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When God Appoints You, He Anoints You

by Rick Warren — March 23, 2019

“The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it” (1 Thessalonians 5:24 NIV).

Just as a lamp won’t shine unless it’s plugged in, your light won’t shine unless you’re plugged into your power source. You cannot fulfill the purpose you were created for apart from the resurrection power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus said, “Apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5 NIV).

If you want God’s power to work through your life, you need to understand what it means to have his anointing and keep a few things in mind.

• When God says to do it, you can count on his anointing. Jesus’ last assignment to his disciples was impossible. There was no way they could possibly take the Gospel to the ends of the earth. It could only happen through his power. God will often give you an assignment that looks physically impossible, but he will make it possible.  
• God’s anointing makes difficult tasks easier. Your resources are limited. Your energy is limited. Your knowledge is limited. Your wisdom is limited. Your talent is limited. God’s is not. With God’s anointing, you can handle things better, last longer, and go farther.

“I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources [God] will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit” (Ephesians 3:16 NLT).

• God’s anointing makes the impossible possible. In your business, marriage, health, and relationships, you’re going to come up against insurmountable problems. God is a competent Father. He can handle any problem you give him. Nothing is beyond his ability or his resources.

“What is impossible for people is possible with God” (Luke 18:27 NIV).

• God anoints your life to bless others. Jesus came to comfort the afflicted, the broken-hearted, those who are enslaved to habits, those who don’t know how to get out of debt, and those who are blind. And he anoints you to comfort others as well.

“Jesus arrived from Nazareth, anointed by God with the Holy Spirit, ready for action. He went through the country helping people and healing everyone who was beaten down by the Devil. He was able to do all this because God was with him” (Acts 10:38 The Message).

• For every new challenge, you need fresh power from God. Anointing by the Holy Spirit cannot be stored up. You cannot handle today’s problems with yesterday’s anointing. You certainly can’t handle the problems you’re going to have tomorrow, next week, and next year with yesterday’s anointing. Stay in touch with God so that he can constantly fill you with his grace, love, and power. Ask for God’s anointing again. James 4:2 says, “You do not have, because you do not ask God” (NIV).
• If you believed God wanted to bless your life, what would you ask of him?
• Do you try to accomplish your tasks based on your own power or God’s power? What difference does it make?
• In what ways do you see how God has anointed you—that is, equipped you—to fulfill whatever assignment he has given you?

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Introduction

Are you fully committed to God’s divine assignment for you?

(NOTE: You can scroll to the bottom to watch today’s sermon.)

Over the past couple of weeks, we have been taking a look at being a vessel of God .  From those sermons, we know that as a vessel of the Lord, God will use us for His higher plans and His higher purposes.  We have seen how in the Old Testament, God used man to teach and to prophecy to one another.  We have also seen in the New Testament, that the Lord still desires to use every last one of His children for the purpose of ministering to those around them.

In His Great Commission, we see Jesus say to those that would choose to follow after Him, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you ( Mark 16:15; Matt. 28:19-20 ).”  So, again, it is very clear to us that God’s higher plans and purposes for us is to minister to and make believers of all people.

Now, how the Lord uses us to carry out His divine assignment is unique (meaning personalized) to each of His children.  Again, some He uses to preach the word and some He uses to sing so that they may uplift the spirits of others.  Some the Lord may use to testify of their journey, and others He may use in the work of charity.  God uses us as He sees fit.

Yet, I tell you that there are times when some of us have reservations (concerns) as to how we are being used by the Lord.  Some of us question how the Lord is using us.  We question the Lord’s motive and so, therefore, we begin to question God’s divine assignment.  I want to take a look at these reservations some of us, His ‘vessels’ have and ask again today, are we truly fully committed to God’s divine assignment?

Do We Have Reservations?

I ask this question today because I truly wonder whether or not we are fully committed to being a vessel of the Lord.  Scripture is filled with people who had reservations about the divine assignment the Lord had for them.  Last week, I briefly mentioned Peter in my sermon and I felt compelled to preach a sermon focusing on him this week.

Peter, as you know, was one of Jesus’ twelve closest followers.  Of Peter, Jesus said that He was a rock and on him, He would build His church ( Matt. 16:18 ). So, the Lord had a special plan and purpose for Peter meaning Peter would be a vessel that God would use to minister to others.

