THE CALLED AND THE COMPULSION OF THE CALL PART 2

 THE CALLED AND THE COMPULSION OF THE CALL

PART 2

“For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for I am under compulsion; for woe is me if I do not preach the gospel.” 

                                                                                                                             1 Corinthians 9:16 - NASB

In our previous blog under the same topic, we looked at the general nature of the call into which believers are called. Today, I want to draw your hearts and minds into the understanding of the compulsion under which the called are placed. The person who has been called of God will desire the office not for secular dignity, a post of honour, or an easy life. He desires a good work. It is not a call to human need. But it is response to a Divine call. 

“And no one takes the honor to himself, but receives it when he is called by God, even as Aaron was.”

                                                                                                                                      Hebrews 5:4 - NASB

Human intention must not be substituted for Divine initiation. Every man called of God to preach becomes so consumed with his work and so dedicated to the study of Scripture that he never has any difficulty finding something to preach. He does not come to the very last moment without something from the Lord to give the people over whom the Holy Spirit has made him the overseer. 

The sense of compulsion to preach literally consumes the man God has called to preach. His ministry is not a profession but a possession. It is not chosen as one would choose a profession. When a man has been called of God, necessity is laid upon him to preach the gospel. He does not care what he is doing, how much money he is making, or what kind of recognition he is getting. He is willing to surrender all because the necessity to preach the gospel is laid upon him so heavily that he cannot do anything but preach. 

The Greek word for “necessity” in 1 Corinthians 9:16 also means constraint, compulsion imposed neither by external conditions of things or from a law to duty. The Greek word for "laid", in Paul’s declaration  means that necessity was laid upon him to evangelise, the word means to lie upon, to be placed upon, to press or urge upon, to be imposed by law, to be imposed by necessity. Paul’s statement that necessity was laid upon him to evangelise, to preach conveys the concept that none should enter the ministry who cannot teach, evangelise or preach to others. The person called of God are often neither encouraged to nor discouraged from preaching. The reason is because preaching becomes the consuming thing in his life. God-called ministers, pastors or shepherds are not people who may or will preach, but they “must” preach the gospel.

Although Paul differs from ministers today in his direct, supernatural commission, he was not different in the matter of the reality of obligation placed on any man that is called. Notwithstanding the fact that the Apostle Paul was called in a supernatural way, the certainty of our call is just as as real as that of the apostle. The Divine call brethren is in no way an external label which may be worn but rather a living movement a living man. The Divinely called man is controlled by a compulsion that drives him on to the fulfilment of his commission. like Paul, the God- called man is under necessity to “preach”, and woe to him if he does not preach. 

Paul was what you will call a pressed man. He was arrested by God. He was laid hold of.

“Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.” 

                                                                                                                              Philippians 3:12 - NASB

Paul was ushered into the ministry as a prisoner. Today we have pastors, shepherds, and leaders of churches who are not the Lord’s captives, they walk away from Him, and the call at whim. Not so the apostle Paul, his call to preach was not optional. Were it so, Paul would have boasted. The things I say of Paul are true of every man that God has truly called. The person called by God to preach, to do His work, works with a sense of debtor-ship. Life begins with a debt.

“ I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish. So, for my part, I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome.”

                                                                                                                             Romans 1:14-15 - NASB

The debt of which Paul speaks about in this case was not a debt to God, but to man. This word “debtor” in the Greek translated is used in three ways in the New Testament.

1. The word “Debtor” is used as one who owes another

“When he had begun to settle them, one who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him.”

                                                                                                                                   Matthew 18:24 - NASB

2. The word “debtor is used for one who is held by some obligation or responsibility to perform a duty

“ I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish.”

                                                                                                                                    Romans 1:14 – NASB

3. The word “debtor” is used for the sinner of whom God can demand punishment as something due him

“Or do you suppose that those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them were worse culprits than all the men who live in Jerusalem?”

                                                                                                                                          Luke 13:4 - NASB

The true way to examine the word and to arrive at its usage is to simply study it in the light of its immediate context.

Every descendent of Adam comes into this world with a debt to God that he cannot pay. By his nature he is a sinner, conceived in sin, born in iniquity, and later becomes a sinner by choice. What hope then is there for the person so indebted? The Lord Jesus has borne the debt for the sins of the elect. Since He paid the debt fully, the sinner who is regenerated and converted is released from that debt which he could never pay. God alone is the righteous Judge, while the sinner is the un- righteous person. Recipients of grace have the Daysman who stands between the holy God and themselves.

“There is no umpire between us, Who may lay his hand upon us both.” 

                                                                                                                                            Job 9:33 - NASB

 

We do live under the penalty and condemnation of sin. The forgiven sinner is innocent in the book of God’s judgment, but he is deeply indebted. The forgiven sinner is not only indebted to God but to others to proclaim the message that God has committed to his trust. The utmost devoted Christian might moreover understand that he or she is unable as to repay his Redeemer for what he has received after the forgiveness of sin as it was as a sinner to pay for his crime before he received that forgiveness. His indebtedness to others can never be liquidated. The debt of the forgiven sinner to others indeed is a debt of gratitude to God for what He has wrought for him. The indebtedness of gratitude leads to the conclusion of ones indebtedness to others to proclaim the message that God has committed to His own.

The man called by God does not look to the time the debt to others should be paid. He delights in the paying of it. Like Paul, this called man is ever ready; prepared to preach the gospel.

“ I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish. So, for my part, I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome.”

                                                                                                                              Romans 1:14-15 - NASB

This is applicable primarily to Paul, but a principle is established that applies to each child of God. In one sense, Paul never owed the Gentiles anything. He surely never owed them gratitude. He had been mistreated and maligned, and he suffered at the hands of the Gentiles. His gratitude was to God, but the expression of that gratitude was to be made known to those that were in need of the gospel of his Lord Jesus Christ. His indebtedness to the Gentiles was solely on the premise that he had received blessings from God that made it imperative that he proclaim those blessings to the Gentiles. They were within the same condition that he had been before the grace of God came into his heart. The minister, the pastor, the shepherd just like every child of God, has been blessed with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ Jesus according to Ephesians 1:3. Conversely, men outside of Christ are in need of this spiritual blessings. This can be illustrated in this manner: If “Mr. Zapapa” gives me property with which to help “Miss Palonto”, my indebtedness is not directed to “All but to “Miss Palonto”. God has given us spiritual blessings in Christ. Our indebtedness therefore is not to God but that which has been given to us should be availed to those in need. 

Dearly Beloved, kindly let us know how this blog is blessing you, and if you will love another blog on this particular subject, indicate so in your comment and depending on how many would love such I will be obliged to come to you with part three of the same. Be blessed as you read.

Apostle Raymond Tamakloe

Lovesprings International Church