an assignment from god

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!

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What Is My Assignment From God?

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

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

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

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

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

Jesus Modeled The Perfect Assignment

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

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

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

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

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

Assignments Fulfill Our Purpose

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Kyle Echols

The christian work ethic: unlocking the power of diligence, finding redemption: will god forgive me for watching bad things, is baptism a one-time event or can you get baptized twice, conditional love: exploring its meaning from a christian perspective, join our newsletter and get the latest posts to your inbox, the moravian revival: 100 year prayer movement, duncan campbell and the hebrides revival: a transformative movement in christian history, times of refreshing in the bible: embracing spiritual renewal, sponsored song.

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Knowing Your Specific Assignment In Life (Part 1)
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Knowing Your Specific Assignment In Life (Part 1) Series

Contributed by jeff budzinski on oct 18, 2006 (message contributor).

Scripture: Jeremiah 29:11

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Summary: We all have a specific assignment from God when we became a Christian. We must uncover what are assignment is, how to complete it with God’s help and be a blessing to the Body of Christ.

Introduction

· God has a specific assignment for each Born Again Believer.

· God has laid out a road map for you to be successful in His plans.

· He has given you His Holy Spirit to guide you to your divine destination.

· The only way to be sure of completing your assignment is through constant fellowship with God (Secret Place).

· Seeking the Lord in prayer, meditation on the Word of God and by fellowshipping with the Holy Spirit, you will discover the assignment of God for your life.

· Let us look to the scriptures this morning to find out our assignment.

A. God has a specific assignment for your life.

(NKJV) Jeremiah 29 11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.

(AMP) Jeremiah 29 11For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome.

1. God has already placed a specific assignment in your life that only you can accomplish with His help.

a. It is your job to discover that assignment.

2. Your assignment or plans can be found in studying the Word of God.

a. God’s thoughts toward you and His plans for your life are for good and not evil. They are to prosper you!

b. God’s assignment for you will not fail when you do it His way.

c. God has laid out a detailed plan for you to complete your assignment. Seek Him and He will reveal it to you.

d. God is concerned about your welfare and your peace of mind.

B. You are predestined to do good works & complete your assignment.

(AMP) Ephesians 2 10For we are God’s [own] handiwork (His workmanship), recreated in Christ Jesus, [born anew] that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us [taking paths which He prepared ahead of time], that we should walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live].

1. It is up to you to make sure you locate the path for your life.

a. Studying and meditation on the Word is key.

2. You are created in the image of Jesus Christ, God’s handiwork. You are created to win in life.

3. Follow the leadings of the Holy Spirit at all times. He will direct your steps.

4. When the Holy Spirit speaks to you, do what He say immediately. Do not delay or you will be steered off course.

a. When the Holy Spirit speaks, you will know that it is God directing you.

(NKJV) Ephesians 3 2 if indeed you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which was given to me for you, 3 how that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already, 4 by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ), 5 which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets: 6 that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel, 7 of which I became a minister according to the gift of the grace of God given to me by the effective working of His power.

5. When you communicate with the Holy Spirit, He will reveal the secrets or mysteries of God to you. This allows you to complete your assignment.

6. Revelation knowledge is revealed knowledge by the Spirit of God.

7. Revelation knowledge will always line up with the Word of God.

a. The Holy Spirit will reveal secrets when you spend a considerable amount of time with Him.

b. God’s sheep know His voice.

i. Like a parent knows the voice of his or her child, we as children of God, will know His voice when we spend time fellowshipping with Him daily.

c. When your thoughts line up with the Word of God, you will have great results in life.

8. God will guide you on your assignment by giving you insight.

C. Keeping your course as you perform your assignment.

1. God gave you His spirit so that you can know Him better and keep on course to complete your assignment.

2. God requires you to be a good steward over the revelation knowledge He gives you.

3. Ask God to reveal things to you. Be persistent in your asking.

4. Speaking in tongues enable you to communicate directly with God.

Related Media

Scriptures: 1 Corinthians 14 , 1 Corinthians 2 , Ephesians 2 , Ephesians 3 , Jeremiah 29 , Jeremiah 29:11

Sermon Topics: Becoming A Christian

Neiko Jones

commented on Aug 13, 2017

This sermon was timely and helpful. Our pastor gave us the assignment of finding a scripture and discovering what our assignment is in life and the church. I will used the information in learned in this sermon to study and discover. Thanks and God bless!

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Your Job Is God’s Assignment

Tbt with every square inch: reading the classics, more by john piper.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Why Do So Many Young People Lose Their Faith at College?

New Testament professor Michael Kruger is no stranger to the assault on faith that most young people face when they enter higher education, having experienced an intense period of doubt in his freshman year. In Surviving Religion 101 , he draws on years of experience as a biblical scholar to address common objections to the Christian faith: the exclusivity of Christianity, Christian intolerance, homosexuality, hell, the problem of evil, science, miracles, and the Bible’s reliability.

TGC is delighted to offer the ebook version for FREE for a limited time only. It will equip you to engage secular challenges with intellectual honesty, compassion, and confidence—and ultimately graduate college with your faith intact.

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

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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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The Call to Courage

Desiring god 2008 conference for pastors, the pastor as father & son.

Crawford Loritts

Speaker panel: john piper, crawford loritts, darrin patrick, doug wilson, ramez atallah, lessons on biblical manhood learned from his father, question and answers, the call to courage.

Scripture: Joshua 1:1–9 Topic: Courage & Boldness

I am going to ask you all to stand please in honor of reading the word of God. If you have a copy of the sacred text, I want you to turn with me to Joshua 1:1–9. I’m going to be speaking this morning on a call to courage. The passage says:

After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’s assistant, “Moses my servant is dead. Now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, into the land that I am giving to them, to the people of Israel. Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given to you, just as I promised to Moses. From the wilderness and this Lebanon as far as the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites to the Great Sea toward the going down of the sun shall be your territory. No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you. Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give them. Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go. This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

The Leader of the Band

I do want to get buried in the text here, but I want to tell you a story. On July the 4th, 1995 at 2:10 p.m. in the afternoon, the greatest man that I’ve ever known went home to be with Jesus. He was my dad. The year prior to him passing away, his health just spiraled down. He died of complications related to congestive heart failure, but there were a number of issues. I spent a lot of time traveling from Atlanta up to Roanoke, Virginia where he and mom retired. I went back and forth. If you’ve ever had sick parents, every time the phone rings you sort of shake a little bit. I had plenty of shaky moments.

But that entire year, I could not get the lyrics of a secular song out of my mind. It’s the words of the song that Dan Fogelberg wrote. He passed away as the leader of the band. And to this very day, I have to tell you, probably at least once a week those words come rushing to my mind. The song says:

The leader of the band is tired and his eyes are growing old But his blood runs through my instrument and his song is in my soul My life has been a poor attempt to imitate the man I’m just a living legacy to the leader of the band

There’s not a day that goes by that I don’t think about my father. I think about him often. What an incredible gift. You see, I’m the great grandson of a slave. My great grandfather’s name was Peter Loritts. There’s a German Reformed pastor that migrated around the turn of the century in the early 1800s from Germany to western North Carolina around the Asheville area. He was a godly man. In fact, his great-great-great granddaughter served on staff with Campus crusade for Christ, and that’s how we filled in the gaps. But this man had three sons who became very prosperous landowners there in North Carolina. His youngest son owned my grandfather, Peter. Peter was fairly young when slavery was over and he got married and had some kids. My dad, believe it or not, remembered Peter. Peter lived to be an old man. He remembered the stories. You might say, “Well, Crawford, don’t you mean he was your great-grandfather?”

Well, my father was the youngest boy of 14 kids, and he was 81 when he died in 1995. So it was his grandfather. My dad and my uncles used to tell me these stories about Peter, that Peter was a singing and a praying man. My father says he had vivid memories when he was five, six, or seven years old, watching Peter sit on the front porch in a rocking chair there on Second Street in Conover, North Carolina, the old homestead. He said he would sit there for hours and just rock back and forth, singing and praying.

