Call of God for the Ministry
CALL OF GOD FOR THE MINISTRY I feel constrained to come back again to where we’ve been in the Book of Acts, Chapter 13, reading to you again the verses we’ve used a few times; looked into; departed from and gotten back to; walked around them; went through them, and so forth. Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers… 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.
And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away. So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed…Acts 13:1-4 I have already mentioned here that it is very imperative for those engaging in, or attempting to engage in ministry, to be called of God. The fact remains that there are many folk floating around today, claiming to have been called from God, and going out and making an attempt in ministry. I am well aware that I do not speak to preachers primarily, or to Bible school students aspiring to the ministry.
I know that for the most part, I’m just speaking to folk of our congregation, but I’ll tell you something: They too need to know what is involved in a call from God. They need to know to help them in their selection of pastors for every once in awhile some very tragic mistakes are being made. But you know that’s so, don’t you? It’s not up to me to determine for whom the message is.
It is simply for me to do as I am told. God has laid upon my heart very heavily to speak to you this morning concerning a call to the ministry. Who knows, God may want to put His hand upon some young person here this morning and say, “I want you.” And I trust that perhaps this is the opportunity for those who thought they were called to find out they weren’t called at all, and go back to their families, their homes and their jobs, where they belong in the first place.
There are folk like that who should have stayed right at home washing dishes instead of making more work for God. “What did you say? You made a mistake, Brother Beuttler, you should have said, ‘Working for God.’” No, I didn’t say that; I didn’t make a mistake either. They make more work for God.
Don’t you know God has to spend a lot of time undoing what some people do? Do you remember Peter? He wanted to help God out so he cut off somebody’s ear, and the Lord had the trouble of picking it up and pasting it on again. But frankly, I’m sure that more than once, the Lord had to undo what I did.
I’m aware of it. I suppose that happens to all of us once in awhile. It used to happen more than others, but at any rate, why talk about that. Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.
First of all, I want to chat with you about three kinds of calls, or three kinds of preachers. One kind who calls themselves; another kind who gets called by others—and they’re floating over the land nowadays by the score; and the third kind who are called of God. Supposing we’ll take the first kind I mentioned—not first in order, but you have to start with one. I’ll take you there to the Old Testament to II Samuel 18.
These are those with the itch. Some people mistake an itch for a call. Instead of running, they should scratch it—but tell them that. II Samuel 18:19-30.
Now you see, I do not know this congregation, and it’s a mighty good thing, a mighty good thing. This is a big passage. I’ll see how much I read of it. Then said Ahimaaz the son of Zadok, Let me now run, and bear the king tidings, how that the Lord hath avenged him of his enemies.
Now here is a man who had the itch. He said, “Oh, let me run. I want to preach.” And Joab said unto him, Thou shalt not bear tidings this day, but thou shalt bear tidings another day: but this day thou shalt bear no tidings, because the king’s son is dead. Then said Joab to Cushi, Go tell the king what thou hast seen.
II Sam 18:19-30 Oh, this passage is pregnant with meat. Tell what thou hast seen. Listen, before you speak, you must hear, but if you have not been sent, you won’t hear. You’ll get no message.
Brother Swift said to me once—I had said to him, “You know, Brother Swift, I just don’t have any trouble getting messages.” And I don’t. I rarely ask God for a message—very rarely. When I do, I usually messed up somewhere. That’s the truth.
They just come; they just come. Oh, I study, I feed on the word, but later on they just come—usually the thing that I’ve digested before at one time or another. Brother Swift said to me, “You know, Brother Beuttler, one of the surest signs of a genuine call from God is the fact that the person gets a message from God.” That certainly makes sense. If you’re called and walk with God, you’ll get a message.
If you don’t get a message, I’d do a little checking. Well this fellow said, “I want to run.” “No, it’s somebody else’s turn today.” He said, “You can run some other time, but this is somebody else’s turn.” While I think of it, or while it just pushes up on me. You know that I throw in parenthesis once in awhile, don’t you? I’m not afraid of them.
Do you know what: Paul did it too. Sometimes you critics in the congregation say, “That fellow doesn’t stay on his text.” I don’t have to; I got to stay on the beam. You can go fishing with your text. This Ahimaaz wanted to run and he was told, “You may run some other time, but this day, so and so is going to run.” That reminds me of a couple of our students in school a few years ago.
Let me say this, “Do you know there is such a thing as courtesy even in the exercise of spiritual gifts?” In honor preferring one another. Now let me tell you how I want to apply that. We had in the school, two interpreters, and they both could interpret—and their utterances were alright. But when we had a message in tongues, both would just about be rearing to go, and they got into such a spirit of competition that the one fellow was afraid the other one would get ahead of him, and he would go.
Finally they got to the place where one of them started to interpret before the message in tongues was even finished lest the other fellow get a chance. Do you know what that is?—carnality. That’s carnality. I took the fellow and said to the one (you could hear him steam—psst).
