The Mule & The Thoroughbred

You can take a mule and stable him with a thoroughbred. You can feed him the same food, shoe his hooves like the thoroughbred, saddle him, and ride him around the racetrack just like the thoroughbred. You can even put him in a race against the thoroughbred, but he is still a mule at the end of the day. A mule is not born to be a thoroughbred; he is born to be a mule and carry out the role for which he was created. He can never achieve the role of the thoroughbred as well as the thoroughbred, neither will the thoroughbred ever be able to achieve the role of the mule.

When we come to understand that we were created by the Lord God Almighty and that we were created with His purpose in mind, we can come to realize and should come to realize just how precious we are. How very unique we are and that there is just one of us, the individual you, the individual. That makes you so very precious to me and me to you because neither of us can be replaced.

Not all are called into the five–fold ministry, although some believe that they are. They assume titles that are meant for people who are truly called into these offices, and treat themselves with undeserved high regard. Many of these (perhaps) well-meaning people desire to serve the Lord without having first truly discovered their role. Whether or not they are mule or thoroughbred, whether or not God qualifies them to carry out the responsibilities of such high callings on their lives.

Each of us has a calling on our life. Not all are called to serve in a specific office, but each of us is called to “go ye into all the world and preach the gospel.”  It is not for a man to appoint an individual to a specific office or role, it is the master that promotes the servant and not the servant who appoints himself. This is not to say that one who holds one of the five-fold ministry offices cannot appoint an individual to a higher position, but it should be brought about as a direct instruction from the Lord to that minister. The minister should always pray about that instruction and perhaps even seek confirmation from another minister of the same or higher calling than himself. It should never be a decision that is solely made by a Board of Directors or suchlike sitting down and trying to fill a “gap” in the ministry itself. Any such Board should carry out the same procedure that the Disciples carried out to choose the new 12th Disciple after Judas’ suicide:

This is a very important lesson for you to remember when you are considering joining a new church, accepting a new pastor or minister into your existing church. The appointing of Matthias by the disciples was done after prayer by all concerned in the final consensus given before this appointment was confirmed and Matthias ordained.

Today many self-appointed ministers exist. Many times they start out with their own ministry and then call in other ministers to make up a Board. The problem here is that if those Board members exist only because the original minister has called them because he or she knows that they will support them without question. This is not uncommon in startup ministries and, you will likely observe a biased structure towards the head of that ministry rather than to servitude towards the congregation.

Unfortunately, this has become a sign of our times and has birthed many false teachers and doctrines. These are the doctrines of man which the Lord has warned us about.

(Acts 1:22-26) Beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection.
And they appointed two, Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias.
And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen,
That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place.
And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.

The Lord himself tells us in Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness, and yet this not only means doing things God’s way but also to follow His instructions and His commandments to operate in His will for your life. When you do, you will fulfill your calling, and serve Him, bringing you such pleasure and freedom, that there is never any doubt in your mind that you are doing what you’re supposed to be doing. It truly is the joy of the Lord coming upon you.

So, all that is left for you to do is to discover whether you are a mule or a thoroughbred. To Find, Follow and then Fulfill God’s will for your life. Our Systematic Discipleship Program will help and guide you into achieving that.

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