There came a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness, to testify about the Light, so that all might believe through him.
This is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent to him priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” And he confessed and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.” They asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” And he said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.” Then they said to him, “Who are you, so that we may give an answer to those who sent us? What do you say about yourself?” He said, “I am a voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as Isaiah the prophet said.”
Now they had been sent from the Pharisees. They asked him, and said to him, “Why then are you baptizing, if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?” (John 1:6-7,19-25 NASB1995)
John the Baptist was called of God, even before he was formed in the womb of his mother, to be “a voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as Isaiah the prophet said.” But he was no one of any prominence or notoriety. He was just called of God, and he believed God, and he answered that call, and he did what the Lord called him to do.
But the Pharisees, who were Jews and people of prominence in the Temple, who taught the Scriptures, but who were skilled in hypocrisy, and did not practice what they preached, sent priests and Levites to ask John who he was. And they didn’t like John’s answers. So they asked him, “Why then are you baptizing, if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?”
And what this immediately brought to my recall is how so many people today get hung up on titles and diplomas and denominational positions, as though that is what qualifies someone to be a servant of the Lord in taking the message of the gospel to the people of the world and in ministering to the body of Christ what will encourage us all in our walks of faith in obedience to the Lord and to his commands. But it doesn’t qualify anyone.
And yet, people who have religious diplomas from religious institutions, and thus now have titles before their names, are often raised up to some superior status above all other Christians. So, if you have gone through religious training via a church denomination, and now you have received your ordination or consecration, and so you are now an “official worker” in any church denomination, people will usually regard you as now qualified.
But biblically speaking, that is not what qualifies any of us for service to our Lord and to one another. What qualifies us is that we are called of God according to his will and purpose for our lives, and that he is the one equipping us and training us in what he has called us to do, his way, in his timing, and for his purpose, and that we are walking in obedience to his commands, living holy lives, pleasing to him, and that we are willing to do what he has called us to do, even if it gets us hated and despised in return.
For some people with titles and diplomas and notoriety may not even believe in Jesus, and they may not even be listening to the Lord and following his calling, but they may just be following their training and going through the motions of religious practice. And they may not even be teaching the truth of the gospel, but they may be following business people and their marketing gimmicks for how to draw in large crowds of people into their gatherings. And so they could be those who are teaching lies, which are not of God.
So, just because someone is an official worker of a church denomination, it does not qualify them for the Lord’s service. Just because they are called “Reverend,” or “Pastor,” or “Missionary,” it doesn’t mean at all that they are called of God and that they are being led by the Lord in what to do, as John the Baptist was. He didn’t have to be “the Christ,” or “Elijah,” or “the Prophet” to do what God called him to do. He just had to be obedient to God’s call on his life, operating under the control of God empowering him.
So, just know that God does not require college or seminary degrees or titles or church denominations’ stamps of approval on you. All he requires is that you love God with your whole being, that you are obeying the Lord, in practice, and sin is no longer your practice. And that you are willing and available to be used of the Lord, as John the Baptist was, in doing whatever God calls you to do with your life. And then just follow the leading of the Lord in being and in doing what he has called you to be and to do, and leave the results to God, even if it means you don’t have approval by some others.
[Matthew 5:13-16; Matthew 28:18-20; John 4:31-38; John 13:13-17; John 14:12; Acts 1:8; Acts 2:14-18,42-47; Acts 26:18; Romans 10:14-15; Romans 12:1-8; 1 Corinthians 12:1-31; 1 Corinthians 14:1-5; Galatians 6:1; Ephesians 2:8-10; Ephesians 4:1-16; Ephesians 5:11-21; Ephesians 6:10-20; Philippians 2:1-8; Colossians 3:12-16; Titus 2:11-14; Hebrews 3:13; Hebrews 10:23-25; James 5:19-20; 1 Peter 2:9,21; 1 John 2:6]
What the Lord Says
Based off Isaiah 43:1-44:5
An Original Work / February 24, 2014
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love
This is what the Lord says to you:
Fear not, for I have chosen you.
I have summoned you by your name.
You are mine. I died, you to save.
When you go through your trials, so deep,
I will be with you; you will not sink.
You are so precious always to me.
Trust in your Lord, Savior and King.
This is what the Lord says to you:
He who gave salvation to you;
Who delivered you from your sin;
Takes your burdens now upon Him:
Forget the former things of your life.
Give of your heart not now up to strife.
See all the new things I have for you.
Walk in vict’ry. Trust in what’s true.
This is what the Lord says to you:
He who made you; who will help you:
Do not fear what humans may do.
Walk in freedom. Follow what’s true.
Drink of my Spirit given for you.
Trust in my mercy, for I love you.
I have a plan for all of your life.
Follow my ways. Do what is right.
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Qualifications for Christian Ministry
An Original Work / December 1, 2025
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love