Peter had memorized passages of Scripture, but he was illiterate. He had memorized huge passages. My dad and my uncles used to say what he used to make his kids and his grandkids do was to read familiar passages to him over and over and over and over and over again, and he had committed them to memory. My dad said Peter loved Jesus. Peter had three children. My great-uncle HP, my great-aunt Georgia, and then my grandfather Milton. He impressed on them a passion for the Lord Jesus.

A Hero Worth Imitating

Milton acquired some land and he loved preachers and helped to start Thomas Chapel AME Zion Church. In fact, he gave them the acreage across the street from the old homestead to build the church on. My dad and uncles used to tell these crazy stories about preachers coming to the house. In those days the kids waited to eat and my dad would be on the chicken watch. Sometimes the last piece of chicken would be eaten and he would get a spanking for screaming out, “He took the last piece of chicken.” But my grandfather, Milton, loved the Lord. He loved his church. He took what he learned from an illiterate slave who loved the Lord Jesus with all his heart and somehow or another the signature of God was impressed on his heart. He raised these 14 kids to love the Lord Jesus.

My dad played baseball in the old Negro Leagues. When he was about 28 or 29 years old, he was playing for the Memphis Cardinals. They didn’t make the money back then. In the off season he worked in the coal mines. There in Dante, Virginia there was a natural gas explosion and he lost his right eye. So mom and pop, during World War II, moved up to New Jersey. And there all of us kids were born. I was born in Newark, New Jersey. I’m the youngest of three kids. But next to Jesus Christ, as I said, my dad has always been my hero. My father never read one book on the family and I’m convinced the only articles he read on the family were by accident. If it was close the sports page, he probably read it. But he loved the Lord Jesus.

My father would finagle his schedule around. He worked for over 30 years for A&P warehouse. He worked from four to 12 at night. I’m going somewhere with this, bear with me. He worked from four to 12 at night, and he would finagle his schedule around so that he could be at my little league baseball games in the afternoons up at the boys club on Littleton Avenue. Every Saturday was family day. He led his family by his quiet strength and eloquence. He was particularly concerned about me as I grew up. He knew intuitively that I had a legacy to keep, that I needed to show up in my life, and that I couldn’t walk away from responsibility.

People ask me today, “Crawford, where did you learn how to lead?” I didn’t learn how to lead by going to a seminar on leadership. I’ve filled in some things, obviously. I’ve read some stuff and gotten some experience of my own. But the foundational issues about life, about direction, about manhood, and particularly about courage, I learned from my dad.

My dad would look me straight in the eye and tell me this all the time in my teen years. He said, “Boy, you never walk away from responsibility. Son, you show up. There’s never any excuse for you to walk away from what you said you would do.” And then he would tell me the old stories of the hard days. He would tell me the stories of Peter. He would tell me the stories of his father who never complained. He would tell me the stories of uncles who paid the price, who would not let Jim Crow define them or take their sense of dignity and identity. He taught me that the culture and the environment does not bring definition to your soul, but the God of the universe does.

He wrote that signature over my heart and over my life. To this very day when I’m challenged with tough decisions in ministry and when there’s discouragement and things are not going well, it is amazing — I can still hear my dad look at me in the eyes and saying, “Boy, don’t walk away. Don’t walk away.”

An Epidemic of Weakness

I want to bear my soul with you guys this morning. I am terribly concerned, terribly concerned about this epidemic of weakness that has come over men in our culture. I am terribly concerned by the epidemic of weakness in our pulpits. I am not talking about being obnoxious, I’m not talking about being unkind, and I’m not talking about being some little sawed-off Caesar. But I am talking about this dastardly tendency that’s sweeping over the entire body of Christ where we don’t have the courage of our convictions. We’re creating a whole generation that’s flooding our Christian schools and flooding our seminaries with this journey mindset.

We’ve allowed our sociological constructs to dictate to us what our leadership philosophies ought to be. So what we have in our churches and in our pulpits are people who are reflecting the new norms in society rather than leading the charge. And the reason why we get discouraged is that we get sick and tired of prostituting ourselves at the shrine of acceptable behavior. There’s a direct relationship between the breakdown of the family and what we have palatably called the emergence of pulse modernity and the sanitizing of a lack of commitment.

We’re afraid to lead and afraid to make decisions. Consensus has a stranglehold around what we do. We reduce our theology so that others will agree with us. I’m concerned about that and frankly, listen to me, some of you are discouraged in your ministry not because God is not working for you and God hasn’t shown you what to do; you are discouraged because you refuse to do what he’s told you to do. I’ve learned some important lessons along those lines.

The Prophetic Statement of Leadership

I remember some time ago there was a staff member, quite frankly, whom I should have fired. But I was concerned about some fallout. I learned a hard lesson. I was concerned about some fallout, so I put up with a bunch of nonsense. Finally, I got either righteously indignant or just carnally ticked off — I don’t know what it was — and I finally reached that point where I said, “You know what? God has called you the minister elsewhere, and I don’t care.”

It was as if the Lord said to me, “I’m glad you put up with that, but I wasn’t calling you to put up with it. I was calling you to do something about it.” Courage. Nothing in life ever happens apart from courage. Do you understand me? Nothing in your ministry will ever take place apart from courage. Somebody has to pull the trigger. The very nature of leadership means the willingness to stand by yourself and be the visible, prophetic reality of what the future looks like.

That’s the very nature of leadership. That is it by its nature. Leadership is not a reflection of where things are. Leadership is the prophetic statement of where things ought to be. Inherent in leadership is a call to embrace aloneness and resilience. And that’s the message of Joshua 1.

Necessary Courage in Leadership

When you read this text, you must read it in its emotional context. What’s going on here? Here we have the children of Israel on this side of the Jordan. Depending on which scholar you read, there are about 2.0 million or 2.5 million Israelites standing on this side of the river. They are in an emotional funk. Moses, the legendary great law giver, the greatest man who ever lived, is dead. There is a twinge of guilt and pain and grief realizing that he died because he disobeyed God. He wasn’t able to fulfill the promise because instead of speaking to the rock, he allowed the pressure of those who were following to determine how he led. So he reacted and struck the rock. And you say, “That’s cold-blooded.”

Well, the way we look at things it may seem cold-blooded, but biblically, with great disclosure comes greater responsibility. When God reveals his heart to us, there’s greater accountability. And guys, we need to get over this piece. If you’re a leader, God does hold you to a higher standard. Don’t let perverted grace language cause you to reduce the high standard that God holds you to. There are some things that you cannot do and I cannot do because God has disclosed his heart.

So they have this funeral. But before they have the funeral, Moses calls in Joshua and in essence he says, “Don’t wimp out on God.” It’s like my dad. I’ll never forget this. A few months before he passed away, we thought he was going to die already. I’ll never forget this. It was one of the most powerful moments in my life. We thought my dad was going to die. He was a tough old sucker. I mean he just defied the odds that I thought this was over. He’s looking at me and he says to me, “Boy, you take care of your mama and those girls. Do you understand me?” It was a commissioning. And that’s the feel of Moses bringing Joshua and saying, “Listen, listen, listen to me, boy. Don’t you cave in. Don’t you put it in neutral. Don’t back off the accelerator. I’m going to die, but God’s work continues on.”

It’s one of the most moving scenes in the Bible. I love Joshua 1. God does not send Joshua a dream. He comes to him personally. He says this to him personally. He gives him an exposition on courage. This is the best leadership text in the Bible. This is not for the fainthearted. God shows up, and it’s almost as if you read the text he reaches out and grabs him by the lapels. I’ve had to do this as a dad. I have two sons in ministry. They would’ve been here, but crazy things happen to their schedules. God is using them in a great way. But you know what? I have a rule with my boys. I don’t give you unsolicited advice, but if you ask me, I’m going to give it to you strong and straight.

I have permission to share this. Just the other day youngest son was struggling with some issues and he called me. He thought I was going to just give him some emotional Kleenexes and say, “Oh, boy, boy, boy.” But I said to him, “Son, put on your jock strap. This is leadership. This is manhood time here. Okay?” Sorry ladies. I forgot temporarily that there are ladies here. I said, “Listen to me. This is no playground.” And that’s what God does to Joshua. He says, “Listen, listen, listen, listen, listen.” And then he gives him a fourfold, descriptive definition of courage. I want to walk through this and I’ll be done.

