Privileged And Honored For Service

There is no greater call, no greater vocation, and no greater privilege than being called to preach the Gospel.   It is not a choice we make, but Christ Jesus makes it for us.  We just say yes.  1 Cor 9: 16-17 says, “For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel! 17 For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me”.  I didn’t choose to preach, He chose me.  Why?  They only thing I can figure out is that I am a perfect example of this:  1 Cor 1:26-29 - For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: 27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; 28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: 29 That no flesh should glory in his presence.

I have been entrusted with words of power, life-changing words, words that The Holy Spirit, Himself, will demonstrate.  1 Cor 1:18 “For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God”. 1 Cor 1: 17-18“For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God”.   I do not take that lightly.

I have been called to preach words that will heal the broken-hearted, bring healing to the sick and deliverance to the oppressed.  Luke 4:17-19“And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written, 18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.”  People’s lives are in the balance.  They must have a preacher sent to them.  Rom. 10:14-16“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?  15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!”

I am not preaching whatever I want to, whatever the latest fad doctrine is in the charismatic church, my opinion, or whatever makes me popular.  I am preaching that which is eternal, that which has given me eternal life and forever changed my life.  I am preaching only that which He has given me.  Gal 1:10-16For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ. 11 But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. 12 For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ. 13 For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews' religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it: 14 And profited in the Jews' religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers. 15 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace,  16 To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:

I have been commanded to preach.  Titus 1:2-3I”n hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began; 3 But hath in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Saviour;”

I do not try to put on airs, go where He does not send me, compete with others, or wonder why I do not have someone else’s gift.  Neither do I try to encroach into someone else’s area.  2 Cor.10:13- But we will not boast of things without our measure, but according to the measure of the rule which God hath distributed to us, a measure to reach even unto you. 14 For we stretch not ourselves beyond our measure, as though we reached not unto you: for we are come as far as to you also in preaching the gospel of Christ: 15 Not boasting of things without our measure, that is, of other men's labours; but having hope, when your faith is increased, that we shall be enlarged by you according to our rule abundantly,”

There are times I have felt that He should have called someone else, times that I felt I had made too many mistakes, times that I felt it was all over.  However, The word of God says, in Rom. 11:29 , “For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.”  It is the touch of heaven that caused me to start this journey, the touch of heaven that has restored and renewed the call on my life, andthe touch of heaven that I minister out of.  When I’ve felt inadequate, He reminds me that He is the one who will do it through me.  Jef. 1:4-10 says - “Then the word of the Lord came unto me, saying,  5 Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations. 6 Then said I, Ah, Lord God! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child.  7 But the Lord said unto me, Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak.  8 Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the Lord.  9 Then the Lord put forth his hand, and touched my mouth. And the Lord said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth. 10 See, I have this day set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down, to build, and to plant”.

I have one commission.  Paul tells Timothy by the Holy Ghost,  2 Timothy 4:2“Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine”.  I don’t have a choice.  I knelt at an old, country alter, years ago, and said, “I will go wherever you tell me to go, I’ll say what you tell me to say, and I’ll be what you want me to be”.  

Does it ever get hard?  Of course.  Do I ever get weary, or my body feel that it cannot go on?  Of course, yes,  Are there moments of feeling unappreciated?  Yes, but that’s not what it’s all about.  I read silly tweets these days, like, “don’t go where you are tolerated but where you are celebrated.”  Really?  I don’t see Jesus being too celebrated on the cross or in front of the pharisees or in His home-town of Nazareth.  I don’t see the early Christians celebrated when they faced the lion’s den or were burned at the stake.  My expectation is that I am not higher than my master. I preach because it is who I am.  Preaching is not what I do. It is not a duty, a job, a way of making a living, or something that I do to become popular.  It is the greatest call on the face of the earth.  I would have to step down to become a president or a queen.  Thank you Jesus!

Dr. Debbie Rich