Chosen: The Calling

I was listening to Pastor Steven Furtick back in February and he was preaching about our calling as Christians. Have you ever wondered what your calling is? Truthfully I never really thought that hard about it and he confirmed why. He said in his sermon that our calling is right where our feet are planted and until we stop looking for something more than where we are and what we are doing, we won't be taken further than right where we are at. I believe him. I mean since I came into this discipleship ministry at Set Free none of that really mattered to me. I wanted nothing to do with overseeing when I first came into the ministry and just wanted to rest at the feet of Jesus. But He had more in store for me and I was called to be an overseer 2 weeks after coming into the ministry in Lake Elsinore. Being called into leadership at any level is a priviledge and honor. It also comes with a big responsibility, tending to my Shepherds sheep. I felt so unqualified to lead anyone, especially when it came to the soul. I had barely been walking with the Lord again and I didn't want to do anything that could cause harm to one of His children. I still feel unqualified most days, it is only through the power of the Holy Spirit that I can make any sense of what I have been called to in the life with Christ. As I go deeper into my walk with the Lord, I have discovered some truths about the anointing on my life and the gifts God has blessed me with this far.

There are so many things in the Word that stand out to me everyday, but two specific pasages that are screaming at me the past few days and I want to share the mind blowing revelation I received while meditating on them: Genesis 1:28 says, "Then God blessed them and God said to them, 'Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.'" (NKJV) And 1 Peter 2:9-10 says, "But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation. His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy." God created me and you to be people of authority with dominion over every living thing that moves on the earth and even though the Fall of man happened He sent Jesus, God Himself in the flesh, to give that power back to us believers. I've heard it said many times and by so many different people "many are called, few are chosen;" however I know what this means now...what it really means! Salvation is a gift that everyone can have if they just choose Jesus and believe that Jesus is the Messiah, that He came as God in the flesh to deliver us from our sin and set us free from the things that have bound us to the earth and caused us to sin; we repent and say the sinner prayer that we're being led to say and so on and so on. Those are the called. We're all called to know Jesus, that's why God sent Him and why He died on the cross for us to have life, in Him. But the chosen, that's something totally different. The chosen are those of us who decide to walk the life of Christ out in our everyday lives today. 

If you know Jesus like I know Jesus, let me just say, what a calling - to be chosen! It's more than just reading my Bible and praying everyday. I have opened myself up to God to totally do with me whatever He chooses and whatever the cost. And it just kind of happened for me, without my even knowing what in fact was happening. I have learned that there are 18 gifts of the Spirit named in Romans 12, 1 Corinthians 12, and Ephesians 4. And they are all available to us if we choose to know Christ and know who we are in Christ! Spectacular right? I mean when I gave my life to the Lord and chose to change my life I didn't think He would choose me, but in fact He did. And because of my obedience to Him, He has opened me up to a whole different level of living. I exist here on earth, but He has allowed me to experience glimpses of His kingdom in the heavenly realm. Magnificent and so overwhelming when I really stop and think about who I am today. I am from the bloodline of Jesus Christ and He has given me authority to declare His truth which is a divine power orchestrated by grace operating in my soul by the Holy Spirit. 

Romans 12:3 says this: "For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly; as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith." It goes on to say some of those gifts - prophecy, ministry, teaching, exhortation, giving with liberality, leading with diligence, and showing mercy with cheerfulness. I never knew that these were gifts of the Spirit until I got to know who my Maker is and who I am in Him. We're all familiar with the gifts in 1 Corinthians 12 - the word of wisdom, the word of knowledge, faith, healing, working of miracles, prophecy, discernment, tongues, and the interpretation of tongues. And Ephesians 4:7-8 states: "Therefore He says, 'When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, and He gave gifts to men.'" These gifts are apostles, prophets, evangelists, and pastors and teachers. Now let me tell you why He gave us these gifs..."that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine by the trickery of men in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head - Christ." Ephesians 4:14-15 (NKJV). When I read all these things they pointed me in one direction - JESUS! He lived every single one of these gifts out those 3 years He walked the earth. And what's so amazing is that those of us who press into Jesus and who He is and the power and authority He has, find out we can have that too. At least I did. I am awed and amazed that I am a chosen one of Christ. He has given me some amazing gifts that I revealed to you in some of my earlier posts and I am so amazed that He loves me this much to let me tap into His power and authority. 

I know that the calling He has on my life is way more than I can really comprehend; but with Him abiding in me I am able to live out those gifts with confidence that it is only for the glory of His kingdom to be revealed on earth. I find myself filled with this uncontainable feeling so often and now I can actually understand where it comes from and why it happens. Michelle McClain-Walters explains it perfectly in her book Chosen:

"We arrive at chosen status by choosing to live a lifestyle of holiness, one that reflects the character of God in every sphere of life, community, government, and culture. The chosen choose to walk the narrow path that makes them worthy of being God's glory carriers in the earth. Upon accepting the call to a chosen lifestyle, the chosen also recommit to carrying out the Genesis 1:28 mandate. They commit to taking full dominion and authority in whatever realm God assigns, and they will expand in that area and be fruitful in every way." From creation it has always been God's heart to bless us and make our lives full and prosperous in every way. I know that I am chosen because it has always been in the heart and mind of God to command His blessing toward me. He saved me from the darkest of nights and shined His Light upon me, giving me the life I was predestined for all along. He has taken me deeper as I have pressed into Him and revealed to me the calling on my life. I know that ministry is my life and what He has given me as tools to lead in ministry are far beyond anything I ever could have learned on my own just being saved. I have had to completely surrender my life to Him and in that surrender He has given me so much of who He is. I cannot wait to see what else He does when His Spirit breaks out of me to the fullest. 

I leave you with this prayer and I urge those chosen by Him to pray with me: Lord Jesus, My King, I don't know what it is You are revealing to me all the time. I don't know how to explain it sometimes, but I know the way. I know which way to go because You are the Way, the Truth, and the Life. When I get there, I'm going to see it. Because I know You, I have the faith I need in You. I trust You God without knowing every detail. I know I have no measure of control because my life is Yours and You are in control. Do with me whatever You choose, whatever the cost. Amen.