Ordination Charge for Pastoral Service 

By Pastor Dennis Gleason

Ordination Service for Fergus Furlong -- January 7, 2007

Acts 13:1-4

vs.1 “Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 2 As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. 3 And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid [their] hands on them, they sent [them] away. 4 So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed unto Seleucia; and from thence they sailed to Cyprus.”

Let me first put our text in proper perspective. I want you to observe three sets of statements in our text. The first set of statements is found in V.2 that says, “As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted...” and in V.3 that says, “And when they had fasted and prayed....” These two statements describe the first requirement for ordination that we shall call COMMUNION. The second set of statements is found in V.2 that says, “The Holy Ghost said, ‘Separate me Barnabas and Saul...and in” V.3 that says, ”And laid their hands on them....” These two statements describe the second requirement for ordination that we shall call CONSECRATION. The third set of statements is found in V.2 that says, “For the work whereunto I have called them.” and in V.3 that says, “They sent them away” as well as in V.4 that says, “Being sent forth by the Holy Ghost....” These statements describe a third requirement for ordination that we shall call COMMISSION. Communion, Consécration, Commission.
Let us look at the first requirement for ordination that we call—
COMMUNION
V.2 = “As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted...”
V.3 = “And when they had fasted and prayed...”
Who are “they?” According to verse 1 they are the “prophets” and “teachers” and  the church of Antioch. These people are the leaders of the church. Paul and Barnabas belong to this group.
 The first requirement is Communion, the second is—
CONSECRATION
V.2 = “The Holy Ghost said, ‘Separate me Barnabas and Saul...”
V.3 =”And laid their hands on them...”
The Greek word translated “separate” is aphorizo and it means to distinguish from the others, to single out, and to set aside for a special service.
The Holy Spirit wants Paul and Barnabas to be different, to be special, to be dedicated to God. Laying of hands is an act of consecration.
 The first requirement is Communion, the second requirement is Consecration, the third is—COMMISSION
V.2 = “For the work whereunto I have called them.”
V.3 = “They sent them away.”
V.4 = “Being sent forth by the Holy Spirit...”
The Greek word translated “called” is proskaleomai” and it means to summon, to invite, and to call to oneself.
God has called you to Himself. He commissions you to be His servant. Not the servant of the church. I remember a time in my own ministry in which a member of the board of a church I was serving suggested in a moment of disagreement “Well, we hired you and we can fire you.” I responded in a manner quite uncharacteristic for me, “You did not hire me. You recognized the call of God on my life to be your pastor, as did I. And you will never fire me.” That is the way it must be.

If you do not lose sight of this, you will be in good shape. Gov. John Sununu, who served as Chief of Staff of the first George Bush’s White House, was once asked by a reporter, “Your job is very difficult, isn’t it?” He answered, “No, it isn’t.” The reporter thought John Sununu had misunderstood him, so he asked the question again. John Sununu answered more emphatically, “No, it isn’t. I only have one constituent.” He means, “I only have to please one person, the president.” It is the same with us, we only have to please God.

Secondly, our ministry is people. Our ministry is to bring people to God.

Our text identified three requirements for ordination, namely:

communion (a person who is in touch with God),

consecration (a person who is dedicated to the service of God),

and commission (a person with a mission).

Ordination is simply the special act of setting apart a person for ministry…a person who has been called of God to serve Him in some manner…by prayer and the laying on of hands. It is a special consecration of that person, who is in touch with God and who has a mission from God. The only authority inferred in ordination is the authority that comes with the call of God on their life and the authority of the Word of God as they proclaim it.

In 2nd Timothy 4:1-5, the apostle Paul has a charge for his friend Timothy

¹And so I solemnly urge you before God and before Christ Jesus—who will someday judge the living and the dead when he appears to set up his Kingdom: ²Preach the word of God. Be persistent, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching.

³For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to right teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever they want to hear. ⁴They will reject the truth and follow strange myths.

⁵But you should keep a clear mind in every situation. Don’t be afraid of suffering for the Lord. Work at bringing others to Christ. Complete the ministry God has given you.

Paul charges Timothy to do several things as a faithful minister in this passage. Fergus, this is my charge to you also.


 I. Paul spoke these words to Timothy, "I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ…”

A. Paul’s first admonition was to "Preach the word of God."
1. This is mine to you, always preach God’s word.
2. The Greek term means exactly that, "Preach the word," don’t just give a talk.
3. Take God’s word and thoroughly proclaim its message.
4. Never depend on your own strength or understanding but allow the Holy Spirit to speak the word through you.

B. “Be instant” is the next admonition.
1. But understand what being instant means, Paul states to "be instant in season and out of season."
2. To “be instant” means to "stand by, be at hand, come on or upon."
3. Take a stand with God’s word.
4. Whether the truth is received (in season) or rejected (out of season) hold fast the truth as lead by the Holy Spirit. Preach the truth at anytime whether it’s popular or not.
5. Preach the word not about the word.

C. Next Paul charges Timothy, as I charge you, to “Reprove and Rebuke”.
1. Preach the word with conviction (Reprove)…so that it will convict.
2. (Rebuke) step on a few toes when it is necessary.
3. Don’t fail to let God’s word bring conviction of sin.
4. Don’t fail to tell exactly what sin is.

D. Then Paul charges Timothy "exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine."
1. Call people near to comfort them, after the reproving and rebuking.
2. Do it with great patience and focus on the Word…the Word of God.
3. Use loving patience, as you minister to God’s people.

II. Never let the turning away from the truth, by other people, affect your teaching God’s Truth.

A. Paul says that sometimes they will no longer endure sound doctrine.
1. They will even turn away from it.
2. But you must stay the course.
3. We all must keep the faith and preach the truth.

B. But you must Paul says stay alert, be sober watching for Satan and his attacks.
1. For he will attack you and this church and any ministry that is faithful to the work of God.
2. Suffer (Endure) through Evil (Affliction). Learn to roll with the attacks and allow God the victory.
3. There will be hardships, attacks on you, your wife, your home…all things will come under attack.
4. But you must persevere in all and keep on serving God.

C. Paul charges Timothy to "do the work of an Evangelist."
1. The work of an "Evangelist" means to keep on proclaiming the good news.
2. To keep preaching to the people through thick and thin.
3. Proclaim God’s word wherever you may be.

D. Finally Paul said, "make full proof of your ministry."
1. Bring your gift to its full measure or potential.
2. Carry out your service to the fullest.
3. With all that you are and with all that the Spirit of God gives you…keep on serving.
4. That is what Paul’s charge to Timothy was and that is my charge to you today.

Conc. Will you accept this charge? Will you allow Christ to be your all? Will you let the Holy Spirit fully guide and direct all that you say and do in your ministry? That my brother is what God expects and that is what He calls all ministers and believers to do. Will you accept the charge and carry out the full potential of your ministry?