accepting your assignment from god

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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

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If You Choose to Accept This Assignment . . .

‘“I am the Lord’s servant,’ Mary answered. ‘May it be to me as you have said.’ Then the angel left her.” Luke 1:38 (NIV)

How was Mary so accepting of her assignment from the Lord? There is no doubt that it was a glorious assignment. To carry the promised Messiah and raise Him as His mother was awe-inspiring; however, it came with tremendous personal cost. Jewish law demanded that women who became pregnant out of wedlock were to be stoned to death. Even though Joseph came to her rescue and did not end their betrothal, there were surely whispers and innuendos for the rest of her life. In a beautiful scene in CS Lewis’ book The Horse and His Boy , Hwin, a wise horse in the story, faces a fierce lion. The lion, Aslan, is the perfect picture of the Lord in all His glory. Lewis’ characters often say of Aslan, “He’s not a tame Lion, but He is good.” The story continues like this: “Then Hwin, though shaking all over, gave a strange little neigh and trotted across to the Lion. ‘Please,’ she said, ‘you’re so beautiful. You may eat me if you like. I’d sooner be eaten by you than fed by anyone else.’” This little horse was consumed by a love and awe for Aslan that was so great that she knew Truth and inspiration in a flash. Mary was able to be a willing servant because she knew Truth and was well acquainted with the greatness of the Master. Her praise of Him in Luke 1:46-55 displays the depth of her knowledge of Him. She praises Him as Savior, for His mindfulness of His children, as the Mighty One, for His mercy, for His power, as the mighty but compassionate King, as Provider and as the compassionate Lord of Israel. The One who gave the assignment was no stranger to Mary. Her heart of praise reveals her deep love and awe for Him. God has an assignment for each of us, too. He created us with a purpose in mind and with good works for His children to perform. How do we respond to His assignments for us, especially if they involve personal cost? If we have invested our lives in knowing our Master, it will be much easier to be joyful servants. We will know that our highest good is linked to His glory. We’ll know that true personal loss comes in the form of disobedience to the Lord. We’ll remember that He is worthy and that serving Him is its own priceless reward. There have been times that I’ve ignored His voice. Sometimes it was because of busyness. Sometimes I questioned whether it was His voice or my own I heard. Other times it was just outright disobedience. Every time I was left with regret and emptiness. He is so merciful, and He forgave me when I asked. He gently and faithfully restored me. I don’t want to miss any more opportunities to say “yes” to His assignment, so I’m fixing my eyes on Jesus. I want to know my Master so well that I hear His voice and follow Him into any assignment that He gives me. I want to become a maidservant to the Lord, just like Mary. Dear Lord, You are worthy of my entire life and all of my devotion. Help me to hear and obey Your voice. I desire to joyfully accept every assignment that You have for my life. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. Related Resources Shaped with Purpose , CD and Workbook by Renee Swope 6 Habits of Highly Effective Christians by Brian T. Anderson & Glynnis Whitwer Discerning the Voice of God – How To Recognize When God Speaks by Priscilla Shirer Do You Know Him? Application Steps Write down the last assignment that you heard God give to you. List the steps that you’ve taken or need to take to say “yes” to that assignment. Pray and ask God to help you take the next step. Reflections What are some times that I have clearly heard God’s direction? Have I responded in obedience or disobedience? What have been the results? Do I really trust God to give me assignments that are both for His glory and my good? Power Verses Psalm 84:10, “Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked.” (NIV) Philippians 3:8-9, “...I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him....”

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10 Facts About Your Assignment

God gave you an assignment before you were born. God told Jeremiah, “Before you were formed in the womb, I knew you…I ordained you a prophet to the nations” (Jeremiah 1:5 NKJV). God has an assignment for each of us. I am called to be an evangelist. It was prophesied that I would be an evangelist when I was five years old. Joyce Meyer says, “What you can’t stand is a hint to what you are called to fix.” If you had the money and time to do anything you wanted to help people, what would you do?

Your assignment will be revealed by your diligence. You will never discover your assignment sitting in a rocking chair. You may not know whatyour assignment is right now, but if you will start moving diligently in the direction of your dominate focus your divine assignment will be revealed. Initially, I did not know I was called to be a writer. But, my larger assignment to be an evangelist created the need for me to also be a writer.
Your assignment will be something that no one else can accomplish. Look at your thumb. No one else on the planet had your fingerprint. You are unique and special. God has given you abilities that are not duplicated in any other person on earth. If you do not complete your assignment, it will never be done in the way that only you can do it.
Your assignment is bigger than you can accomplish alone. You need other people. You need God to be involved in your assignment. With God’s help you can do something bigger than is possible with your own strength.
Your assignment will take your whole life to accomplish. Your life purpose is bigger than a few months or years. It may take you a lifetime to prepare to accomplish your assignment. After you die, the fruit of your assignment will continue.
There are a variety of ways for you to accomplish your assignment. The nature of your calling comes from God, but the way you fulfill your assignment comes from your creativity. My assignment is to be an evangelist, within this calling there are a variety of ways of accomplishing my assignment. I could be a street evangelist, a crusade evangelist, an Internet evangelist, or a television evangelist. Each of these options would be a fulfillment of God’s call on my life. My assignment comes from God, but the method I use to fulfill that assignment comes from me. The nature of my calling comes from God, the scope of my calling is revealed by my willingness to be used.
Your assignment is attached to a particular place, people, or problem. You are not called to fix every problem in the world. You are called to fix a specific problem that no one else can fix. Stay in your assignment and don’t try to minister to everyone. Paul was not assigned to John Mark. A trash collector cannot collect trash in both Seattle and Miami, he has to choose a geographical location to fulfill his assignment.
By embracing your assignment, you are saying no to distractions. Know who you are and what you are called to do. I am called to be an evangelist. When I embrace my assignment, it forces me to decline many invitations that are good but have nothing to do with my calling. The more clearly your assignment is defined, the easier it will be to make important decisions. On Facebook, some people make comments that I disagree with but I do not say anything. Why? Because trying to set them straight is not my assignment.
When you are in your assignment, you will be sought out by people who need your specific skill. People will appreciate you for who you are instead of for who they wish you were. I don’t get mad at my dentist because he does not cut my hair. You will be rewarded for the problems that you solve.

Evangelist Daniel King, D.Min is on a mission to lead people to Jesus. He has visited over seventy nations preaching good news and he has led over two million people in a salvation prayer. To support King Ministries in our quest for souls, click here!

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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March 9, 2017

Accept Your Assignment

No soldier in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him as a soldier. —-2 Timothy 2:4

The New Testament repeatedly compares Christians to soldiers in a battle.

In New Testament times, the primary mission of Roman soldiers was to expand the emperor’s kingdom throughout the entire earth. No soldier would wake up in the morning and ask himself, “Why am I here? I wonder what I should do with my time today.” Those questions had already been answered for the soldier. His job was to serve his commander, not himself. Similarly, today, our soldiers do not formulate their own mission; their job is to fulfill the mission of their commander-in-chief.

Not long ago, I heard a fascinating interview with Lt. Col. Steve Russell, who commanded the unit that captured Saddam Hussein. During Steve’s 21 years of service to our country he has been stationed in the Arctic, the desert, Kosovo, Kuwait, Afghanistan, and Iraq. Now think about this: When Lt. Col. Russell arrived in a new country where he had been assigned, did he look at a map and say, “Gee, I wonder where I would like to go sightseeing today”? Was his mission in that place to visit as many local restaurants as possible to sample the local cuisine?

Not at all! If those things had been his purpose, he would not be hailed as an American hero today. Instead, he probably would have been dishonorably discharged from military service.

A soldier’s job is not to fulfill his own desires, but the desires of his commander. For Lt. Col. Russell, his commander-in-chief’s assignment was to stop the spread of evil and instead to spread the light of freedom.

Instead of bringing us home to heaven, God has assigned you and me to this foreign outpost called planet Earth for a similar purpose–not to build a solid portfolio, successful career, or have a happy family life . . . but to build His kingdom.

You and I have been enlisted to fulfill the mission given to us by our Commander. Just as Jesus came to seek and to save those who are lost (Luke 19:10), we have been recruited to continue His mission. Simply put, our immediate purpose in life is to join God in His positive purpose of rescuing as many prisoners as possible from Satan’s kingdom and turning them into fully committed followers of Jesus Christ. Like Lt. Col. Russell, we are to follow the orders of our Commander-in-Chief to do everything we can to stop the spread of evil and instead to spread the light of freedom through faith in Jesus Christ.

Today’s devotion is excerpted from “The Power of a Positive Purpose” by Dr. Robert Jeffress, 2016.

Heaven Can’t Wait

July 5, 2024

Victory over Sin

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The Greatest Thing You Can Do with Your Life

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Staff writer, desiringGod.org

One of the most wonderful and hopeful things you can know about yourself and your life is captured in a rather unassuming, simple sentence:

Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him. (1 Corinthians 7:17)

The verse might hit us as a bit constrictive, perhaps even oppressive, especially if our circumstances are difficult or painful. But that would miss the heart of God’s intention for us.

Your life is a gift and an assignment from God. This should infuse our life — its good and evil, its sweet and bitter, its health and affliction, its prosperity and poverty, its comfort and suffering — with an unfathomable dignity, purpose, and glory. You are not an accident. Neither are you a ruined potential, run off the rails because you were dealt a poor genetic hand of cards, suffered others’ abuse, or made foolish and sinful choices, putting you beyond the hope of a useful calling in Jesus’s kingdom.

No, you exist because God wanted you to exist . And you are who you are, what you are, how you are, where you are, and when you are because God made you (John 1:3), wove you in your mother’s womb (Psalm 139:13), called you to be his own (John 10:27; Romans 8:30), and assigned you a place to live (Acts 17:26).

The greatest thing you can do with your life is to live to the hilt the adventurous assignment God has given you.

God Has Called You

“Jesus doesn’t want us to spend the life he’s given us today absorbed in the unreality of an imagined tomorrow.”

Think about this for a moment: “Let each person lead the life . . . to which God has called him.” God has made your entire life your calling!

We tend to think of our callings as our vocations, some significant job God gives us to do with an identifiable and preferably esteemed title. Perhaps it’s a career vocation or perhaps it’s a noncareer vocation in a church or ministry. But that’s too narrow. Of course, vocations should be vehicles for our calling — ways we fulfill our assignment from the Lord. But our calling encompasses more than our vocations.

Our primary core calling is to love God with all we are and to love our neighbors as ourselves (Luke 10:27). And this calling incorporates everyone we interact with, or perhaps comes to mind, in everything we do from morning till night. Which is why John Calvin said, “God commands each one of us to consider his calling in every act of life” ( Institutes , 821).

This means that our calling isn’t behind that door we’re waiting for God to open someday (though that may be part of tomorrow’s calling). Our calling is to love God today, to love the neighbors God places in our “road” today, and to do well what God gives our hands to do today.

That’s one reason Jesus tells us, “Do not be anxious about tomorrow” (Matthew 6:34). Being overly preoccupied with tomorrow’s calling, as tempting as that can be, is often a way we are deceived into being disengaged from today’s calling. Jesus doesn’t want us to spend the priceless gift of life he’s given us today absorbed in the unreality of an imagined tomorrow.

Now, it is true that our callings change over time. We move through different phases of life, we might be deployed to different places at different times, and we experience various circumstantial and health changes. All these alter our calling. And as the Spirit gives us light, we should seek to anticipate and plan for changes as befit good stewards.

But God wants us focused primarily on the life he’s called us to, which is the life we have today.

Be Faithful to Your Assignment

“The greatest thing you can do with your life is to live to the hilt the adventurous assignment God has given you.”

The Spirit tells us through Paul, “Let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him.”

Perhaps you’re thinking, You don’t know my circumstances . Without wanting to be insensitive, it doesn’t matter what your circumstances are.

The circumstances of the Corinthian Christians to whom Paul was writing were all over the board: married, betrothed, and single, widows and bondservants, circumcised and uncircumcised. That’s just a sampling.

