CALLED, CHOSEN and the CROSS

 

Vision on the 22-6-14

•  I saw the Cross with Jesus on it.
• Then I saw us born again
• I saw a Crown put on
• Then a declaration was written we are saved now
• There was great dancing around and a celebration
• Then I saw battle – warplanes as the enemy tried to take us off track
• Then I saw Ezekiel wheels- we are one with our brothers and sisters and our Lord
• Then we are holding a sword in power – we could speak the word out in authority
• I then saw the Holy Spirit swirling around the earth
• There was a cleaning brush sweeping out the rubbish and putting order in us
• And then the final vision was the paddling of a canoe to go forward. To step into our calling

 

I Peter 5:10

Now may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.

 The vision I received was a process we go through (or one I have gone through) to get us to a position that He can use us.

Now throughout the word the Lord talks to us about being called.

 

1 Thessalonians 2:12

That you walk worthy of God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.

Thy kingdom come thy will be done.

To come into His kingdom and Glory we need to be on our calling.  When we align with what we are called to do then we can be in a kingdom position and be walking about completing what He made us for in power.

(for those who don’t know what His calling is I cover this in the message Close to Christ)

 

2 Timothy 1:8-9

Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God, ⁹ who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began,

We have a holy calling that we are required to walk in.

Romans 8:28-30

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. ²⁹ For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. ³⁰ Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.

Jeremiah 18:4

 ⁴ And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter; so he made it again into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to make.

He made us with a purpose and He desires to see us walk in this and He will work in us to bring us to this calling He made us for.

 

Conversation with The Lord Romans 8:28

 And we know all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purposes.

I asked the Lord why does it say “The” called as this is a definite.

Answer “People choose whether they step into the calling.”

 

Asked what happens if they don’t.

His answer “Wood, Hay & Stubble”

 

Asked how do people know their calling?

“By getting close to him”

 

Everyone has a calling

1 Peter chap 4:10 & 11

As each one has received a gift (a calling).

You choose to step it.

 

You need to be prepared to step into your calling

This is 1 Peter 5:10.  There is a process to go through before you walk in your calling.

Joseph had all his preparation being completed, and then within a day went from jail to number 2 in the kingdom.

Mordecai went from nowhere, in a position of being potentially hanged, to being the second most powerful position in the kingdom

Moses went from nowhere, to leading the people.

The Lord prepares us, gets us ready, and then can move us into position straight away. So don’t worry about whether you feel you are too slow on when you are getting into your calling.

You think you are behind other people. He is in control and He can do it from nowhere. His timing is perfect.

 

28 Ecclesiastes 6:10

 Whatever one is, he has been named already…”

We are named and called.

Two days later given the verse

Romans 8:25

“But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance.”

These verses all tie together. Amazingly so.

 

Walk in works

31 May 2014

Over week got James 2.

Faith without work is nothing.

Therefore step into your calling and do the works in faith.

 

Ephesians 2:10

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

Prepare for good works. God did them beforehand.  We do the good works when we are in our calling

Matthew 5:16

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

Shine your light and see your good works and glorify your Lord.  Let you’re calling glorify the Lord.

 

2 Peter 1:10

Make your call and election sure…

An entrance will be supplied abundantly into the everlasting kingdom.

We walk in our calling and we have all for the kingdom. We give what we have.

 

Colossians 4:17

…take heed to the ministry which you have received in The Lord that you may full fill it.

Let’s stay in our calling area and not step out.

 

Romans 11:29

For the gifts and calling of God are irrevocable

He has given us a calling He doesn’t take us away from the calling.

 

The Chosen

Matthew 20:16

So the last will be first, and the first last.  For many are called, but few chosen

The Lord has been showing me that this is the year where he is raising His chosen.  Now this is a scary though as I want to be His chosen like many of you want to be I am sure.

Now many are called.  But you need to step into that calling and this is a key to being chosen.

It is not stepping into someone else’s calling but stepping into the calling you have been raised up to do.

This morning He took me to

Jeremiah 32:26

 Then the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah, saying,

27 “Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for Me?

I think this verse says it all when it comes to our calling.  Let us not doubt let us be in His will and let us step out in faith.

 

He is not the issue!

 

The Cross

What the Lord has been showing me is that to become the chosen involves the Cross.  That is our own personal cross.  There is a sacrifice involved and it requires giving up all of who we are to be all He wants us to be.  He explained to me a few years ago the cross I would need to carry to complete what He has called me to do.  It was a shock and has taken me this long to accept but I believe that as I accept it I no longer am just the called but I am the chosen.

We are not here to be creatures of comfort but we are here to complete what is written in our books.  That is what we will be measured against at the judgement seat.

I encourage you to be willing to take up whatever cost there is to you to achieve all that He has written about you.

This involves stepping out, it involves giving up “you” so you become Christ like and it involves doing the work you were called to do.

No compromise.

 

2 Timothy 2:19

The Lord knows those who are His.

 

Closeness

An old journal note (2 years)

I have been sitting through the last few days and my life is getting very busy particularly in one half of my calling.

Now I know I get excited I get absorbed when this happens. But I want to stay close to The Lord. I said to him yesterday morning take away all this if it means I lose any closeness to you.

This morning he takes me to

Philippians 4:12

I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.

13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

It says in verse 8 to meditate on these things.

When I meditate on verse 12 I find my answer. I have learned to be full and to be hungry. So I can be full in my calling (and I do get full and focussed) but I can be hungry at the same time. This is the tension I am feeling and it is natural and he has given me an answer here. He knows my thoughts and my heart (Hebrews 4 12) discerning the thoughts and intents and he uses the word to answer.

I can be content and in peace and I can do all things through The Lord. This comes from being in my calling.

 

Lord let me be close, let me carry the cross, let be chosen and let me complete what you have called me to complete.

 

Acts 2:39

“For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.”

 

Ephesians 3:10

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

Lord we walk in these works, we walk in the Spirit not the flesh and we glorify you.