OPEN HEAVENS 2017
Sunday 22th October 2017– FULFIL YOUR CALLING
Memorise: But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry. 2 Timothy 4:5
Bible Reading: Romans 12:6-18
6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith.
7 or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching;
8 Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity, he that ruleth, with diligence he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.
9 Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil, cleave to that which is good
10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love in honour preferring one another.
11 Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;
12 Rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer
13 Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality
14 Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.
15 Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.
16 Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own Conceits
17 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.
18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.
Hymn: Sing Hymn 14
Message (Sunday 22th October 2017)
Yesterday, we discussed knowing and staying within your calling. One of the reasons why it is important for you to know and stay within your calling is to fulfil the purpose of your calling. Fulfilling your calling is therefore premised on you knowing and staying within your calling. We are instructed by the Lord to ensure the profitable use of the gifts given to us by the Holy Spirit -though not without caution that it should be done in faith. Open Heaven 21 October 2017
The bedrock of the use of the gifts the Holy Spirit gives and the offices our Lord Jesus Christ calls us into is love. This is why Paul, in 1 Corinthians 12:31, as a prologue to his exposition on love, said: “But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew l unto you a more excellent way. Without love, you cannot adequately fulfil your calling. Through the story of Jonah who was commissioned as a prophet to warn a perishing nation, we learn that without love, there is no way anyone can fulfil his or her calling.
The office of a prophet is a desirable office among the fivefold offices in the Church (Ephesians 4:11). This was the office Jonah was called into. However, a lack of love for perishing souls almost made him to lose that office and his life (Jonah 1:1-15).
Beloved, into what office have you been called? Are you fulfilling your calling? If not, do you know the cause? May be it is because your heart is lacking in love. 1 Corinthians 13:2 says
And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that l could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. It is amazing to read that Jonah was angry because God decided to forgive the people of Nineveh after he had been forced to warn them to repent. Jonah 3:10-4:1 says:
And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them, and he did it not.
But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was very angry. If you don’t have love you cannot fulfil your calling to operate it. Your gifts would just be monumental but without value. It takes love to be a successful administrator to say the least. It takes love to successfully do the work of an evangelist or a teacher. Without love, you may own all the goods in the world and people dying of starvation will mean nothing to you. A pastor without love would just be milking the sheep to fatten himself up for perdition. Open Heaven 20 October 2017. Love is the excellent way of fulfilling your calling. Release your heart to love, and stay away from hate.
Prayer Point (Sunday 22th October 2017)
Father, please fill my heart with compassion and love, so that may fulfil my calling in Jesus’ Name.
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