Think of the bondservants. They were the physical property of a human master. And yet Paul says to them in 1 Corinthians 7:21, “Do not be concerned about it. (But if you can gain your freedom, avail yourself of the opportunity.)” What Paul meant was circumstances, even very difficult ones, don’t disqualify anyone from God’s assignment. If we can extricate ourselves honorably from such circumstances, we ought to do it. But if not, let us consider it God’s assignment, at least for today, and be faithful,

not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man, knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether he is a bondservant or is free. (Ephesians 6:6–8)

Assigned to Affliction

Think of Paul’s own various circumstances: imprisoned, violently persecuted, ill, exposed to the cold, hungry, shipwrecked, betrayed, homeless, poorly dressed, mocked, maligned, distrusted, spiritually opposed, afflicted, sometimes despairing of life, and finally killed (2 Corinthians 11:23–28). And it was glorious! All of it! Because Paul’s life was hidden with Christ in God (Colossians 3:3) and since the Life (John 14:6) had given him eternal life, death could only gain him a whole new level of life (Philippians 1:21).

As John Calvin said, “we should all regard our particular situation as a post assigned to us by God, lest in the course of our lives we flit to and fro and drift aimlessly about” ( Institutes , 821). See your life today as an assignment from God. And stay faithful at your post until the Lord moves you.

Your Greatest Adventure

“See your life today as an assignment from God. And stay faithful at your post until the Lord moves you.”

Here’s the bedrock truth beneath 1 Corinthians 7:17: God — the Creator and sustainer of all that exists — is the one who has chosen us and bestowed on us the exceedingly rare honor to live here and now. He has assigned us a life to lead. And there is no more wonderful, exciting, hopeful, fulfilling, joy-producing sense of life purpose than to realize that we are who we are, what we are, how we are, where we are, and when we are by the assignment of the Lord.

You have been given the unfathomable gift of life. You have been given the infinitely more valuable gift of eternal life. And you have been given the astounding and extremely rare privilege of receiving an assignment from God. There is no higher calling than to lead the life that the Lord has assigned to you. Embrace your assignment, this great adventure chosen for you, and press it to the limit.

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Spreading scriptural holiness, christ’s assignment (luke 24:36-53; acts 1:4-9).

by Timothy Cooley Sr
Posted on June 7, 2019 June 7, 2019

by Timothy L. Cooley Sr.

Our Scripture reading breaks in on the scene just after the Resurrection of Christ. The disciples were still reeling from His crucifixion and death. They heard this day that a few of Jesus’ followers had seen Him alive! You know how hard that would be to believe! The story is old so, of course, we think they should have believed it, but if it happened to you, even now—even though we know God has done something like this—if it happened to you, it would be just too shocking to believe! They hardly knew what to think.

In the midst of their consternation, Jesus appeared in the room where they were, not even having opened the door to enter. No wonder it says they were terrified, they were affrighted! They thought they were seeing a ghost! They were rubbing their eyes, backing off to the wall, thinking, “What’s going on here?”

He spoke comfortingly to them and began to explain the new developments. Things had certainly taken an unexpected turn. Not because Jesus did not tell them about it! In their minds, they had another pattern figured out, so anything that did not fit what they wanted, they just pushed it off to the side. That’s the way we learn. It’s the way we don’t learn sometimes. Whenever something new comes that we don’t know how to fit in to our thinking, we push it out of our minds. That’s what they did with Jesus’ teaching. Everything they had thought was going to happen did not work out. The worst thing imaginable happened! Jesus was killed, crucified! It was an awful, gory, bloody, gutty scene, and they were still shocked from it. And now, all of a sudden there was talk of a Resurrection!

What was Christ trying to accomplish after His Resurrection? He wanted to prepare His disciples for the work He left for them to do. He gave them directions. He showed them that He was physically resurrected from the dead. He invited them to touch Him, to handle Him, to get Him some food so He could eat it in front of them. They could see that Jesus was there bodily. But He was doing more than just telling them about the Resurrection. Because of the Resurrection, there was a whole new job ahead of them. They have got to take this story to the ends of the world, and so Jesus is preparing them for that. He gave them first of all an…

Assurance for their Faith — Believe!

He encouraged them, “Believe! Go ahead! You want some evidence? I’ll give you evidence!” I love the story of Thomas. Jesus, knew that Thomas had declared, “I will not believe unless I put my fingers in the places were the nails were and in the place where the spear pierced His side.” Now Jesus prodded him, “Go ahead. Do what you wanted. Touch Me! If you want evidence, if you want something to base your faith on, go ahead and touch Me.” Thomas just fell on his knees and worshipped, “My Lord and My God!”

They had to know what they were testifying, what they were talking about. Effective testimony can only come from conviction — being convinced about the facts, being convicted about the truth. Conviction is born only out of this kind of certainty.

The disciples had seen:

CHRIST’S WONDERFUL POWER

As with most people, the disciples noticed His miracles first. That was part of God’s strategy. Nicodemus understood. He came to Jesus and said, “I’ve seen Your miracles. I realize God is doing something here. What is Your message from God?” That’s the way these disciples had had their attention caught up because they saw His wonderful power. They realized that God was doing something marvelous in their midst. They heard –

CHRIST’S WISDOM

His profound, yet simple teaching; easy to understand, but deep enough to daze the doctors. He out-witted even the scribes and Pharisees, who were the professional interpreters of the Holy Writings. These disciples had experienced all that.

They had experienced now –

CHRIST’S RESURRECTION

The shocking, the absurd Resurrection! It’s true, and of course, it’s not absurd. Jesus assured them that everything had gone as it was planned between Him and His Father. His death was no mistake. God had not lost control of the world.

He “opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures” (Lk.24:45 NIV). I have to pray that prayer a lot! Open my mind, that I may understand the Bible. Open our minds that we can take it in! There is stuff here that is too deep for our minds. Jesus opened their minds so they could understand the Scripture, and ever afterwards when they looked back through the Old Testament, they could see Christ all over the place! The early church fathers were very strong on that point. They studied the Old Testament, and it is fascinating how many places the church fathers pointed and said, “That was Jesus; this was Jesus! He was right there. He’s all through the Scriptures.” This is not a new God. He is the same Jehovah-God, who has been relating to Israel for hundreds of years!

Jesus appeared to His disciples quite a number of times. We have at least 11 showings of Christ over a period of 40 days, giving them “many convincing proofs that He was alive” (Acts 1:3) and speaking of the kingdom of God.

Now He was getting ready to leave. He told them in John 14, 15, and 16, “It is expedient for you that I go away. If I do not go away, you’ll never grow up. If I do not go away, you’ll never have the full ministry of the Spirit. If I do not go away, you will always be limited. But if I go away, it will be better for you, because then the Holy Spirit will be with you.” We think, “No, I’d rather have Jesus right here so I can ask Him all these questions that I don’t have answers to and that did not make it into His book!” But He said, “It is better for you to have the ministry of the Holy Spirit.”

CHRIST’S PERSON

As they had witnessed Christ’s Person, His supernatural Person, as they had put all of this together, they were increasingly and deeply convinced that Jesus is the Son of God. And now they had just come through a really difficult time, and Jesus gave them Assurance for their Faith.

He did something more, He gave them –

Adjustment of their Focus — Look on Christ!

He directed them to look at Himself! Not like He is egotistical, but He instructed them where their attention needed to be. He clearly defined their –

“This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in His name to all nations beginning at Jerusalem” (Lk.24:46-47, NIV).

They had read the Scriptures before, but they could never see that the Messiah was to be killed. It’s there, once you go back into the Old Testament, understanding what happened to Jesus. Even today, there are Jews, who when you read Isaiah 53 to them, will declare, “You’re not reading out of my Bible. You are reading out of the Christian’s Bible. That’s not in my Bible!” But it is in their Bible! The prediction of the suffering and crucifixion of Christ in Psalm 22 is a detailed description of crucifixion, written long before the horrible way to execute people was invented. God was working all through those centuries to bring about His salvation, and Christ said, “There is no mistake here. I am the fulfillment of all those prophecies. Everything is right on track. Now, let me Adjust your Focus! Come to realize that God is willing to forgive people all over the world!”

He turned their attention away from the temple sacrifices, away from the nation of Israel, away from the ceremonial covenant with Abraham and his physical descendants. He focused their eyes on the spiritual realities He had brought — repentance from sin, forgiveness of sins, the true inward and spiritual significance of the Old Testament covenant.

He turned the lights on, helped them to understand, and put responsibility on them.

RESPONSIBILITY

He taught them their responsibility to carry on the work He had begun. “You are witnesses of these things — You know it first hand, now go spread this message everywhere!”

What is awesome is that the writing of the New Testament is the recording of their witnessing in such precise documentation that we have solid ground to stand on to this day! The Bible is the Word of God preserving that witness of what His Son did.

Jesus laid on them the responsibility of getting the Word out!

Someone raised the question of a literal kingdom and Jesus’ Second Coming. “Lord, is this the time when You will restore the Kingdom to Israel? Is this the time for the end of the world?” They had their prophecy calendar together. Funny thing about it was, Jesus did not fit their prophecy calendar. That’s why some of the people refused to believe in Jesus. The disciples realized they had been mistaken about what was going to happen, but now they knew what had transpired and they chose to believe! He redirected their attention to what was on His mind, and He gave them an –

Appointment for their Fulness — Seek!

“I am going to send you what My Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high” (Lk.24:48-49, NIV).

Christ makes no reference in this scene to their failure in forsaking Him during His suffering. He has already taken care of that in other conversations. We have at least one where Jesus dealt with Peter about his failure. But they could not bear a scolding now. The time for that was past. They need to have an Appointment for their Fulness, so He urges them to seek.

“Tarry in the city!” Stay in the city –

“Until ye be endued with power from on high”! He sends them back to the city to seek and to wait, but God does the filling.

Power for service and power for purity!

In this passage, Jesus speaks of being “clothed” with Power, but elsewhere Scripture also speaks of our being “cleansed,” in reference to Purity. We need to emphasize both aspects of what God does for us in that second, further work. People tend to major on one or the other. Those who major on power often grow careless about the purity. They are focused on the more exciting shows of power. The more exciting the events they can achieve, the better it proves they’ve got the power! But others say, “No, we don’t want to go off on this power stuff and the strange things that can happen there.” They focus on purity and some of them tend to sink into a small-souled pessimism that sees little accomplished for God. Jesus intended that we keep both in balance — Power for Service and Power for Purity!

Later, Peter, looking back, explained what happened on the day of Pentecost, he testified, “Here is what happened. The Holy Spirit purified our hearts by faith” (Acts 15:8-9). It was the same experience with a slightly different emphasis — endued with power and purified by faith!

This power is Can-Do power, ( dunamis — ability, strength, capacity) to live in such a way that both word and deed glorify God before our fellowman. Power to deliver the message. But the power is not for a show. The world is always out to see a show, and sometimes God does spectacular things, but at other times He works in quieter ways. Either way, He is still at work. Throughout His own ministry, Jesus steadfastly resisted the temptation to make His miracles just a show, just to attract people to see something exciting. The power is for the glory of God on our lives so that others will come to know and love the same Savior we worship.

A mouth that proclaims holy truth, but that is not backed by a holy life is the mouth of a hypocrite! God requires no less a standard than “Be ye holy; for I am holy” (I Pet.1:16). Out of a pure heart comes a powerful witness.

The power could only come as they were filled with the Holy Spirit. That fulness can also be described as a fulness or perfection in love.

Christ’s will is that we preach this message with a heart all aflame with Divine Love. He gave them an Appointment for their Fulness. He also gave them an –

Assignment for their Future — Go!

“You shall be witnesses unto Me … Jerusalem Judea Samaria Uttermost parts of the earth”

“Go ye into all the world….” There is an imploring Go in Gospel! Jesus thrust them into the work for Him. It was far bigger than anything they had ever imagined. Yes, the psalmist had sung about letting the heathen know, but Israel had never gotten into really big, powerful moves, with people getting converted or coming to God. Now something new was going to happen! It was so new it shocked the church. Throughout the book of Acts, you usually do not see them planning and strategizing missions. They were trying to keep up with what God was already doing. They were shocked! “You know what? God is saving people without making Jews out of them!” It was a shocking development to them! “We know they are saved! How do we explain that? What shall we do?” They ran to the Scriptures. They recalled the teachings of Jesus. They argued and debated. They tried to figure out, “What is God doing?”

