?
Introduction & Body:
The calling into the Gospel Ministry is a profound challenge. Although society often tries to belittle this calling to be one of simply preaching to people on Sunday, teaching Sunday School, or even conducting the Sunday Worship Service, it is not. The calling to the Gospel Ministry is one of service to the world through the spread of the Gospel for the purpose of salvation to those who will believe in God and the nurturing of those who already believe in God. The preacher must be wholly committed to the entire work of this ministry through the Word, Will, and Way of God.
However, the preacher, although provided with the ingredients, needs to know how to be effective in the work. This is where it is very important that the called preacher know that they are in the right place, are placed with the right leader, and, lastly, are growing. The preacher must be totally committed and submitted to God for correction and direction. The whole of his knowledge of how to be effective is unlocked through this commission. God is unequivocally and unambiguously first in the life of the preacher. Then, God provides as needed the keys to the preachers effectiveness, not at the preacher’s planning, but at God’s direction. As it says in Proverbs 3:5, “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not unto thine own understanding.” In other words, it is important that the preacher always allow what they get from God to outweigh what they already have. With this confidence and proven developmental experience, the next level is imminent. This is the where the importance of ordination is realized.
Ordination is represented in the laying on of hands by a committee of elders called a presbytery. As qualified in 1Timothy 4:14, “Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.” Through prophecy, the calling of the preacher by God, the preacher is given the tools needed to be effective in the work of God. However, ordination is critical in that it provides the sealing of the two primary components of the preacher’s qualifications.
First of all, ordination seals the training that has occurred up until this point in the life of the preacher. As it says in 1Timothy 1:19, “Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck”, it is critical for the preacher to retain and not just remember the training that has transpired up to the point of ordination. Without this information having been internalized and incorporated into their life, the preacher is doomed for failure. This is why the information must be sealed within the preacher in order that it cannot be taken, lost, or contaminated. In such a manner, ordination seals the training of the preacher.
Secondly, ordination affirms that the preacher is equipped for the Work… SERVICE. 1Timothy 1:18 says, “This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare;” This “charge” of ordination is given by the presbytery. This group of elders test the preacher for the purpose of ensuring that the preacher is ready, prepared…equipped for the work. Yes, all of the training that has gone before comes into play. Yes, the ability of the preacher to trust in God for direction comes into play. Yes, the preacher’s unfeigned faith comes into play. Yes, the preacher’s holding of the “mysteries” of godliness and of the faith in a pure conscience come into play. All work together to allow the presbytery to have a “link” with the preacher through prayer the laying on of hands. Then, the preacher is equipped for the Work.
Conclusion:
Ordination is paramount to not only the preacher but also to the people for whom the preacher is ordained. The preacher is the light that makes the path of the people of the world brighter. As it says in Romans 10:14, “How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?” The preacher holds the tools for the people to build a relationship with God. It is not about the preacher. It is about God. It is not about what the preacher says. It is about what God says through the preacher. Therefore, ordination is critical. Before ordination, the preacher is watched by their leader. After ordination, the preacher’s life is on display to the world. The people need to be justified to God and restored in a relationship with Him. To do this, the preacher must me qualified through ordination to be effective in giving the people God and giving himself to God through their calling and ordination.
#157
