Showing posts with label Jonah. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jonah. Show all posts

Wednesday, March 10, 2021

PRESSING ON TOWARD THE GOAL - God’s direction can sometimes make us uncomfortable but I encourage you to be faithful to what he has called you to. You will experience different seasons so be faithful in every season. You can have a powerful, joyous breakthrough in your life when you repent of your disobedience and obey the voice of the Lord! Say to God, “Whatever you have for me, even if is not exactly what I choose, I will fulfill your calling. You choose and I will follow.” - “Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” - Jonah would have had a lot less trouble if he had obeyed the first time God spoke to him. He was clearly gifted and chosen, yet he fled from God’s very presence, cutting off communion with him. It must be noted, though, that as Jonah fled, he heard the voice of the Holy Spirit ringing in his ears every step of the way. And when he repented and humbled himself, the Lord began speaking to him again: “Arise, go to Ninevah, that great city, and call out against it the message that I tell you.” God’s direction can sometimes make us uncomfortable but be faithful to what he has called you to. You will experience different seasons so be faithful in every season. When Jonah obeyed God’s call, there were wonderful results. Ninevah experienced a massive revival — an amazing awakening.

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I press on toward the goal

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God’s direction can sometimes make us uncomfortable but I encourage you to be faithful to what he has called you to. You will experience different seasons so be faithful in every season. 

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You can have a powerful, joyous breakthrough in your life when you repent of your disobedience and obey the voice of the Lord! Say to God, “Whatever you have for me, even if is not exactly what I choose, I will fulfill your calling. You choose and I will follow.”

Devotional Thoughts

By Gary Wilkerson

 

“Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” - Philippians 3:13-14


 

Jonah would have had a lot less trouble if he had obeyed the first time God spoke to him.

He was clearly gifted and chosen, yet he fled from God’s very presence, cutting off communion with him.

It must be noted, though, that as Jonah fled, he heard the voice of the Holy Spirit ringing in his ears every step of the way.

And when he repented and humbled himself, the Lord began speaking to him again: “Arise, go to Ninevah, that great city, and call out against it the message that I tell you” (Jonah 3:2).

God’s direction can sometimes make us uncomfortable but I encourage you to be faithful to what he has called you to.

You will experience different seasons so be faithful in every season.

Say to God, “Whatever you have for me, even if is not exactly what I choose, I will fulfill your calling. You choose and I will follow.”

When Jonah obeyed God’s call, there were wonderful results.

Ninevah experienced a massive revival — an amazing awakening.

And, likewise, you can have a powerful, joyous breakthrough in your life when you repent of your disobedience and obey the voice of the Lord!

Gary Wilkerson is the President of World Challenge, an international mission organization that was founded by his father, David Wilkerson. He is also the Founding Pastor of The Springs Church, which he launched in 2009 with a handful of people. He has traveled nationally and internationally at conferences and conducted mission ventures such as church planting, starting orphanages, clinics, feeding programs among the poorest of the poor and the most unreached people of the earth. Gary and his wife Kelly have four children and live in Colorado Springs, CO.
Gary Wilkerson has served more than 40 years in ministry and is currently the president of World Challenge. He has written three books, travels to encourage pastors worldwide and hosts a podcast to address the tough questions that trip up many believers. 

After ministering at pastors' conferences with his father around the world, Gary began pastors' conferences with the desire to encourage pastors to encourage and strengthen them. He invites other trusted pastors, such as Pastor Carter Conlon of Times Square Church, Pastor Claude Houde of Nouvelle Vie and Pastor Jim Cymbala of Brooklyn Tabernacle to help encourage pastors and leaders around the globe. Gary, along with World Challenge, partners with local churches to organize these conferences to effectively reach local church leaders. 