There is this Go in the Gospel!

As Jesus approached the time of leaving His earthly ministry, Jesus repeatedly stressed that He wanted His disciples to carry the message to the entire world. On four different occasions He inculcated His passion. In Luke 24:36-53, Luke recorded two separate occasions — one on the day of his Resurrection, the other on the day of His Ascension. As Jesus prepared to leave, some of the last words that He spoke to them were about their being a witness. He urged the Great Commission time after time! I wonder if He actually talked with them about it more than four times, but we have at least four occasions recorded where Jesus presses them, “Go Tell Everyone!” Jesus’ last Commission should be our first concern.

Jesus concentrated on preparing His disciples for the job ahead. He had to give…

Assurance for their Faith – He knew they needed help for their faith. If you are struggling in your faith, come back to Jesus because He will give you strength and reason to believe.

Adjustment for their Focus – They wanted to construct a prophecy chart. Who would know more about the future and what God was going to do than Jesus Himself? We’d better ask Him before He leaves. But He shut down the conversation. “It is not for you to know.” Every time big world events take place, especially when they concern Israel, people adjust their prophecy chart so they can explain it and let people know what will be next. The big deal is to get people saved, to let them know about Jesus, to tell them He already knows what will happen, and to assure them that Jesus has all the power necessary to give them victory over sin and take them all the way to heaven!

Appointment for their Fulness – I want you to tarry until ye be endued with power from on high!

Assignment for their Future – What He spoke to the disciples is just as appropriate for us today. He wants us to find every person who doesn’t know and tell him or her about Jesus! His will has never changed! We are to be ever at the job of getting people reached because that Go is still on the heart of God!

Accepting The Assignment of My IDENTITY

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We must not think too highly of ourselves but rather assess ourselves soberly according to the measure of faith God has given us. Our identity and assignment as Christians comes from God's grace and mercy, not our own abilities. We should humbly accept and diligently apply God's assignments for us, serving others rather than seeking personal glory.

Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. It's a wonderful opportunity that our God has given us by His grace to be here tonight. Thank you for coming to be with us and to praise and honor our God together. Let his word speak to us and definitely find ourselves doing exactly what it was that Reagan mentioned that is taking what we learned and understand and to use it in a life for his sake and not ours.

It has been a blessed day, and I know you appreciate the opportunity. God's given you to live another day and pray that each day as it goes by, you realize how closer we are in getting to heaven to be with him forever. I hope you understand the value of that. I would like for us to think about Romans chapter 12 and notice things that are found in verse three, verse five through verse five.

Where he says, I saved through the grace that was given to me, to every man that is among you not to think of himself more highly than you ought to think. But so to think as, to think soberly according as God has dealt to each man in measure of faith, for even as we have many members in one body and all the members have not the same office, so we who are many.

One body in Christ and several members one of another, and again, as I'd mentioned before, I'm reading from the American standard version of that passage.

I was looking before we started the worship service this evening to find the little young boy or a young girl to ask him one question. And I could have asked that among some of the middle school and high school students, but I was looking for somebody that was under the age of middle school to ask them, what can you do?

And I've asked that question to some young children before and there's, there's multitudes of things that they can do. And the, the most interesting thing about that, when you ask them what is it that they can do, they not only will tell you that, They'll say, I'll, I'll show it to you. Let me show you what I can do.

And then they proceed into whatever it is that they say they can do. And there's a lot of people that can do a lot of things. And if I were to go around the room, I could ask you that question, what is it that you can do? And I'm not talking about what work you do. I'm just saying, what is it that you can do that may or may not be what somebody else can do?

And some people can say, well, I. I can pull this out of that, or I can do a card trick, or I can run, or I can jump, or I can balance three tennis balls in the palm my hand, or whatever it may. There's all kinds of things that people could do. One of the most interesting things about that is that there are times when you don't even have to ask that question, and there will be people.

Who would freely and willingly tell you what they can do, and they'll give the list of all the things that they can do, and they will describe it in great detail as to what they can do. And you didn't want all that information. You didn't ask for all that, but you got it whether you asked for it or not.

Now, was that a delightful conversation or was that a very disgusting moment of which you heard all these bits of information from this person? Listen, listening to what is stated in Romans chapter 12 and verse three through verse five, this moment of which Paul moves from verse one and two, as we've talked about the last couple of days.

To understanding very clearly, as we talked about last night, proving what is a good, acceptable, perfect will of God. Then he moves into something of which is a great understanding, knowing that you're, we are transformed in our life. Here we are as people who know and understand and hopefully are willing to accept responsibility, accept the identity of who we are.

The assignment given to those of us that are Christians.

There are times where people that become Christians, one of the first questions they ask is, what is it that I can do in the kingdom? And they would like to get their pen or pencil out and start writing down a list of all the things that they can do. They may ask that question to the teacher that's taught them the gospel.

It could be the preacher. It could be the elders. It could be Deacon, it could be a Bible class teacher. But they just wanna know, give me a list of all the things that I, I should be doing. And they, they write all this down. Some of those things are part of the assignment, but before the assignment is ever given by God to us, are we ready for the assignment?

Whatever the assignment may be. I hope we don't take the mentality like Jonah did when he's given this commission to go to the city of Nineveh, to preach to people that are wicked and he goes the opposite way. I hope we're ready to receive the gospel, not just at the moment of which we're to say, but also it's in, in its entirety and everything that pertains to life and godliness.

It's not just at the moment of which we find ourselves baptizing the body of Christ. That's all. Which some folks in the religious world seem to think. That's about the extent of it. Just accept the Lord, but it goes beyond that. And would we be willing to accept the invitation? Jesus says, come to me, Matthew Chapter Lamb, verse 28.

But at the end of the book of Luke, chapter nine is Jesus talks about. Those that are his disciples, they're beginning to be people who make excuses to immediately come and follow him wherever it would be that he'd want them to go. And we talked about some the other night that were ready, ready, and willing.

Some of 'em hesitated and gave excuses, but a lot of this has to do with this in the book of Romans, chapter 12, verse three, and has a lot to do with how you think. How do you think about yourself as well as about this assignment? One of the things that you now I must understand is that this is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God that's giving you this assignment that we talked about last night, and as a result of that, this is not something that you are giving this assignment because of your willpower.

In other words, there's a street quality that you've got that other people do not have. And as a result of that, God knows that God sees that and says, okay, I'm gonna give this to him. I'm gonna give this to her because I've, they've got the zeal that they got the enthusiasm, they've got the fervor, they've got the knowledge, they've got the background, they've been there, they've done that, or whatever it may be.

And it says, okay, I'm gonna give this this assignment. And it's not one of these things that you say, I know I need to be better at. I know I'm gonna have to do this. I know I'm gonna have to stop doing that. I know this is what I'm going to need to do. And a lot of those things might be true about that.

Yet when you look at the book of Ephesians chapter two, when you see what is stated when to what's mentioned in verse 10, he talked about how it is that for by grace have you been safe through faith and that not of yourself is the gift of God. And then he goes on and says, For we are his workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God a for prepared that we should walk in them, God A for prepared that we should walk in them.

There's an assignment that's gonna be given to you even in the case of Ephesians chapter four, where we are to put off the old man and put on the new, he says in verse 24, put on the new man that after God has been created and righteous in the holiness of truth. Yes, you may need to be better at this.

You may need to start doing, and you may need to know, and you may need to, whatever you want to use to complete the sentence, but let us be the ones who understand this is coming from the good and acceptable and perfect will of God,

and that has a lot to do with how you think about scripture. How do you think about scripture and what the assignment is that God reveals to you? We should be definitely according to what is stated in Romans chapter 12, approaching this in verse two, with the renewed mind, a renewed mind that we wanna do this.

We are after the motive in our hearts to do everything that God asked of us to do in his will. And that almost goes without saying, but sometimes I think we understand, could understand a little bit better of this. When you go back to Romans chapter one, I'm trying to pull all of these. Bits and pieces out of the book of Romans as it relates to this passage in Romans 12.

Get us to understand who are these group of people that he's talking to in this case that helps us understand why would he say what he says in verse three of Romans 12, through the grace of God given to me, to every man that is among you not to think of himself more highly than they ought to think.

Some of which may have come as a result of the way the Gentiles thought about themself. And or about God in the book of Romans chapter one, verse 23, they changed the glory of the incorruptible God for the likeness of an image of corruptible. Man,

how could you give an assignment from God to somebody like that? Because they're gonna reject it immediately. Verse 25. For they exchange the truth of God for a lie and worship their serve the creature rather than the creator. Verse 26 for this. Cause God gave them up in the bile passions for the women.

Change the natural use in that which is against nature. It would be very difficult to give an assignment to somebody that thinks they are God and does what they want to do. You can't give a Godly assignment to somebody that thinks that way, therefore, to say what he says here. Understand our thinking makes a big difference as to the next step that we take.

And he even mentioned how in this text that we are the people that should not think of in sub more highly than we ought to think. So at this moment in time, in the book of Romans chapter 12 verse three, he is addressing a matter that in many cases we all have to deal with our pride, our pride. It can go of one of two ways.

It can go to the direction of where I can do anything you ask me to do because I've got the skill, the experience, ability to the other side that says I don't have anything that I could do. I don't know. I know of nothing I could do. I don't know if I've got the skills to do anything to almost as if to say, acquire a sense of self pity for themselves.

Then he says here not to think of him. Several. Well, highly than, you don't have to think He's, he's def definitely approaching this hyper thinking that some people would have. So the thinking has a lot to do with the assignment that's given. Trying to remove the pride is definitely a valuable point. And that was approached here in the book of Romans.

Because as Romans chapter eight, as we talked about last night, we find ourselves back, I should say back on Sunday night about finding ourselves renewed in the mind that we do not conform to the world, but we're transformed by the renewing our mind. So Romans eight verse seven is a very key point where he says, the mind of the flesh is enmity against God, for it is not subject to the law of God.

Neither indeed can it be.

They that are in the flesh cannot please God. It's always gonna be about you. The English standard version uses this verse and says, it does not submit to God's law. Indeed, it cannot. Chapter 11 brings out the very same thing as he mentions this at verse 18. He says, glory not over the branches, but if thou glorious, it is not, is it Not that thou bears the fruit, but the fruit thee.

Same chapter, verse 20. Well, by their unbelief, they were broken off. And now stand us by thy faith. Be not minded, but fear again, chapter 11, verse 25. For I bravely would not have brethren, would not have you ignorant of this mystery list, e, be wise in your own conceits that a hardening heart has befallen Israel under the fullness of the Gentiles become.

And then here in chapter 12, you see something that's stated in verse 16. Be of the same mind one to another. Set your mind on things on not on high things, but condescend to things that are lowly be not wise in your own conceits. And we'll talk a little bit more about that on Thursday night. So he's trying to get the pride out of either the Jew or the Gentile, whatever it may be.

To become united in the same thinking, same mindset of the renewed mind. That verse one talks about beginning, excuse me, in verse two, that he talks about. And when the mind is renewed and no longer setting itself in conformity to the world, then it has the ability to listen very carefully

with great understanding. Whatever it is that God assigns. Now we get to understand a little bit more about God's standard of the identity assessment that goes on here in this text. The assessment. The assessment is to think by the measure of which God has supplied. So to think as to think soberly according as God has dealt to each man a measure of faith.

That's a very interesting point to say Faith has a lot to do with this assignment.

We know Romans 10 17, earlier in the book, faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.

And maybe we just thought that was just for the person that did needed to be a believer that was not. But here he talks about how it is that this is something of which God has dealt to each man and measure of faith. What is it that you believe about this assignment that God's given to you? And one of the first and foremost things is that you look away from you and you look to the image that you're trying to duplicate, and that's Jesus Christ.

You look away from what you do and what you think about yourself, and you live by faith. To be like Christ. Ephesians chapter four 13 talked about, same thing Paul talked about in one Corinthians chapter in verse one, the imitators of me, even as I awesome of Christ, it is trying to measure up not to your capability, but it's to the faith of which God's given to you.

Believe what he says as an assignment for yourself, man or woman, but as a child of God.

