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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: At the Pulpit (11/15/07)
Have you accepted the call of the pulpit with mediocrity or do you press towards the mark for the high calling of God? (Phil 3:14, 15). “For many are called, but few are chosen” (Matt 22:14 KJV). Sometimes we have too many cheerleaders and not enough warriors (Matt 9:37). But we are blessed to be a blessing. We are gifted with faith, the revelation of who God is in us, to use the gifts to empower our environment. We are called to distribute the call to others. We are God's best advertisements (Ps 67:1, 2). Once we are mature, we are hand-picked by God to speak on His behalf and represent the body of Christ with the empowerment of the Holy Spirit (Heb 5:13, 14).
For those who have received their calling and had their 'incubation' period of praying, fasting, studying and mentorship away from the world, it is time to take a part of the perfecting of the church in the five-fold ministry. We will build our spiritual muscles and use our 'keys' to bind and loose and set the captives free, keeping a humble heart with our 'ways' speaking louder than our 'titles' (action speaks louder than words, the best sermon is one lived Luke 18:19).
In the high calling, we are there for the perfecting of the saints (Eph 4:12) to shepherd (pastor), teach, evangelize with the spirit of prophecy (1 Cor 12:31, 14:39, Rev 19:10) and firstly, do the works of apostles (1 Cor 12:28). In the high calling, we are not to wait on tables (Acts 6:2), but wait and expect for the Holy Spirit to come upon us in management of our atmosphere, obedient in our own minds and spreading the confidence of Immanuel (Luke 4:18). God is coming for a mature bride, perfected and equally yoked, who has made herself ready (Eph 5:27 2 Cor 6:14, Rev 19:7). The bride (the church) will be responsible for her part the groom (Jesus) has already done His (John 14:2). The high calling is to get out of the wilderness of being tossed to and fro with every wind of doctrine (Eph 4:14) and enter into the promised land of rest (Matt 12:28, Heb 4:9), sitting in heavenly places with Christ Jesus (Eph 2:6).
In the high calling, it's never 'about us' but about the flock (John 10:12). It's not about the self-selected committees, but the Spirit-selected commitment to serve in season and out of season. It's about diligently seeking the presence of the Father in spirit and truth. It's about having the same goals as God (Matt 9:38, 10:1, 1 Tim 2:4) with signs of apostles and consistent evidence of love. It's about giving up self-preservation for the preserving of others. It's about promoting unity and never division.
If we accept the call to shepherd we must be loyal in all things and have a pure conscience. If we accept the call to teach we must be diligent to study to show ourselves approved (2 Tim 2:15). In Evangelism we must have a heart to win the nations without prejudice. A prophet must be full of compassion and not desensitized with the world (2 Tim 2:4, James 1:27). An apostle must not only be representing in word, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost (1 Thess 1:5).
There are more people being saved and anointed now than at any other time in history. We are coming to the place where signs and wonders are multiplying rapidly; where people will not deceive themselves by being a hearer of the Word and not a doer; where people will start to respect Christianity again. Where the bashful will become the brave, where the tale-bearer will tell of God, where the drug-distributor will become the tract-distributor, where the one who creeps in the shadows will heal with his shadow, where the one who flashed gang signs we be showing signs and wonders, where the murderer will lose his influence because his victims will be raised from the dead, where the devil will be begging for the Lord to take his bride. We are more than conquerors. Pulpits can and should be everywhere. The victory is ours.
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Member Comments
Member
Date
Beth LaBuff 
11/23/07
You've obviously studied the Scriptures a lot before writing this devotional. Your writing contains a lot of truth, giving the reader a lot to think about. Thanks!
Laury Hubrich 
11/25/07
You make very good points here. It might help if you could italicize the Biblical quotes and put a space between paragraphs. to italicize you do this:
blah, blah I just learned this myself:) Keep on writing and studying!
Laury