Through studying scripture during the years Jesus ministered and even after His resurrection, we see that Peter had some serious flaws.  I don’t know if there is a faithful man in scripture who’s flaws and failures are put on display as much as his!  Which, honestly, is very interesting because scripture usually portrays mostly the good things of those who were righteous, especially when it comes to the apostles.  So, like many of us, Peter must have had many failures.  I want to take a look at a few examples of Peter’s flaws for just a moment.

Scripture shows us that Peter was a bold, brash, and very impulsive man.  With little hesitation, Peter brashly and impulsively cut off the ear of the high priest’s servant in the garden prior to Jesus’ arrest ( John 18:10-11 ).  At another occasion, at the transfiguration of Christ, Peter, without realizing what he was saying , impulsively asked to build three tabernacles to Jesus, Moses, and Elijah ( Luke 9:33 ).  At the Feast of Passover, the disciples argued among themselves who was greater ( Luke 22:24 ) and I believe it was Peter who was boldly believing himself to be greatest among the disciples.

Peter’s rebuke

Actually, it was at this feast where we see another character flaw of Peter rear its ugly head, and this flaw is an extremely dangerous flaw that we must focus on today.  

To teach the apostles a lesson on what those who consider themselves to be great should do for those around them, Jesus chose to wash the apostles’ feet.  This was a lesson on humility but it was also a lesson on serving others.  Scripture tells us that Peter, initially, did not understand what Jesus was doing in that moment.  When seeing Jesus approach to wash his feet, Peter rebuked Jesus.  He eventually relented from his rebuke when Jesus told him the purpose behind washing his feet ( John 13:6-9 ).

Now that was not the first time that Peter offered this sort of rebuke to Christ and to God.  Prior to His crucifixion, Jesus had been predicting his death to the disciples which really frustrated Peter.  So Peter took Jesus to the side and, again, we see him rebuke what Jesus had been saying to which Jesus responded, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men ( Matt. 16:21-23 ).”

Now, I want to direct your attention back to my scripture for today in the book of Acts.  By this point in time, Jesus had ascended to heaven, so Peter has had some time to grow, yet this character flaw is shown to us again.  We are told that while he was on the rooftop of Simon the tanner, he ended up in a deep trance ( Acts 10:9-10 ).  While in a trance, Peter saw a great sheet descend from heaven to him, and on that sheet he saw all kinds of animals.  He then heard the Lord’s voice say to him, “Rise, Peter; kill and eat ( Acts 10:11-12 ).”  

This, I want you to understand, was a direct command from God.  Yet, Peter, we see, rebukes the Lord and tells Him, “Not so, Lord ( Acts 10:14 ) !”   In fact, scripture tells us that this played out three times ( Acts 10:16 )!  So, what was the deal with Peter?  Why do we keep seeing him rebuke the Lord?  

13 And a voice came to him, “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.”  14 But Peter said, “Not so, Lord! For I have never eaten anything common or unclean.” KEY VERSE – ACTS 10:13-14 NKJV

The Great Sin of Stubbornness

Peter could not move beyond his thoughts and feelings – he was very stubborn .  This was a very great flaw that he had because as a vessel of the Lord, he was meant to be fully committed to God, yet He continued to have reservation as to what God was doing.  In a way, Peter’s stubbornness was causing him to question the motives of the Lord.  Where he should have been mindful of the things of God, as shown to us when he rebuked Jesus when He was predicting His death, Peter was too stuck on himself.

As a vessel of the Lord, the ideal response from Peter would have been to do as the Lord had commanded – no reservations, no hesitation, no delay.  As a vessel of God, the ideal response from the believer when God has commanded us, is to do as He commands.  

Something we must understand when it comes to His divine assignment, God is going to move us wherever He sees fit and use us how He pleases.  We have to learn to trust in how the Lord is going to use and we must be obedient to His command without reservation, hesitation, and delay.  We are certainly going to have time to do the things we desire, but when the Lord gives us a task, yes, we should drop what we are doing and put His divine assignment first!  If we say we desire to be a vessel of the Lord, we should be fully committed to God’s divine assignment!  