A Clear Assignment from God

God says to Joshua, “Listen to me. Number one, courage rests upon a clear assignment from God.” There is no such thing as courage apart from a mission, just as there is no such thing as faith apart from challenge. Faith is defined by challenge. Courage is defined by mission. You are not just courageous for the sake of being courageous. Now, I’m writing a book on leadership and one of the main things that I’m driving through this whole book is that leadership is not a location; eadership is a for what . You lead for something. You’re courageous for something. So what does God do here? He comes to Joshua and he says here in Joshua 1:1–2:

After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’s assistant, “Moses my servant is dead.”

An old saying says, “When a man of God dies, nothing of God dies.” That’s the reason why you should not take yourself too seriously. God’s purposes are far beyond your moment in history. You are just one link in a long chain of events. That’s the reason why you should not worship at the shrine of the human instrument. It is just one little snapshot. Don’t be too obsessed with this whole significance thing because the significance of your life cannot be truly determined when you try to evaluate it at any given point in life. The jury is still out. God is blessing my life, not so much because of me, but probably because of a slave who sang and prayed for a generation he could not see. My grandfather picked up the mantle and my dad picked up the mantle. Jim Crow got dismantled and God said, “I’m going to answer the prayer at least in your life and maybe in your sons, and maybe in your grandsons, and maybe in your great grandsons.” When a man of God dies, nothing of God dies.

God Doesn’t Need His Leaders

So don’t look in the mirror and sing, “How great thou art,” when they give you a standing ovation. And in light of this, God reiterates the assignment. Listen to what he says: “Moses my servant is dead.” He continues:

Now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, into the land that I am giving to them, to the people of Israel. Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given to you, just as I promised to Moses. From the wilderness and this Lebanon as far as the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites to the Great Sea toward the going down of the sun shall be your territory (Joshua 1:2–4).

I’m not going to surgically walk through that. Basically, it’s a reiteration. It’s a reiteration of what he told Moses to do. Oh, I didn’t plan on saying this, but this is another reason why. Don’t ever think that the cause of Christ is going to go belly up if some of his great leaders die or fall into sin. God is not up in heaven going, “What are we going to do? John Piper went to heaven. DA Carson, well, he’s not there. What’s going to happen to the cause? Billy Graham is dead. What’s going to happen?” God ain’t up there doing that. He’s just going, “Next.” Those of us who lean toward the Reformed position need to start believing what we lean toward.

He’s no taking Maalox because there is an empty box on the org chart. He grabs someone. It could be Balaam’s ass temporarily. He grabs somebody and he says, “Look, the train is still moving. Get on board. Get up, go over there, and get it.” Nah, this is not a stretch from the text, but some of you are sitting here and the Holy Spirit has been beating you up for months because there’s dreams and vision he has placed on your heart. You know he has, but you have been wimping out on him. He’s telling you, “Stop looking at the land. Stop looking at the blueprints. Stop talking about what you’re going to do. Get your back side in gear, get up, get over there, and get it. Go after it. Go after it.”

Confidence in the Call

This is reiterated by the apostle Paul in that great text. Ephesians 2:8–10 says:

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus (but we slip past this last phrase) for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

That implies obligation. There are good works that God has prepared ahead of time and right at the right time, your moment in history, those good works for you intersect, but you should (obligation) walk in them. Secondly, it implies choice. You don’t have to, but you’ll miss your moment.

Guys, let me beg with you. Don’t lay your head down when it’s all over with a bunch of regrets. You rather die surging ahead than drown in a crowded sea of apathy and complacency. Stop reflecting the norm of evangelicalism and be passionate about the assignment. My assignment for you while you’re here listening to us is to sit down and figure out what are the things that God has laid his hand on you to do? What are they? When was the last time you examined your call? When was the last time you took a breath of fresh air and you stood back and you said, “What makes me pound the table and weep? What are the things that I know the signature of God is over my soul to do?” Find it. Your courage will rise when you have confidence in the call. More folks get burned out in ministry and leave ministry because of confusion and a lack of confidence that causes them to get discouraged, disappointed, and get set up for sin.

The Assurance of God’s Presence

Courage, first of all, rests upon a clear assignment from God. Second, right here in the text, courage rests upon the assurance of God’s presence. I didn’t want to give you too much mental clutter here this morning, but it is an interesting study if you study the callings of God throughout the Bible. One of the fascinating things you’ll come up with almost with every calling in the Scriptures is that in the immediate context, there is the assurance of God’s presence. God never calls us to do anything apart from him. Listen to me, guys. Every assignment that God gives his people is his primary means of sanctifying his leader.

Now, I might get into trouble here, but listen to me. Some of us are getting burnt out because we’re separating the sanctification process from our ministry. I understand boundaries, I understand it’s important to get rest, and I understand it’s important to have variety in your life. I understand all of that. But the very thing that God is using to draw you to himself is the calling that he’s given to you. And the calling is a statement of his presence. You’re looking at me strangely. The calling is a statement of its presence. This assignment is not just a job for you. This is not some evangelical corporate structure here where you pick and choose — “Let’s see my career path in ministry.” God’s assignments come with a special sense of God’s manifest present. You can call it unction and you can call it anointing, but whatever you call it, it’s real. Notice what he says here:

No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life (why?). Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you (Joshua 1:5). Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go (Joshua 1:9).

Whenever I read this text I think of one of my earliest memories. I was about four or so. I sometimes would be afraid of the dark, and if it was one of those evenings that pop was home, sometimes he would come and lay down in the bed with me. I remember as a kid riding the Hudson Tube. My dad was an avid baseball fan. Sometimes we would go to see the New York Yankees play. Just me and Pop. And I can recall falling asleep on his lap. I was five, six, or seven years old on the subway smelling his Old Spice deodorant and his cologne. I was safe because I was with him. It’s as if God says, “Joshua, listen to me. Do you think I’m going to leave you high and dry? Do you believe that? Do you think God has left you? Do you think God wants a mess over you?”

Replaying God’s Faithfulness

I can imagine as soon as God said that to him, the rewind button was playing — “The one who was with Moses with that staff standing before the Red Sea. He’ll be with me. The one who brought about the defeat of Amalek, when Aaron and Hur held up Moses’s arms — he’ll be with me.” Moses had all that stuff going on there in Exodus 32–34, the messed up stuff with the folks. Moses was interceding for them and calling out to God. You talk about a leadership mess and chaos and all this stuff, and yet he watched Moses take his tent outside the city, outside of the camp, pitch his tent there in the tent of meeting. The text says that Joshua was standing right there. He didn’t want to leave because God met him.

God is with you guys. He’s with you. Courage doesn’t mean that I’m not afraid; courage means that if I fear God more than I do my environment, I will always come out courageous. If I tap into divine resources more than I trust the arm of man, I will always be courageous. If I take my shaking heart and mind and weak knees to the cross, and take the tent meeting and meet with him there, he’s with me.

I love what Phillips Brooks says, the great 19th-century, New England preacher. I love this line. He says:

Don’t ask for tasks equal to your powers, but ask for powers equal to your tasks, so that doing the ministry or the work is not the miracle, but you become the miracle and the process of doing the work.

God says, “I am with you.” Courage rests upon the clear assignment from God. It’s stupid, silly, idiotic to talk about courage if you don’t know what you’re supposed to do. Courage is defined by mission. It is to be called up to something. Secondly, courage rests upon the assurance of God’s presence. What you’re called to do is part of your sanctifying process, and there are levels and depths of knowing God that you will not know apart from the assignment that God has given to you. And he wants to prove himself — “Just as I’ve been with Moses, I will be with you.”

Focused Determination

Ah, but number three, courage rests upon focused determination . Some of us are more spiritual than God wants us to be. Let me explain that. It is amazing how we can use nice-sounding spiritual language to camouflage a heart that is disobedient and frightened. It is absolutely amazing. I know a young man who constantly says — in order to sanitize the fact that he does not want to take responsibility and move down the road — “Well, I’ll tell you, pastor, I just don’t want to get ahead of the Lord.” I think, “I didn’t know you could run that fast.” He says, “I don’t want to get sideways with God.”

