Did You Know God Called You?

Romans 15-16

One of the problems of modern-day Christianity is that we think by sitting in a worship service we’ve done God a wild favor. We sit, soak, and sour, but God called us to serve. You’ve been called to be a minister, a servant of the Lord Jesus. We minister to others on His behalf and through Him.

The theme of Romans chapters 15 and 16 is ministry, ministry, ministry. Every member is a minister. There’s no such thing as an inactive church member. Every member is either building up or tearing down. You’re either part of the team and helping or not a part of the team and hurting. Jesus said in Matthew 12:30, “He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad.”

You’re either working with the Lord Jesus or against Him. God has called you to serve. Here are six areas where you need to minister. Are you willing for God to minister through you in these ways?

Encouragement (Romans 15:1-7)

Those strong in the faith are to encourage the weak and to be patient with and comfort one another. You’re not here to please yourself. The Church doesn’t exist to make you happy. As we encourage one another, we’re brought together. If we’re busy picking at each other, we’ll never look up and see the glory of God.

All of us need encouragement. God has been patient with us; we need to be patient with one another. Everyone has an area of hurting. There’s a tear in every heart. Ask God to give you the ministry of encouragement.

Evangelism (Romans 15:8-16)

Jesus came to the lost sheep of the house of Israel not so they alone would be saved, but that through them all the world’s nations would be blessed.

Every child of God has been saved to bring souls to Jesus Christ. Don’t call yourself His follower if your business is not His business, saving the lost. Ask Him, “Lord, lay some soul upon my heart and win that soul through me.”

Giving (Romans 15:25-27)

We’re all called upon to give. We’re debtors to the apostles who suffered, the martyrs of the faith, and to Jesus Christ and His cleansing blood. How can you not want to give to the One who left Heaven to die for you? You can invest in the only thing I know of that’s going to Heaven. You can invest in souls.  Ask God to give you the ministry of giving.

Prayer (Romans 15:30-31)

Prayer isn’t getting ready to serve. Prayer is service. You can do more than pray after you’ve prayed, but you really can’t do more than pray until you’ve prayed.

Some say, “I don’t have much to give, and I’m at home—I don’t see others often enough to be an encourager.” You can pray! Paul had enemies. Paul begged his brethren to pray for him. “I need protection. I need the Gospel to be received. Would you pray I would be delivered and the message received?”

Fellowship (Romans 16:1-24)

In Romans 16, Paul mentions a number of people by name. Paul was not just a soul-winner but a friend-maker. We minister by receiving people (See Romans 16:2.), greeting people (v.3), loving them (v.5), helping (v.6), honoring (v.7), and guarding the fellowship against all kinds of false doctrine (v.17-18). How good and pleasant it is for brothers and sisters to dwell together in unity and fellowship. (See Psalm 133:1.)

Worship (Romans 16:25-27)

The book of Romans is the Constitution of Christianity. Paul ends the greatest treatise ever written on the faith with praise and worship in these closing verses. We need to stop complaining about the days in which we live and start worshipping. There’s never been a greater day or age in which to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

God is calling you into ministry. You don’t just sit—you serve. Imagine what could happen if all believers began to fulfill the ministry we are called to. Ask God to make you a ministering servant.

Father God, I pray in the name of Jesus that You will bless and anoint every believer so that as individuals, all of us, having different gifts and abilities, may begin in our own ways to serve for your kingdom and Your glory. In Jesus’ name, Amen.