"FOR the GIFTS and the CALLING of God are IRREVOCABLE."
Romans 11:29 (NKJV)
• Whoever had accepted Jesus as his or her Lord and Saviour, equally had an assignment to fulfil on earth. You are saved to accomplish a purpose.
- There is a specific purpose which God had ordained for you:
"FOR we are His WORKMANSHIP, CREATED IN CHRIST JESUS FOR GOOD WORKS, WHICH God PREPARED BEFOREHAND THAT WE SHOULD WALK IN THEM" (Ephesians 2:10 NKJV). - The appointment had been made even before you were born-again, even from the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:4).
- Whatever God had called or assigned you to do, the gift to accomplish or fulfil the assignment, is already deposited in you (Romans 11:29).
- What is required of you, is faithfulness, to accomplish the purpose. You had a call to reconcile the world back to God (2 Corinthians 5:18-20).
- Apostle Paul, as an example, was faithful to the call God on his life:
“THEREFORE, King Agrippa, I WAS NOT DISOBEDIENT TO THE HEAVENLY VISION" (Act 26:19 NKJV).
7-9 In fact, when Peter, James, and John, who were known as the pillars of the church, saw how greatly God had used me in winning the Gentiles, just as Peter had been blessed so greatly in his preaching to the Jews—for the same God gave us each our special gifts—they shook hands with Barnabas and me and encouraged us to keep right on with our preaching to the Gentiles while they continued their work with the Jews."
Galatians 2:7-9 (the Living Bible)
- Every Believer, as a member of the body of Christ, has a responsibility, an assignment, a part to play, in the building of God's Kingdom on the earth:
4-5 JUST as there are many parts to our bodies, SO it is with Christ’s BODY. We are all parts of it, AND IT TAKES EVERY ONE OF US TO MAKE IT COMPLETE, FOR WE EACH HAVE DIFFERENT WORK TO DO. SO we BELONG to EACH OTHER, AND EACH NEEDS ALL THE OTHERS" (Romans 12:4-6 the Living Bible). - You need to discover your place in the body of Christ that you may fulfil purpose.
a. God promotes, that is, If you are faithful in whatever you are assigned to do.
b. He also adds to your assignment, that is, He gives more responsibility, if you are faithful in the one at hand (Matthew 25:21,23).
• We do not all have the same Callings and Gifts (Romans 12:4; 1 Corinthians 12:28-30; Ephesians 4:11).
- God has not called every Believer to the five fold Ministry—the pulpit Ministry.
- In other words, we are not all called to be Apostles, Prophets, Pastors, Evangelists, and Teachers (Ephesians 4:11; however, every Believer in Christ Jesus has an assignment.
- Everyone has been called into the Ministry of reconciliation, that is, to witness Christ to those who are yet know Him and reconcile them back to God (2 Corinthians 5:18-20).
(i) We are to tell the world that God is not angry with them, the only Sin that would send them to hell is their rejection of Jesus Christ:
17 FOR God did NOT send His Son into the WORLD TO CONDEMN The WORLD, BUT that the world THROUGH HIM MIGHT BE SAVED. 18 “HE WHO BELIEVES IN HIM IS NOT CONDEMNED; BUT HE WHO DOES NOT BELIEVE IS CONDEMNED ALREADY, BECAUSE he has NOT believed in the name of THE ONLY BEGOTTEN SON OF GOD" (John 3:17,18 (NKJV).
(ii) We also are to declare to our brothers and sisters in Christ that we are one body in Christ Jesus. There should be no discrimination, that the denominational barriers should be removed (1 Corinthians 12:12-14,25; Ephesians 4:16).
(iii) Albeit, apart from the two general callings, there are Believers who are called into five fold Ministries:
8 THEREFORE HE SAYS: “WHEN HE ASCENDED ON HIGH, HE led captivity captive, AND GAVE GIFTS TO MEN.” 11 AND He Himself GAVE some to be APOSTLES, some PROPHET'S, some EVANGELISTS, and some PASTORS and TEACHERS" (Ephesians 4:8,11 NKJV). - Every Believer should minister upwardly, that is, Worship God; outwardly, witness to sinners; and inwardly, build up the body of Christ—the church of Christ.
- Every Believer would be held accountable by God, for whatever they were called to do; and for whatever gift which was given to them to fulfil their callings (Romans 11:29; 1 Corinthians 3:13-15).
- You are accountable to God, for the call He has put on your life (2 Corinthians 5:10; Hebrews 13:17).
- God has given every Believer a responsibility, for one assignment or another, and the Gifts which are needed to fulfil whatever the call or assignment could be:
6 HAVING THEN GIFTS DIFFERING ACCORDING TO THE GRACE THAT IS GIVEN TO US, LET us Use THEM: If PROPHECY, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; 7 or MINISTRY, let us use it in our ministering; he who TEACHES, in teaching; 8 he who EXHORTS, in exhortation; he who GIVES, with liberality; he who LEADS, with diligence; he who shows MERCY, with cheerfulness" (Romans 12:6-8 NKJV). - It is a pity and a sobering thought that there may be people in hell because you, as an individual Believer, did not obey God in whatever He assigned you to do.
• You need to locate your place in the Body of Christ, through Vision; that is, knowing and following the Plan and the Purpose of God for your life.
- The gifted you have is a pointer to the area or field that God wanted to use you. - Although the temperaments are not mentioned in the Bible, but through the knowing of your temperaments, you can also deduce the area or field which God wanted to use you. God seldom use one contrary to one's disposition or temperament. IF it thus happened, enormous grace is always given to such As a complement or an augmenter.
- What made you angry could be something God wanted you to correct, and that could be the assignment, or calling, or Ministry, He wanted you to fulfil.
- What made people eulogize; applaud, praise, or commend you, could be your area of giftedness, which God wanted you to bless other people with. Through your giftedness, you can get to know what you are assigned to do.
- God has given every Believer an assignment, you need to discover your own and fulfil It.
- We are saved to serve, there is a purpose why you are born-again and you have to fulfil It and not disappoint God (Ephesians 2:8-10).
• Take a step and start working now.
- Whatever picture imprinted or painted in your heart, that is, what you see yourself doing in your heart, is the vision or assignment that God has for you.
- God will add, give you more, if you are faithful in the present assignment given to you (Matthew 25:20-23).
- Paul and Barnabas were faithful in their initial assignment, which was given to them, being a Prophet and a teacher, thus, they were promoted to assume the apostolic Ministry (Acts 13:1,2; 14:14).
- Be steadfast and unmovable in whatever you are assigned to do. Your labour is not in vain. Do it diligently and faithfully, your payday would surely come:
"THEREFORE, my beloved brothers and sisters, BE STEADFAST, IMMOVABLE, ALWAYS EXCELLING IN THE WORK OF THE LORD [always doing your best and doing more than is needed], BEING CONTINUALLY AWARE THAT YOUR LABOUR [even to the point of exhaustion] IN THE LORD IS NOT FUTILE NOR WASTED [it is never without purpose]" (1 Corinthians 15:58 Amps).
"AND say to Archippus, “TAKE HEED TO THE MINISTRY WHICH you HAVE RECEIVED IN THE LORD, THAT YOU MAY FULFILL IT.”
Colossians 4:17
• You will not fail in Jesus' name.
- Whatever is contrary to your health is rebuked and uprooted in the mighty name of Jesus Christ.
- I declare an end to that Affliction in your body now, in the mighty name of Jesus Christ.
Peace!