I press on, that I may lay
hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. —Philippians 3:12
“Never choose to be a worker
for God, but once God has placed His call on you, woe be to you if you “turn
aside to the right hand or to the left” (Deuteronomy 5:32). We are not here to
work for God because we have chosen to do so, but because God has “laid hold
of” us. And once He has done so, we never have this thought, “Well, I’m really
not suited for this.” What you are to preach is also determined by God, not by
your own natural leanings or desires. Keep your soul steadfastly related to
God, and remember that you are called not simply to convey your testimony but
also to preach the gospel. Every Christian must testify to the truth of God,
but when it comes to the call to preach, there must be the agonizing grip of
God’s hand on you— your life is in the grip of God for that very purpose. How
many of us are held like that?[…] “Brethren, I do not count myself to have
apprehended; but one thing I do…I press toward the goal for the prize of the
upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:13-14).” CHAMBERS
When God calls you for a
special purpose, there is no thought about the reality of the calling, but
there may be fear about your ability to fulfill that calling. What God calls you to is spiritual and
requires the Spirit to accomplish it. That truth stretches beyond the call to
preach or the call to missions, but also the call to obedience as a
Believer. God always calls us to go
beyond ourselves. To exercise faith and
trust in Him. You don’t preach because you
think it might be “fun” or because you have a particular thought or belief that
you want to tell people about. You
preach because God has spoken and you must tell people what He has said. It is a burden and a joy. A burden because people
who want to have their ears tickled will not like what you will tell them. A joy because there is no greater experience
than to be compelled by the Spirit of God.
Martie would often tell me that she could tell when the Spirit had “taken
over”, when I had yielded to the Spirit, in one of my sermons. Whether you preach or teach, you are responsible
to God for what you say in His name. You
cannot lead His sheep astray with idle words and teachings that are not from
His heart but from your own imaginings and preferences.
And for those who are reading
this thinking, “This does not apply to me.”
I am not a preacher or a teacher.
Perhaps not by specific calling, but by general calling as a
Christian. There is a principle here that
you should heed. Everything has
spiritual context. Everything you do and
say should be under the authority of the Spirit. Your new life in Christ should be your only
life. You should not be living for God on
the one hand and living for yourself on the other. We are all teachers and purveyors of God’s
truth. What are you teaching your children about the
Christian life through your life? What are you Spiritual truth preaching to
those around you, who hear you say that you are a Christian and are watching
you live your life? Think about it … and perhaps you need to change some of the
“words” in the sermon your life is preaching.
CHARLEY
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