Do you ever wonder? What am I doing here? What is my purpose for living?
God has gifted you with a unique, one-of-a-kind calling. He has equipped you with talents and spiritual gifts to bring heaven to this earth and glory to His name. Understanding that purpose as believers will help us set the right priorities and keep us from the overwhelm of over-commitment.
God does not want us stretched so thin we break. Even He rested in Genesis 2:3 “So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy because on it God rested from all His work that He had done in creation.”
Who are we to think we have greater capacity than God?
He shows and models the way to live in His word. There is no list to follow, but as you read and study the character of God we learn to set the right priorities, rest, and lean on Him for strength.
Jesus battled somewhat alone at Gethsemane before going to the cross. Although the Lord was with Him, God never leaves us or forsakes us, His disciples whom he asked to intercede had fallen asleep! Given, they had been feasting at the Lord’s Supper and celebrating Passover, but they kept falling asleep when Jesus needed His friends the most.
Jesus said to them, “Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” — Matthew 26:41
We need to stay strong in our spirit to resist falling prey to our flesh. In this episode, we will discuss Romans 12, where Paul tells us how the Holy Spirit strengthens and equips us for life.
ROMANS 12 1 Therefore I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.
3 For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith. 4 For just as we have many parts in one body and all the body’s parts do not have the same function, 5 so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually parts of one another. 6 However, since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to use them properly: if prophecy, in proportion to one’s faith; 7 if service, in the act of serving; or the one who teaches, in the act of teaching; 8 or the one who exhorts, in the work of exhortation; the one who gives, with generosity; the one who is in leadership, with diligence; the one who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.
9 Love must be free of hypocrisy. Detest what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor, 11 not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; 12 rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer, 13 contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality.
14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. 16 Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation. 17 Never repay evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all people. 18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all people. 19 Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written: “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. 20 “But if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Our ultimate purpose as believers is to follow Jesus' example, to die to ourselves and live for Him.
God has put unique gifts and talents in each of us to serve the body of Christ and love the world we are in that is in need of Jesus. Therefore, as believers living here and now in 2023, we bring heaven to earth as we share the Good News of the Gospel!!!
Equipped by the Holy Spirit, your Spiritual Gifts empower you to do things that might seem impossible in your own ability. You have a calling; a purpose you were created to accomplish from birth. This calling is sometimes different from your career which can often highlight your skill and talents. God wants us to bring our calling into our careers.
"For we are his handiwork, created in Christ Jesus for the good works that God has prepared in advance, that we should live in them." — Ephesians 2:10
"A calling is what you're made to do,
A career is what you're paid to do."
If you do not know what your Spiritual Gifts are, here are ways to discover them:
1. Find a test online.
2. Ask your church if they have an available test. (better resource)
3. Pray and ask God to reveal your spiritual gifts. If you aren't sure how to know you're hearing from God and not some other voice, check out Episode 27: "How to Hear From God"
Biblical References for Spiritual Gifts
Romans 12:6-8
1 Corinthians 12:6-10
1 Corinthians 12:28
1 Corinthians 12:29-30
Ephesians 4:11
1 Peter 4:11
