There are three ways that God may choose a man for ministry. They are either called by, have the gift of, or appointed by the spirit for ministry. Many can be called, have the gift, or be appointed by man, but God chooses few.
The brothers and sisters in Christ are asked to “choose seven honest men from among you who are known to be full of the spirit and wisdom”. (Acts 6) Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, was full of God’s grace and power and performed great wonders and signs among the people.
When opposition arose from members of the Synagogue, they argued with Stephen, but could not stand up against the wisdom the Spirit gave him as he spoke. As members do today, they produced false witnesses and secretly persuade some to accuse Stephen of speaking against Moses and against God. All who looked at Stephen saw that his face was like the face of an angel.
Stephen faced opposition as one called to do so. He stood his ground against lies because those who spoke them could not stand against his gift of wisdom given by the Holy Spirit. He was a trustworthy man, chosen and appointed for the Holy assignment of ministry.
Not all men called, who possess the gift, and are appointed, will be useful in the ministry unless chosen by God. There are many who are preoccupied with their self-given titles. Be careful not to wear a title that you cannot function at its capacity. Do not allow the praise of people to force you into a self appointed title. Because people call you by a title is not an indication of their respect. Those without a body of work praiseworthy of a title of leadership are not worthy to lead. Title without work manifest’s a liar. To have a title that does not match the work you have done makes your title a lie. Therefore, make full proof of your ministry. Ministry is not about making a name for you, it is about pointing others to the path that leads to God. Leadership skills can be discerned, and the office held respected, when chosen by God.
God called everyone to repentance. So repent and allow God to call you based on the gifts HE has already given you. Be appointed to your Kingdom assignment without concern of title, and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
2 Chronicles 7:14
New International Version
14 “if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”
2 Corinthians 9:15
New International Version
15 “Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!”
Genesis 34:12
New International Version
12 “Make the price for the bride and the gift I am to bring as great as you like, and I’ll pay whatever you ask me. Only give me the young woman as my wife.” ”
Numbers 18:7
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7 “But only you and your sons may serve as priests in connection with everything at the altar and inside the curtain. I am giving you the service of the priesthood as a gift. Anyone else who comes near the sanctuary is to be put to death.” ”
Deuteronomy 1:9
New International Version
The Appointment of Leaders
9 “At that time I said to you, “You are too heavy a burden for me to carry alone.”
1 Peter 2:9
New International Version
9 “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.”
Genesis 18:19
New International Version
19 “For I have chosen him, so that he will direct his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing what is right and just, so that the Lord will bring about for Abraham what he has promised him.” ”
Deuteronomy 7:6
New International Version
6 “For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession.”
Deuteronomy 18:5
New International Version
5 “for the Lord your God has chosen them and their descendants out of all your tribes to stand and minister in the Lord’s name always.”
Deuteronomy 21:5
New International Version
5 “The Levitical priests shall step forward, for the Lord your God has chosen them to minister and to pronounce blessings in the name of the Lord and to decide all cases of dispute and assault.”
1 Samuel 10:24
New International Version
24 “Samuel said to all the people, “Do you see the man the Lord has chosen? There is no one like him among all the people.”
Then the people shouted, “Long live the king!” ”
1 Samuel 12:13
New International Version
13 “Now here is the king you have chosen, the one you asked for; see, the Lord has set a king over you.”
1 Samuel 16:10
New International Version
10 “Jesse had seven of his sons pass before Samuel, but Samuel said to him, “The Lord has not chosen these.” ”
Acts 6
New International Version
The Choosing of the Seven
6 “In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Hellenistic Jews[a] among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. 2 So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, “It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. 3 Brothers and sisters, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them 4 and will give our attention to prayerand the ministry of the word.”
5 This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism. 6 They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.
7 So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith.
Stephen Seized
8 Now Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, performed great wonders and signs among the people. 9 Opposition arose, however, from members of the Synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called)—Jews of Cyrene and Alexandria as well as the provinces of Cilicia and Asia—who began to argue with Stephen. 10 But they could not stand up against the wisdom the Spirit gave him as he spoke.
11 Then they secretly persuaded some men to say, “We have heard Stephen speak blasphemous words against Moses and against God.”
12 So they stirred up the people and the elders and the teachers of the law. They seized Stephen and brought him before the Sanhedrin. 13 They produced false witnesses, who testified, “This fellow never stops speaking against this holy place and against the law. 14 For we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs Moses handed down to us.”
15 All who were sitting in the Sanhedrin looked intently at Stephen, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel.”
2 Peter 3:9
New International Version
9 “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”
Acts 2:38
New International Version
38 “Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”