So let me just let you think about something, just a moment. Go with me to James chapter one. This, this is just an example. So here we are. We're, we're seeing that we are to be the believers of faith. We are to be the people who live in this faith. And where we get this faith comes from scripture. So looking, looking at this mirror, like James one says, we look into this mirror and what do we see?

You will see according to verse 25, but he looks into the perfect law, the law or liberty, and so continues being not a hero that forgets, but a doer that works. Now you now you will see that as the assignment is given to us by God, we see in this mirror, and we believe it because God said it. Now we know we need to be working.

Therefore, what is there that you need to work on? What assignment do you have? Well, watch verse 26. If any man thinks himself to be religious while he bridles, not his tongue, but deceives his heart, this man's religion is vain. You remember when we talked about last, that last night about proving what is a good and acceptable and perfect will of God?

One of the assignments among many of the assignments that all of us have is to watch what you say. Be careful. Use self-control with your speech. Do not let this idea of being a Christian and transform just to be a veneer, just to be a facade, just to be something that people are impressed with seeing in you.

Because if you don't bridle your tongue, you deceive your heart and your religion is va. So that's just one assignment among many. Therefore, see this, let faith measure who you are. Believe in what God says. Put the value and the significance. And the esteem. Esteem, and the honor and the primary spiritual godly trait.

See this assignment, it's yours. Now, there may be a lot of other people. That need to deal with their tongues and work on their mouth, yes, but don't accept yourself to say, I don't think I'll be able to do this.

But let's go a little bit further and understand this. Faith is what's eliminating the most. It keeps this way outta the picture here in Romans chapter 12 in verse three. We don't find ourselves doing this, but the problem is, the tendency is, is we find ourselves assessing ourself based upon ourself about, based upon what it is that we believe we can do.

As I alluded to, in other instances, the book of Romans chapter two talks to the Jews about their faith in Abraham, excuse me, about the Jews. I guess you'd say glory in the law, boasting in the law, and yet not really fulfilling the things in their life that says they are people of God and it caused the Gentiles the blessing, the name of God, verse 25.

One of the most interesting segments of scripture that you'll see is Matthew Chapter 23, where Jesus is approaching these people who are assessing themselves by themselves. Even though they would talk about scripture, even though it says in verse three, all things, therefore whatsoever they be you. These do and observe, but do not after their works, for they say and do not.

Even in verse 13, problem existed wo do you scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites spoke. Charles, you shut the kingdom of heaven against men, but you enter non in yourselves. Neither suffer E them that are entering to enter in.

When it comes down to the faith that we have to accept, accept this assignment that God gives to us, and look very carefully at this assignment, do not be so high minded to think it's just gonna be something on the outside that's really, really significant. It's already been tried. It's already been done, and there's less honor given to Jesus because people fail to meet God's expectations.

It's all about them. And if God assigns me to train my children, then if the children turn out to be what God asked of them to be, is it gonna be because of my knowledge and ability that they got there? Or is it gonna be by this assignment that God's given to me and I fulfilled as he asked me to do it?

I mean, if, if, if God's giving me this assignment to study the scripture, As he says in second Peter chapter three, verse 18, so I can grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus. If he's given this me this assignment, then I turn out to have more knowledge. Am I gonna say it's because of my intellectual ability to recall that I've got this ability to do this?

Is that what's gonna be so significant? I mean if, if my life turns out to be exactly what he asking me to be pure.

Am I gonna say it's all because I admitted myself to a 30 day program that just focused on being pure, and as a result, I came out this way.

I mean, do we, do we believe in what God asked of us to be? Then let all the results be to his glory, or is the outcome something that we boast about and glory in to say it's all because I did it the way he wanted me to do it. It absent itself from humility Totally. To say I'm the one that did all this.

But let me, let me, let's go one more step further here. To talk about this I idea of the standard of assessment. It's not that we assess ourself by ourself and we say, okay, this is the way the church exists because of what I've put into it. And if it wasn't for me, it wouldn't live. It wouldn't exist. Talk about all the rest of the people.

Talk about all the different proportions. Among the members that he mentions in verse four, the book of Romans chapter 12, what about them? You're leaving them out as if to say it's all about you. When the assignment's not just to you, there's a lot of other people that this assignment's given to verse four for even as we have many members in one body and all the members have not the same office.

That's a whole lot like the book of one Corinthians chapter 12 in verse 14 of verse 18.

There is a, there's an event. I'm gonna, I'm gonna go to one Corinthians chapter 12, just a minute. There's an event I was studying about this afternoon that just came to my mind. I was, I was looking at this, and it was the day in the book of Acts, chapter eight, when Simon's Soer was converted. Simon's sorcerer was converted in verse nine through verse 13, after Philip came and he did all these miracles, and then it really provoked some action on the part of Simon to be baptized up there in verse 13 of this chapter,

when apostles from Jerusalem came down. Peter and John laid hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit for it was not yet fallen for it as yet it was fallen upon none of them, only that they had been baptized in the name of the Lord. Verse 16, then laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit.

Now, if it's all about Simon, I get the Menick verse. Now when Simon saw that through the laying on the apostles hands, the Holy Spirit was given the offer them money. If it's all about Simon, if it's all about him assessing his value to the kingdom based upon what it could do before that he deceived everybody else with, why not give it to him?

Why not give him this ability? Why not let him have this power to spread it everywhere? He's already done it. He's already deceive people with a false power. Why not give him the true power?

Because he assesses himself and he doesn't live by faith in the hands of the apostles laying on the spirit to these people and let it lay where it lays and rejoice in that, and wishing he just had himself. Why can't he not be thankful that everybody there has the Holy Spirit too?

Rather than just trying to get it all to himself and promote it in the body of Christ?

Now, I don't have all the answers as to why they didn't. God did not let him have this power. Other than to say, purchase, try to purchase it with money, but in relationship to what we're talking about this evening and how it is that we assess ourself by ourself and we sometimes absent ourself from the proportions, different proportions of the members, sometimes I think that illustrated to me how it is that that Holy Spirit needs to be spread among everybody.

Everybody needs to experience the Holy Spirit.

One Corinthians chapter 12, when you see this passage, how it is that it states in verse 14 that we have this one spirit and having this one spirit, there's so much value to the fact that this one spirit is for the whole body. It says in verse 14, the body is not one member, but many. Yet there are people that talk about, I'm not like everybody else.

Since they're not the hand, since they are not the foot, since they're not the ear, then there's probably not of any value that they could give to the body of Christ. Nothing whatsoever would make a difference, but you'll notice the verse 18 now, has God set the members, each one of them in the body, even as it pleased him the way God assigned this.

Believe this, by faith, God set this order and the identity of the transformed person in Jesus. It's not set out to judge what everybody else does. It listens to the assignments. Therefore, they soberly make judgements to think according to God standard of assessment and assignment, and follow that pattern and submit with a transform humble mind, exactly what God asked of them to do.

Because humility is finding ourself in the position where we find sometimes we are tempted to think if we are not like everybody else. Sometimes we wish we were somebody else. Maybe if we were just in a better place, it would be so much better, just like that person. And if I was,

then I would be a contributor. I would be of more value to God

if I didn't have children at my house, I could do the same thing they did. And if I was had a lot more and more, a lot more money, then I could do exactly what they do. If I had a bigger this and a bigger that and more this and more that just like they do, then I would be able to do more. And if my voice was like that, then I could do this.

And if my ability was like this, then I can do that. Just the same thing they do.

But isn't that really

what God's looking for outta you? You outta me? To yield to the temptation that if I was just like somebody else, it would be much better rather than just humbling myself to say, take on what God has assigned me to be and do. You look quickly at that list of verse six through verse eight, teaching, prophesying, giving, leading, all those things, and you think I've gotta find myself in one of those areas, I might be able to find myself on all that.

If I just gave myself a true understanding of this assignment that God asked of me to be.

It would do us all good. If we just accept the assignment, accept the assignment that God has given to us, and humbly accept this assignment. Because if, if, if we approach this with self-sufficiency, if we approach this with self-determination, I mean if, if we come to this passage with this, this really a plus personality, We've got all the skills and we go and we go and we go and we're so a centered personality.

I'm, you come to this passage, folks, you're gonna get a brain fry. You're gonna see the humility of not you being conscious of your achievements, but your conscious of God's grace delivering to you a measure of assignment, not because of your G P A, not because of your iq, not because you got the ability to.

To put out a good resume, but because he sees your worth, because he's called you, you sacrificed yourself, you renewed your mind, you transformed it, and you're not conformed to the world anymore,

and you become to be the greatest in the kingdom because you serve. Serve. Didn't say give all the list of the serving places, but it said be the servant.

Sometimes maybe, I guess we think that God would do his greatest work to, to unite the church if everybody did the very same thing.

Rather than fulfilling all these portions, these proper proportions of which he has says, these differences are the differences that I want. Because number one, it creates dependence upon me for their ability. Number two, it creates an interdependent situation that everybody needs, everybody else. And the other thing is it really present the whole theme of servanthood.

You have to love God's wisdom in all the parables, especially the one that relates to this topic here. Matthew chapter 25, verse 14 to verse 30. The parable of the the of the talent man. And when he gives out these talents, different ones to different people, according to what the passage said to their several ability,

and two of them double it. One of 'em hides his.

So, so what's the two men doubling theirs for personal assessment? They've got the skills they want to show off to the Lord. They wanna make sure that he is gonna really praise them and glorify them. Or is it that they do it for the Lord's sake, for his household and to his honor and not to the greatness of their own talent?

Because who gave the talent anyway? The Lord did,

and one of the most interesting things when you go a little bit further than that parable is a statement that is made in verse 28, after the judgment is delivered to the one talent man, because he hid his, or I should say, hit it and dug it on the earth, he is asked to bring it up and take it to the 10 talent person.

Sometimes we leave that off.

So God needs that ability to continue to exist. Not we just, not that. We just keep it hidden under the earth. Take it and give it to somebody else that will glorify his kingdom.

Accept the responsibility. That's what we're looking for in the kingdom. According to Romans chapter 12 verse three, only our assignments are given to us by the head. Now, I know elders may ask you to do this and want you to do this. I know that's that's done, but the really, the assignment is given to you before they ever ask of you to do anything.

I don't know of any set of elders that would not love. To give an assignment, quote unquote, to somebody that has not already received the assignment for God to live by faith by what he's given to them, the body, the church is gonna need every member to function, every member from the back to the front, to this side, to that side, and in between everywhere.

And we have to be the people that will understand. God's Grace provides us to be in, do

when? When Timothy was approached by Paul about vessels in the house. This is, this is what he said in the book of one Timothy two Timothy chapter two, verse 1221. Rather, if a man purge, therefore himself from these, he shall be a vessel and the honor sanctified meat for the masters used. Prepare for every good work.

In the scripture, according to two Timothy 3 16 17, prepares us for every good work. It it gives us everything that we need to be complete and holy. Besides this gift, this ability, this opportunity, this assignment given to you by God for his glory in the kingdom chapter four of Ephesians says in verse 6, 7 16.

Who move all the bodily fitly framed and knit together through that which every joint supplies according to the working due measure of each several part makes the increase of the body under the building up of itself and love edification it brings to everybody else is a wonderful thing. It's a wonderful thing.

To give you an example of that, How it is that you, you don't, you don't focus on your emptiness, but you, you focus on God's fullness to provide you what ability you have in the kingdom. There's a man, a brother in Christ by the name of John, and there's a sister in Christ by the name of Gail. Both of 'em are 35 years old.

John, he is a chemical engineer, works for a chemical company firm in the city. Makes very good money, very wealthy individual. He has two children. He is married. Very great marriage. Wonderful example. He's a deacon in the church. Gail, she is 35, but she was born with a mental deficiency that doesn't provide for her.

The ability to walk without a walker and without braces on her legs from her knees down both legs. She's very slow in learning. She's an individual that is a Christian, just like John. She lives in government housing with government assistance.

And they both go to the same church. John as a deacon and as well educated as he is, and wealthy as he is, could very well be one who could enlighten himself and assess himself based upon either Gail's. Character and situation and ability or everybody else and believe he is definitely one of the most valuable assets to the kingdom where he is.

Gail, on the other side, with all her deficiencies, her inability here very well because she's almost completely deaf, speaks very broken in all of her English, doesn't make complete sentences. Sees member of the family of God and she could look at herself as a complete failure and absent herself from any participation in anything except maybe worship of service at best.

