Gifts and Callings
2 Tim 1:8 Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord or of me His prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God, 9 who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity,
THIS CALL IS NOT SO MUCH ABOUT OBTAINING AS IT IS BECOMING.
GOD’S FAITHFULNESS IS LINKED TO HIS CALLING.
1 Cor 1:9 God is faithful, through whom you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
HE IS FAITHFUL TO WORK OUT WHAT HE’S CALLED.
1 Thess 5:24 Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass.
Eph 4:4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; (AMP “The calling you received”)
Eph 1:18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,
WHEN YOU FIND GOD’S PLAN FOR YOUR LIFE IT WILL NOT BE BORING
Rom 8:28 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.
Romans 11:29 for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.
BALANCE IS ALWAYS ONE OF THE MAJOR KEYS TO LIFE.
It’s easy for the body of Christ to be more occupied with performance instead of God’s presence when it comes to church
We can never let performance replace presence
We can never let information replace transformation
We can never let the platform replace prayer
Callings are the God part of the equation – giftings are the you part of the equation.
Callings are about surrender – Gifts are about your strengths.
What is required of you... that is your calling.
What gives you your best return... that is your gift.
It’s the center point between your calling and your giftedness, that is where you discover your destiny.
YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THE NATURE OF WHAT A CALLING IS;
WHEN PEOPLE HAVE A CALL – IT CREATES A COMMITMENT
The call is the God question. What does He want to do?
The gift is the you question. What do I want to do?
Your gift is no good if you won’t sacrifice for it and your gift is no good if you won’t be faithful.
Gifts are divine abilities.
Calling is divine responsibility.
Whenever God gifts you. It is because He is thinking about someone else.
Your gift refers to the enabling... your calling refers to your destiny.
Gifts highlight us. If focuses attention on me...
Gifts make us successful. Look at me...
Calling make us significant... Look at Him...
We choose our future based on our gifts.
God changes our future based on our calling.
God’s call is about placing you where you make the biggest difference in life so the purpose of God is fulfilled in other people’s lives.
Gifts are what others see...
Callings are what God see’s...
The calling is what we will give an account for.
Gifts are general... they can be so many different things.
Callings are specific.
The call is the reason you do what you do... you don’t do it for you, you do it for God.
Gifts are found in life... callings are found in prayer.
You can’t test yourself into a calling. You pray yourself into it.
Gifts are proven... Callings are discovered.
Gifts are free... but callings have costs.
Gifts are outward... Callings are inward.
You get better in gifts by practice...You get better in calling by obeying it.
We judge according to our gifts... God judges according to our calling.
Callings will always have a sacrificial element to it. So, God may ask you to do things you don’t think you can do or do things you don’t want to do.
Gifts will satisfy you for a short time... Only a calling will satisfy you for a long time.