You are doing so well! Keep up the good work!
This week in our homework, we discussed our Ministry and how we ALL HAVE ONE.
One of our key verses this week:
2 Thessalonians 1:11 ESV
To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power,
"What am I called to do?", you may ask yourself.
2 Corinthians 3:4-6 NIV
Such confidence we have through Christ before God. Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant—not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
2 Timothy 4:5 HCSB
But as for you, be serious about everything, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
Not an evangelist, you say??? Yes you are.
If you are in Christ, your goal in life is to be a witness to His Gospel work in your life. Being an evangelist simply means sharing the good news. AND if you have received Christ's salvation work in your life, then you have GOOD NEWS to share.
We are misled to believe that an Evangelist is a Job or a Position to be held by those who have studied and travel and speak to large crowds. Everyone of us is called to tell others about Jesus, and that means everyone of us is an EVANGELIST in our own spheres of influence.
How this looks specifically in each of our lives will vary depending on our spiritual gifts and personalities. But the fact remains that we are called to be His witness wherever we find ourselves.
Not just at church on Sunday morning, but in the everyday ordinary... like while driving in heavy traffic and you feel like someone cut you off and you want to "flip" them off... Like when you are in a hurry at the check out line and the person in front of you is in no hurry at all and the cashier is brand new that day...or when you are having a hard time LIKING your loved one...
The list goes on, but you get the point!
One of the questions that was posed in our lessons this week was found on page 145:
Who would you be if you loved jesus with your whole heart, soul, mind and strength? What are you bursting to do when your heart is flooded with divine affection?
In John 15:8 Jesus sain," My Father is glorified by this: that you produce much fruit and prove to be My disciples."
God has given each of gifts, talents, spiritual gifts, and a specific personality to accomplish His Divine Purpose for our lives but the goal that each of us share is to:
1) Bring Glory to God's Name
2) Build others up.
To put it another way:
Love God. Love People.
How do we fulfill our calling and do the work we are called to do??
The only way to walk worthy of our calling and to fulfill the ministry that we are called to accomplish is to do what Ezekiel was told to do in
Ezekiel 3: 1-4..
EAT THIS BOOK
You and I will not be prepared to fulfill our calling unless we know the Word of God by consuming it for ourselves on a daily basis.
Deuteronomy 32:47 NIV
They are not just idle words for you—they are your life.
Your turn to Review:
Principle Questions:
DAY 1:What exhortation is recorded in Colossians 4:17? ( p 142)
DAY 2: Compare 1 Thess 3:12 to 2 Thess 1:3. What answered prayer do you see reflected?
DAY 3: what did God tell the prophet Ezekiel to do before he spoke to Israel? (p 150)
DAY 4: How did Paul describe the symbiosis in Colossians 1:29? (p 157)
DAY 5: Who is in charge of providing what we need to do God's will? (p 158)
Personal Questions:
DAY 1: Have you found other people's contributions encouraging or discouraging lately?
Explain. ( p 144)
DAY 2: How has God used others to encourage, train, or direct you?
DAY 3: Would you like to share your letter with your small group? (pa 155)
DAY 4: In what task could you use some equipping from the Scriptures? ( p 159)
DAY5: From your experience how are preparing and repairing distinct? (p 159)