There is a lot of credence put out in our world about "higher" education, and in religious circles, it seems to set a standard that can sometimes be a little deceiving. I never went to seminary, and when asking a fellow called minister who had been to seminary, "Should I go?" He said, "David, I think it would ruin you." Curious words from someone who "paid the piper" by getting his seminary degree and spending a good amount of money and time to get his degree. I did not get my seminary degree, and I always felt that it was held over my head when churches were looking at me. God was faithful and took this very immature, green-called man and gave me a vision for ministry that was sometimes even unexplainable to me. I am in awe of how much wisdom He has given me in the past when it comes to ministry, and I continue to spend time with Jesus to get more and more as I serve Him in this new capacity.
The men Jesus chose were ordinary guys who learned from spending time with Jesus, and He imparted His heavenly wisdom to them no matter their earthly "schooling." Peter, full of the Holy Spirit preached an incredible message with the result of over 5,000 men coming to faith in Jesus. What seminary did Peter attend? The University of Jesus. Look at how it affected those religious leaders who heard him preach. Acts 4: 12 There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.” 13 The council members were amazed when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, for they could see that they were ordinary men with no special training in the Scriptures. They also recognized them as men who had been with Jesus.
I, too, am just an ordinary man who spends time with Jesus, and the rest is what He wants to do. I guess I was too radical to park up in a classroom and get other "learned" professors' opinions of what the Jesus I know is teaching. If that is the case, then come on, Jesus, and teach me more cause I am an open book. I believe this keeps my feet on the ground and helps me relate to other ordinary men and relate Jesus' teachings to them in an obvious and concise manner. The birth of the Vesselogical Ministry, a vision for ministry Jesus revealed to me a few years ago, is because of my spending time with Jesus, and He gave me this larger vision for making an impact. I praise Jesus for the wisdom He has given me about the big picture and the focused picture of living the faith.
Paul got his calling straight from Jesus, but that is how all the called should be. Here is how Paul described what he was doing and where He got it. Galatians 1:11 Dear brothers and sisters, I want you to understand that the gospel message I preach is not based on mere human reasoning. 12 I received my message from no human source, and no one taught me. Instead, I received it by direct revelation from Jesus Christ. Paul's call was incredibly powerful, and I don't even begin to compare the results of my calling to his, but both were generated by our Savior, Jesus Christ. God is the receiver of all glory in the results, whether the instrument is David Warren or Paul the Apostle. Everyone has the power to live this God-called life in the way God has imparted to them and all are vital to spreading the gospel's message. The calling must be Spirit-led and Spirit-powered, or it will fail. May we never taint it by adding that we must have some degree to accomplish it?
Some people who are not full-time ministers like to look at ministry and say, "That is your calling, and you are special," to which I say, "Hogwash!" They are taking the light of calling off them so they don't have to commit anymore to Jesus. The calling is heavenly, and the tools to follow that calling are put in us at salvation through the Holy Spirit. Tap into this Heavenly Wisdom today and see what God is calling you to do, and then trust Him and do it. Where does this heavenly wisdom come from? HEAVEN. Look at what Jesus said in John 7:10 But after his brothers left for the festival, Jesus also went, though secretly, staying out of public view. 11 The Jewish leaders tried to find him at the festival and kept asking if anyone had seen him. 12 There was a lot of grumbling about him among the crowds. Some argued, “He’s a good man,” but others said, “He’s nothing but a fraud who deceives the people.”13 But no one had the courage to speak favorably about him in public, for they were afraid of getting in trouble with the Jewish leaders. 14 Then, midway through the festival, Jesus went up to the Temple and began to teach.15 The people were surprised when they heard him. “How does he know so much when he hasn’t been trained?” they asked.
16 So Jesus told them, “My message is not my own; it comes from God who sent me.
Spread the Heavenly Message and see what our God will do with it!!
Today's Message,
David Warren
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