Dear beloved: As you go from being a baby Christian to a mature believer and step from glory to glory, it is God's will for your life to move into your destiny, to walk into your divine destiny that God has ordained for you. Paul tells us in Romans 8:28 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. v29 For whom He foreknew, He also presdestined to be conformed into the image of His Son, that He might be the first born among many brethren v30 and whom He predestined, these He also called; and whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, those He also glorified....so you were known before your time(predestined) to be shaped(conformed) into the image of Jesus Christ, and then your were also called, justified (to release from sin and declare righteous), and glorified (to shed radiance or splendor on). Wow! God Knew before you were born His perfect will for your life.
Paul tells us in Epesians 4:8 Therefore it says,"When He ascended on high, He led captive a host of captives, and He gave gifts to men." v9 (Now this expression, He ascended, what does it mean except He also had descended into the lower parts of the earth? v10 He who descended is Himself also He who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.) v11 And He gave some as apostles, some as prophets, some as evangelists, some a pastors and teachers. v11 for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ. So saints, God wants to equip you for the work of service to the body of Christ, and wants to do it by having you walk into your specific gift or calling, the gifts which are the framework or structure aound which the rest of the body of Christ is built.
How do you know what is your calling, what you are destined for? The best way to know is to step back from your life and look at it from a distance. What gets you excited, what is your passion, what gets your motor going? Is it sharing the message of Jesus to those who don't know Him (evangelist), or maybe going on mission trips to build or help the sick, to plant new churches or Bible study groups(apostle), or maybe to speak words of truth that instruct, exhort, or encourage(prophet), or maybe to nurture the flock and ground in good doctrine and teaching(pastor and teacher). This is the 5 fold (or some say four) ministry of the church, the framework upon which the covering is laid. The apostles are the governors, the prophets are guides, the evangelists are gatherers, the pastors are guardians, and the teachers ground in sound doctrine. These gifts are not given or ordained by men, they are given by Jesus Christ and administered through the Holy Spirit, and given to those who desire them. Seek them and pray that God would reveal the calling that is just for you, that you would be bold in walking into your destiny and not shrink back from moving forward. What bride would not desire gifts from her bridegroom? God wants us to desire the gifts He has in store for us, pray for them as you pray this day. God bless you, in Christ, Jim
No comments:
Post a Comment