John is a deacon that serves Gail in that church. Gail serves John. By writing John cards of appreciation for what John does.

Both absolutely both, without a doubt, are transformed by the renewing of their mind. And their assessment according to what the scriptures say. Think as thinking soberly as God has dealt. Each man a measure of faith. Their identity is truly assessed by the transformation of which they've experienced by God's mercies, by sacrificing themselves to him and to be used as a transformed individual.

Identified by God

when Reagan mentioned the statement that he did a while ago about taking what we apply from what we have learned this evening, and I would say any other time to our life.

And that be a part of prayers often, many times before or at the conclusion of the service, the closing prayers usually mention those things.

Do you know that was somewhat of a prayer of which Paul mentioned to the church at Thessalonica in chapter, the second book, first chapter verse three. It's almost as if he said, take what you learn and apply it to your life. Here's what he said. We are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren, even as it is me, for that your faith, applying it in parallel to what we talked about tonight in Romans chapter 12 verse three, your faith groweth exceedingly.

And the love of each of one of you all toward one another, abound so that we ourself glory in you and the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecution and in affliction, which you do. And on and on and on. God. Take what you apply and he is innocent saying the very same thing about they have taken what they've applied and he's saying they're growing exceedingly in this faith.

Now the assignment and the assessment of which God's given to them and they're growing in the proportion of which God's given to them.

In one Timothy chapter four, I'm gonna end here because this is what we're gonna take up tomorrow night. In his message to Paul, to Timothy, he says in verse 14 of chapter four, neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given to thee by the prophecy will laying on of the hands of the presbytery. And, and, and immediately, if you ended that, which he does it with a period, you may think we need that man here.

We've got to get this guy here. He's got to work for us. He's got to be a part of our family.

But he says, be diligent in these things. So let me just offer you this word of information here. If Timothy came of all those traits in verse 14 without verse 15. To apply it. Give diligence to your everyday walk of life. It wouldn't have done him any good in any church wherever he went, but be diligent in these things.

Give thyself holy to them that thy progress may be manifest to all. Now, watch this. Take heeded to yourself. That's almost to say, do not think highly of yourself. Then you ought to think. And that teaching, continuing these things from this, you'll do, you'll save both yourself and then to hear the what a wonderful means of understanding for Timothy.

And I take that personally to say the same thing that God saying to me. I mean, I mean, are you ready for the assignment that God has for you? I mean, are you ready to take this and apply it to your life? Just like the song says, let him have his way with you, his way with E, because there's room in the kingdom for all that you can do as we sometimes sing.

If you're not a Christian tonight, I would not part petition you to be a Christian, all because you see all these meaning wonderful people doing all the mean and wonderful things that they do. I would say be a Christian because of the mercies of God. To sacrifice yourself to be transformed by the renewing of your mind that you will as others have prove what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

Not to think highly of your of self more than you ought to think, but to think soberly as God by his grace is giving you a measure of faith. What God can do in you that you cannot do in yourself to save you specifically is of what's greatest importance right now. Repent. Just be baptized for the mission or sins Be saved.

Rise up to walk in newness of life. Do what's right, whether together we sing this song.

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Your Assignment From God

You and I were created by God, you are not the product of evolution. If you and I were the product of evolution, then life would have no meaning. We would have no purpose except to live and die. However, you were created by God. Therefore your life has purpose, but what is that purpose? What are you and I supposed to do with our lives?

Today I begin a new message series called “Created To Do What?” That’s one of the most important questions anyone can ask. Doesn’t matter if your 9 or 90, you need to ask and find answers to the question “What Was I Created To Do?” As I was pondering that question I was reminded of an old song by Bob Dylan called “Gotta Serve Somebody.” You were created to serve somebody, you were created to accept an assignment for your life from somebody. You have a choice to make, who are you going to serve? The song says there are two choices of who you’re going to serve, the devil or the Lord. Dylan is right about that.

NIV Romans 6:13 Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as instruments of righteousness. That’s the choice, offer yourself to serve sin and the devil or offer yourself to serve God. Now, most people think there are three choices in life: serve God, serve myself or serve the devil. Few people think they serve the devil, most just want to do what they want to do. The truth of the matter is whatever you don’t give to God, you give to the devil. Serving yourself, the big I, is the same as serving the devil. Only two choices in life, serving God or the devil. Both God and the devil have a plan for your life. God has an assignment for you and Satan has an assignment for you.

Today I want to talk about “Your Assignment From God.” Only by accepting God’s assignment for your life will you be doing something significant. Only by accepting God’s assignment for your life will you be part of making a difference in the world for good. Only by accepting God’s assignment for your life will all the pieces of your life fit into place. So don’t fight it any longer. This morning I want to encourage you to offer all of yourself to God, accept your assignment from God. In future messages, we’ll be talking more about what your assignment is. Today I want to answer the question, “Why accept your assignment from God?”

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7 Spiritual Keys to Fulfill Your God-Given Assignment

In today’s culture of increasing identity confusion, there is a need for believers to understand and model a healthy identity and purpose that is Christ-centered and kingdom-focused. When we know who we are, why we’re here and where we’re going, we will offer to the world a picture of what a true son and daughter of the kingdom looks like. Here are seven keys that may help start the process in learning how to know your true identity in the kingdom of God in order to fulfill your call and assignment.

1. Determine to love Jesus more than anyone or anything . Simple? Yes. Easy? No. We become what we focus on—who we focus on. As we fix our eyes on Jesus and determine to please Him above all else, our hearts and affections will be rightly placed. In order to make wise choices and determine God’s will, loving Jesus first and foremost is foundational to everything else. We will never know who we really are apart from learning who Jesus really is. We are to be a reflection of Him.

2. Walk in the fear of the Lord, not the fear of man. Once we have settled to love Jesus most, we can expect to be tested in it. The fear of the Lord keeps us faithful to His purposes even when others may misunderstand us, mock us or challenge us. Though I can walk with sensitivity towards people’s needs and perspectives, I don’t have to bow to them or change my beliefs for validation. Especially in the current atmosphere of hostility towards those who seek godly truth, we must guard ourselves from compromise at the altar of “acceptance.” Walking in a healthy fear of the Lord provides wisdom, protection and confidence in all things eternal and right.

3. Seek a reputation in heaven more than on the earth. In today’s social media, the more friends you have, the more tweets you post and the more “likes” you get, the more likely you are to draw a crowd. But getting attention is a lot different than having influence. Standing out in the crowd isn’t hard to do in our shock-driven, entertainment-saturated culture. What’s a lot more challenging is saying or doing something that will cause heaven to move on your behalf to change entire cities and even nations. Sometimes those in the secret place are changing history a lot more than those in the public eye. Seek to move heaven first and then watch the earth respond.

4. Know your spiritual gifts. You have been given a measure of spiritual gifts that have marked you from creation. The seven gifts listed in Romans 12:3-8 point to the motivations and passions your heavenly Father put within you from birth: prophesying, serving, teaching, exhorting, giving, leading and showing mercy. When you can identify your primary “motivational gift,” you can better know your strengths and weaknesses and where you best fit in the body of Christ. Though these gifts do not necessarily define who you are, they do point to what you’re good at and what will bear the most fruit in your life.

5. Know your call. Where your spiritual gifts explain your primary motivation, your calling is what you were born for, or better yet, who you were born to reach. God’s priority is always people, and our calling will be a reflection of His heart to reach someone. This may take a lifetime to fulfill, but you will know it is His call because it continues to burn in your heart, keep you up at night and never quite goes away regardless of challenges or setbacks. It will require faith and is bigger than you are, but your call is what draws your heart and inspires your journey.

6. Know your present assignment. If your life story was written as a book, your calling would be the title. Your spiritual gifts would shine in the unique writing style and illustrations. The individual chapters would highlight the various assignments throughout your journey. Specific assignments will come and go and serve to advance the kingdom, increasing the measure of grace on your life to ultimately fulfill your call. Some may seem like side roads to your destination, but all will lead to His purposes as you trust His heart in knowing how to prepare and equip you.

7. Measure your success by the fruit. Regardless of our call, gifts and assignments, the true measure of success will be in the fruit that follows us. If we are walking in the fullness of our identity, the people around us will recognize it, grow from it and encounter Christ through it. God’s grace will flow out of us and will exponentially increase in those around us. Look for disciples, not just followers. Look for reproduction, not just reputation. Look for transformation that lasts, not just a fascination that quickly fades.

Ultimately, knowing who you are is not about “finding yourself,” but losing yourself in order to find Christ. Seek to know His heart above your own and trust His plans in molding and shaping your life to be a perfect representation of Him. There won’t be any identity confusion. In the end, the world won’t see you anyway; just Him! {eoa}

Wanda Alger is a field correspondent with Intercessors for America . She ministers with her husband in Winchester, Virginia. Follow her blog at wandaalger.me .

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Finish The Assignment PRO Sermon

Contributed by sermon research assistant on feb 29, 2024.

Emphasizes the importance of obedience to God's commands, highlighting that true discipleship is reflected in our actions, not just our words.

Good morning, beloved family of God. It's a joy to gather here again, in this sacred space where we come to be nourished by the Word of God, to be strengthened in our faith, and to be reminded of God's unwavering love for us. As we open our hearts and minds today, let's remember that the Bible is ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 15:14-23

Topics: God's Assignments , Final

Assignment Series

Contributed by steve ely on jul 5, 2022.

Filters are important because without them things don’t operate properly. Are you living life unfiltered?

No Filter Pt. 4 - Assignment In an age where things that are not real are promoted as reality it would serve to reason that in church, we would tell you to live with no filter since we are taught by our Savior to live authentic and genuine lives. However, I want to tell you that filters are an ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 1:4-10 , Jeremiah 20:7-10

Denomination: Pentecostal

On Assignment Series

Contributed by larry turner on jun 27, 2014.

Jesus came to earth with an assignment. He left us to complete that assignment.

This week I want to go back to the prayer Jesus was praying on his last night with his disciples. As you may recall He said this prayer was not only for them but others who would believe in him due to their testimony. Jesus first prayed for himself and the begin praying for certain behaviors He ...read more

Scripture: John 17:18-19

Denomination: Foursquare

Where Is Your Nineveh? PRO Sermon

Contributed by sermon research assistant on nov 5, 2023.

This sermon encourages believers to embrace God's calling on their lives, resist the temptation to run from it, and understand the repercussions of refusal.

Good morning, beloved. It is a joy and a privilege to gather together in the house of the Lord, to lift our hearts and voices in praise, and to immerse ourselves in the truth of His Word. As we gather today, let's remember that we are not alone. We are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses, ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 1:1-3

Topics: Assignment

Tough Assignments

Contributed by dean rhine on jun 19, 2018.

Jeremiah teaches us how to endure tough assignments from God

Jeremiah - Tough Assignments There have been a lot of difficult situations in the news lately - difficult from a Christian perspective. Hurricane Katrina sweeps through the south, and massive devastation, loss of homes, loss of property, loss of family, and loss of life. And for many of those ...read more

Scripture: Jeremiah 1:1-4

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

God’s Strange Assignments

Contributed by ricky nelms on jul 14, 2010.

Sometimes God ask us to do strange things. When He does, there is always a purpose and a plan. There’s no way the human brain that weighs only about 3 pounds can understand this. This is why it’s best to do as Mary said, "Whatever He tells you to do, d

GOD’S STRANGE ASSIGNMENTS Text: John 2:1-11 "And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there: (2) And both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage. (3) And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine. (4) ...read more

Scripture: John 2:1-11

Accepting Your Assignment Series

Contributed by dennis lawrence on may 18, 2004.

Serving is to be at the core of our lives- that’s what we were created for.

Accepting Your Assignment Purpose Driven Life #29 Cornwall/Montreal March 6, 2004 Are you concerned more with what you receive from something or with what you can contribute to something? Is coming to church a matter of getting something or giving something? Is going to school a matter of getting ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 2:15 , Ephesians 2:10

Divine Assignment Series

Contributed by ron freeman, evangelist on may 31, 2019.