He was afraid the fellow would finish the tongues and the other fellow get ahead—and off he went. I said, “Listen brother, it’s nice to want to be used of God, but how about showing a little consideration for somebody else. Why not give somebody else a chance once in awhile because you are not the only pebble on the beach, or the only channel God desires to use.” They cut it out. Hallelujah!
“Brother Beuttler, aren’t you afraid of quenching the Spirit?” No, I’m only quenching spirits. I was only quenching spirits. Whose spirits? Oh, he can’t get ahead of me—whew, whew, whew (and other noises).
And they both were carnal in spite of the fact that they interpreted. “Brother Beuttler, nobody that interprets could possibly be carnal.” “Is that so? Who said so?” It’s possible—the Corinthians were. I’m not saying everybody is.
They were both carnal and after that they still interpreted, but they gave the person in tongues a chance to finish, and they waited until the other fellow piped up. When he didn’t, one did. Once in awhile they both started out at the same time. That can happen, and then of course, the one in honor prefers the other.
Do you know there’s something to that too. Now here we have Ahimaaz, “I want to run. Please let me run.” (Makes noises like steam engine ready to go.) “No, you better not run.” I would like to say, “You got too much steam. You’re too much in a hurry.” But anyhow, he couldn’t wait, so what did he do?
“Oh, I’m feeling good.” “You feel good?” “Yes, I’m feeling good.” “How are you feeling good?” “My ticker is ticking, tick, tick, tick.” “Alright, go tell the king what thou hast seen.” Ah! You’ve got to have something. You know nowadays, you can buy your sermons. And even our publishing house sells them, $5.00 a book.
Brother, you can go fishing, hunting, golfing all week long, and the sermons are already there for you with a nice outline. All you need to do is read them, hook a few scriptures on, say a few things. When you don’t know what else to say, shout “hallelujah.” Half the people think you’re in the Spirit anyhow, and if you get stuck, call for an altar service, and you have a wonderful meeting—for $5.00—year around. (Laughter) We’ve come a long way in 40 years, haven’t we?
We’ve come a long ways, and we encourage our young preachers to buy their own, fill them out to make it easier for them. I told the Lord, “God, before I need that, I hope I have sense enough to quit the ministry and go back to making drawings. Give my job to somebody else.” Amen! A lot of other people who should do it—get out and make room for somebody else, because they long ago ceased to hear from heaven.
They just give religious discourses, and the foolish people stand for it. I would not. I’m bad! I knew it!
Alright, you’re not going to run today. “Oh, howsoever? Let me run! I wanna preach.” I was down in Brother Swift’s church one year, down in his church in a little mission.
I sat in the back; they just had a little house, and I sat in the back. Brother Swift was ministering, leading the singing, I guess at the time. In walks a man, and he sits down. I eyed the man up, and he was sitting there, and I didn’t know what was wrong with that man.
He acted as though he had the seven-year itch. My oh my! He looked over, then he turned to me and said, “You know, I’m a preacher. That fellow knows me up there.
Amen! Hallelujah! He doesn’t even call me up to sit on the platform. Doesn’t he believe in ministerial recognition?
This isn’t my seat—my seat’s up there. Amen! Hallelujah!” There’s more than one reason why people say hallelujah. And that fellow got downright dog.
“He doesn’t even recognize another minister. Doesn’t he believe in ministerial ethics?” Did he ever carry on. He wanted recognition, and I think all he was, was simply a floater. I think all he was, was a floater; he wanted recognition.
But you know Brother Swift—he isn’t that dumb either. He let that fellow sit and itch. I guess he could have worn his pants out for all Brother Swift cared. Listen folks, permit me just a little personal grudge.
I don’t think to sit up there is ministerial recognition; I think its ministerial imposition. Why a preacher’s got to sit up there because he’s a preacher, I’d like to know. I’m speaking of myself—when I come to your church, don’t bother me. Let me sit with the rest of the folk.
Who wants to see an exhibition all the time? I think it’s an imposition we ought to get away from unless the man has some participation in the service. AMEN! I’ll say it for myself, not for you.
That’s my personal grudge. I think we’re in a terrible system—when a man cannot have a vacation once a year and get into a church like Brother Mastro back there. What do they call it? Oh they have an expression for that—sit in the back and do nothing and have no responsibility and see what other people are doing.
My how our preachers need a little relief from having everybody gape at them all the time. Who wants to be on exhibition anyhow? That’s just speaking out from my personal grudge, but I think there’s something to it. Well anyhow, there he was itching.
I must go back to Brother Swift again. When Brother Swift was in Bethel (Mrs. Swift told me that), a prophet came in. Oh those prophets!
There are prophets—I believe in prophets, I sure do. And God has set into the church apostles, prophets, teachers. What are you going to do with that? But I’m talking about the pseudo prophets.