The Christian’s stubbornness

I feel like many of us actually share a lot in common with Peter in that we can be very bold, brash, and impulsive.  God can direct us to wait while He works on our blessing and we will have times when we ignore His command and act on impulse.  God can direct us to move as He desires and some of us are bold enough to question His direction.  Some of us, in fact, will flat out rebuke the Lord’s direction because we know a better way of being in service to Him.  When we do this, I want you to understand that we are saying our thoughts are better than the Lord’s thoughts.

Last week I said that there is a great sin that today’s Christian commits and that was the sin of laziness.  This week, I tell you that there is another great sin that is present in today’s Christians – the sin of stubbornness .  When we stay attached to our own thoughts and feelings, and are not mindful of the things of the Lord, we are showing ourselves not to be committed to Him.  When God has a divine assignment for us, and we choose to rebuke it because it does not fit our thoughts and feelings, we are not being fully committed to the Lord’s plans as we have so professed.

In the first book of Samuel, when we read of King Saul’s great sin, Samuel said to Saul, “Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, As in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams.  For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry.”  This, Samuel said, indicates that spiritual stubbornness is indeed a sin. 

Samuel continued,  “Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, He also has rejected you from being king ( 1 Sam. 15:22-23 ).”  When we reject the Lord in our spirit, we certainly know that we cannot enter into His heavenly kingdom.  Yet, I also tell you today that in our spiritual stubbornness, we find that it can not only be detrimental to us, but it can be detrimental to all of those around us.

Keep your vow to God

Again, I tell all of you that the Lord has a divine assignment for us and it is an assignment that is going to take us in directions that we could have never imagined.  The Lord’s divine assignment may have us go through some things that we never could have imagined.  God may have us speak to and minister to people that we may have never imagined speaking to and ministering to.  We cannot be a detriment to the Lord and to those around us because of our own personal thoughts and feelings – this is a sin.  We certainly should not do this if we have said that we desire to be a vessel of God for His special plans and purposes in our heart.

When we have said that we desire to be a vessel of the Lord, I want you to understand that we have made a commitment (a vow) to God in our heart!  Making a vow to the Lord is very important.

I want to direct your attention to the book of Ecclesiastes for a moment. Solomon wrote, “When you make a vow to God, do not delay to pay it; For He has no pleasure in fools.  Pay what you have vowed—Better not to vow than to vow and not pay.  Do not let your mouth cause your flesh to sin, nor say before the messenger of God that it was an error. Why should God be angry at your excuse and destroy the work of your hands?  For in the multitude of dreams and many words there is also vanity. But fear God ( Eccl. 5:4-7 ).”

You see, when we have taken a vow to be a vessel of God, we ought to stand by this commitment.  God expects us to stand by that vow!  I want you to understand that God desires to use a vessel that is fully committed to His divine assignment!  God is not going to use anybody who is going to half step when it comes to His divine assignment.  If you have said that you want to be used for the Lord’s special plans and purposes, then you must be all in and not one foot in.

Commitment Check

I tell you today that it is commitment check time for all of those that desire to be a vessel of the Lord.  I believe that all of God’s children desire to be a vessel of His so I tell you today that it is commitment check time for all of God’s children – all of those who are true worshipers and genuinely believe in Him.  

Peter’s divine assignment

I want to quickly turn our attention back to Peter for just a moment because he underwent a commitment check in the book of Acts.  While he contemplated the vision he saw in his trance, a commitment check came knocking on the door.  Three men from Cornelius, a gentile man that served as a centurion in the Italian Regiment, arrived at Simon the tanner’s house ( Acts 10:1 ).  We are told that they were there because an angel of God told Cornelius to reach out to Peter about his faith ( Acts 10:4-8, 30-33 ).

Cornelius is described in scripture as a devout man who feared the Lord ( Acts 10:2 ).  He was the first of many gentiles who would become a genuine follower of Christ.  I want you to understand that this was one of Peter’s divine assignments from God – to minister to Cornelius, therefore, to all other gentiles as well.  

We know that this was a divine assignment because the Spirit said to Peter while he was still on the rooftop, “Go down and go with them, doubting nothing ; for I have sent them ( Acts 10:20 ).”  So, now was not the time for Peter to have any reservations or rebuke about how the Lord was about to use him.  Now was not the time for Peter to be stubborn in his ways!  

