JESUS WELL

TOPIC: WHEN HE CALLS, PLEASE ANSWER. IT IS A GREAT HONOR (III)

Read: Ephesians 4: 4 – 12, 16, 17. I Corinthians 12.

Calvary greetings to you in Jesus name.

By the grace of God, I am doing this part (III) as a follow-up to a request sent as a comment on the Facebook posting of 11^th October, where a friend (Evangelist Richard Aloaye Odio ) asked, “How do I know that He called me?” I must confess that this is a question from a sincere heart that wants to serve God in all righteousness without error. We should understand also that righteousness is different from holiness.

To have a good grasp of the meaning of the call of God, we need to know what a divine call is.

From my own understanding based on personal relationship with God, I wish to define God’s call as ‘His demand or request for an elect to perform specific divine duties He earmarked for such a person before creation.’ It is interesting to note that God has ‘office(s) or gift(s)’ for everybody He created. In addition, He has deposited enough grace on such a person to function in the office(s) or with the gift(s). Secularly, a trained driver cannot function in the office of a chartered accountant, so an evangelist cannot (may not) function in the office of a pastor or prophet, though there may be room for an overlap.

Some Christians are of the opinion that they can function in an office because of their desire rather than a divine call. Well, this might not be a totally condemnable idea, but are they sure their services, anointing, divine skills are for that particular office and required at that moment?

Remember, Moses was prepared for the deliverance of the children of Israel from slavery, Samson was brought into this world to also deliver the children of Israel from the Philistines. Apostle Peter was brought into this world as an apostle rather than a fisherman. Note Paul was also divinely skilled as an apostle rather than as a lawyer. God’s call is concise with no ambiguity at all.

It is dangerous to function in another man’s office based on just desire and not conviction. Pastor Olukoya once preached a message that touched my heart. He gave examples of well-trained missionaries who ‘messed up’ on the missions’ field. According to him, out of the 8 missionaries, 2 abandoned the faith, 2 became herbalists while 3 became polygamists and 1 died on duty.

For example, if you are not called as missionary and your desire is to go to missions fields, what happens when you find yourself in an area such as Koma, where young girls with adorable natural endowments sit in front of you stark naked; listening to your preachings, will you concentrate on the gospel? Will that person not bring shame and dishonor to the name of Jesus? There are so many sad stories of such even on some of our missions’ fields. What happens if someone desires to be a treasurer in a church, meanwhile he has a shade of kleptomaniac in him? Will the person not leave the office in shame and dishonor? Will he not profane the name of Christ.

God is the only One Who knows where our services are best needed and effective. We should avoid carnal desire to serve in any office. Who cannot love Church (God’s services) more than God. You cannot serve God out of pity or on mere feelings but on His call.

At this point, I wish to refer to my personal experience as an example. After accepting Jesus Christ’s lordship, I joined the evangelism and missions department with great results following. We combed Badagry and Ijebu areas for Christ, but in 1994, God retained me as a treasurer in the church we pioneered at Tafawa Balewa crescent, Surulere. I spent several years in this office after which my secular office transferred me to Abuja and eventually found myself in 2/2 church, Kubwa where missions vision is formidable. I tried all within my power to join this department, but God insisted that I should work as an administrator, General Sunday School Superintendent and ended up as a Church Council member, ultimately, a Church Secretary.

A Christian can only function optimally, when he keys into God’s plans. The call of Christ is to edify His Church. Period!!!

I will conclude in the subsequent write-ups later.

Have a blessed week.

Remember, Jesus is coming back again, be prepared.

Peace!!!

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