Well, I know what you mean by that, and it’s terrible to be presumptuous and I don’t mean that you should be impatient. The only thing worse than waiting on the Lord is wishing that you had. I do get that. But sometimes God is just saying, “No, I’m not going to give you a lot of outward confirmation. You’re mature. You know what to do. I don’t need to keep giving you signs. I told you what you were supposed to do. Stop praying and fasting about something that I told you to do. I told you to do that. I called you to do that. No, I’m not going to give you any more emotional affirmation. No, I’m not sending a bunch of people to get in your face and say, ‘Oh, you know, really can do this! I’m with you. Hey, hey, ho, ho, cheerleader. Let’s do it.’ No, you do it.

Listen to what he says here. I don’t want to insult your intelligence. This is so obvious. But I want you to look at Joshua 1:6. Listen to what he says to him. He says:

Be strong and courageous (Joshua 1:6). Only be strong and very courageous (Joshua 1:7). Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous (John 1:9).

Now, God does not have a speech impediment. So when he repeats himself, I want you to notice that’s in the imperative. Can I say this to you? Be very, very careful of always making decisions based upon your personality profile and your style of influence. God is not held hostage to how you are wired. Now, I’m not into evangelical group-think along these lines, but I want to tell you something. We have so typecast God with all of our processes.

Personality Tests and Divine Responsibility

We tell God, “You have to understand what my DiSC test is. I’m a high D and a high I. I’m an S/C. You know what my style of influence is. And you know I do have a little bit of a timid personality, so I need to surround myself with people who are stronger so that I can lead.”

Now, I’m going to tell you something. I want to balance my steps, here. I believe that we ought to use all these things to help us, but we need to keep them out here. God never dialogues with anybody about how they’re wired before he calls them to do a job. Never. You will not find that in the Bible. In fact, you typically find the opposite. You find people who are in a broken mess, who lack self-confidence, like Moses. Don said it last night. I mean, he is one emotional mess. He has zero self-confidence. How do you like that, Dr. Phil? Zero. He’s trying to get out of this gig. God doesn’t sit down with Joshua and say, “Let’s see, Joshua. What do you like to do? How are you feeling about this now? Talk to me. Share with me. I’m listening.” Do you see how silly that is? That’s how stupid we are. Quit camouflaging doubt and a lack of faith with appropriate psychological babble.

He said to Joshua, “Courage is like a muscle. It only gets stronger when you use it. Leadership is strengthened by acts of obedience.” Fathers of sons, particularly if you have boys between the ages of 11 and 16, it is the most dangerous time in their life. Mama has to step back. Manhood is imprinted. Every 28 days, a woman is powerfully and graphically reminded of who she is. A boy only knows he’s a man when his daddy or significant male role model tells him so, and the desired destination is modeled before him, and it pulls him through impulse behavior.

That’s not apart from this passage. God says, “Here’s the location. Now, when you go over there, they’re not going to have a welcome wagon for you, okay? They’re not going to have Kool-Aid and cookies with a little reception.” They’re not going to say, “Oh, here come the Jews. They’re going to take our land.” You’re going to be shot at.

In the words of Elizabeth Elliott, “Jesus Christ has not called us to a playground; he’s called us to a battlefield.” There’s real warfare. Nimrod McNair, a retired colonel, was a fighter pilot during the Vietnam War. He says all the time, “Crawford, you know you’re flying over the right target when you’re being shot at.” Some of you are running because of opposition and God is saying, “Stop it. Stop it. If you keep running, you’re going to be running for the rest of your life.” I’m at a point now in ministry where I don’t even hire people any longer unless I’ve seen a perseverance ride. The ability to endure deepens your resolve, and that’s the stuff to lead.

God is saying, “You act courageously and you’re going to get more courage. I’m with you, but I only will strengthen you when you raise the leg and put it down. I’m going to lead you, but I’m only going to lead you when you tell those people to line up and say, ‘Here we go.’ I’m going to bless you, but I’m only going to bless you when you take action on what I’ve called you to do. You can’t steer a parked car. I told you to be courageous.”

Let God Define Your Calling

Guys, where are you? I hope this doesn’t come across as scolding, but listen to me, I’m a little bit too old to do recreational preaching. I really mean it. I’m telling you. I look at my flock. If I would listen to people, I wouldn’t be at our church. Our church is 95 percent white in the south. If I would’ve done the demographic thing and a little profile and had our little church consultants coming along, they would say, “Look, well, according to the principles of homogeneity, you shouldn’t be doing this and dynamics and this kind of thing.” But I listened to what my daddy taught me. He said, “If you believe God wants you to do it, boy, you go for it. And you don’t let people define your reality.” My heart just aches because although there are more people in our churches, there is this incredible lack of biblical leadership because we’re flat out scared. Do it, guys. Do it.

Now, this is an emotional meeting. I just would love to have seen a picture of this. I don’t know how this happened. The text doesn’t say it. I don’t know where it was, but can you imagine God getting in your grill? So Joshua, here’s the assignment, okay? This is what you’re courageous for. Leadership is always in the verb position. Get up, get over there, and get it. Leadership is not a plaque on your office saying, “I’m the leader. I’m the senior pastor.” No, leadership is in the verb position. Go do it. Secondly, God says, “I am with you. There’s no distance between my calling and my heart. Just as I was with Moses, I’m with you, Joshua. I’m not going to do it for you. I will do it for you, but I’m not going to do it for you. You’re going to have to do something and I will do something. The wind will only blow when you put up the sail.”

Anchored by the Word of God

Then he says, “Now, wait a minute. Before you go anywhere, I want to drop this puppy on you.” You know this. I’m talking to preachers here. You have a better message on this text than I do. But the only place in the Bible where success is definitively described is in Joshua 1:7–8. Listen to what God says to Joshua. Courage rest upon a clear assignment from God, the assurance of his presence, focused determination, and then number four: Courage is anchored by the word of God.

God is saying, “Wait, wait, wait. Joshua, don’t get cute on me, buddy. Don’t you dare leave here until you do this.” And by the way, I’ve heard some preachers misquote this verse. The verse says:

This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it (Joshua 1:8).

Now, notice the pronoun. Please notice the pronoun. He does not say, “Then I will make your way prosperous.” No, he says, “Then you will make your way prosperous and you will have good success” (Joshua 1:8). In other words, he says, “Wait a minute. Here’s the trump card, buddy. Success or failure of a mission is tied to your relationship to truth.” And he says that there are three primary relationships right in the verse. First, this Book of the Law shall not depart out of your mouth. Proclaim it, proclaim it, proclaim it. God is saying, “When these 2.5 million Israelites need direction and insight, Joshua, you can’t be giving them the most modern or sensational vision or view on leadership of people in the wilderness.” Proclaim truth.

The amount of biblical illiteracy in evangelical circles is appalling. Some of us have allowed our little approaches to ministry to trump the truth that ministry should be built upon. We insult people by saying, “Well, you know, just don’t give them too much Bible when you come to preach and teach because they can’t handle that.” How dare you think that you have the right to edit what God says in this Book. How dare you. Pragmatism is taking the supernatural right out of our ministry. In our culture, the body of Christ needs a word from God. That’s what he was saying to Joshua. He was saying, “Joshua, you can C minus leadership ability. In fact, you can have D minus leadership ability, but you need to honor my word, preach it, and proclaim it.” I want to encourage every pastor here. Listen to me. You protect like crazy your time alone in that Book. Make it inviolate. Don’t let it be hijacked by anything.

Your people deserve the very best every Sunday morning. They deserve to hear from God. They deserve disciplined study. They deserve a word from heaven for their souls because they can’t make it on stories. They can’t make it on illustrations. They can’t make it on insights. He says, “Joshua, what’s up buddy? Proclaim it.”

Meditating on the Word

But then he says, you shall meditate therein day and night. Same Hebrew word using Psalm 1. It’s translated in different ways, but it’s a word which can be translated “a dull sound.” It’s a wonderful word. I’d like to think what he’s really saying here is that you proclaim it, but then he’s backing up and he’s saying, “Okay, the reason why you can’t proclaim it is because you possess it. You possess it.” It is the background noise of your life.