He walks in; takes a note up to Brother Swift—prophecy, got a message for the people. When they talk like that, for myself, they give themselves away. He paid no attention. Now there was a lady in the back of the church that he talked to.
She sat in the rear, so he turned to her. He said, “I sent that preacher up a note. Doesn’t he recognize any prophets in this church? I’m come with a message sent from God.
Who’s that preacher? Do you know him?” The lady said, “I should know him. I’m his wife.” (Laughter) When he saw that he couldn’t give his message, he went somewhere else. Oh brother.
Ahimaaz, “Let me run, let me run” “But why will you run,” he was told. “You’ve got no tidings ready.” In verse 22, Wherefore wilt thou run, my son, seeing that thou hast no tidings ready? Alright open your mouth and the Lord will fill it. Sure!
That’s what I did in Bible school. Somebody told me, “All you need is open your mouth and the Lord will fill it.” And I thought, “That’s good advice.” I took my Bible, stood there; I stood; and stood; and stood. Brother Evans looked at Brother Reeves, Brother Reeves looked at Brother Evans; the students looked at each other; and then at me. I stood, but nothing came out.
We had an altar service. If anybody needed an altar service, it was this 1st year student. Since then I found it does say something about opening your mouth and I will fill it, but it has nothing to do with preaching. It has to do with the land of Canaan.
Furthermore, it doesn’t say, “Open your mouth and I’ll shovel it in.” I learned something. Ya, ya folks. Wherefore wilt thou run, my son, seeing that thou hast no tidings ready? But howsoever, said he, let me run.
Somebody said to me, “Brother Beuttler, I wish I could travel like you.” “You got a message?” The Lord doesn’t put $1,400 in your pocket to travel without a message. God doesn’t waste His money like that. Wherefore wilt thou run seeing thou hast no tidings ready? Do you got tidings?—Not your own, but His.
However, let me run. Oh, I want to run, I want to preach, I want to go. My! A lady came to me and said, “Brother Beuttler, I feel I’m called to preach.” “Oh?” “But I have a problem.” “What seems to be your problem?” “I have a family.
Do you think it’s alright for me, as I feel that I should turn my children over to some other families, and go out and preach?” I said, “No.” She wanted to come to EBI to study. She had to put her children in other people’s homes to do it. We turned her down. We felt she had her congregation right in her own home.
Folks, people do awful things along that line. Some of you don’t agree with me, but there’s somebody in this congregation that does. I agree with myself. Now there are situations where God cuts right across family ties, I know.
But I’m speaking of people, who for the most part by far in such cases, simply have some strange notion they want to preach. Brother! Let me run. Why do you want to run?
Well, but he ran. Finally, they said, “Alright run, go ahead, go.” Listen, if you just pull at the traces long enough, God might say, “Go ahead.” Do you know that God will give you things contrary to His will? Do you know you can so insist and persist that God will say, “Alright go ahead.” “Is it alright, Lord?” “Yes, go ahead.” You have Balaam for one example, the Israelites for another. If we persist, God may decide to give in for our own punishment.
It’s possible for God to say “Yes” after He has said “No” a hundred times. Message in tongues and interpretation. Dost thou desire to be of service to the Lord thy God? Thou dost not need to be tossed to and fro with questions in thine own mind as to whether the Lord, thy God hast called thee.
When His anointing is upon thee to preach remember He is the one that will lead thee. And He is the one that hast said, “I have set before thee an open door, and no man can close it.” But if the Lord, thy God has not called thee, there will be but closed doors before thee—and try to open them thyself will be but failure, and failure to thyself and disaster. But when Jesus really wants you to go forth with His message unto those who are lost, unto those who are suffering, He will open up the door before thee, and He will give unto thee the anointing and His gifts.
And the gifts that He bestows upon thee will make room for thee according to His word: for the Lord thy God will make room for those whom He calls. Hallelujah! You know, I was in pastoral work one time, just a little store. And felt, oh, I just knew my time was up.
So I left, but I didn’t know where to go. I said to Wife, “I’ll tell you we’re going to go to some city and rent a furnished room and wait on God.” And that’s what we did, and waited on God for about a week. One day, somebody knocks at the door downstairs and asked for me. I heard him say, “Is Brother Beuttler here?” “Yes, he’s upstairs.” So they called me down.
There was a man there, a board member from a certain church. He said, “Brother Beuttler, we’re without a pastor. We have one ordered, but he can’t come. Could you speak for us on Tuesday night?
I said, “Sure.” Oh, I was tickled. We waited a whole week upon God for an open door. I didn’t ride around, open for calls, or advertising or anything. I just waited upon God, and he came.
That was Tuesday night. The Lord blessed. After the meeting they said, “Could you come back Thursday night for the prayer meeting?” “Sure.” Then they said, “What are you doing on Sunday?” I said, “Nothing.” “Why not take the meetings for us?” “Alright.” Why you know that went on for a week or two. Then they said, “Say, why should you stay in that furnished room.