To establish that one of the church’s greatest needs is a sound and faithful leadership. That means the appointing of elders and deacons (along with their families), who are committed to their divine assignment of: lovingly watching over, caring for and shepherding, the children of God.

INTRODUCTION Outline. 2. The Leadership’s: Divine Assignment Remarks. 1. Today we will be discussing point two, of the lesson series: “Divine Call to Leadership.” This lesson deals with the leadership’s, divine assignment. Again, one of the church’s greatest needs is sound and faithful leadership. ...read more

Scripture: Acts 20:28-32 , 1 Peter 5:1-4

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Life Is A Temporary Assignment Series

Contributed by dennis lawrence on sep 29, 2003.

This life is not forever. However, it is important- very important, in light of where we’re going.

Life is a Temporary Assignment Purpose Driven Life #6 Cornwall September 6, 2003 We don’t want it to be, but life on earth is a temporary assignment, and this brings some perspective to what we do and how we live that might be different from what we have if we think we’ll go on forever. I don’t ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 1:17 , Philippians 3:19-20

Our Assignment

Contributed by howard strickland on aug 16, 2008.

In this teaching you will find out that ’really’ your Assignment is simple if you will receive it!

Our Assignment Text: Genesis 12:1-3 Our assignment becomes new and fresh when we are born again. The day we allowed Jesus Christ to come and reside within, we became assigned unto His mission, His calling and His way of thinking! Listen, God always works through assignments! ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 12:1-3

Denomination: Church Of God

"Assignment Attitude'

Contributed by larry wolfe on sep 7, 2009.

A comparison of Psalm 98 with Revelation 14 and 15

‘Assignment Attitude’ and Psalm 98 and Revelation 14 &15 Compared Today, 01-08-03 the Lord showed me His merging of the Old Covenant with the New Covenant in Revelation 14 & 15. Also Psalm 98 has a number of parallels with Revelation 14 & 15. This is good stuff and is needful for me to study ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 98:1-9

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Contributed by Dr. Jonathan Vorce on Sep 28, 2018

The life of Jesus is the greatest example we have of how we should conduct ourselves as Christians. Jesus was both celebrated and ridiculed. Today we will discuss what to do when this happens to us by looking at the life and ministry of Jesus as our example.

LUKE 4:23-27, 35 INTRODUCTION • The life of Jesus is the greatest example we have of how we should conduct ourselves as Christians. Jesus was both celebrated and ridiculed. • Not everyone will celebrate you! Some will mock and ridicule you. They did the same thing to Jesus even at the beginning ...read more

Scripture: Luke 4:23-27 , Luke 4:35 , Luke 4:23 , Luke 4:29 , Luke 4:37 , Luke 4:30 , Luke 4:31-37 , Luke 4:24 , Luke 4:32 , Matthew 7:6 , Luke 4:36 , Matthew 7:1-6 (view more) (view less)

Assignment: You

Contributed by chanon mullens on sep 20, 2006.

The devil and his demons are after people of all kinds

1. SEEK Peter warned of Satan’s desire to ‘SEEK’ those who he could devour Seek: “To go in search or quest of; to look for; to search for by going from place to place.” The devil goes about looking for those in which might be classified as ‘easy prey’ Genesis 3:1: “Now the serpent was more subtil ...read more

Scripture: 1 Peter 5:8

Denomination: Baptist

Your Assignment Series

Contributed by greg nance on feb 7, 2006.

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 ...read more

Scripture: Mark 5:1-43

About My Assignment... Series

Contributed by curry pikkaart on jun 24, 2014.

How content are you with your God-given assignments in life?

“Soul Talk: About My Assignment…” Ps. 16 We’ve all receive assignments – perhaps from a teacher, a coach, a director, a boss, or a commanding officer. Even the government assigns us to certain categories and requirements. Some assignments we like and some we do not; ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 16:1-11

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

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What does the Bible say about ?

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34 Bible Verses about Fulfilling Gods Assignment

Ephesians 2:10 esv / 29 helpful votes helpful not helpful.

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

Jeremiah 1:5 ESV / 23 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.”

Luke 16:13 ESV / 19 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.”

Matthew 25:31-46 ESV / 19 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, ...

Proverbs 22:6 ESV / 17 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.

Ephesians 4:1-6 ESV / 16 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, ...

1 Corinthians 1:9 ESV / 13 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Hebrews 11:6 ESV / 12 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

Romans 12:2 ESV / 12 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Ephesians 5:5 ESV / 10 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.

John 9:1-5 ESV / 8 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. And his disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him. We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”

John 3:16-17 ESV / 8 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

Hebrews 13:1-3 ESV / 7 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Let brotherly love continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body.

Colossians 3:18 ESV / 7 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.

Proverbs 31:1-31 ESV / 7 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

The words of King Lemuel. An oracle that his mother taught him: What are you doing, my son? What are you doing, son of my womb? What are you doing, son of my vows? Do not give your strength to women, your ways to those who destroy kings. It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, or for rulers to take strong drink, lest they drink and forget what has been decreed and pervert the rights of all the afflicted. ...

Proverbs 13:24 ESV / 7 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Whoever spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him.

Proverbs 29:15 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

The rod and reproof give wisdom, but a child left to himself brings shame to his mother.

Exodus 20:12 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

“Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.

Genesis 3:1-24 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’” But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” ...

Hebrews 13:4 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous.

Ephesians 5:21 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.

Romans 12:1 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.

Matthew 18:10 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

“See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven.

Malachi 2:16 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

“For the man who does not love his wife but divorces her, says the Lord , the God of Israel, covers his garment with violence, says the Lord of hosts. So guard yourselves in your spirit, and do not be faithless.”

Proverbs 22:15 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline drives it far from him.

Proverbs 19:18 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Discipline your son, for there is hope; do not set your heart on putting him to death.

Psalm 127:3-5 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord , the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one's youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.

1 John 1:9 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Ephesians 6:4 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

Matthew 26:36 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, “Sit here, while I go over there and pray.”

Matthew 20:28 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

1 Peter 4:10 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace:

1 Corinthians 11:3 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, the head of a wife is her husband, and the head of Christ is God.

Romans 8:28 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

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Unless otherwise indicated, all content is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License . All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. Copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles , a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Contact me: openbibleinfo (at) gmail.com.

You Were Shaped For Serving God: So, Accept Your Assignment

October 12, 2021
Rev. Elaine Davis
I Corinthians

1 Corinthians 3:1-16New Living Translation

Paul and apollos, servants of christ.

3 Dear brothers and sisters, [ a ] when I was with you I couldn’t talk to you as I would to spiritual people. [ b ] I had to talk as though you belonged to this world or as though you were infants in Christ. 2 I had to feed you with milk, not with solid food, because you weren’t ready for anything stronger. And you still aren’t ready, 3 for you are still controlled by your sinful nature. You are jealous of one another and quarrel with each other. Doesn’t that prove you are controlled by your sinful nature? Aren’t you living like people of the world? 4 When one of you says, “I am a follower of Paul,” and another says, “I follow Apollos,” aren’t you acting just like people of the world?

5 After all, who is Apollos? Who is Paul? We are only God’s servants through whom you believed the Good News. Each of us did the work the Lord gave us. 6 I planted the seed in your hearts, and Apollos watered it, but it was God who made it grow. 7 It’s not important who does the planting, or who does the watering. What’s important is that God makes the seed grow. 8 The one who plants and the one who waters work together with the same purpose. And both will be rewarded for their own hard work. 9 For we are both God’s workers. And you are God’s field. You are God’s building.

10 Because of God’s grace to me, I have laid the foundation like an expert builder. Now others are building on it. But whoever is building on this foundation must be very careful. 11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one we already have—Jesus Christ.

12 Anyone who builds on that foundation may use a variety of materials—gold, silver, jewels, wood, hay, or straw. 13 But on the judgment day, fire will reveal what kind of work each builder has done. The fire will show if a person’s work has any value. 14 If the work survives, that builder will receive a reward. 15 But if the work is burned up, the builder will suffer great loss. The builder will be saved, but like someone barely escaping through a wall of flames.

16 Don’t you realize that all of you together are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God lives in [ c ] you?

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Accepting Your Assignment

You were put on earth to make a contribution!

“It is God Himself who made us what we are and given us new lives from Christ Jesus; and long ages ago He planned that we should spend these lives in helping others.” Ephesians 2:10 (LB)

You were created to serve God . “God has created us for a life of good deeds, which He has already prepared for us to do.” Ephesians 2:10b (TEV) These “ good deeds ” are your service to the world. Whenever you serve others in any way, you are actually serving God and fulfilling one of your purposes.

You were saved to serve God . Have you ever wondered why God doesn’t just immediately take us to heaven the moment we accept his grace? Once you are saved, God intends to use you for his goals. God has a ministry for you in his church and a mission for you in the world.

You are called to serve God . The Bible says, “All of you together are Christ’s body, and each one of you is a separate and necessary part of it . ” 1 Corinthians 12:27 (NLT) Each of us has a role to play, and every role is important.

You are commanded to serve God . The mature follower of Jesus stops asking, “Who’s going to meet my needs?” and starts asking, “Whose needs can I meet?” Do you ever ask that question? One day God will compare how much time and energy we spent on ourselves compared with what we invested in serving others.

Point to Ponder : Service is not optional.

Verse to Remember : “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2:10 (NIV)

Shaped for serving god, what drives your life, it takes time.

Day Twenty Nine – Accepting Your Assignment

Day twenty nine of The Purpose Driven Life begins the section on my fourth purpose which is serving God. I was put on this earth to make a contribution and to make a difference with my life. This purpose is my “ministry” or service.

I was created to serve God . I was placed on this earth for a special assignment of serving God.
I was saved to serve God . God saved me so I could do his holy work. I have been given a special ministry on this earth which will help fulfill His purposes.
I am called to serve God . Every Christian is called to full-time Christian service. Anytime I use my God-given abilities to serve others I am fulfilling my ministry.
I am commanded to serve God . Service is not optional; it is a critical part of the Christian life. As we mature in our Christian life our focus should more and more move from serving ourselves to serving others. Unfortunately Warren chooses to quote Mother Teresa here since the Christian world naively deems her to be the ultimate example of Christian service.

When we die God is going to compare how much time and energy we have focused on ourselves to how much we have focused on others. There will be no excuses for being self-centered. We can only find our real purpose and significance in serving and ministering to others.

Bible Passages

Warren quotes the Bible nineteen times using eight translations and paraphrases. Other than a very poor translation of 1 Corinthians 12:14, he generally quotes with accuracy and within the proper context.

Point to Ponder

Today’s point to ponder is “service is not optional.” I guess I find it hard to believe that some Christians actually hold this view. The Bible speaks time and again of the importance of serving others and of counting others better than yourself. We are to find joy in serving and ministering to others. I don’t think many believers would actually argue that they are not called to serve others, yet their lives may prove that deep down they do hold this view.

There are times and there are situations when I love to serve others. And then there are other times and situations when it is much more difficult. When I can do things in my time and the way I like to, I am always happy to be of service. What I find more difficult is to have the flexibility (and love) to love and serve others in the way they want or need. I think a mark of true service is being able to meet people where they are at, rather than making them meet you in the situations you are comfortable with. Christians are far better at ministering to others when they walk through the doors of a church than we are at ministering to people when we are not in the comforts of our Christian contexts.

Tomorrow’s topic is Shaped For Serving God

Molded in the Master’s Hands

Peter lives in the shadow of Paul. When we think of the early church, when we think of the Apostles, when we think of the doctrine of the New Testament, our minds probably go first to Paul. And perhaps rightly so, since he is responsible for the majority of the didactic parts of the New…

A La Carte (July 5)

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A La Carte (July 4)

A La Carte: Zoomers and the future of the church / Good sex starts with the heart / Political ideology vs. science / The sacrifices of a wife / Thou shalt not catastrophize / What happens when we trust God for the next step? / and more.

Trusting God in the Uncertainties of Life

There are some things I’m good at. Whether by nature, nurture, or hard practice, I have accumulated some skills and been given some talents. But I’m not good at everything of course. Not nearly. One thing I’m very poor at is …

A La Carte (July 3)

A La Carte: Jesus Calling and the PCA / Why do we believe so many lies about heaven? / Kevin DeYoung’s theological explainer / Ancestor worship in the church / Dear little one / Thoughts on being a Christian writer / Kindle device and book deals / and more.

