9-21-2024 Know Your Calling

How many people actually know the calling Father has placed upon their lives?

Matt. 28:19-20            Therefore, go and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost.  Teach them to observe all that I have commanded you and know that I am always with you until the end of the world.

First and foremost, Jesus calls us to share our faith with those around us and to the best of our knowledge, how to live in Father’s love.  It is the calling for all Christians.  No, we don’t have to be 24/7 evangelists, but as Father shows us opportunities, we should step up for we don’t know if either we, or the person with whom we share, has tomorrow (Prov. 27:1, Matt. 6:34).

Two passages Father has given me as examples as recognizing the calling He places upon our lives.

(1) Ezek. 37:1-14         Ezekiel was carried out into a valley filled with dry bones.  Father had him walk in and amongst those old dried bones (to get the feel).  “Son of man, can these bones live?”  Ezekiel replied “Lord, God, you know.  Then God said ”  Speak to the bones “Dry bones, listen to the word of the Lord.  Behold, I will cause breath to enter you and you shall live.  I will lay sinews upon you and flesh and skin and put breath in you and you shall live and you will know that I am the Lord.”

Note that God told Ezekiel to do this.

                                    Ezekiel did as commanded and there was a noise, a shaking and the bones came together, bone on bone.  And Ezekiel saw the sinew, flesh and skin come upon those bones but there was no life in them. 

Then, God told Ezekiel to prophesy to the wind “Thus says the Lord, God come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these that are slain that they might live.”  Breath came into them and an exceedingly great army stood up upon their feet. 

God said these bones are the whole house of Israel and what do they say ‘our bones are dried, our hope is lost, we are cut off for our parts.’

Then God tells Ezekiel to prophecy “Thus says the Lord God; behold my people, I will open your graves and cause you to come out of those graves.  I will put my Spirit in you and place you in your own land.  Then you shall know that I the Lord have said and performed it, says the Lord.”

As in the day of Israel, when they strayed from God, is today’s church filled with dry bones?  Yet, today there is an army waiting to arise up.  Tasha Cobbs Leonard’s song “Break Every Chain” reflects this, “There’s an army risin’ up … to break every chain …”  And I say look at the world around you, an army is beginning to rise up.  Today, many Christians are half asleep or fallen into a drowsy slumber of comfortability.  Father says first (and He’s been doing this for 700 years) He’s going to gather those old dry bones and start connecting them together again into proper alignment.  Christians just might start recognizing ‘common denominators’ instead of the differences between the ‘denominations.  We are a body.  Spiritual ligaments assure a connection and strong foundation and that foundation is upon the Rock and that Rock is Jesus Christ (Psalm 62:5-6, Luke 6:46-49).  Remember that Jesus is our cornerstone and that all things are properly placed into perspective in Him that we may become a Holy Temple for the Lord (Eph. 2:20-21, 1 Corinth. 6:19-20). Let me rephrase that.  We just might become that Holy Tabernacle Father intended us to be.  That is we might become that resting place where Father can commune with us – individually!  God’s glory came upon Israel’s tabernacle in the wilderness, now He desires to come and rest in our tabernacle (our body) and commune with us!  Glory to God!

He’s giving us Spiritual muscle.  That is He’s pouring His Word into our heart and mind and building our faith so as we abide in Him we CAN do all that He (Jesus) did and more (John 14:12) in love (1 Corinth. 16:14).  Jesus does give us the authority (exousia) over things of this world as well as authority over the power (dunamis) of the devil (Luke 9:1).  Jesus tells us that as we believe, we can tell a mountain to move and it will (Mark 11:23-24).  That mountain is anything that comes between us and the Lord and that means that’s ‘authority’ over things of this world.  We can cast a demon out in Jesus’ name and it must go (Acts 16:16-18) and that’s authority over the spiritual world.  And as we love Jesus, an outer layer of love will envelope us and those around us will see that love emanating from our heart (Gal. 2:20).    

Father tells us HE is giving us life, that is pulling us up, out of that grave of indifference to become that spark, that light unto the world (Matt. 5:14-16) which He intended us to be.

It is our responsibility to do that for which He has called us.

(2) Jer. 1:1-10              The word of the Lord came to Jeremiah between the times when Josiah was king until Israel was carried way into captivity. 

The word of the Lord came and said “I knew you before I formed you in the belly.  Before you were born, I sanctified you and I ordained you to be a prophet to the nations.  “

Then I said “Ah Lord God!  I cannot speak for I am like a child.”  Then the Lord said “Don’t tell me that you are like a child.  For you shall go to all that I send you and speak what I give you to say.  Don’t be afraid of how they look (before you or at you), for I am with you to deliver you, says the Lord.”

Then the Lord put forth His hand and touched my mouth and said “I have put my words in your mouth.  This day I have set you over nations and kingdoms to root out, pull down, destroy, overthrow then to build and to plant.”

(That is to clean house and rebuild us into a new man, even a new church).

This passage pretty much speaks for itself and to some degree, each one of us should have had this type of experience with the Lord.   God knew what He wanted us to be and do before mama and papa even thought about having us.  Before we entered into this world, He had already ordained (nathan H5414-appoint, ascribe, commit) us into the ministry He has for us.  We can’t cry about being ignorant because the Holy Ghost will give us what to speak (Luke 12:11-12).  So why would we be afraid to speak out?  Or course, we do have to study the bible so the Holy Ghost has something  to bring back to our remembrance  All we need to be concerned about is being aware of when He calls us, then being obedient to go when, where and then speak! 

Remember, Jesus is always with us (Matt. 28:20)!(the Holy Ghost is in us - Acts 1:8, John 14:17).  Jesus says that as we abide (meno G3306, stay with endure) in Him (His Word) we will bear fruit and we will have what we ask of God (John 15:1-7).

As we search for our calling, Father will confirm when we have discovered it (Heb. 2:4). 

So how can we recognize our calling? 

As with me, Father might give us a scripture or scriptures (the bible) declaring that to which He is calling us.  Father didn’t speak the word to me, audibly, but He did speak to me in my heart and mind as He showed me the scriptures.

Yet He did speak directly (audibly) with Jeremiah and Ezekiel.  The Holy Ghost was with them, but now, the Holt Ghost,  abides (or should) in us.

A man or woman of God might give us a word (2 Peter 1:21).  “God said to tell you …”

Father may show us something in the world around us that suddenly ‘rings a bell’ (Rom. 1:19-20).  Birds in the grass looking for food – ‘My children are hungry, feed them.’

Father gives us gifts (without repentance – Rom. 11:29), talents and abilities.  These are those things which we seem to have a natural ‘knack’ for (to do) or those things which seem to always grab our attention (skills).  These things just might give us a ‘clue’ to that which Father is calling us.

When in doubt, or even if you think you’re pretty sure, ask Father for confirmation and then follow the lead of the Holy Ghost.

Amen

Note significant numbers for this season

5          grace, favor

9          fruit of the Spirit, divine completeness, God’s visitation

8          new birth, new beginnings, new creation

2          union (with Father), witnessing

24        (this year, 2024) priesthood  

Father’s grace and favor bring the fruit of the Spirit and God’s visitation which brings new beginnings which results in a closer union with the father so we can be witnesses for Him as we become His modern day priesthood in 2024.

also

3          divine completeness, perfection

25        (next year, 2025) forgiveness, repentance, grace

5, 9 & 8 read the same while 3 replaces 2 as Father brings us into His completeness (maturity) in Him, which as souls repent, Father’s forgiveness will abound in 2025 and His grace will teach us to live in His love.