When Peter arrived at Cornelius’ residence, he found not only was Cornelius present but that all of Cornelius’ relatives and close friends were also present ( Acts 10:24 ).  Peter entered the residence and initially remarked, “You know how unlawful it is for a Jewish man to keep company with or go to one of another nation. But God has shown me that I should not call any man common or unclean ( Acts 10:28 ).”

Peter continued, “But God has shown me that I should not call any man common or unclean.  Therefore I came without objection as soon as I was sent for. I ask, then, for what reason have you sent for me ( Acts 10:28-29 )?”  

So, the check was to see if Peter had learned his lesson from the trance.  A lesson, I believe, was more about being obedient and committed to following the Lord’s command than the food.  Peter could have chosen to rebuke the Spirit and not have gone to Cornelius but we see Peter ultimately learned to put aside his stubbornness.  We see that he committed himself to the task and was mindful that God was at work on His higher plans and purposes.  Peter recognized that he was meant for something far higher than his own thoughts and plans!

Committed to the Lord  

On that day, scripture tells us that the Holy Spirit fell upon all of those who Peter had ministered to. You see, we are meant for something far higher than our own feelings, thoughts, and plans.  We are meant to help build, establish, and add to the kingdom of God.  The thought never leaves my mind on what happens when we, in our stubbornness, become a detriment to those around us.  The only thing stubbornness does is hold us back and keep us from growing. 

As genuine believers, we have to be mindful and also be able to acknowledge when we are being a spiritual detriment to those around us because we do not want to hold them back from the heavenly gates.  To be stubborn spiritually, is as detrimental as it is to be lazy spiritually with the same end results.  If we have made our vow to be in service to the Lord, let us truly submit our will for God’s will and let us fully commit ourselves to God’s divine assignment.

Thought: The Obedient Sheep of God

By Rev. Leo H. McCrary II – July 25, 2021 Responsive Reading – Acts 10:13-29 Key Verse – Acts 10:13-14

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What Is My Assignment From God?

hat is my assignment from God? This is a question that many resonate with because God has given each one of us a direct assignment. When many in the body of Christ think of their God-given assignment, they make the mistake to understand it on a broad level that feels unreachable.  As we will unpack today, an assignment is something that God uses to start us on the path of our destiny. 

After Jesus had risen from the dead, and spent 40 days walking with his disciples, He gave them disciples an amazing assignment.  

“Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go.  When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted.  Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:16-20)

The disciples were given a direct assignment from Jesus to go and to “make disciples of all nations.”  How were they to go about accomplishing this assignment?  By “teaching them to obey everything” Jesus had taught them.  This assignment is known today as the great commission.  Why did Jesus give them this assignment? 

It is in the Father’s heart for His children to partner with Him.  In the beginning, Adam co-labored with God in stewarding the garden of Eden (see Genesis 2:15 ).  This assignment was given so that Adam could discover God’s heart and love for the earth.  Today, in the same way, God gives His children unique assignments to carry out so that they can release the love of God on the earth. 

Jesus Modeled The Perfect Assignment 

When Jesus walked the earth, he modeled the perfect assignment.  As one reads the Gospels, they understand Jesus had a clear mission - to usher the kingdom of heaven into the earth.  This mission released various assignments from God to destroy the works of the devil.  1 John 3:8 makes this assignment clear.  “For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.” 

As Jesus modeled the perfect assignment, he invited others to share in this responsibility.  Many times, after healing the sick or performing a sign to inaugurate the kingdom of God, he would release the recipients with a direct assignment.  

“Jesus stood up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”  She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.” (John 8:10-11)

When the woman who was caught in adultery was brought to Jesus, she discovered something she never expected.  In the aftermath of being forgiven and unjudged by the Son of God, he gave her a direct command, “Go and sin no more.”  

In order to release her into her God-given destiny, Jesus commanded her to walk away from her former life and to follow the direction of Jesus.  By her sinning no more and obeying the word of God, she would be released to walk in a manner that she had never once walked in before.  

Assignments Fulfill Our Purpose   

When we discover our assignments from God, we partner with Him into his divine plans for our lives.  The book of Jeremiah speaks to the intentions of God’s plans over us.  

