“Now separate (Grk. APHORIZO) to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” Acts 13:2 NKJV

The calling of the new birth, and corporately the calling of the one Body, is the apex of human aspiration, the highest call of the most High, the POIEMA of God, His own masterpiece. There is nothing greater, nothing higher than being a son or daughter of God, a prince or princess in the royal family of God, seated at His own right hand in glory. Such a calling is by grace alone, and cannot be marred, eliminated or removed by any of mans works. The gifts and the callings of God are without repentance.

But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. Matt 23:12 NKJV

The calling of ordination is a calling of separation unto God alone. What does that look like? Before I went full time in the ministry I ran a successful janitorial business in southern California. If you look in the records of the times, there were perhaps ten thousand janitorial businesses in SoCal, but I made mine successful. At one point the largest restaurant chain in the area offered for me to bid on three hundred of their stores. Visions of dollars danced before my eyes! Finally I asked the Lord if I could take the contract. He said, “You can, but you won’t be able to serve Me anymore.”

With that word, I walked away. Why? Because I’m separated unto God alone. (Now, the Lord may not say the same thing to you, especially if you have a marketplace anointing. Mary Kay Ash was a marketplace apostle who enabled thousands of daughters of God to make a lot of money for themselves and the Kingdom, bless God forever.) We will see that it is a separation unto borders with no option to go back to where you were before separation.

So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come forth, separate (Grk. APHORIZO) the wicked from among the just, and cast them into the furnace of fire. Matt 13:49 NKJV

The Bible is its own dictionary. As you carefully study a word it will give you its basic understanding in its first usage canonically. Subsequent usages will add light and understanding to that basic usage. In its first usage APHORIZO is used of angels separating the wicked from the just with the idea of a border or wall, as Strong’s points out, keeping them from being mixed together again. Ordained ones are to be untouched by wickedness.

But when it pleased God, who separated (Grk. APHORIZO) me from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace… Gal 1:15 NKJV

You also see in our verse here that with APHORIZO separation there is absolutely no going back to the life before separation. Just as you cannot go back into your mother’s womb, you cannot go back to your life before, or outside of separation without the severest consequences. (By the way, a year after that offer of three hundred stores, that same company cancelled all of their outside janitorial contracts. I would have been in deep trouble…) The call to separation requires the greatest maturity. You best not accept it without the deepest sobriety!

But Jesus said to him, “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” Luke 9:62 NKJV

…for there the shield of the mighty is vilely cast away, the shield of Saul, as though he had not been anointed with oil. 2 Sam 1:21 KJV

The sense of responsibility that moves me daily is knowing how much I have been given, and how I will be held accountable. You must measure what you have been given and respond accordingly. How much have you been forgiven for? How much has been committed to your trust? How much has God wielded circumstances to give you the most that you might successfully steward it for the Kingdom and the future generations of born again ones? There will be no excuses before the BEMA seat of Christ…

For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; Luke 12:48 NKJV

Ordination does not confer gift ministries. You already have your ministry, or ministries, by grace from before the foundation of the world. Ordination should recognize and activate those gifts to a greater level. David was anointed three times (1Samuel 16:13, 2 Samuel 2:4, 2 Samuel 5:3 – see 12:7), and each time produced a greater level of authority and blessing.

Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated (Grk. APHORIZO) to the gospel of God…Rom 1:1 NKJV

Paul wasn’t separated unto being an apostle. He was born again in Acts 9 with an apostle’s calling, and was activated into that ministry as he served as a bondservant of Jesus Christ. But as he was consecrated unto the gospel of God in Acts 13 there was a greater release of apostolic anointing and authority.

There are a number of years between Acts 9 and Acts 13. Calling and separation are two separate realities, closely related but unique in application. Real separation unto the call of God upon your life is many times a timing issue. I was called to the ministry in Africa in 1978 but really wasn’t separated unto it until 1995-96. Do you see?

There are a lot of people running around with certificates that are not separated unto God. Recently, the mascot of my favorite sports team was asked to perform a wedding. He got a certificate within a week that allowed him to solemnize weddings. I would laugh if I wasn’t crying, especially for the couple, but also for the mascot man!

Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate (Grk. APHORIZO), saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. 2 Cor 6:17-18 KJV

Now, every born again one is commanded to be separate FROM the world. But ordination is for separation UNTO the Kingdom of God and His specific purposes for the ordinand. The ordained one is in no way better before God than other born again ones, and should never carry themselves in such a way as to communicate that idea. The greatest are to be servants of all. Elitism is a work of the flesh, and is a characteristic of a church or ministry on a downward spiral.

Then, as soon as they had come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid on it, and bread. John 21:9 NKJV

So, why should anyone seek to be ordained? First of all, Paul and Barnabas didn’t ask to be ordained. That invitation came from the Holy Spirit. The Lord knew they were ready to be separated unto God alone. When I am asked to ordain someone, I want to know if they are mature enough to recognize what they are doing. There is a reality of making yourself, at the Lord’s invitation, a separated one, a bondslave of Jesus Christ where He alone becomes your total sufficiency, the Supplier of all your needs.

I know a dear separated one who has taken over fifty plane flights and never bought his own ticket. When he and I prayed for a dead child recently the child came back to life. There are two kinds of wealthy people – people who have lots of money, and people who have no needs. Truly separated ones carry a bankcard signed by the Lord!

For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again. 2 Cor 5:14-15 NKJV

For all who seek to be separated unto God alone, I say, I am your brother, and with all my heart I say, I have your back, and I am there for you. Whether you are ever formally ordained or not, live your life as separate unto Him, for He is your Lord and He will reward you at that day. Love you!

Remember dear ones, we must be about our Father’s business…