I teach preaching at Trinity Seminary, and one of the things I warn my students about how some things sound good, but they don’t work practically. One of these things that you have to be careful of is this whole idea of studying devotionally. You have to be careful of that. And the reason for that is this. I’m not saying that you shouldn’t, but you have to be careful. Usually, when most of us are preparing for a message, we have an audience in mind. There is a product that we’re moving toward. It’s not that it’s not a part of our hearts. That’s not true, but if you have a personality like mine, I’m thinking, “Okay, how can I communicate this?” Whatever your approach to study is, you’re thinking about delivering that word for that group on that day.

When you do it for 10, 15, 20, or 30 years, you can have a little bit of a distance between your head and your heart. I want to encourage you that apart from delivering the goods, devotionally master the word of God for your souls. Immerse yourself in the Book. Know it, love it, let it fill you, and let it be the background music of your life. When the test and trials come, all you have to do is just turn up the volume. It’s already there. It’s already there. And that’s what God was saying to Joshua. He’s saying, “Joshua, go sit down. The strategic plan group, put them over here for a while. Get this stuff in your system.”

God’s leaders always lead from the word. Do you hear me? Always lead from the Book. This Book of the Law should not depart out of your mouth. Proclaim it. You shall meditate therein day and night. Possess it.

Performing God’s Commands

And then he says, “That you might do all that is written therein.” Expanding on that, he says in Joshua 1:7:

Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go.

Guys, hypocrisy in ministry is an occupational hazard. It is the primary tool that the enemy uses in our lives. It is so terribly easy to become disingenuous and shorthand in ministry. The problem with any public gifting is that you learn how to say certain things to project certain realities. In this audience, there are a number of you who are struggling with pornography and hidden sin. Percentage-wise, some of you are in affairs right now. I just want to be straight with you. With an audience this size, some of you are guilty of plagiarism. You’ve gotten busy and you’ve gone online and you’ve hijacked messages. You’ve cleaned them up, dropped in a few of your illustrations, and you’ve acted as if you did the original study. Some of you have awful marriages. Some of you have neglected your relationship with your families.

The problem with this industry phase of evangelicalism that we’re living in today is that if you can do it and pull it off, nobody is going to ask you any questions. You bring in the nickels and noses, and you can say, “Hey, look, everything is cool with me.” People say, “Of course, God’s hand is on him. Boy, did you hear him preach.” But there’s not necessarily a relationship between giftedness and holiness. There is a dynamic relationship between holiness and giftedness in the sense that over time the smile in favor of God will rest and reside on you. Look guys, I want to ask you, what trade-offs are you making? How’s your soul? Are you doing this stuff?

Biblical leadership says that we aspire to be the destination at which others arrive. Follow me as I follow Christ, and that’s what God was telling Joshua. The integrity of your ministry is everything, so you have to practice the truth that you are proclaiming. You have to be the destination at which others arrive. This text is so important to me.

These are the first words that my children heard me speak when they were born. Our oldest son, Brian, pastors a church Memphis. He was born on my birthday, February 11th, 1973. I held him in my arms, and I said, “This book of the law should not part out of your mouth.” I did it with Heather and Brendan and Holly, and now I’ve done it with my five grandchildren. I say, “Quentin, this Book of the Law. shall not depart from your mouth.” Guys, we have to do that with ourselves.

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A digest from Desiring God

The Importance of Discovering Your Assignment Sample

Since the formation of an international marketplace ministry, Kingdom Investors in 2007, I have had hundreds of interactions with Christian businesspeople who seem to be failing, stalling, or not multiplying in their businesses. I came to the realization that there is an overriding problem whereby people do not understand how to engage in their God-given assignment. As a result, businesses are distressed, and Christians are not experiencing the Lord’s favour.

It should be every person’s desire to find out what God specifically put them on earth to do and after this realization, get on with doing it.

It is important to stress that an assignment is specific, unique, and applies to every person. Your assignment is simply what God wants you to do. Age is not a limiting factor, for everyone has a job to do for the Kingdom!

For example, there are multitudes of stories where biblical identities receive instructions from God relating to their assignment. For Noah, there was a flood coming, so he was instructed to build an ark. For Joseph, there was a famine coming, so he was instructed to get God’s people into Egypt. For Moses, there was an emancipation coming, so he was instructed to get to the Promised Land. For Esther, there was a genocide coming, so she was instructed to make a supplication to the King.

I have always observed that God will apply His favour on a person’s life after they wholeheartedly commit to their assignment. This is because favour goes with the assignment, not the individual. If your assignment is to work in the marketplace, seeking to do this by God’s will and way gives you opportunity to propel your business to supernatural growth and opportunities. You will no longer be tempted by enticing deals sent by the enemy as a ruse to distract you, because you will be able to identify that this contradicts your Kingdom assignment.

I hope that by the end of this Bible plan, you will have a deeper revelation around what the Lord has instructed you to do and then commit wholeheartedly to outworking this.

Psalms 139:13-16

Ephesians 2:10

About this Plan

You were born because something had to be done that required your existence. In this four-day plan, you will learn how to discover and activate your unique assignment from God. If you live by following God’s will and way, your alignment with Him offers you significant influence and affluence with others. This is a biblical principle, as will be evidenced by the life of Joseph in Genesis.

We would like to thank Kingdom Initiatives for providing this plan. For more information, please visit: https://www.kingdominitiatives.au/

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Living faithful, fruitful and fulfilled on the mission field

Doing My God Assignment Today- It’s As Simple As That

Life can be very complicated. So many needs pull at our attention. There are family needs, ministry needs, and the needs of the poor. The spiritually lost, the needs of those we are discipling, our own needs…it can feel overwhelming. Missionaries are generally compassionate people. We love deeply and want to do it all. We can’t. What we can do, is today’s God assignment.

For quite a few years now, I’ve started my day asking God that question. “ What is your assignment for me today, Lord? ”

I find it helpful to listen to Him at the beginning of the day, to pause and hear His direction. There may be many things I feel I should do. But if I can narrow it down to one main thing, and then be faithful with that, it helps me stay focused. It helps me be faithful and fruitful.

We can not control fruitfulness . That is in God’s hands. What we do have control over is our faithfulness to the things God has asked us to do. As we obey God each day, listening to Him, and receiving His “God Assignments,” our lives will definitely bear fruit. He takes our loaves and fish. Then He multiplies them.

Unusual Answers

At the end of the day, at the end of the year, indeed at the end of my life, if I can stand before the Lord and know I’ve been obedient… that is enough for me. That doesn’t mean I’ve done everything I could have. It doesn’t mean I’ve been perfect. But I want to be faithful in the main assignments, the things that were not just good ideas, but truly God ideas. His priorities must be my priorities.

Sometimes, God surprises me when I ask the question, “ What is your assignment for me today, Lord? ”

One day when I asked that, I heard His still small voice respond, “ Go to the pool. You need rest. ”

“ Really God? There is so much to do! ” I said this back to Him but I obeyed. I went to the pool.

Another day when I asked, He told me to spend time with my neighbors, to do a Bible study with one who is a new believer. Other days, His ONE THING for me has been creating blogs, videos, working on my book, or serving the poor around me. Some days it has been spending time in prayer. Or sharing my testimony with the lady at the coffee shop.

Not only do I practice this in daily life, but also as I plan for each year. I ask God what His top priority is for me that year. He is faithful to speak to me as I ask.

When I know that top priority, then though I am involved in many other things as well, I am able to focus. I am able to obey.

“Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.” 1 Sam. 15:22 NIV.

What A God Assignment IS

It’s doing what you know God has said to do. Ask Him what His assignment is for you. He will speak. He loves to talk to His friends. If you have trouble hearing His voice, just do the last thing you know He assigned you to do. What was the last thing He clearly told you to do?
It’s specific and clear. There are times when God is silent, and there are times when His direction seems vague. That isn’t easy for us. This is particularly true when we seek answers to problems or look for direction on big things in our lives. So I have learned to listen for clarity in the simple things. You may not have the answers on the huge weighty issues yet, but is there something small that is clear? That you can do as your God assignment today? As you do that, the other things will also become less confusing.
They are received by spending time in His Presence. We hit the pause button in our busy lives and taking a moment to listen. Sometimes we are on such a fast-moving treadmill that we don’t stop to listen well. I find it helpful to practice stillness before I ask this question. I use an app that has helped me to be still before the Lord and to pause for 3 minutes (or five or ten). When is the last time you completely stopped, even for three minutes, and were still before Him? This is a key to receiving His assignment.
God assignments lead to fruitfulness. Jesus talks about fruitfulness in the John 15 passage. Abiding in Him, loving Him, obeying Him, these are the keys to fruitfulness. As we listen and obey, we demonstrate our love for Jesus. This will always yield lasting fruit.
They are ultimately much more fulfilling. When we know we have obeyed God’s assignment, we can lay down our head at night and rest well. We did our part. God will do His. We may not have done it all, or done it perfectly, but we obeyed. In this, we find much fulfillment and joy. Doing the one thing, doing my God assignments each day gives me a great sense of fulfillment.