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11)

God has a plan for our lives.  These divine plans are rooted in our welfare and give us a wonderful hope and a future.  Although this is an amazing promise in scripture, when many read this verse they forget that it is a conditional promise, according to the preceding verses. 

“Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.” (Jeremiah 29:12-13)

After God reveals to us His divine plans, He gives us a direct assignment.  Those that embark upon His plans of welfare must take on the assignment to seek Him with all of their heart.  By obeying this command, one embarks upon the road of their own destiny.  

This passage of scripture makes it clear, the path of our purpose is found by saying yes to our God-given assignments.  Saying yes to God’s assignment allows His purpose to begin working in your life.  When Jesus called his first disciples, he gave them clear assignments to propel them into their future.  

“And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” (Matthew 4:19)

Jesus could of stop after his initial calling of “follow me”, but he didn’t.  Why?  Because Jesus wasn’t looking for followers alone, he was looking for co-labors in the kingdom of heaven.  Just as God gave Adam tasks to steward the garden, so Jesus gave his disciples tasks to steward the kingdom of God.  

Jesus didn’t ask the first disciples to just simply follow him, he gave them an assignment, “to become fishers of men.”  This assignment set them on the path of their destiny.  Years later, the disciples would produce the first fruits of the great commission by spreading the gospel around the modern world.  Imagine if Jesus would have never given them an assignment, could they have taken on their destiny? 

God gives us assignments to steward His divine purpose for our life.  Sometimes, His assignments make no sense to us at first (think of Noah), but we must obey them.  Obedience releases a grace of faith that unlocks our destiny and fulfills our assignment. 

Today, know this - God has called you and has a plan for your life.  The Lord has assigned an amazing purpose for you. It can only be unlocked through your response to His assignments and developed over the course of your own spiritual life. One thing is certain, His assignments are meant to fulfill the words of Jesus in the Lord’s Prayer , 

“Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:10)

Kyle Echols

The christian work ethic: unlocking the power of diligence, finding redemption: will god forgive me for watching bad things, is baptism a one-time event or can you get baptized twice, conditional love: exploring its meaning from a christian perspective, join our newsletter and get the latest posts to your inbox, are demons fallen angels, walking on water with jesus: unveiling the identity of the brave disciple, unveiling the deeper significance of pentecost: a divine encounter, sponsored song.

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• Jul 17, 2021

Take Your Assignment Seriously

And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled. (Acts 16:27)

I think many believers could learn something from this jailor.

He was willing to die for the sake of his assignment. When he saw that he hadn’t completed it acceptably, he essentially sentenced himself to death!

He was willing to die for his duty, but God wants us to live for ours.

God has assignments for you. Discover what they are and take them seriously. Maybe your assignment is to serve in a particular area in the church. Be faithful. Maybe God wants you to serve Him through the workplace. Be faithful.

Decide to live for God by fulfilling the assignments He has given you.

Fulfilling your assignment involves more than simply getting the job done. It also means being faithful. In other words, fulfilling your mission has to do with attitude as well as activity.

Fulfilling your assignment means you are trustworthy to do what you said you would do.

God is not asking us to die for our assignment physically, but He is asking us to die to the flesh (our emotions, feelings, complaints, and dislikes) so that we can walk in the Spirit and fulfill our assignments to the fullest.

Practical Application – If you genuinely see the assignments God has given you as opportunities to serve Him, how should that affect how you fulfill your daily tasks? You can turn your work into worship when you actively and purposely dedicate each day and every task to honoring God through it.

Luke 16:10; Proverbs 20:6

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Your Job Is God’s Assignment

Tbt with every square inch: reading the classics.

More By John Piper

TBT (Throwback Thursday) with Every Square Inch: Reading the Classics is a weekly column that publishes some of the best writings on vocation from the past. Our hope is to introduce you to thoughtful literature that you may not have yet discovered and, as always, to encourage you to know and love Christ more in all spheres of your life. This excerpt is adapted from “Your Job as Ministry” by John Piper. Copyright © 1981. Used by permission of Desiring God, www.desiringgod.org .