Move into the parsonage awhile until the preacher gets here.” So we moved in. Well he was out in British Columbia and was delayed, and you know the Lord blessed. Just like we had in the utterance before: Your gift makes room for you. The blessing of the Lord makes the open door.
You don’t have to stand there with a crowbar or a stick of dynamite. Hey there, need a preacher? (Makes noises like prying up boards.) You know why it doesn’t open? The Lord’s on the other end holding it shut.
(Laughter) The chairman came to me. You don’t mind if I just talk to you do you? Just floating along now, and we’ll forget, we’ll just float along. It won’t last long.
He said to me, “Brother Beuttler, the people are sorry they selected a pastor. They’d like to keep you.” Well wouldn’t that have been a chance for me to say, “Well now, I’ll tell you now, maybe we can just work that.” No sir. I said, “Nothing doing. I wouldn’t consider it.
You called that man. That thing’s settled. You asked me to stay until he comes back. As soon as he comes back, I move out.
I wouldn’t go in for anything like that.” I just do not do monkey business. Some evangelist would do very well to do that too. I’m going to get into something yet this morning by a few of us. That brother said that to me in the kitchen.
He said to me, “Brother Beuttler let’s pray.” I had nothing to pray about. If he did, that was up to him. So I knelt down with him; I let him do the praying. I just waited until he got done.
And he prayed. He prayed about this situation, and do you know what? While he prayed, God said to me. Now the way He did it, He gave me the scripture right in here (pointing to heart), but I could just about say, in a felt voice like, whatever that is—not just come to the mind—in here (pointing to heart again).
Behold I have set before thee an open door and no man can shut it. And I knew this church is God’s open door for me, and I was appointed pastor of the Lord. But listen, I did not say, “Boo or bee” to that brother, or anybody else, except to Wife. I said to Wife, “Do you know what the Lord said to me?” Excuse me, I told it to Brother Swift.
Brother Swift said to me, “Brother Beuttler, just lie low.” That Brother Swift knows something. He said, “Lie low.” I knew what he meant, and I felt the same way, but it was nice to hear that. I never said a word apart from Wife and to him. He got up and said, “Brother Beuttler, I just feel that you’re God’s man.” “Well,” I said, “You voted another man, and I’m not doing any monkey business.” And yet God had said that to me.
I agreed with him, but I wasn’t going to tell him that. So we went down. Along comes a letter, something to the effect that the evangelist who was to be the pastor was in meetings. And God was so blessing out there, the people were asking whether he could stay longer, and asked if he could delay his coming.
They asked me whether I could stay on. I said, “Sure I can stay on until he comes.” So they wrote back, “Sure, it will be alright, you can stay on as long as you like.” (Laughter) Finally there comes a letter, “The meetings are finished, and I’m coming East, and hope to get there within a few weeks. Alright, time went by. Somebody wanted meetings on the way.
They lasted for awhile. So there was more delay. Then he got started again and his car broke down. Finally he sent a wire and asked if it wasn’t alright if he didn’t come at all.
And I was in. (Laughter) Now what I rejoice in is in God. Not that I was in—that’s incidental. I later learned that church had about 20 candidates.
And I still remember one brother, a heavy brother. He’s dead now. I’d give his name if I could think of it right now. He came to me and said, “Brother Beuttler, tell me one thing.
You’re just a youngster compared to us (which was true). We’ve had many years of ministerial experience, members in good standing with the council.” (And I was only an exhorter—they were reverend. They sent in their credentials, their recommendations). He said, “Look here brother, here are us fellows that wanted that church, and you got it, and you didn’t even know they needed a pastor, and you weren’t even a candidate.
Brother, tell me, how did you do it? Where is your pull?” (Pulled from the ceiling) Why not have pull with God? I know there are folk pulling. Oh, the politics; Oh, the roundabout scheming!
But I’ll tell you something: There is nothing like walking with your God. Just to let you see how God works. We were there a few weeks and God gave me a dream. Uhah!
In the dream, I think there were about 7 different scenes, and God showed me the need of the church. I still remember the first one. I saw the young people of the church coming, a vision oratory. I wouldn’t guess which way, just something I saw.
And they kept coming in—I still see them as I think of them. They were dancing on their toes, spinning around dancing, playing instruments; they had colorful clothes (I forgot the arrangement of the colors), but say for instance they had little caps select sitting on the sides of their ear, very coquettish, if I may put it that way, you know, goofy something—say green capes, purple slacks, dancing shoes, dancing activity down where the young people always sat, couple or three dozen of them or so.
As they danced in, a voice said to me, like the voice of the trumpet, “This is the world.” The scene changed and I saw another scene. That changed, and I saw another scene—seven different scenes. When I woke up, I woke up under the power. The last scene, I found myself standing there at the pulpit with a pile of wedges in my hand.
