Page 80 - BMIN191 Beginnning Internship

80 Beginning Ministerial Internship: Student Manual

Managing Your Spiritual Life

LESSON “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the
4.1 Almighty” (Psalm 91:1).

Without question, the greatest aspect of a minister’s life is a personal
relationship with God. There is no substitute for intimacy with the Lord. Resident
in that relationship will be a minister’s strength, direction, encouragement, and
comfort. Ministers who seek these things from other sources will fall short of
their true need.
4.1.1 Unfortunately, the busyness of a life in ministry leaves many ministers with
OBJECTIVE little time or energy for this most important aspect of their lives. But the minister
Outline a plan for your who neglects a personal relationship with God will soon be in no position to
personal devotions. provide leadership for others.

4.1.2 The Call of Discipleship
OBJECTIVE
Establish a regular The Nature of the Call
devotional pattern in your Ministers are known by a variety of titles. Depending on the religious
personal life. tradition, the titles reverend, pastor, father, or a host of others may be used. One

4.1.3 title frequently used, regardless of denominational affiliation, is man of God or
OBJECTIVE woman of God.
Schedule and fulfill a day Being called the man or woman of God infers a unique relationship. The
of reflection. minister is expected to have a close relationship by virtue of the role as spiritual

1 Why is spiritual strength leader, or, for some, by virtue of the anointing of God’s Spirit. The minister
an expectation in the life of a is expected to know God and demonstrate relationship with Him. Yet, many
minister? ministers operating in the multiple demands of ministry fail to give priority and
appropriate time to their need of a relationship with God. The neglect is costly for
the minister and the flock given to his or her charge.
The nature of the call of God is not vocational. Rather, the ministry is a life
of discipleship, where one is closely pursuing the will of God for one’s life while
leading others in their own pursuit of God. Regardless of the level of one’s training,
a relationship with God is fundamental to the work of ministry and, in truth, is the
deciding factor in whether one can guide others toward that same goal. Simply put,
a minister’s people will not grow beyond the level of their leader.
Responding to the Call
There is great variety in the manner with which the call of God is viewed by those
in ministry. Some feel God’s call is specific and directional—they are directed to a
particular place. Others see God’s call relating more to task, for example, the call to
preach or serve as a pastor. Still others see the call as more of a general compulsion to
serve God by whatever means are available. While each of these views has a level of
merit, there is another concept that may be closer to the truth.
The New Testament pattern of the call of God is most vividly seen in the
ministry of Jesus. He approached each individual with essentially the same
opportunity, “‘Come, follow me’” (Matthew 4:19). To some, He presented the
call using an analogy that compared the nature of their daily activity to that of
the spiritual tasks that lay ahead for them: to become fishers of men. But for
most, it was simply the three-word invitation, and the responses were varied.
Most were unaware that they were choosing a spiritual vocation. Instead, they
saw themselves choosing to be with Jesus. To follow Jesus did not initially mean
buying into His teaching or accepting His explanations of God. No, it meant