On Sunday, June 14, 1981, John Piper preached on 1 Corinthians 7:17–24, which begins, “Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him” (1 Cor. 7:17). The point of Piper’s message , he said, could be stated as a declaration and as a prayer:

As a declaration it would be: How you fulfill the demands of your vocation is an essential part of Christian discipleship. Or to put it another way: How you do your job is a big part of your obedience to Jesus. Stated as a prayer, the main point today is: Father, grant to us all the grace to be conscious of your presence at our work and to obey your commands in all our vocational relationships.

He then explained how that declaration and prayer related to Paul’s letter to the churches in Corinth. He concluded his sermon by offering four helpful and practical implications for our work. [To read and/or listen to the sermon in its entirety, click here .]

First, God is much more concerned with the way you do the job you now have than he is with whether you get a new job. We have in this congregation nurses, teachers, carpenters, artists, secretaries, bookkeepers, lawyers, receptionists, accountants, social workers, repairmen of various sorts, engineers, office managers, waitresses, plumbers, salesmen, security guards, doctors, military personnel, counselors, bankers, police officers, decorators, musicians, architects, painters, house cleaners, school administrators, housewives, missionaries, pastors, cabinet makers, and many more. And we all need to hear that what lies most on the heart of God is not whether we move from one to the other, but whether in our present work we are enjoying God’s promised presence and obeying his commands in the way we do our work.

Second, as we have seen, the command to stay in the calling in which you were when converted is not absolute. It does not condemn all job changes. We know this not only because of the exceptions Paul allowed to his principle here in 1 Corinthians 7 (cf. verse 15), but also because Scripture depicts and approves such changes. There is provision for freeing slaves in the Old Testament, and we are familiar with a tax collector who became a preacher and fishermen who became missionaries. Besides this, we know that there are some jobs in which you could not stay and obey God’s commands: for example, prostitution, numerous forms of indecent and corrupting entertainment, and others in which you may be forced to exploit people.

Paul is not saying that professional thieves or Corinthian cult prostitutes should stay in the calling in which they were called. The question at Corinth was: When we come to Christ, what should we abandon? And Paul’s answer is: You don’t need to abandon your vocation if you can stay in it with God. His concern is not to condemn job changes, but to teach that you can have fulfillment in Christ whatever your job is. This is unfashionable teaching in contemporary Western society, because it cuts the nerve of worldly ambition. We need to think long and hard about whether what we communicate to our children about success is biblical or just American. The word of God for all us “success seekers” is this: Take all that ambition and drive that you are pouring into your upward mobility and pour it instead into a spiritual zeal to cultivate an enjoyment of God’s presence and obedience to his revealed will in Scripture.

Third, for you younger people who have not yet entered a profession, the implication of our text is this: When you ask yourself the question, What is God’s will for my life?  you should give the resounding answer: His will is that I maintain close fellowship with him and devote myself to obeying his commandments .  God’s revealed will for you (the only will you are responsible to obey) is your sanctification ( 1 Thessalonians 4:3 ), not your vocation. Devote yourself to that with all your heart, and take whatever job you want. I have no doubt that, if all our young people are bending every effort to stay close to God and to obey the commands of Scripture, God will distribute them in the world exactly where he wants their influence for him.

Fourth, and finally, this text implies that the job you now have, as long as you are there, is God’s assignment to you. Verse 17 says, “Let everyone lead the life which the Lord has assigned to him.” God is sovereign. It is no accident that you are where you are. “A man’s mind plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps” ( Proverbs 16:9 ). “Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will be established” ( Proverbs 19:21 ). “The lot is cast in the lap, but the decision is wholly from the Lord” ( Proverbs 16:33 ).

You are where you are by divine assignment, even if you got there by fraud. Your job is your ministerial assignment, just as much as mine is. How you fulfill the demands of that job is just as essential in life as what you do here on Sunday. For many of us that may mean turning over a new leaf tomorrow morning. Let’s all pray before we set out to work: “God, go with me today and keep me conscious of your presence. Encourage my heart when I tend to despair, and humble me when I tend to boast. O God, give me the grace to obey your commandments, which I know are all summed up in this, to love my neighbor as myself. Amen.”

Is there enough evidence for us to believe the Gospels?

