THE CALLER, THE CALLED AND THE CALLING

MEMORY VERSE: Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you. John15:16

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Job 23-24, Isaiah 62-66

Merriam Webster dictionary defines a ‘calling’ as a strong desire to spend your life doing a certain kind of work (such as religious work). I love to read autobiographies, especially autobiographies of those who, despite all odds, achieved something meaningful. Although, i have not read as much as i would like to, i can tell you that by reading autobiographies, you learn the secrets of great achievers. One thing i have found with all great achievers is they are hard working. They wake up at odd hours of the morning, to either train or work. Michael Phelps, the most decorated Olympian of all time, wrote about how he wakes up at 2am in the morning, to train. Also, these great achievers knew their calling from a young age and they pursued it. Your ‘calling’ maybe to make shoes or to paint. It maybe to start a NGO that catches people who traffic young girls for sex trade. I thank God for what He is doing through Tiny Hands, bringing wicked men who sell young girls to face judgment. It maybe to design godly clothes and make them. Don't be shy of that ‘calling’, pursue it with all you have inside you. The people around you may not fancy your ‘calling’; they don't have to fancy it anyway. You just pursue it, one day they will fancy it. Your ‘calling’ doesn't have to make sense to the society where you find yourself. It is your ‘calling’, and in most cases, it will only make sense to you at particular point in time. Your ‘calling’ could even be to make ladies' hair. The fact that no one you know as ever succeeded in pursuing their calling does not mean you will not succeed in pursuing yours. Your ‘calling’ doesn't have to have a big name or a fanciful name.

We cannot talk about ‘calling’ without making references to the ‘caller’- the one who calls, and the ‘called’- the one who receives the call. The ‘caller’ is always higher than the ‘called’. The ‘caller’ exercises authority over the ‘called’. In other words, the ‘caller’ is able to reward or punish the ‘called’. John 15:16 ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.” In this verse, we have the ‘caller’ who is Jesus Christ; the ‘called’ which is you and i; the ‘calling’ which is not only to bear fruits but to ensure that our fruits remain. Also, in Matthew 11:28: “come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest”, we have the ‘caller’ again which is Christ; the 'called' which is you and I; the ‘calling’ which is a call to salvation. As you search through the scriptures, you will find examples of the ‘Caller’ i.e. God, calling the ‘called’, you and i, to take on assignments and tasks. If we heed to His ‘callings’, we will be greatly rewarded. If you bear fruits and they remain, you can go to God for anything and He will give it to you. If you come to Him, eternal rest will be yours. Most of these great achievers, sport personalities, inventors, entrepreneurs, etc, all heeded to their ‘calling’ and they were greatly rewarded for it. Michael Phelps could have decided not to heed to his calling to become a swimmer. Had he done that, he would have lost his rewards. There is a reward for heeding to your ‘calling’. It is not too late to heed to your calling. You maybe a celebrated doctor now, but deep inside, you know you are called to be an engineer. If i were you, i will quit medicine and pursue engineering. As loving parents, let your children pursue their calling. You may not approve of what they want to study in the university, but leave them alone. The divine Caller as called them to pursue that discipline. Just pray along with them and at the end, you will be happy that they heeded to their calling. Although, many of us know this in our head, it is worth repeating so that we can know it in our heart. There is a powerful calling on our life, more important than any ‘calling’ one maybe currently pursuing and that is the 'call to serve'. This is the most rewarding 'call' any man can receive. The rewards for serving Christ are eternal. You will be rewarded on earth and you will reign with Him in His kingdom in heaven.

THOUGHT OF THE DAY: One of the most unwise things to do is to put your earthly calling before your divine calling.

NOTE: You are called to finish that course you have started. You are called to finish that project. You are called to pass that exam.

QUESTION: Have you heeded the call to worship God in spirit and in truth?

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Bro Samuel | Reaching the world for Jesus.

‘POTIPHAR’S WIFE’ – THE STRATEGY

MEMORY VERSE: And it came to pass about this time that Joseph went into the house to do his business; and there was none of the men of the house there within.And she caught him by his garment, saying, lie with me: and he left his garment in her hand, and fled, and got him out, Genesis 39:11-12.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 2 Sam 21, Gal 1, Ezek 28, Ps 13-14

‘Potiphar’s wife’ represents enemies whose sole objective is to destroy men and women with great potentials before they are discovered. There are one or two things we need to know about her. She is subtle and very cunning. I have always wondered how she managed to seduce Joseph day by day and no one around noticed. She is also very patient and persistent. She never takes no for an answer. Joseph would say no today, the next morning she would return with a smile saying , “dear Joseph what about what we discussed yesterday”, and this continued for days. ‘Potiphar’s wife’ never gives up until she accomplishes her mission. Despite the fact that Samson kept on saying no, Delilah kept coming back. At a point Samson got tired and gave in, before you know it he was in chains (Judges 16:4-23). 

‘Potiphar’s wife’ attacks when one is most vulnerable. She kept an eye of Joseph’s movement, she watched him for many days. The bible records that and it came to pass about this time that Joseph went into the house to do his business; and there was none of the men of the house there within. And she caught him by his garment, saying, lie with me: and he left his garment in her hand, and fled, and got him out (Genesis 39:11-12).

Potiphar’s wife attacks when no one is watching. This is why the bible admonishes us to walk circumspectly (Ephesians 5:15). How does one deal with ‘Potiphar’s wife’? How does one deal with a brother or sister who is always pestering one to go into sin with them? The answer is flee! 1 Thessalonian 5:22 says flee from all appearance of evil. Don’t rebuke Potiphar’s wife because it is ineffective; don’t abuse her because she knows no shame; don’t threaten her because she is determined. The only solution is flee from her. If you are in a relationship where the other party is asking you to lie with them carnally , flee from them! If you remain in that relationship he or she will continue to pester you and one day you will fall. Many instead of fleeing, remain in the relationship and keep saying no. At a point they become tired and give in, few days after that the relationship breaks down and before you know it is over. If you have been in that position, I pray that the Lord almighty will heal you in Jesus name, amen.

ACTION POINT: Rebuke demons but flee from ‘Potiphar’s wife’

Bro Samuel – Reaching the world for Jesus