They had blood on them. There was nobody there and everything was so clean, and I stood there by myself, looked over the auditorium, and I said out loud, “My, how clean everything is.” And it was finished. I knew at once the need of the church, what my work was to be, and what would be the last of my job. I knew when that came, I would be finished.
Years went by, the scenes developed. Everything came true. After four years, I think it was, the folk decided to renovate the church, and we made a complete renovation—indirect lighting, varnishing and roofing and everything. But the Friday, there was one thing missing.
I remember one of the ladies saying, “There’s one thing we haven’t done, and that is wash the rug.” There was a maroon rug in the auditorium. So they said, “Let’s get to work and get some double pneumonia, ammonia, or something, and let’s wash the rug.” (laughter) And they went at it until late at night. In the morning, I came down to look over that auditorium. Auditorium sounds big, but just a—well I don’t know what the seating was, couple of hundred, something like that.
Anyhow, there I stood. There was nobody there, and I looked over the change that had taken place. I had forgotten about these scenes four years ago and what I had said. Believe it or not, I said out loud, “My, how clean everything is.” And when I said that, I suddenly remembered that was the end, four years ago in that vision or dream, and I knew then that when that comes I’d be finished—and at once knew, “I’m through.” I just knew it, all at once.
I said to myself, “So, it’s time for me to move on. Where will I go?” Just like that. I stood there a few moments and I heard the mailman come. I thought, “Well, I’ll go out and see what’s in the mail.” There was a letter from Eastern Bible Institute.
“Dear Brother Beuttler, We are in need of a teacher and would like to ask whether you would consent to join our faculty this coming Fall.” I knew at once: this is it. I’ll tell you folks, when God leads, He knows how. I knew it at once. I went upstairs and said to Wife, “You know what?
I’ve got news for you.” She said, “What’s that?” “I’m resigning.” “RESIGNING!” “Uhah” “Where are you going to go?” “EBI.” “How come?” I showed her the letter. I’ll tell you folks, God is wonderful. If you are called of God, other things being equal, He will make a way for you, and if He does not make a way for you why don’t you have sense enough to reexamine your call and see whether there is something amiss. Now God does keep some people waiting, but believe you me, I will say this, “Sooner or later for sure God will make a way for you.” You mean God calls and doesn’t make a way?
Don’t tell me that. He might keep you waiting and get you ready, and work something, and ask you to do the little things. I’m aware of that, but in the overall picture, do you think God says… Blank space on tape, Then We are certainly doing all we can to encourage it. It’s now getting to be, in many instances, simply a job.
But I’ll tell you in many instances it’s still His high divine vocation where God’s servants are willing to go and to suffer, and go through hardship because the thing is burning in their souls. Amen! Do you think I’d go to France if God didn’t want me to go? I know nicer places to go to for a vacation—Switzerland for instance.
That’s the country. Grumbly noises—Ugh but Brother Beuttler…Yea, you just don’t know. When God asks you to sit where faith sits, that’s another story. It’s one thing if you walk over to the Anglo-American Hotel in Paris, and you eat there—lovely, or the Pompom Café or such places—fine.
But wait till God asks you to go out to the highways and stay where they stay and eat what they eat—meats that are full of blood with the blood running around on your plate, French style; coffee that’s almost unbearable to drink, French coffee. God’s given me the scripture from Luke very clearly, Eat and drink such things as they give thee. How would you like to sit down in a French hall, even with a pastor? He says, “Brother Beuttler, come in for dinner.” And when you get into what you might call the dining room—though its every room combined, you sit at a large dish about this size, man, wife, 4-5 children, “Come on brother, have a spoon.” Everybody digs into the same dish.
Hallelujah! Now some of you are waking up! (Laughter) Oh yes! But folks, when the message is burning in your soul, and the constraining of the Holy Ghost, you’re willing to go a long ways for God.
Pray for some of our missionaries. What they get offered to eat—and I’ve had only a little taste of it, not even comparable. We had a missionary down in school who told us how they were eating with a chief—I guess in Africa. They were making soup or something and she happened to walk into the kitchen.
She saw the pot, and then she just saw the eye of a goat’s head looking up at her. They were making soup from the head: eyes, tongue, brains, hair, whiskers, everything went in. To refuse it meant to insult the tribe and to lose the opportunity to preach. She said, “Students, I had to ask God to help me get it down, and then to help me keep it there.” (Laughter) Oh folk, and the half has not been told.
Wherefore wilt thou run, my son seeing thou hast no tidings ready? Oh, but let me run. Run, and he ran. Then look at the picture.
Brother, if someone doesn’t get mad at me this morning, they never will. Hope they get mad enough to scratch themselves and not me. (Laughter) When he finally arrived to bring supposedly tidings, and he was asked, “Well how are things? What’s the message?” I saw a great tumult, but I knew not what it was.
(Laughter) I saw a great commotion, but I don’t know what it was all about. And the king said, You better stand to the side. I see another messenger coming. And when he came, Tidings my lord, O king, tidings.
