The Calling of The Lord

GOLDEN TEXT:

James 2:17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

In this day and age it becomes so easy to get caught up in everything else but what God has called us to do. The enemy has designed pleasures specifically for your life, knowing what works for you. Not necessarily weapons of sin, but tools to keep us from the altar. We will always have distractions and influences from every corner, but it is imperative that we keep the focus and keep the fight. We must always remember that no matter the distraction that comes our way, there are lost souls in the balance of life and death, that are depending on our work in Christ. There are Divine Appointments that have been set by God, but our impact in that appointment is only as good as our personal relationship with Christ itself.

THE BEGINNING
Remember Your salvation
Ephesians 2:
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
…….Your salvation came through your faith (belief) in Christ after receiving his grace. How did we receive his grace? He offered himself to us, and we acted upon that invitation.
(Take a moment right now to recall the compelling and Conviction that directed you to the altar of Salvation.) His drawing triggered a belief and longing for more, and immediately you surrendered to his Love. With that said, your salvation is powered by your Faith.
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
…….We didn’t work to attain it but in receiving it causes a desire to work!

James 2:17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
…….If our salvation came through belief, it is safe to say that a life absent of his work is a life in danger of and absent of belief, which results in a life absent of Salvation!

THE MINISTRY
Your Calling
1 Corinthians 7:
17 But as God hath distributed to every man, as the Lord hath called every one, so let him walk. And so ordain I in all churches.
…….God has appointed and created a duty or task for every person individually.
20 Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called.
…….There is nothing greater than seeing a person not only operate, but operate successfully in what Lord has called them for and created them to do.
It is obvious when someone loves his/her work for the Lord! The work remains effective and full of power and influence!
24 Brethren, let every man, wherein he is called, therein abide with God.
……. You will only be successful in working in the Ministry that was designed for you personally.
…….The power to be successful in ministry comes from desiring to do the work with God, and for God. Our ministry is the overflow of our relationship with Jesus Christ and his Church.

REJECTING THE MINISTRY
Yours and Others
Romans 13
1 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
…….This starts all the way from submitting ourselves to the government, to submitting ourselves to the Ministry of the local church.
2 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.
…….It is dangerous to find ourselves in disagreement with those who give themselves over to Ministry. One thing we must keep in mind is that not one minister is absence of flesh.
There will be moments of imperfection, times of struggle in the midst of warfare. It is always the duty of the church to continually lift up one another, regardless of opinion.
…….We should never reject others because of imperfections. When we see others flaws, remember there is always something in need of cleansing in our own lives.
9 For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended (summed up) in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
…….The Apostle Paul made it easy for us to understand. If this command would be fulfilled, all other commands would fall into order.
10 Love worketh no ill (depravity) to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.
…….Though we learn the ways of religion, if we are absent of love we are absent of all.
11 And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.
12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.
13 Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering (seclusion) and wantonness, not in strife and envying.
14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision (care) for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.