BE FAITHFUL TO PREPARE YOURSELF

If God calls you to be an apostle, He will supernaturally equip you. But you won't start out in that office anyway. God has His ways of doings things. You just need to prepare yourself so God can use you in any way He desires. The Bible says, "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth" (2 Tim. 2:15).

Although you won't be able to enter immediately into the ministry God has for you, you can prepare yourself through studying the Word and preparing your heart. You can do your part. Preparation time is never wasted time. If you are faithful in the time of preparation to study God's Word to show yourself approved, in God's time, step by step, He will move you into the ministry He eventually has for you.

As you are faithful to prepare yourself, He will be faithful to open doors for ministry. You must also prepare yourself for your high calling in Christ by separation from the things of the world that hold you back from the things of God. Sometimes you need to lay aside those things that are not necessarily sin, but they take up valuable time. The Lord is looking for those who will dedicate and consecrate themselves wholly unto Him for His use.

It is as we present our bodies as living sacrifices and renew our minds with the Word of God that God can use us fully. The Bible says, . . Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh" (Gal. 5:16). And . . he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting" (Gal. 6:.

If you are faithful to study God's Word and to serve Him right where you are, God will set you into the Body of Christ and promote you as He desires. But remember this: Don't get taken up with names and titles. If you have to tell folks you are an apostle or a prophet, then you probably aren't one. You don't have to go around telling everyone you are a man or a woman, do you? You are born that way and it's evident to everyone.

The same thing ought to be true over in the spiritual realm. If you are called to the ministry, it ought to be readily distinguishable what you are and what your call is. You shouldn't have to go around telling people what your calling is by giving yourself titles and labels. People will know what you are by your spiritual equipment and endowments.

And if you don't know what God has called you to do, just be faithful to serve Him right where you are. Be faithful in your local church, study His Word, and leave the rest up to God. Also, remember this: God rewards faithfulness. He doesn't reward offices. An apostle or prophet won't receive any more reward than anyone else who is faithful to do what God has called him to do. Higher offices do not receive any more reward; there is just a greater responsibility that goes along with the office. That's why it's important for you to be faithful to fulfill the responsibilities God has given you because God rewards faithfulness] (Kenneth Hagin)