God is looking for men and women who bear tidings from the throne of heaven to men upon the earth, but the kingdom of God is hindered by those who insist on running without being sent, and without having tidings, and all they do is sow confusion. I saw a great tumult, but I knew not what it was. Praise God! Do you know what?
I believe in a call from God. Now then let me shock you. I’ll give you a shock. Yesterday morning I gave you a shock, but then I unshocked you regarding the baptism.
But now I give you a shock, and at the moment I don’t know how I can unshock you. We had a brother of considerable influence in our circles visiting Eastern Bible Institute a few years ago, a man of considerable influence. Do you know what that man said to our students? He denied the existence of a call to the ministry, and you’d be amazed if I’d give you more information, but I won’t.
He ridiculed the idea of a call, and our students were just about shell shocked. “You don’t need no call to the mission field. All you got to do is go.” Folks, what are we coming to in this movement anyhow? That’s what I would like to know.
What is ever getting into some of our men’s heads? What has ever happened? Brother, did we give him a shaking down. Whew!
He didn’t show up for years. Brother Swift worked on him, and how. Do you know what he said? He said, “Listen students, the Bible says, Go into all the world.
What are you doing in America anyhow? You’ve got no business to be in America unless God has told you to stay because the Bible says, Go into all the world. Get out of America, Go.” Well, I’m not mad either. Why it took us weeks to get those students back into balance.
“The Bible says go, therefore go” Yea? If that’s the case then all we in America go to Africa and China, and all those in Africa and China—they all go to America, because the Bible says over there too, “Go.” So the Africans go over here, the Americans go over there, and we’ll trade countries because the Bible says, To every nation go. Sure it says go, that is the general command to the church to propagate the gospel everywhere, but within the framework of that general call, there is a specific call to specific individuals to do a specific job.
Amen! I’ll stand on that. I’ll stand up to anybody or bodies on that. That’s one of the things that’s ailing us today.
We’re now feeding pastors from our schools into the Assemblies who were never called to the ministry. And listen folk, Bible schools, and I’m from Bible school so I’m the fellow to say it, “Bible schools do not make preachers. Bible schools do not give calls. Bible schools are only, at the best, an instrument in the hand of God to prepare the young people, but He’s got to do the calling, and He’s got to do the placing, and He’s got to do the work in them.” It is too bad that all we need now in some areas is a Bible school certificate, or still more, a theological degree or certain certificates: Alright now you went through this school; you studied this; you studied that; you studied some other thing; majored in this; majored in that, fine now you’re ready to be a pastor.
How come? That does not follow. The way you’re looking at me, you seem to be of a different persuasion. I hope it hasn’t gone that far that you don’t know any better.
God uses schools, and I happen to know that, but schools without God are impotent, and however fine the ecclesiastical or theological training of a student, unless God has called them and anointed them with the Holy Ghost, they are still useless to say the least. We need to come back to scriptural fundamentals relative to the ministry. God calls. Some, as Ahimaaz call themselves.
If you call yourself, uncall yourself and go back to the thing you’ve left. It’s the greatest thing you can do for the kingdom of God—to get out of the way, the place where you don’t belong in the program of God. Some people can do more by their absence than by their presence. Ahimaaz is an example.
I said before I know the majority of you, though not in that field, but I’ll tell you something, “You, as members of your congregation, need to be aware of the problem so that you can make better choices in some instances by moving in the Lord.” I could have saved churches from ruin if they had asked me. Now I wouldn’t interfere, but what I mean is, in some instances—and so can others—help beforehand, that’s what they got; there’re going to pay for that because there are men who move on their talent and personality appeal and natural persuasiveness who do not move in God.
Many of our rank and file people don’t know the difference. That’s why you’re here to learn. Some call themselves. I want to turn to another one while we have 10-15 minutes to spare.
This one is found in the Book of Acts. You know the Apostle Peter, once upon a time, he was quite a flunderbus. Now mind you, I count myself privileged to be as good as Peter, but Peter made some outstanding mistakes, and one of them is right here. You know that Judas fell, and the Lord had ordained 12 apostles.
While the Lord had told them to wait around for awhile for the Baptism, Peter was one of those organizers, legislatures, super mechanics who always had to work on God’s program with a monkey wrench with the emphasis on the monkey. (Laughter) I’m bad, amen’t I? Aren’t you glad the camp is over? I wish I had another week with you.
From physical points, I’m glad, but I’d like to give you another week. There’s lots more on the shelf in the pantry. Oh my yes! Some down in the cellar, yes.
Well here is your mechanic, got to help God out. He calls for a business meeting. In those days Peter stood up in the midst and said, ‘Men and brethren, the scripture must needs be fulfilled.’ We’ve got to help God out. Something’s gone wrong in the program of God.
We’ve got to do something about it. Yes, we’ve got to. Which the Holy Ghost by David spake etc. Judas was numbered with us, and had obtained part of this ministry.