In 2009, Gary Wilkerson planted a church in Colorado Springs. As exemplified by his various ministry associations, Gary has always had the heart and calling of a shepherd. This church has been the fulfillment of something God placed on his heart years ago. God’s commission to this church is that believers would be the hands and feet of Christ to the lost and hurting in this city. You can find more information about The Springs Church on their website.

https://worldchallenge.org/verse/philippians-313-14-0



Sunday, February 28, 2021

THE GIFTS AND CALLINGS OF GOD - Most people think that the term calling only relates to being called to public ministry. But the fact is that God calls people to all kinds of tasks, careers and jobs. Just because someone doesn’t stand in a pulpit with a microphone and a Bible does not mean they are not called by God. One of the biggest questions you may have is how you can know what God’s purpose for you is. And one of the biggest clues that indicate the answer is to find out what kind of gifts you have. What has God called you to do? What are you gifted to do? Whatever it is, it has great value, because God’s call is irrevocable. He won’t change His mind about you. He has gifted you and called you to do something that brings Him glory and helps you find fulfillment that you could not have doing anything else. Find and fulfill God’s calling on your life. Nothing in this world is more satisfying. - “For the gifts and calling of God are irrevocable.” - God does not change His mind on a whim, or depending on which way the zephyrs of public opinion are blowing that day. He will not change regarding His commitment to you or His purpose for your life. He created you to fulfill a divine assignment. People may try to refuse their assignment, but it will not change the reality of what God has called them to do. When the term calling is brought up, most people think that it only relates to being called to public ministry. But the fact is that God calls people to all kinds of tasks, careers and jobs.

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The Gifts and Callings of God

Find and fulfill God’s calling on your life. Nothing in this world is more satisfying.

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Most people think that the term calling only relates to being called to public ministry. But the fact is that God calls people to all kinds of tasks, careers and jobs. 

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Just because someone doesn’t stand in a pulpit with a microphone and a Bible does not mean they are not called by God. One of the biggest questions you may have is how you can know what God’s purpose for you is. And one of the biggest clues that indicate the answer is to find out what kind of gifts you have. 

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What has God called you to do? What are you gifted to do? Whatever it is, it has great value, because God’s call is irrevocable. He won’t change His mind about you. He has gifted you and called you to do something that brings Him glory and helps you find fulfillment that you could not have doing anything else. 

Rod Parsley

 

“For the gifts and calling of God are irrevocable.” - Romans 11:29

 

God does not change His mind on a whim, or depending on which way the zephyrs of public opinion are blowing that day.

He will not change regarding His commitment to you or His purpose for your life.

He created you to fulfill a divine assignment.

People may try to refuse their assignment, as Moses did, or run from it, as Jonah did, but it will not change the reality of what God has called them to do.

When the term calling is brought up, most people think that it only relates to being called to public ministry.

But the fact is that God calls people to all kinds of tasks, careers and jobs.

Just because someone doesn’t stand in a pulpit with a microphone and a Bible does not mean they are not called by God.

One of the biggest questions you may have is how you can know what God’s purpose for you is.

And one of the biggest clues that indicate the answer is to find out what kind of gifts you have.

I’m not just talking about spiritual gifts, although they are certainly involved — I’m talking about the things that motivate you, excite you and give you satisfaction.

My father and others in my family spent a lot of time involved in carpentry and other skills that involved home building.

They could frame a wall, build a set of stairs, fashion a railing, install flooring or do just about anything else the carpentry trade required.

They had to learn and practice the necessary skills, but it was easy for them, because they were called to it.

It is a pleasure to watch a master tradesman at their craft, because they do things that would baffle other people, and make it look easy.

They have gifts that allow them to fulfill their calling.

What has God called you to do?

Don’t say “God hasn’t called me to do anything,” because God has created every one of us with divine purpose.

What are you gifted to do?

Perhaps you are naturally a teacher — and believe me, that is a calling.

You might be gifted to provide care for people who are sick or who are differently able than others.

Maybe your gift and calling is to work with numbers as an auditor, an accountant or a tax consultant.

You might find fulfillment driving a big truck across the country, delivering things that people need to the places where they have access to them.

You might be good at styling hair, or making garments, or fixing other people’s plumbing.

Whatever it is, it has great value, because God’s call is irrevocable. He won’t change His mind about you.

He has gifted you and called you to do something that brings Him glory and helps you find fulfillment that you could not have doing anything else.

My prayer is that you will find and fulfill God’s calling on your life. Nothing in this world is more satisfying.

I praise You, Lord Jesus. You have redeemed my life from the pit and have set me on the solid ground.

You are my hope and my Redeemer.

How I praise Your name.

Amen.

Further Reading

Romans 11:29

Acts 17:26

Ephesians 5:21

Genesis 1:27

Breakthrough with Rod Parsley

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