What A God Assignment is NOT

It isn’t doing everything that could (or should) be done. I’ve written before about resisting the shoulds of life. There are so many. The world, others, and yes, even we ourselves have many shoulds . We should play with our kids more. We should do more to serve. We should pray more. Those are just a few common examples. It isn’t about the shoulds. Many of these are driven by performance orientation or legalism. Resist the shoulds and listen to God. Do the one thing, your God assignment, and do it well. That is enough.
It isn’t responding to every need. The needs are vast. Because of God’s grace, you see them. His heart in you aches when you encounter need. You want to respond. That is a good thing. But responding to every need will burn you out very quickly. What is God’s particular assignment, the one specially designed for you to do? Do that and say no to the many other things that clamor for your attention.

What Is Your Assignment?

Have you asked Him yet? What His assignment is for you?

If you’d like to, let me know in the comments below or share on the Missionary Life page . May God give us all grace to be faithful and obedient today.

Kale by LyraThemes.com.

Recognizing Your Divine Assignment

March 9, 2019
by Ricardo Newbold

God has a divine assignment for each Christian. Your assignment is any problem that you were created to solve. These problems are also your doors to rewards. This is where favor comes in. But how do you recognize your divine assignment?

God has laid out a road map for you to be successful in His plans. He has also given you His Holy Spirit to guide you to your divine destination. However, if you rebel against your assignment, God may allow painful experiences to bring you to a place of surrender.

How to Discern Your Divine Assignment

Many people believe that whatever you like doing without going through stress might be what God wants you to do. This might be true in some cases. God gave us some gifts that we can use to execute those assignments given to us. Yet, the problem might not be on how to carry out these assignments but how to recognize them.

Many of us do one work or the other and we remain confused because we don’t know if that’s the will of God for us. Most of the time we find ourselves failing some simple task. It may be because we are not in the right place, where God wants us to be. How then do we discover the exact assignment God gave us or wants us to do?

Let us now look to the scriptures to help ascertain our assignment.

Develop A Closer Relationship With God

The only way to be sure of understanding and completing your divine assignment is through constant fellowship with God (Secret Place). You can’t know the plans of the people you don’t know – even if a third party tells us about someone’s plan, it won’t be as true or convincing as hearing it from the person directly. In this same manner, we must build a strong relationship with God to be able to know His purpose.

Firstly, we must know His word . The word of God draws us to Him. We get to know him more and more – what he likes and what he doesn’t like. To be able to grow in Christ daily, we must eat the spiritual food which is known to be the word of God. When we read His word, we get to understand our purpose.

Another way we can build a strong relationship with God is through prayer. Prayer is essential as it links us with God. He talks to us and makes his plans known to us through prayer. When we pray in the morning before going to work or anywhere, we receive guidance from Him that will direct us through the day.

Simply Listen

“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer.” ~ Psalm 19:14 (NKJV)

This may look strange but yet it is important that we learn to be at peace and listen to whatever God has to say to us. After meditating on the word or after praying, we must listen to what God has to say. Listen to know why He has called you – don’t be the only one talking every time.

God speaks to our mind and uses our thoughts to speak to us about His plans. Yet, there are different things you must pay attention and listen to, which are;

The Holy Spirit

Seeking the Lord in prayer, meditation on the Word of God and by fellowshipping with the Holy Spirit, you will discover the assignment of God for your life. The Holy Spirit talks to us in a still small voice. Hence, we must listen to get what He is passing across to us. The Holy Spirit is the spirit of God in man’s heart.

Now that you are in Christ, your heart is renewed and your thoughts are not just ordinary. Your heart is a tool God can use to reveal your divine assignment. Sometimes, you will get to ask yourself some questions about your life.

Questions like, “How will I make it in life?” “What is the next in my life?” “How should I handle my family?” When you ask yourself such questions, God also uses your thoughts to give you an answer. You will then notice you are thinking of possible solutions to the questions you asked yourself.

The Prophets

Listen to the ministers of God. Don’t raise a conflicting spirit against whatever they are saying – they have been anointed to speak the mind of God.

Study the Map (The Bible)

To fulfill your divine assignment, you must know God’s word. The Bible is a book of guidance to the Christian. 2 Timothy 3:16 stated that the Bible was written by the inspiration of God and it is useful for correction. Does the result of the prayer you are seeing or the voice in your head align with the word of God?

God exalts His word more and His word can never change. He can never say anything against what He has already spoken. His word doesn’t contradict. Matthew 24:15 “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.”

Follow Clear Instructions

God’s will won’t cause you to be confused. Particularly, the kind of confusion that causes difficulty in doing the will of God, thereby causing frequent stumbling.

1 Corinthians 14:33 “For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.” The word of the Lord is clear and direct, He will instruct you on the way to go.

Psalm 32:8 “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.”

How Does It Affect Others?

God has told us to love our neighbors but when we are getting something that is contrary to that, then it’s not the will of God. Galatians 6:10 “Therefore, as we have the opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.”

You cannot say because it’s the will of God that you do His work and abandon your responsibility as a wife, a husband, a boss, or whatever position you are in. 1 Timothy 5:8 “But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.”

Doing the right thing for your family and the people whom you love, including the people at your workplace is the will of God.

Build Your Life Around Your Divine Assignment

God has already placed a specific assignment in your life that only you can accomplish with His help. Your job is to discover that assignment, complete it with God’s help and be a blessing to the Body of Christ.

Your assignment or plans can be found in studying the Word of God. (NKJV) Jeremiah 29:11 “ For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. ”

God’s thoughts and plans for your life are for good and not evil. They are to prosper you! God’s assignment for you will not fail when you do it His way. Continue to seek Him and He will reveal it to you.

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When God Appoints You, He Anoints You

by Rick Warren — March 23, 2019

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Finding Purpose

What is my god-given purpose.

How To Find Your God-given Purpose In Life?

Here are a few steps to help you figure out the solution to ‘ what is my god-given purpose ’:

1. Make the Bible your guide

The Bible is a book of knowledge that God has left to the people. It contains important lessons and advice on how to lead a life that is fulfilling and free of sin.

2. Pray to the Almighty

Along with reading the Bible on a daily basis and often when you feel lost and upset, it is also crucial that you pray to the Almighty. Praying brings peace to a troubled mind and also provides a sense of direction. It is a personal conversation that you have with God, which does not mean you only ask for favors, but you simply share your sorrows and show faith in Christ. Praying will help you find your God-given purpose in life .

“We are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do”- Ephesians 2:10. This means that we are all born in this world to fulfill God’s purpose, and we must realize that purpose by praying.

3. Have faith in God

“Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.”- Proverbs 19:21. God has numerous plans and often great plans for the people of this world. You might feel otherwise when things go downhill, but you must have faith in God. To find your God-driven purpose in life , you need to follow his will at all times.

“But seek first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”- Matthew 6:33

Focussing too much on temporary pleasures can often take you off your goal and the God-given purpose in life. Always remember that the Lord has some wonderful plans, and it will work out in the end.

4. What are the promises of God?

There are over 3000 promises of God directly related to finding your God-driven purpose in life . Let us talk about three of these crucial promises.

Romans 8:28-29- In all things, God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose, which is to be conformed to the likeness of his Son
James I:17- Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows
Jeremiah 29:11- For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “ They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope

Read through the many verses and select the ones that apply best to your life. It is advised to note down a few of the verses that you like the most and read them from time to time to come closer to answering the question ‘what is my god-given purpose?’

5. Live a life full of purpose

Living a life focused on God should be your ultimate motive. This will bring you closer to leading a God-driven life. Seeking materialistic things like money and power all the time is sinful and must be abstained from to a great extent. Death is at the end of the tunnel, and you must live every day of your life trying to fulfill God’s purpose. This requires you to have complete faith in God’s will, read the Bible, and pray.