A La Carte (July 2)

A La Carte: Growing older with wisdom, not bitterness / The bestselling reference Bible / Two new songs / The calling of motherhood for the worrisome mother / Beware the emotional prosperity gospel / Doomed to final frustration / Logos and Kindle sales / and more.

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When God Has An Assignment On Your Life You Can’T Hang With Everybody

Have you ever felt like you’re on a different path than some of your friends or that you need to pull away from certain relationships in order to pursue God’s calling for your life? This is a common tension believers face when maturing in their faith.

In this detailed guide, we’ll explore why you may need to limit interactions with certain people when God gives you a special assignment to fulfill His greater purposes.

If you’re short on time, here’s the quick answer to why you can’t hang with everybody when God has an assignment on your life: Your assignments from God require focus, wisdom and often sacrifice . Not everyone in your life will understand or support these callings, which can hinder your ability to wholeheartedly pursue your kingdom purpose.

Understanding Why God Assigns Special Purposes to Specific People

We are each called to play unique roles in god’s plan.

As children of God, we each have a special purpose and calling that only we can fulfill (Jeremiah 29:11). Our creator has intricately designed us with specific gifts, talents, personalities, and experiences to carry out unique roles in His great plan.

Just as parts of the human body work together, with each playing vital roles, so too are we parts of the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:12-27). The eye sees while the ear hears. Similarly, one is gifted at teaching while another has the mercy to care for the sick.

Our diversity and differences enable us to complement each other.

Focus is Required to Fulfill God’s Special Callings

Fulfilling God’s special assignments requires undivided attention and focus on hearing His voice. We must block out distractions and “tune out” other voices calling us in different directions (Matthew 13:22).

Seasons of separation unto God are often needed to discern our assignments without outside influence.

Jesus himself modeled this laser focus during His earthly ministry. Though crowded and busy, He maintained connection with the Father and walked in step with His will (John 5:19). We too must fix our eyes upon Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith (Hebrews 12:2).

Our Assignments Require Us to Be Set Apart for a Season

There are biblical precedents showing those with special callings on their lives experienced periods of separation from others. Moses spent 40 years in the wilderness before returning to deliver the Israelites from Egypt (Exodus 7:7).

Paul, after his radical conversion, went to Arabia for three years before starting his missionary journeys (Galatians 1:15-18).

Similarly, fulfilling our Kingdom assignments may require seasons of relative isolation to receive needed preparation, wisdom and anointing from God. During these seasons, many relationships and activities that previously occupied our time may need to be laid down for a period to fully focus on God’s plans.

Examining Biblical Examples of Assignments Requiring Separation

Joseph: betrayed by his brothers while fulfilling god’s purpose.

Joseph received a vision from God that he would one day rule over his brothers (Genesis 37:5-11). However, his bothers became jealous and sold Joseph into slavery in Egypt (Genesis 37:12-36). Joseph was thus isolated and betrayed by his own family while walking in his divine assignment .

Yet later, Joseph was elevated to become second-in-command to Pharaoh and helped save Egypt and his family from famine (Genesis 41:37-57). As evidenced in Joseph’s story, carrying out God’s will can sometimes require painful separation from those closest to us.

Moses: Isolated in the Desert to Prepare Him

Moses spent 40 years in isolation in the desert before returning to Egypt to deliver the Israelites from bondage (Exodus 2:11-3:10). This extended time alone was necessary for God to shape Moses into the leader needed for this immense task.

Similarly, seasons of solitude are often required for God to equip us without distractions. As noted on BibleStudyTools.com , God used Moses’ desert isolation to teach him vital lessons in patience, faith and self-control.

Jesus: Tempted in the Wilderness Before Public Ministry

Before launching His earthly ministry, Jesus spent 40 days fasting alone in the Judean wilderness where He was tempted by the devil (Matthew 4:1-11; Luke 4:1-13). This bleak seclusion and temptation prepared Christ for the trials and testing He would face in public ministry.

We too should expect that embracing a God-given assignment may lead us through a spiritual wilderness of isolation and temptation prior to releasing us into greater influence.

Paul: Received Reveled Truth in Arabia Before Joining Disciples

The Apostle Paul spent three years in the Arabian desert after his Damascus road conversion before joining the disciples in Jerusalem (Galatians 1:11-24). As noted on GotQuestions.org , Paul likely used this desert retreat to receive direct revelation from Christ about the Gospel message he would carry to the Gentiles.

Once again, isolation and solitary retreat played a key role in preparing someone for an assignment of great consequence.

Why Those Closest to You May Not Understand Your Assignment

When God gives us a special assignment or calling in life, it’s easy to assume that our closest friends and family will be supportive. After all, they know us best and want what’s good for us, right? Unfortunately, that’s not always the case.

Here are a few reasons why those closest to you may struggle to understand or embrace the assignment God has placed on your life:

They Have Not Shared Your Encounter with God

If your friends and family have not had the same kind of divine encounter and calling from God that you have experienced, it may be hard for them to fully grasp it. They don’t have that personal relationship with God guiding them, so your calling could seem abstract or confusing.

Give them grace if they don’t immediately “get it.”

Their Support May Enable Counterproductive Patterns

Sometimes, our family and friends support us in ways that actually hinder our growth and purpose. For example, a parent may want to protect you from challenges God wants you to face. Or a spouse may prefer the comfort of the status quo rather than supporting a bold calling that requires sacrifice.

Their intentions are good, but their support contradicts God’s purposes.

Pursuing Earthly Rewards Does Not Align with Eternal Purposes

Many of those closest to us are consumed by pursuing worldly success, pleasures, or comfort. Your calling may threaten their preferred lifestyle or values. For example, a business owner may not understand why you left a lucrative career to begin an unprofitable ministry.

Your eyes are fixed on treasure in heaven, not on earthly rewards.

Rather than judge those close to you, offer grace and understanding. Avoid defensiveness and arguments. Over time, as you walk faithfully with God, He can change hearts and open eyes. Some may eventually become your biggest encouragers!

Until then, rest in the knowledge that God assigns us to special purposes which the world may not comprehend, but His wisdom and grace is sufficient.

Setting Healthy Boundaries to Protect God-Given Assignments

Be selective about who you share with.

When embarking on a God-given assignment or purpose, it’s crucial to be discerning about who you share details with. Not everyone will celebrate the calling on your life. Some may discourages or drain your enthusiasm with their doubts or negative words (See Gideon’s story in Judges 6).

Be led by the Holy Spirit regarding who needs to know specific details. As Jesus said in Matthew 7:6, don’t cast your pearls before swine or give dogs what is sacred.

There’s wisdom in keeping some details private until the appointed time. Consider telling only a small, trusted circle of encouragers who will cover your assignment in prayer and speak life and victory over it. Limit oversharing on social media where scoffers and critics have access.

Limit Time with Those Who Drain Your Focus

It’s admirable to try helping and fixing everyone, but that can easily divert you from what God wants you to uniquely accomplish. You might need to limit interactions with friends or family members who are perpetually negative, draining or distracting.

Set healthy boundaries and limits with them. Politely decline get-togethers that usually veer into vent sessions. Say “no” to nonessential requests for your time and energy. Don’t feel guilty about guarding your anointing, gifts, calling and assignment from the Lord.

He wants you to bear lasting spiritual fruit (See John 15:16 ).

Surround Yourself with Like-Minded Kingdom Builders

God often connects us with specific people to mutually encourage our kingdom purposes. Seek out and unite with Christians who share your values and aspirations – perhaps in a small group, ministry team or informal mentoring relationships (see Proverbs 27:17 ).

Discuss ideas, pray together, collaborate on projects. Brainstorm ways to spread the Gospel, make disciples and transform communities. As iron sharpens iron, you’ll inspire each other to grow, improve skills, overcome obstacles and walk in divine destiny.

Staying Rooted in the Vine While Fulfilling Your Purpose

Guard against self-reliance and pride.

It’s easy to rely on our own talents and become prideful when God blesses us. However, we must remember that all good things come from God (James 1:17). If we think success comes from ourselves alone, we essentially push God out of His rightful place in our lives.

Proverbs 16:18 warns that “Pride goes before disaster, and haughtiness before a fall.” This sin threatens those fulfilling their God-given purpose. After experiencing some success in ministry, it’s crucial to give all glory to the Lord for enabling us (1 Corinthians 15:10).

As Jesus said, “Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine” (John 15:4) . We rely on His life-giving power flowing through us.

Submit Your Desires Daily to God

As Christ’s disciples, we daily surrender our own desires and accept God’s will. Jesus practiced complete submission when He prayed in Luke 22:42, “ Father, if You are willing, take this cup of suffering away from Me.

Yet I want Your will to be done, not Mine .” This models the humility we need in fulfilling God’s calling.

Rather than asserting our plans, we pray “not my will but Yours be done” (Luke 22:42). Our desires may sometimes align with His purpose for our lives. Other times, He calls us to sacrifice comfortable things. But we can trust that His way is best and will bear eternal fruit.

Remember Your True Value Comes from Christ

Knowing our true identity in Christ protects against pride. All value and significance come from Him rather than worldly applause. Ephesians 1:4 declares, “God chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight.” Out of His great mercy and love, He saved us and called us to participate in His glorious plans.

We contribute nothing apart from Christ’s enablement . As Galatians 2:20 says, “I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” Everything we accomplish comes by His Spirit’s power from beginning to end.

When God puts a special assignment on your life, you often have to make sacrifices relationally and practically to stay focused on fulfilling your purpose. As we’ve explored, both Scripture and modern examples show that isolation, hardship and lack of support often accompany unique callings.

While this tension can be painful, we must remember that our identity lies in Christ – not the approval of others or worldly affirmation. Staying rooted in God’s love gives us the strength and discernment needed to set healthy boundaries and finish the race marked out for us.

Amanda Williams is a dedicated Christian writer and blogger who is passionate about sharing Biblical truth and encouraging believers in their faith walks. After working as a youth pastor and Bible teacher for several years, she launched her blog in 2022 to minister to Christians online seeking to grow deeper in their relationship with Jesus Christ. When she's not creating content or connecting with readers, Amanda enjoys studying theology, being out in nature, baking, and spending time with family. Her goal is to provide practical wisdom and hope from a genuine Christian perspective. Amanda currently resides in Colorado with her husband, daughter, and two rescue dogs.

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Sermon 06-21-15: “God’s Assignment for Us”

In this Father’s Day sermon, I begin by focusing on words about fatherhood from comedian Jim Gaffigan, who has five kids. Being a dad requires sacrifice, he says, and these “five little monsters rule [his] life.” Whether we know it or not, we parents can learn a lot about Christian discipleship from raising kids. After all, we follow a Savior who rules our lives and asks us to sacrifice. In fact, all of us Christians, the apostle Paul tells us, live our lives “under assignment” from God. This sermon explores the meaning of our assignment.

Sermon Text: 1 Corinthians 7:17-24

[To listen on the go, right-click here to download an MP3 version .]

The following is my original sermon manuscript.

So I was at Annual Conference last week, and I went to a clergy breakfast, and they had a buffet. So naturally when I got to the tray of bacon, I began piling it on my plate—because that’s what you do with bacon—it’s awesome. And my wife pointed to a sign in front of the tray that read, “Limit two strips of bacon per plate.” And I’m like, “Two strips? That’s not enough bacon! ” But, you see, bacon is so good you have to ration it.

And I thought in that moment of my favorite comedian Jim Gaffigan, who is famous for stand-up routines about food, especially bacon: He says you feel like you never get enough of it. He said, “Whenever you’re at a lunch buffet, and you see that big metal tray filled with four-thousand pieces of bacon, don’t you almost expect to see a rainbow coming out of it?” Because you’ve found the pot of gold! And he notices that the tray of bacon is always at the end of the buffet line—at which point your plate is already full . And you look at your plate and think, “What am I doing with all this worthless fruit?”