John Piper (BA, Wheaton College; BD, Fuller Theological Seminary; ThD, University of Munich) serves as founder and lead teacher at Desiring God and is chancellor of Bethlehem College & Seminary . For 33 years, Piper served as pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church, and he is a Council member of The Gospel Coalition. He has authored more than 50 books, and more than 30 years of his preaching and writing are available free of charge at desiringGod.org .

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Introducing The Acts 29 Podcast

Pastor Keith Battle challenges us to do more than just know the assignment on our lives, but to understand and execute it well and though the path to accomplishing this may be filled with both victories and trials, in the end, we will be blessed for our obedience.

What Can We Help You find?

Understanding the assignment, speaker: pastor keith battle, september 26, 2021.

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Your Assignment Series

Contributed by greg nance on feb 7, 2006 (message contributor).

Scripture: Mark 5:1-43

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Summary: Jesus has a job for you. When you come and bow to him, he not only blesses your life, he changes your life. Then he puts you to work for the kingdom.

Think back on people that have had the greatest impact in your life.

Your parents.

Your brothers or sisters.

The person you married.

Your children.

It is usually those closest to us that shape our lives the most.

How do you get close enough to Jesus so that he has the greatest impact in your life?

Already I’m finding that memorizing Mark’s gospel is having an impact on me. It is as if I’m getting to know the Lord all over again and in a more personal way. I’m excited about what he will do to me through this experience and I’d love it if all of you could have this same blessing.

In just these first five chapters of Mark, we get an insight into the Lord Jesus that shows his character in clear terms.

Jesus was a man who attracted men and women to himself from all walks of life. He was a man with authority in word and deed. He demonstrated power to forgive sin, power to heal the sick, power to cast out demons, power to read the hearts of men, power over the wind and waves, and power over death itself.

Jesus’ authority was seen in his actions and heard in his teachings.

His enemies accuse him of getting his power from the devil.

His family thought he was out of his mind.

The multitudes see him as a healer and answer to their needs.

The tax collectors and sinners find him to be a friend.

The disciples see him as their Lord and Master.

Jesus is causing a stir. Everywhere he goes he attracts crowds. Everything he says and does only brings him either into deeper trouble with his enemies or greater acclaim from his followers. As he teaches in parables he is sifting out the hearts of men as the word is sown. Jesus is looking for good soil, fruit bearing soil, where good honest hearts hear and heed the word of God. Jesus came to change us. Not just to teach us, but to make disciples of us. Not just to save us, but to put us to work in the kingdom of God.

Here in chapter 5 we find three people who’s lives are impacted by meeting and falling down before Jesus.

The demoniac with the legion, Jairus, the synagogue ruler and the woman with the issue of blood… each of these experienced great life changing power. And in all three cases, each one bowed down before Jesus.

What is it about Jesus that made them bow? What is it about him that makes us bow and submit to him today?

Well, you say, “It’s his authority, because he’s the Son of God!” That’s right! Jesus is the Son of God! Even the demons recognized that about him. Mark has told us that over and over, hasn’t he? But the demons don’t change when they bow. Oh, they holler out who Jesus is and they cringe in his presence, but they remain demons. Jesus relocates them as he evicts them from those they indwell, but they go out searching for another home, and maybe they come back to check on the one they left.

Jesus once told about a person from whom a demon was cast out in Luke 11 : 24 "When the unclean spirit goes out of a man, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, and not finding any, it says, ’I will return to my house from which I came.’

25 "And when it comes, it finds it swept and put in order.

26 "Then it goes and takes along seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they go in and live there; and the last state of that man becomes worse than the first."

Is this true? Is this just theoretical or was Jesus referring to a real case here?

Listen, when Jesus cleanses evil from your life you’d better fill it up with good things of God or you may find yourself worse off than before!

Peter said, 2 Pet. 2:20 For if after they have escaped the defilements of the world by the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and are overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first.

21 For it would be better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn away from the holy commandment delivered to them.

22 It has happened to them according to the true proverb, "A DOG RETURNS TO ITS OWN VOMIT," and, "A sow, after washing, returns to wallowing in the mire."

Coming to Christ for salvation from sin is wonderful, but when a person who has bowed before Jesus and received his blessings and forgiveness does not continue to walk in his will, that person can become worse off than if they had never known the way of righteousness!