6. How to execute God’s purpose in your personal life?

Something at the center of fulfilling God’s purpose in your personal life is first to choose a profession that you feel incredibly passionate about. This will not only ensure that you earn and provide for your family but also stay happy doing what you love. You do not have to be a preacher or even a doctor or nurse to do noble deeds or God’s work. Any profession can be noble as long as it benefits others, does not cause harm to people, and, most importantly, makes you satisfied. This is how you can execute God’s purpose in your life.

7. Keep your personal goals intact

Even while you are fulfilling God’s will, you must keep your personal goals intact. It’s best to set specific goals for various areas of your life early on in life. Dream big always, and you will find your God-driven purpose in life .

God has big plans for you, and all you have to do is believe in those plans. A very old saying goes, ‘God helps those who help themselves. There is much truth to this. Keep doing your work diligently, and you will see the results you were hoping for.

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Frank Elizalde

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God's Missionary Church, Inc.

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!

12 Bible Verses about Assignment

Most Relevant Verses

Only, as the Lord has assigned to each one, as God has called each, in this manner let him walk. And so I direct in all the churches.

They cast lots for their duties, all alike, the small as well as the great, the teacher as well as the pupil.

He will appoint for himself commanders of thousands and of fifties, and some to do his plowing and to reap his harvest and to make his weapons of war and equipment for his chariots.

According to the commandment of the Lord through Moses, they were numbered, everyone by his serving or carrying; thus these were his numbered men, just as the Lord had commanded Moses.

The king appointed for them a daily ration from the king’s choice food and from the wine which he drank, and appointed that they should be educated three years, at the end of which they were to enter the king’s personal service.

So Moses commanded the sons of Israel, saying, “This is the land that you are to apportion by lot among you as a possession, which the Lord has commanded to give to the nine and a half tribes.

Thus I purified them from everything foreign and appointed duties for the priests and the Levites, each in his task,

Their kinsmen the Levites were appointed for all the service of the tabernacle of the house of God.

For I have assigned you a number of days corresponding to the years of their iniquity, three hundred and ninety days; thus you shall bear the iniquity of the house of Israel.

I glorified You on the earth, having accomplished the work which You have given Me to do.

And angels who did not keep their own domain, but abandoned their proper abode, He has kept in eternal bonds under darkness for the judgment of the great day,

So am I allotted months of vanity, And nights of trouble are appointed me.

Preparing for God-Given Assignments

By Inside Out with Courtnaye

At this time, do you think or believe that God has given you an assignment? If so, what is it? Are you preparing for it? And in what ways? That’s what I’m going to help you focus on this week from a biblical and practical perspective. So, let’s get started.

For starters, there were many in the Bible we can quickly trace back to such as Noah who was given the assignment of building the ark. Moses who was given the huge task of leading millions of the Israelites out of Egypt to the Promised Land. Joshua who was given the torch to bring them into the Promised Land. Esther who was chosen to be a queen for such a time to save her people from annihilation. Nehemiah who was heavily passionate and burdened with the task of rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem. And the disciples, as well as the Apostle Paul with carrying out the Great Commission to all the nations and spreading the gospel ( we also have this assignment).

So, has God given you any assignments?

As I thought and prayed about this post, the Lord impressed upon my heart to write specifically about understanding the importance of assignments, who they affect, how we should prepare ourselves for them, and why we do them in the first place. Before I go deeper, just know that any assignment God gives you should be taken seriously and with a confident trust that He will show up and be there to help and lead you by His Spirit. And guess what, no matter what it looks like or how it turns out in your eyes, God’s plans never fail. Remember that.

When you look back at his track record - the ark was built. Moses did lead the people out of Egypt. Joshua successfully lead them into the Promised Land. Esther boldly saved her people from annihilation. Nehemiah and his team did finish rebuilding the wall. The disciples, as well as the Apostle Paul kept the faith and finished the race at all cost. Paul said in 2 Timothy 1:1-2, “I, Paul, am on special assignment for Christ, carrying out God’s plan laid out in the message of life by Jesus.” (MSG). Amen! You see, in all of these successfully completed assignments, God’s plan prevailed.

So, when God gives you an assignment, it’s very important to stay close to Him through prayer and His word for direction. He may even send Spirit-led messengers, volunteers, or instruct you to create a team to assist you. The key is following His divine provision step by step. Trust me. He knows how to get the job done, successfully .

And listen. In your lifetime sis, there will be many assignments given. If you’re a mother, you have the assignment of not only nurturing your kid or kids, but also teaching and training them godly ways and the Word. If you’re a wife, you have the assignment of being a loving, respectful and submissive wife who comes alongside her husband to help him fulfill his God-given assignment. You two are a team.

But also, if you work on the job, you’ll have many natural assignments. You’ll also have the task of being a light even on the dark or hard days. Your co-workers or fellow co-laborers will need encouragement by you and to see Jesus working through you by the way you carry yourself as a Christian. And you and I both have the assignment of helping to fulfill the Great Commission.

Assignments come in big and small packages. Our job is to unwrap them, accept them, and trust that our good Lord will help us carry them out well with the gifts He has so graciously given to us by His Spirit.

So lastly, I’ll ask one more time. Do you have a God-given assignment? Do you have something that you need to work on specifically this week? If so, prepare yourself accordingly. Break out a pen and pad, and start writing ideas down. Or open up a fresh screen on your computer and do some research about how to do what it is that you need to do. Make a list. Plan your week out early. Ultimately, you and God know what it all entails to get the job done and to get it done right and on time.

Don’t forget to pray, watch for His direction, listen for His voice and messengers, and be diligent in working towards completing your assignment. And make sure to give Him all the glory when it’s all said and done. I echo the words of the Apostle Paul from Philippians 1:6, “And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.”

Remember, Jesus is coming back soon! And those who endure unto the end shall be saved. So let’s be ready from the Inside Out !

QUESTION: Do you have a God-given assignment that He has called you to be all in on? How can you prepare for it? Also, if you need prayer, you can email me directly @ [email protected] . I look forward to hearing from you and praying for you.

ALSO, my NEW 8-Week Study Guide and Video Teaching Series from my book, "IDENTIFIED: Knowing Who You Are in Christ & Moving Forward in Your Purpose” is FINALLY available!!! Purchase here .

*Tune in every Monday at 7:30am for new posts, “Like” my Facebook page ( https://www.facebook.com/InsideOutWCourtnaye ), and follow me on Twitter at https://twitter.com/InOutwCourtnaye . Also, share this blog with friends, family, co-workers, or your women’s group or ministry. I’d love to stay connected and help more women grow in the Lord! Thanks again and may God be with you!

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One comment.

I agree wholeheartedly with this post. The number one thing I do when I am given an assignment by God is pray. During the prayer I seek guidance and wisdom on how to approach the tasks. I also write down what God speaks so I can review. Plus I do not want to forget any specific details. Lastly, act on his words. At times one can get so caught up in flesh and possibly fear the task at hand. If it’s God there is no need to fear about what others may say or think. HE is the only person one needs to please! He is with us every step of the way! Thanks for the post. Very encouraging

37 Bible Verses about Assignment

Colossians 3:23 esv / 26 helpful votes helpful not helpful.

Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men,

Ephesians 4:11-12 ESV / 22 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,

Philippians 2:9-11 ESV / 14 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Matthew 25:23 ESV / 14 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’

2 Peter 1:20-21 ESV / 13 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone's own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

Revelation 21:7 ESV / 11 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son.

2 Timothy 3:16 ESV / 11 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,

Hebrews 1:14 ESV / 10 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation?

2 Timothy 2:15 ESV / 10 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.

Isaiah 40:8 ESV / 10 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.

2 Corinthians 5:1-21 ESV / 9 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling, if indeed by putting it on we may not be found naked. For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened—not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee. ...

John 3:1-36 ESV / 9 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.” Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. ...

Genesis 3:1-24 ESV / 9 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.” ...

2 Corinthians 2:11 ESV / 8 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

So that we would not be outwitted by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his designs.

