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Tuesday, January
15, 2008
Calling All Christians
2 Peter 1:10-13 Wherefore the rather,
brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye
do these things, ye shall never fall: (11) For so an entrance shall be
ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and
Saviour Jesus Christ. (12) Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you
always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be
established in the present truth. (13) Yea, I think it meet, as long as I
am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance; (KJV)
The role of teacher or preacher of the
word of God is not only to answer their heavenly calling from above, but to
also remind others how to make sure they are answering theirs as well;
constantly being a reminder to others whether by example or words of
encouragement. Your calling came from above; a spiritual calling that can
only be answered by spiritual people who have ears to hear and their eyes
of understanding enlightened to the truth.
John 6:63-65 It is the spirit that
quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you,
they are spirit, and they are life. (64) But there are some of you that
believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed
not, and who should betray him. (65) And he said, Therefore said I unto
you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my
Father. (KJV)
As we talked about yesterday and alluded
to, the fact that the more we keep ourselves out of the way with man’s
ideas and seeking their approval the more effective we are in answering our
heavenly calling. God does not need our help or input. Rather the more we
stay out of the way with our carnal thinking and reasoning the better off
we are. Your calling and the gift of salvation came to us by our Father through
the Son, and no man is able to operate in His realm or approach Him unless
it is done according to His word.
Mark 11:27-33 And they come again to
Jerusalem: and as he was walking in the temple, there come to him the chief
priests, and the scribes, and the elders, (28) And say unto him, By what
authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority to do
these things? (29) And Jesus answered and said unto them, I will also ask
of you one question, and answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I
do these things. (30) The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or of men?
answer me. (31) And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say,
From heaven; he will say, Why then did ye not believe him? (32) But if we
shall say, Of men; they feared the people: for all men counted John, that
he was a prophet indeed. (33) And they answered and said unto Jesus, We
cannot tell. And Jesus answering saith unto them, Neither do I tell you by
what authority I do these things. (KJV)
Strong’s definition for authority:
1849
exousia (ex-oo-see'-ah); from 1832 (in the sense of ability);
privilege, i.e. (subjectively) force, capacity, competency, freedom, or
(objectively) mastery (concretely, magistrate, superhuman, potentate, token
of control), delegated influence:
KJV-- authority, jurisdiction, liberty,
power, right, strength
Do you know who your source is and who
you are receiving your calling and instructions from today? Is your
authority based on the truth of God’s word and the strength you have in
Christ, or are you waiting for someone to hand you a piece of paper or some
other document from man that says you are approved? The Lord knew His
calling and who He was answering to because He wasn’t seeking their
approval or honor, but rather seeking the only honor that can come from
above. Even though some of the people that were challenging His authority
knew the truth, rather than acknowledge it, they were more concerned with
what the others around them were thinking. And because John nor our Lord
were operating within the perimeters of what others perceived as being
godly, it was all the more reason for God to use them to preach His word.
The letter of the law kills; it chokes the new growth and doesn’t allow the
Spirit to have its way. Do you desire freedom, power and liberty? Then you
will only find it in the realm of the Spirit. The truth will set you free,
not some man-made doctrine or titles of man which many think they need to
be approved. Do you desire to receive your heavenly Father’s reward? Then
get out into His field and don’t be standing around idle with idle people
waiting for some man to tell you what to do.
Titus 2:11-15 For the grace of God that
bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, (12) Teaching us that, denying
ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and
godly, in this present world; (13) Looking for that blessed hope, and the
glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; (14) Who
gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify
unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. (15) These things
speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.
(KJV)
Can it get any simpler, Church? The truth
be known, the simpler we keep it the better off we are. Don’t let anyone
despise you and your authority in Christ because they think you haven’t
lived up to manmade standards, or are not operating according to man’s
standard procedure. One knows their calling and the liberty in the fact
that they answer their call according to what the word of God says and not
what others try and dictate. So whatever your calling is and wherever the
Lord is leading you, don’t be distracted by those that think you need man’s
titles of approval before you can be an effective minister of Christ.
John 4:35-36 Say not ye, There are yet
four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your
eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest. (36)
And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal:
that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together. (KJV)
Don’t be one of those that are standing
around idle thinking somewhere down the road they will be more qualified to
answer their calling. If the Lord has called you and asked you to go into
His field, then let no man despise your calling, including yourself
thinking you are not qualified. Most of what we see fashioned around us and
what man calls a church is done according man’s standards and not the
Lord’s. So the less one gets caught up in these facades the better off they
are and the more effective they will be. You have a direct line of
communication to our Father through His Son Jesus Christ; and the more you
answer to Him the less concerned you will be about answering to anyone
else. Our Lord is calling all Christians with a message of love and hope to
all mankind. So keep the line open so He doesn’t get a busy signal or a
disconnected message.
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