I knew the “pastor” of my church was a shepherd, but I sure missed the verses where God specifically stated that governmental rulers were also ministers. Since I used to believe in a sacred/secular split, there was no way a politician could be a minister in God’s eyes.
If I wanted to go into full-time Christian service, it was never suggested to me that a political career would be full-time ministry. So, let’s discover exactly what God says about this.
God declares that governmental rulers are ministers.
- For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil (Rom. 13:3-4).
- The LORD your God said to you [David], “You shall shepherd My people Israel, and be ruler over My people Israel” (1 Chron. 11:2).
- My servant David will be king over them, and they will all have one shepherd; and they will walk in My ordinances and keep My statutes and observe them (Ezek. 37:24).
We Need Such Ministers Today
Today God is calling Christians into full-time ministry as rulers in our nation. We need you as leaders in our villages, cities and counties. We need you in state legislatures and in Congress. We need you to lead in politics, social programs and financial expertise. We need you ministering as innovators and leaders of businesses and corporations. Every one of these positions carries with it the power to disciple others. These are ways of taking Jesus to the streets. This is all part of disciplining a nation. We also need you as pastors, evangelists, apostles, prophets and teachers to restore righteousness to the nation. We need you ministering the Word in the power of the Spirit. We need you casting out demons, healing the sick and pulling down principalities through prayer and intercession.
We don’t need to concern ourselves with figuring out the date of Jesus’ return, or determining who the antichrist might be, as John already clearly defined him in 1 John 2:18, 22 and 4:3. We are to occupy until He returns.
Become Like Abraham
Abraham was a spiritual leader (The father of faith—Rom. 4:11-16), a political leader (The founder of a nation—Gen. 18:18), and a business leader (Very wealthy—Gen. 13:2). Every one of these areas was a ministry for him.
The same is true of God Himself. God leads in healing our spirits, souls and bodies. He is a leading businessman, owning all the gold in all the mines and all the cattle on every hill. He leads in government as King of Kings, and He leads in creativity having created the heavens and the earth and all that is in them. God releases His anointing through each of these areas. God bestows righteousness through each area. God even anoints craftsmen to do the work He has for them to do.
Everything is to Be Ministry
God spoke to me many years ago that He wanted me to be like Abraham: a great spiritual leader, a great business leader and a great political leader. The challenge to me was overwhelming as I had no picture in my mind that one person could be all three, or that I could be all three. So after God pointed out to me that Abraham was all three, and that God Himself was all three, I accepted the challenge and have been pursuing leadership in all three areas for the last 30 years.
- We provide spiritual leadership by offering communion with God to the world and have integrated it into 100 college courses with students in over 100 nations.
- We have a ministry/business (CWG Ministries) which employs many people, and I have pursued ways to create wealth for others.
- For the last two years, I have created many blogs designed to help people understand the political times and take steps to restore our country to its righteous foundation. (Here are some excellent news websites and also refer here for recent blogs on national issues.)
We have Communion With God Leaders Network, which ordains ministers in many areas including business and leadership and will even do so for political leaders.
For any who may be unsure, God has made it crystal clear that His covenant blessings and curses touch every area of our lives. Read Deuteronomy 28.
Prayer Application
“Lord, what is the area(s) of ministry You are calling me into so I can release Your righteousness, wisdom, healing and creativity?” Record what He says and then diligently pursue each area.
Let the righteous rise up and bring revival to the land! {eoa}
For the original article, visit cwgministries.org.
Mark Virkler, Ph.D., has authored more than 50 books in the areas of hearing God’s voice and spiritual growth. He is the founder of Communion With God Ministries and Christian Leadership University (cluonline.com), where the voice of God is at the center of every learning experience. Mark has taught on developing intimacy with God and spiritual healing for 30-plus years on six continents. The message has been translated into over 40 languages, and he has helped to establish more than 250 church-centered Bible schools around the world.