Psalm 17:1-15 ESV / 8 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

A Prayer of David. Hear a just cause, O Lord ; attend to my cry! Give ear to my prayer from lips free of deceit! From your presence let my vindication come! Let your eyes behold the right! You have tried my heart, you have visited me by night, you have tested me, and you will find nothing; I have purposed that my mouth will not transgress. With regard to the works of man, by the word of your lips I have avoided the ways of the violent. My steps have held fast to your paths; my feet have not slipped. ...

1 John 1:9 ESV / 7 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.

Hebrews 4:12 ESV / 7 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

John 14:6 ESV / 7 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

John 3:16 ESV / 6 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.

Job 38:4-7 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

“Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding. Who determined its measurements—surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it? On what were its bases sunk, or who laid its cornerstone, when the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy?

Numbers 13:1-3 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Send men to spy out the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the people of Israel. From each tribe of their fathers you shall send a man, every one a chief among them.” So Moses sent them from the wilderness of Paran, according to the command of the Lord , all of them men who were heads of the people of Israel.

1 Peter 3:1-12 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives, when they see your respectful and pure conduct. Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear— but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious. For this is how the holy women who hoped in God used to adorn themselves, by submitting to their own husbands, ...

Hebrews 5:13-14 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

For everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.

1 Corinthians 14:3 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation.

2 Timothy 1:6-10 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel,

Ephesians 6:1-24 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.” Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. Bondservants, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ, ...

Galatians 4:5 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

To redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.

1 Corinthians 12:28 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues.

Matthew 24:42 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming.

Song of Solomon 2:15 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Catch the foxes for us, the little foxes that spoil the vineyards, for our vineyards are in blossom.”

Hebrews 7:25 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.

Matthew 24:23-27 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. See, I have told you beforehand. So, if they say to you, ‘Look, he is in the wilderness,’ do not go out. If they say, ‘Look, he is in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it. For as the lightning comes from the east and shines as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.

Psalm 19:1-14 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard. Their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them he has set a tent for the sun, which comes out like a bridegroom leaving his chamber, and, like a strong man, runs its course with joy. ...

Exodus 19:6 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

And you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you shall speak to the people of Israel.”

Genesis 1:1-31 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day. ...

Psalm 105:1 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Oh give thanks to the Lord ; call upon his name; make known his deeds among the peoples!

Psalm 14:1-7 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

To the choirmaster. Of David. The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds; there is none who does good. The Lord looks down from heaven on the children of man, to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God. They have all turned aside; together they have become corrupt; there is none who does good, not even one. Have they no knowledge, all the evildoers who eat up my people as they eat bread and do not call upon the Lord ? There they are in great terror, for God is with the generation of the righteous. ...

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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.

IMAGES

When God gives you an Assignment
holy-assignment-from-god
Discover Your God-Given Assignment
An Assignment From God
Max Lucado Quote: “When God gives an assignment, he also gives the
GOD HAS AN ASSIGNMENT FOR YOUR LIFE

COMMENTS

10 Essential Facts About Your Assignment from God
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.
What Is My Assignment From God?
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 ...
The Greatest Thing You Can Do with Your Life
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 ...
Steward the Gifts God Has Assigned to You
Live Your Assignment. You are on assignment from God. This is why Paul says, "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 ). "You are not your own" ( 1 Corinthians 6:19 ). You are "a bondservant of Christ" ( 1 Corinthians 7:22) and a steward of the gifts ...
Knowing Your Specific Assignment In Life (Part 1)
8. God will guide you on your assignment by giving you insight. C. Keeping your course as you perform your assignment. 1. God gave you His spirit so that you can know Him better and keep on course to complete your assignment. 2. God requires you to be a good steward over the revelation knowledge He gives you. 3. Ask God to reveal things to you.
Being Victorious with the Assignment God Gives
The assignment God gives Joshua is laid out for him in our reading along with two main commands found in verse seven: Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the instructions Moses gave you. Do not deviate from them, turning either to the right or to the left.
Your Job Is God's Assignment
Fourth, and finally, this text implies that the job you now have, as long as you are there, is God's assignment to you. Verse 17 says, "Let everyone lead the life which the Lord has assigned to him.". God is sovereign. It is no accident that you are where you are. "A man's mind plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps ...
When God Has An Assignment On Your Life You Can'T Hang With Everybody
Conclusion. 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.
The Call to Courage
Courage is defined by mission. It is to be called up to something. Secondly, courage rests upon the assurance of God's presence. What you're called to do is part of your sanctifying process, and there are levels and depths of knowing God that you will not know apart from the assignment that God has given to you.
The Importance of Discovering Your Assignment
Your assignment is simply what God wants you to do. Age is not a limiting factor, for everyone has a job to do for the Kingdom! For example, there are multitudes of stories where biblical identities receive instructions from God relating to their assignment. For Noah, there was a flood coming, so he was instructed to build an ark.
Doing My God Assignment Today- It's As Simple As That
Resist the shoulds and listen to God. Do the one thing, your God assignment, and do it well. That is enough. It isn't responding to every need. The needs are vast. Because of God's grace, you see them. His heart in you aches when you encounter need. You want to respond. That is a good thing.
Recognizing Your Divine Assignment
Seeking the Lord in prayer, meditation on the Word of God and by fellowshipping with the Holy Spirit, you will discover the assignment of God for your life. The Holy Spirit talks to us in a still small voice. Hence, we must listen to get what He is passing across to us. The Holy Spirit is the spirit of God in man's heart.
When God Appoints You, He Anoints You
God never asks you to do something without providing what you need to do it. Anointing is a sign of God's equipping you to fulfill an assignment he's given you. When he gives you an assignment, a plan, or a strategy, he is going to empower you. Just as a lamp won't shine unless it's plugged in, your light won't shine unless you're ...
What Is My God-given Purpose?
Here are a few steps to help you figure out the solution to ' what is my god-given purpose ': 1. Make the Bible your guide. The Bible is a book of knowledge that God has left to the people. It contains important lessons and advice on how to lead a life that is fulfilling and free of sin. 2. Pray to the Almighty.
Focus on YOUR God-Given Assignment
Share this:(Read Acts 14:21-28) This morning we continue our series "Grace that is Simply Amazing" by continuing to learn more about the amazing life of the Apostle Paul. Yesterday we learned…
Hard Assignments God Gave People in the Bible
Abram's Hard Assignments. In Genesis, God gave Abram several hard assignments when he was living his life as a pagan. God told Abram, "Go from your country, your people and your father's household to the land I will show you (Genesis 12:1). Notice how many times the word "your" is used in this one verse. God acknowledged that He was telling ...
Christ's Assignment (Luke 24:36-53; Acts 1:4-9)
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.
12 Bible verses about Assignment
Verse Concepts. For I have assigned you a number of days corresponding to the years of their iniquity, three hundred and ninety days; thus you shall bear the iniquity of the house of Israel. John 17:4. Verse Concepts. I glorified You on the earth, having accomplished the work which You have given Me to do. Jude 1:6.
Finish Your Race and Fulfill Your Assignment from God
Finish Your Race and Fulfill Your Assignment from God. July 8, 2019. Clint Byars. Testimony. God is building his church and you have a significant role to fulfill. Do you know your assignment in the body of Christ? God didn't create you to do a job for him, he created you to be his child, plain and simple. Acknowledge God as your Father and ...
Anointed Assignments: What God Wants
When God Gives You an Assignment. Everybody was created with a special assignment. That assignment came from God. Therefore, God has equipped all people with their own gifts, talents, characteristics, likes and dislikes to do what they were born to do (1 Peter 4:10).
What Does the Bible Say About Fulfilling Gods Assignment?
Matthew 25:31-46 ESV / 19 helpful votesHelpfulNot 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 ...
Preparing for God-Given Assignments
The disciples, as well as the Apostle Paul kept the faith and finished the race at all cost. Paul said in 2 Timothy 1:1-2, "I, Paul, am on special assignment for Christ, carrying out God's plan laid out in the message of life by Jesus." (MSG). Amen! You see, in all of these successfully completed assignments, God's plan prevailed.
What Does the Bible Say About Assignment?
John 3:1-36 ESV / 9 helpful votesHelpfulNot Helpful. Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, "Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.". Jesus answered him, "Truly, truly, I say ...