Now this man purchased a field, etc. And falling down headlong, he burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out. And it was known to all the dwellers at Jerusalem. And in verse 20, For it is written…Let his habitation be desolate, and let no man dwell therein: and his bishoprick let another take.
Yes sir! Do you know what? There’s more than one man in somebody else’s place, and his bishoprick let another take. You just keep on going on without God and push the Holy Ghost out the back door of your church, and you’re just going to take over and railroad this program for God.
The chances are the day will come that God will pick you up and put you on a shelf and then put a youngster in there, and he goes to town for God. It’s happened over and over and over again. And his bishoprick let another take—there’s a warning there. Wherefore of these men which have companied with us, etc, one must be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection.
We’ve got to ordain somebody; we’ve got to appoint an apostle. And they appointed two. They had two candidates, Joseph and Matthias. And they prayed, Lord, which knoweth the hearts of all men, show whether of these two thou hast chosen.
The nerve! Don’t tell me Peter acted in God. Tell it to yourself, but not to me. We’ve got to do something; there’s one missing.
Men and brethren what shall we do? We’ve got to have a business meeting; we’ve got to ordain an apostle; there’s supposed to be twelve. We’ve got only eleven; we’ve got to do something about it; let’s have some candidate. Who will candidate for the apostleship, John, thank you my brother dear; Matthias, yes my brother dear.
Is that all? That’s all. What do you think of that, brethren? Well, we’ve got two candidates; come forward gentlemen.
Oh God of Jacob, Isaac and Benjamin, show us now which one of those two You have chosen. Who said God ever selected them? They were basing a prayer on a false premise. They had made an assumption that wasn’t justified.
How did Peter know one of these was to be an apostle? He couldn’t know; he didn’t know; subsequent events show that. Oh God, now Lord; now there’re going to have a vote, secret ballot, lot—I guess that’s what it was. Everybody keep praying now.
Matthias—what was the other fellow? Was it John? Who was it? Joseph, well whatever.
Joseph and Matthias—everybody keep praying now. Oh God, show us which of the two. (Laughter—must be demonstrating throwing lots). Here the lot is on the Right Reverend Matthias.
(Laughter) Speech, speech, 12 apostles, let’s give them a hand (claps). Don’t tell me! He was a good man no doubt, and God probably used him, but as for apostleship, God never even sniffed at him. He was no doubt a good man; you can be a good man without being in the ministry and sometimes better.
But Brother Beuttler, it’s in the Bible. Why of course. A lot of buts in the Bible that is not to be believed. Now I’ve done it!
There are statements in the Bible that are not true. They are quotations of untrue statements which people make. They are recorded by inspiration. What is true about the untrue statement is that they are not true.
Individuals made them and they’re recorded. For instance: The devil said to Eve, You shall not surely die. That was a lie, right? That was not true; it’s in the Bible, not to be believed, but to be learned from.
Job’s wife said, Curse God and die. Why don’t you do it; the Bible says it? It says it, does it not? But it doesn’t tell us to say it; it only tells us what Mrs.
Job said, and how foolish she was in saying it. Do you get now what I mean? You better get it or you’ll get me into a peck of trouble. The Bible says, Eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow we die.
Why don’t you do it? It’s in the Bible. Jesus was quoting what the worldlings said; He didn’t teach that we should say that. Do you get the difference?
So there are in the Bible a recording of failures, the failures of men, and this was a failure, a mistake that was recorded by divine inspiration for our benefit to teach us that we should not act hasty and try to help God out in our own way. He acted on his own. I must close soon. Matthias was a man-made apostle.
We get them nowadays too. Behold, thus says the Lord, Thou shalt be an apostle to the east, and to the west, and to the south, and the north, and thou shall be great in the eyes of the Lord, therefore go thou forth and the Lord will be with thee. Amen. Amen brother, the Right Reverend So and So.
Ah, now you’re ordained. (Laughter) I’m not talking about ordination services, presbyters—that’s not in my mind. I’m talking about those individuals whose monkey business it is to call other people to the ministry. They ought to go where they belong—in a zoo.
I’m not even saying that God cannot use an individual—I believe He can; I believe He does, but I say this. You see, I bump into them. Folks come to me all over, in this campground, in other places, “Brother Beuttler, two years ago somebody prophesied over me and called me to be an apostle and nothing’s happened. What’s wrong?” What do you suppose is wrong?
Forget it, go back home and take care of your family. How are you? Can you take 5 more minutes and I’ll call it quits? Well Brother Beuttler, who was the apostle then?
Galatians 1—Oh there’s a reason why Paul talks the way he does: Paul, an apostle, and then his famous parenthesis, or his usual parenthesis (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead.) Why does Paul thus speak? I’ll tell you why? Because some believer denied that Paul was an apostle because there were already 12, so by inference Paul says, listen here, I am an apostle, not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ.
