What are your credentials for Ministry?

Mark 6

² And on the Sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astonished, saying, “Where did this man get these things? What is the wisdom given to him? How are such mighty works done by his hands? ³ Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him.

Why were they offended?  Were they jealous that somehow he was smarter than them and especially without training?  Did his previous vocation disqualify him from teaching with authority, he was just a carpenter?  Did knowing his family background cause them to be judgmental to the point that Nathaniel repeated a common thougth, “can any good thing come from Nazareth?

Discouragement can come from many sources when you choose to do ministry for the Lord.  I am not necessarily talking about “full time” ministers.  Every person that begins to speak to another on behalf of Jesus will face these types of insults and accusations.  Honestly, what qualifies any of us to stand before another and re-represent God?

Jesus taught with authority!  This authority and power did not originate from formal training, although God uses formal training.  He immersed himself in the scriptures early in life as evidenced by the way he spoke with the teachers of the law when he was 12.  Don’t judge those with higher education nor those with little education.  For Peter and John were considered uneducated, but noted that they had been with Jesus.  Nothing in ministry will substitute time with Jesus.

Jesus was a carpenter.  Tradition has it that the carpenter was responsible for making yokes and plows.  They also may have worked with stone, iron and copper.  One important lesson from carpentry is attention to detail and the endurance to finish a task.  From his home town perspective, these attributes did not translate into Jesus being a minister from God.  But these  character qualities were not lost in Jesus life.  Aren’t we glad that he finished his task?  He gave up his life on the cross, knowing ahead of time  the death he was about to endure.

Jesus was from a humble family background.  Most likely there were always rumors of his birth as illegitimate.  Every birthday brought up the question of the dates and times of Joseph and Mary’s wedding and Jesus birth.  How many of us feel disqualified because of family background.  Addictions, family secrets, divorce, adoption, unwanted, or abused are all examples of how the enemy wants to sideline us from ministry.  We stand complete ONLY in Jesus.  Our sufficiency is in him. It always was and always will be.  Especially were are cleaned from our sinful past through the blood of Jesus.

Be bold, be strong, for your wisdom, strength, and anointing all come from God alone.  He shares his glory with no one.  He does however invites us to participate in his work on the earth.  We are his delegated representatives that He loves us and has a plan for us.