Scriptures: Luke 11 , Mark 5:1-43

Sermon Topics: Lordship Of Christ

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Understanding Your Assignment

Service Notes

Reading introduction, brief review of last week., desire to go to this passage, today we look at a man who “understood his assignment”; bezaleel, pastoral prayer, sermon introduction, a theology of the work, in exodus chapters 26-30, god gave moses very detailed instructions about how to make the tabernacle, god was very clear and made sure moses “understood the assignment”, here’s the encouragement: when god calls us to do something, he provides all the necessary direction, ability, and resources to accomplish it., today we 5 premises i would like to defend., five truths about the work of the lord every member of the church needs to know, love, and follow., 1. the work of the lord begins as a work in the heart of a believer., example of bezaleel and his family, the work must be done by the willing, a calling answered by the heart, 2. the spirit will enable us to do the work for which we have been called., the spirit enables bezeleel and all his servants, filled with the spirit gives, internal enabling, transition: god does not only work in our lives but works in the lives of others for which we are interdependent to do the work., 3. we were all designed with the work in mind and it will require all of us working together to complete it., moved on the hearts of those who would provide the resources., ever considered.., as a church it is important we know the ministries god would have for us., we can believe that nothing any of us does of any value or we can believe everything for the lord is eternal value, but we cannot separate our work from one another., do all for the glory of god, shema in the doorways, 4. when god places a work in our hands, he will place a desire to teach in our hearts., god placed a work in his hands., work was based upon a pattern given by god., god placed a desire in his heart to teach., 5. together, in the work of the lord, we demonstrate the wisdom of god., puzzle object lesson, going to ask all of you to look at your puzzle piece (no 2 are the same), going to ask you pray that you will “understand your assignment”, all of you are needed, everything about the tabernacle pointed to the finished work of christ., everything about us as a church should do the same, best description for these servants was “wise hearted”, what is the wisdom god has placed in our hearts today.

Sunday Sermon Series: Sunday of the Blind Man June 9

SUNDAY SERMON SERIES

Sunday of the blind man, john 9:1-38.

This week, find insights from the Department of Religious Education (DRE) about the upcoming Gospel reading, where we learn about a blind man who encountered Christ. Why did He anoint the man’s eyes with clay? What is the symbolism of the Pool of Siloam? Why does God permit suffering and pain? How can we see with our spiritual eyes?

To find out, read this sermon from the Department of Religious Education (DRE): www.goarch.org/departments/religioused/sermons

SUNDAY SERMON SERIES is an easy-to-download weekly sermon on the Sunday Gospels with insights and analyses about the readings. All sermons are posted on the DRE website: religioused.goarch.org . You can also subscribe for free to the Department’s email list on the website to receive them directly.

Follow the DRE social media accounts @goarchDRE on Instagram, X or Facebook.

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ALIGNMENT FOR YOUR ASSIGNMENT

by Troy Brewer | Oct 29, 2020 | Blog

The Promised Land is not just an open place, it’s an assigned territory. While the Promised Land is huge, I’ll tell you right now, there are borders to it. 

God Almighty will say to you, “I want you to cultivate, steward, and to fight for what I’ve given you – not for what I’ve given to someone else. You’re grown up enough now to know this is the life I’ve given you. You can take it as deep and as far as you want to, but these are the borders.” 

Everything in the  Promised Land is strategic. You go from a shotgun to a laser beam. He gives you an assignment. He assigns you things in the Promised Land. There is nothing random. You begin to walk in very specific things in the Promised Land and you begin to build up very specific skill sets.

In Promised Land living you have specific territory and specific assignments. That comes from Jesus Himself in the book of John.

“As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world.” – John 17:18

Jesus came into the world for specific assignment. Just like He was sent into the world, you and I are sent out into the world in our Promised Land experience for a specific assignment. 

So many people in the body of Christ are ineffective because they’re in the wrong assignment. Many people love God with all their heart and have no power at all. All their energy goes toward things that do not matter. But that’s not you!

You know how to fight for what matters. You have to fight for your assignment. Just look for the borders and steward what’s inside them.

FROM MY SERMON SERIES MILK AND HONEY

TODAY’S PROPHETIC THOUGHT

You were not only made for such a time as this, My plan for you was set in My heart before your birth, but only you can fulfill your destiny. Come into alignment for your assignment and watch your borders expand. 

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