Do you know what? In Revelation you have 12 foundations and for each foundation there is a name of an apostle. Is that right? Do you mean to tell me that Paul’s name is missing from that foundation, and that the name of Matthias is the name in the place of Paul?
Don’t tell me that. Paul was the greatest of the apostles, and you mean to tell me his name isn’t in that foundation? Go on! I’ll tell you what’s missing—Matthias.
No doubt he’ll be there in the glory. He was a good man; I don’t doubt he had a ministry; that he was full of the Holy Ghost; that he’s among the redeemed—no reflection on the man—only on the mistake which Peter made. They had the wrong man under the title of apostle. Don’t tell me!
In the New Jerusalem on one of those foundations there will be the name of Paul and not Matthias. Paul here is speaking with a tremendous conviction: Paul, an apostle by Jesus Christ. Do you know what Paul had here—a deep assurance. Do you know how folks come to me?
“Brother Beuttler, I was called to the ministry, either by a dream or a vision or somebody putting hands on me—in different ways—and this hasn’t worked out, that hasn’t worked out. Brother Beuttler, do you think I am really called?” Usually I say, “I don’t think so.” I’ll tell you why. When you’re called, you know it. I Paul, an apostle—there is a ring of conviction, a ring of assurance, a ring of certainty, even a note of defiance against any contrary view.
Do you know what? I know I’m called, and I know I’m in the will of God right this morning in Mountain View Camp, and a thousand of you could stand up and say, “Beuttler, you’re not called.” And the General Council could say, “Beuttler, you’re not called. We’re going to take your papers from you.” I would look and say, “Listen boys, I want to tell you one thing. As for me, I know what I know.
No hard feelings, goodbye gentlemen, but I know what I know.” In the final analysis you got a conviction, an assurance, a certainty, and a ring, and a foundation, an indefinable something within that can say, “I say so, called to be, not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ.” Let’s pray now. Hallelujah, praise God! Glory to God! Hallelujah!
Father, Thou art God; Thou art the God of all the earth. You take a moment now and look down in every heart, and we think particular of every heart that comes into question with a call. Perchance our Father, some have found themselves this morning; perchance some have received a new assurance; perchance some have received a realization that they are moving on their own without authority, without divine credentials. Father, look Thou into those hearts now.
I want to pause with you now for a moment in His presence. Hallelujah praise God. Hallelujah! You sure somebody’s not holding back on the Spirit?
Message in Tongues & Interpretation Yea and I have said unto thee, thou must sometimes come and take a lower seat because thou in thine own mind desired a higher seat than I have made for thee to have. But I did not say unto thee there was not a seat for thee, for I have prepared a place for thee. Yea, if thou will search Me, I will put thee together. Yea, I say unto all of thee, I am building thee into a body, and I would that each joint and each muscle will be joined together where it belongeth.
Oh, I have a commission for each one of thee, but I call thee and I shall assure thee because I shall stand with thee when thou gettest where I wish thee to be. Hallelujah! Praise the Lord! (softly several times) I’m pausing because I do not feel that God is quite finished with us.
Another message Say thou not in thine heart that the servant of the Lord has grieved the Holy Ghost. It is thy own spirit that has been hurt. Go thou to the Word of God. Thy experiences that are in the Holy Ghost will agree with the Word of God for it is written that the Word and the Spirit and the Bride all agree.
Oh, walk thou in His light. What is it that shall just be on that day when thou shall stand in His presence? Did not the Master say, My words—they shall judge thee at that day. I am thy Lord and Master and the Head of the church and I lay My hand upon whosoever I will, and what is sweeter than to have the assurance that thou art living and moving and knowing that thou art in My will being led by My Spirit and moving in God.
Then the winds may blow and the tempest may sweep and thou wilt be able to say, Master, I came at Thy bidding. Fear thou not then when the storm shall thus surround thee for He who has sent thee will come to thee in the darkest hour and behold the storm shall become a calm. And though Satan has tempted thee to believe thou hast moved out of the will of God, thou shalt say, Dear Lord, I knew that it was Thee. Be sure of thy steppings in God that when you look Him in the face and stand in His presence, you’ll be able to say, Lord, I have done what Thou didst ask me.
Hallelujah! Now we’re free, shall we stand. Our Father, we commit now Thy Word to the keeping and nourishing and watering by Thy Spirit. Keep us, our Father, in our respective places in the Body there to make our several contributions in the Lord.
For Thy Name sake, Amen. Thank you for your patience.
This message is one of the sixty-six surviving transcripts of Walter Beuttler's teaching. To hear his voice, visit the Messages page. To read the story of his life — from the Brooklyn Bridge to the school of the Spirit — see Who Was Walter Beuttler? The True Story of the Man Who Knew God.
The Man Who Knew God
Walter Beuttler was never famous, yet he carried God's presence to more than a hundred countries. His students said that when he walked into a room, the air changed. This is the first full account of a friendship with God that was specific, sustained, and costly. Read the story of his life →