Gaffigan is also famous for joking about being a dad. He has five kids. Recently, he reflected on why he has so many. He said,

I guess the reasons against having more children always seem uninspiring and superficial. What exactly am I missing out on [by having more kids]? Money? A few more hours of sleep? A more peaceful meal? More hair? These are nothing compared to what I get from these five monsters who rule my life. I believe each of my five children has made me a better man … Each one of them has been a pump of light into my shriveled black heart. I would trade money, sleep, or hair for a smile from one of my children in a heartbeat. Well, it depends on how much hair.

What exactly am I missing out on by having these kids? he asks. I have considered that question myself.

My friend Mike has been my best friend since college. Mike is single. Never been married. No kids. He wants to be married, but it hasn’t happened for him. But in moments of weakness, I’m tempted to look at Mike’s life with some envy when I consider the freedom that he has. The freedom of time . He has all the time in the world to devote to things that I like—he’s a musician. He plays in a band, for instance. He has all the discretionary income he needs to spend on musical instruments and recording equipment. He goes to all the concerts that come to town, and sees all the movies. He has the freedom to travel wherever he wants, whenever he wants—to exotic locales like Iceland. Who goes to Iceland? Mike does! And how can he have time and money to devote to all these things? Because he doesn’t have kids!

My family and I were watching American Ninja Warrior a couple of weeks ago, and I’m inspired by the stories of some of these men, some of whom are my age who are able to devote so much time to training, to working out, to exercising—literally hours a day—and I’m a little jealous. After all, I’m not where I want to be in terms of physical fitness. I don’t have the washboard abs that I desire. So I look at the American Ninja Warriors and think, “How do they have time to do that?”

Then I realize: nine times out of ten it’s because they don’t have kids!

I’ve complained recently about how my kids are at the age where all three of them, it seems, have to be in three different places all at once—nearly every day, at least during the school year! And so Lisa and I spend a lot of time hauling our kids around , coordinating schedules. And my daughter, who can be a little sarcastic at times, hears me complain about this. And she says, “My name is Brent”—that’s one of the voices she uses for me—“My name is Brent, and I’m sorry I ever had kids!”

But it’s hard—being a dad, being a parent. It requires so much sacrifice! We dads— and moms—can’t imagine how difficult parenting will be. It’s often not what we expected. If it’s not the hardest, it’s nearly the hardest thing we will ever do.

But rewarding? Like Gaffigan says, he would gladly trade money, sleep, or hair for even one smile from his kids. His children, he says, have taught him to be a better man.

In fact, I would argue that, in one small way at least, whether he knows it or not, his children have taught him to be what the apostle tells us that we’re all supposed to be as Christians: slaves of Christ. What does Gaffigan say? That these “five little monsters” rule his life.

And we fathers know exactly what he means. Because just by virtue of being a good father, we have to set aside so many of our own needs and wants and desires—and put their needs and wants and desires ahead of our own! That’s what we’re supposed to do as followers of Jesus. Our love for our children is a sacrificial love. That’s what our love for Christ and our neighbor is supposed to be!

In fact, we live our lives, Paul says in verse 17, under an assignment . Paul writes, “Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him.”

Brothers and sisters, think about the power of these words: You are who you are in life; you are where you are in life; you’re doing what you’re doing in life—not simply because of your own choices, your own will, your own hard work, your own desires—but also because you are under assignment from God. God has assigned you this life, these circumstances, this job or career or vocation, this body. Living under an assignment means we don’t get to do whatever we want with our lives.

You were bought with a price , Paul says. And he uses these words to mean two things at once: first, through the cross of Jesus Christ you’ve been set free from slavery to sin; but also: through the cross of Jesus Christ you’ve been purchased as a slave by Christ! You belong to him now. You are his property now. You do what he says. You go where he says to go. You don’t do what he tells you not to do. He’s in charge. He gets to say.

And that’s more than a fair trade—his life for yours. We become a slave for Christ, because, as Philippians 2 says, Christ first became a slave for us: Though Christ was God, he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave. He humbled himself and became obedient to death—even death on the cross. He lived the life we were unable to live. He suffered the death we deserved to suffer. He suffered the hell we deserved to suffer. So that we would have forgiveness of sin, eternal life, heaven, salvation … And in return we gratefully become his slaves, which means our life is not our own to do with as we please. It belongs to him. And as Jim Gaffigan says of the sacrifices he has to make for his children, that trade-off is totally worth it.

But our life is not our own. We were bought with a price.

Speaking of which, now’s as good a time as any to talk about that person—that man— formerly known as Bruce Jenner. Now that he has paid doctors to supposedly change his gender, he wants the world to call him Caitlin. I can’t—I won’t . Because in order for me to do so, I’d have to agree with Jenner that he was given the wrong body at birth—that he should have been female, instead of male. Which is another way of saying that God messed up, that God gave him the wrong body at birth. That doesn’t jibe with scripture at all: It was no accident that Bruce Jenner was male. God assigned him the body that he had at birth, and he has sinned against God’s will by trying to change that!

Honestly, I had an argument with a fellow Methodist pastor who disagreed with me. And this pastor really thought he had me when he said, “Suppose something else was wrong with his body—let’s say he had cancer or something—would you be willing to say to him, ‘Well, God gave you this body with this cancer, so you’re not allowed to have surgery or receive chemo or radiation for it?’”

To which I replied, “I’m sorry. Since when is being a man a deadly disease that needs to be cured?”

It’s just ridiculous! We have lost our minds as a culture if we’re not allowed to look at someone like Bruce Jenner and say that at the very least we have a deeply confused man, who lives in a culture that is deeply confused about sex and sexuality, who has mutilated himself in a sinful way. Yet we say it’s good! And we say, along with the producers at ESPN, that he’s a hero ! God have mercy on us!

God assigned Jenner this body and this life, and Jenner said, “I know better than you, God, what I need. I know better than you, God, who I am. I know better than you, God, what I require in order to be happy. So instead of trusting in you, God—instead of trusting in you to supply what I need to be happy, I’m going to take matters into my own hands— or , I should say, into the hands of doctors and surgeons.”

Now, lest you think I’m being too hard on Bruce Jenner, I wonder: Do we ever do the same thing, except on a smaller scale, in a far less extreme way? Do we live our lives as if we’re in charge instead God? Do we second-guess God? Do we fail to trust that God knows what’s best for us?

I think about my own life. I was telling one of you just a couple of weeks ago how much I regretted my first job out of college—which was working in large system sales for AT&T. I wasn’t very good at it; and I was miserable. So much so that I went back to school, got a new degree—and started over. And I was talking about how much I regretted taking that job, and going through all that. And this person said to me, “Are you kidding? I’m glad you were such a failure in your first job. I’m glad it didn’t work out. Because if you had been a huge success in sales, and you made a lot of money, and all your dreams came true, you might have never decided to answer God’s call into ministry. And, believe me, you’re in the right job now .”

I appreciated his kind words. And I know he’s right: I’m sure I’m in the right job now. So I ought to look back on even that painful experience with gratitude because I now see that God assigned me that job for that period of time in order to prepare me for the work I do today.

So regardless how I got here, regardless the mistakes I made along the way, regardless the pain I’ve endured along the way, regardless whatever regrets or disappointments I’ve experienced—if that’s what it took to bring me to this place that I am right now, well… Thank God! Because it was totally worth it! I serve this church under assignment. And you serve this church under assignment. And you have been assigned your place of employment—your career, your job, your vocation. And you have been assigned your spouse, your family, your home, your possessions.

So wherever you are, wherever you go, whatever you do—you are on assignment from God. You don’t have to go to the Dominican Republic to be on assignment, although next week many of our youth and their chaperones certainly will be!

Someone posted a meme on social media a couple of weeks ago: It’s a quote from actor Michael J. Fox, who, as most of you know, suffers from Parkinson’s. Back in 2007, Fox told an interviewer with Esquire magazine about living with Parkinson’s. And he said these profound words: “My happiness grows in direct proportion to my acceptance , and in inverse proportion to my expectations. Acceptance is the key to everything.”

My happiness grows in direct proportion to my acceptance, and in inverse proportion to my expectations . He’s saying, in other words, the more he learns to accept what life throws his way—instead of resenting the fact that his life hasn’t met his expectations—the happier he becomes. I mean, let’s face it: being stricken with Parkinson’s in your 30s—with all the limitations that it imposes—would have been the last thing he expected when he was a breakout star on Family Ties , and when Back to the Future was the number one summer blockbuster—back when his future couldn’t look brighter.

So the key to happiness, he said, is learning to accept what life throws our way—instead of resenting that life isn’t living up to our expectations. And that’s very nearly true, except we need to add some theology to it: We can learn to accept what life throws our way because we understand that, in a sense, God has given it to us, as an assignment . It may be incredibly difficult. It may be costly. It may even cost us everything.

As you know, there are some families in Charleston right now—the relatives of the victims of last week’s shootings at Emanuel A.M.E. church—who couldn’t be more heartbroken, more disappointed with the particular assignment that God has given them. But based on their words, spoken at the bond hearing for Dylann Roof, their loved ones’ murderer, to their loved ones’ murderer, it seems clear that they’re going to handle this assignment just fine.

As Peggy Noonan wrote in the Wall Street Journal:

They spoke of mercy. They offered forgiveness. They invited the suspect, who was linked in by video from jail, to please look for God.

There was no rage, no accusation—just broken hearts undefended and presented for the world to see. They sobbed as they spoke…

A family member of Anthony Thompson [one of the victims] said he forgave the shooter. “I forgive you and my family forgives you, but we would like you to take this opportunity to repent . . . confess, give your life to the one who matters the most, Christ, so that He can change it—can change your ways no matter what happens to you, and you will be OK. Do that and you will be better.”

If they can be faithful in their assignment, surely we can be faithful in ours! Amen?

10 thoughts on “Sermon 06-21-15: “God’s Assignment for Us””

Thank you for sharing your thoughts in your blog, Rev Brent. They are a blessing to me. You explain topics in a very introspective way that I really enjoy. We miss you so much in Alpharetta! Kristina McManus

Thanks so much, Kristina. I miss you guys, too! Glad we can at least stay in touch online.

Brent, I agree with your view that God assigns us with tasks, and that as part of that he expects us to use whatever we have wherever we are. But I think we have to also take into account that WE (not God) can make “mistakes” that may lead us to being somewhere or doing some things that might have been different were it not for those mistakes. Not that we are catching God off guard or that God can’t use us wherever we have ended up. But I do think there is room for “regret” on our parts.

As a possible example, consider King David. He was “rocking right along,” so to speak, and then he spied Bathsheba and did two very bad things. God forgave him when he confessed, but the baby died and the sword never departed from his house. I think he was (and should have been) sorry for those things, even though God also ultimately made something good out of the mess by having Christ’s genealogy come through two of Bathsheba’s boys, for both Joseph and Mary. So, God acted “redemptively,” but things could (I think) have gone better had David not fallen into some major sin.

I guess what I am saying is, when we don’t sin, then we should realize that no matter what task God has assigned, we are not to complain, and we are to “accept” (as you say) that situation and work as unto God as opposed to man. But we should also recognize that things may not go as well as they would otherwise if we sin, which is a major league motivation for us not to sin in the first place.

Any thoughts about that?

I rarely disagree with your objections, Tom. 😉 By all means things go better when we don’t sin—and we would be in possibly very different places if we made different decisions. Nevertheless, can we not say that at any given moment we are where we are because—given our often sinful choices, among other things—God wants us here, that God is using it? And as you say, God knew we’d be here and is working through these circumstances accordingly.

I think you are right that God has a plan for us wherever we may be, for whatever reasons we ended up there. So we should not chafe at that. I just think it is nonetheless not wrong to have a “tinge of regret” about where we have ended up–even knowing God knew about this all along–when we realize things could have been “even better” for us had we not “strayed” from the “straight and narrow” path.

Fair enough. I think this healthy kind of regret is related to repentance. Regret but don’t wallow in it.

my wife had interesting perspective on ‘Caitlyn’: not only did he choose to be female (after the world celebrated his alpha-maleness in 1976) but at 65 he chose to be glamorous, svelte. he chose a shape that conforms to an unattainable, unsustainable standard that all women regardless of age must look like they are 35 or younger (unless you are Betty white–then the world gives you pass).

Good point. But this is related to his mental condition: autogynephilia. He has to look this way because it turns him on.

what a neat word

It’s sad that such a word has to exist.

accepting your assignment from god

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