calling – PAOLOPUNZALAN.COM

DO YOU WANT TO BE SAFE OR BRAVE?

(This was a message given by Pastor Oscar Muriu of Nairobi Chapel at Every Nation World Conference 2016, Day 1.)

Are the things you are living for worth Christ’s dying for?

For Christ’s love compels us. (2 Corinthians 5:14-20)

Selfishness has become an accepted feature in Christianity.
It’s become how God will help me and bless me. We have to remember that the purpose of my life doesn’t revolve around myself.
We act as if God belongs to us rather than us belonging to Him.
God is not interested in your plans for your life but for your involvement in His plans for your life.

Whatever is to my profit, I now consider loss. (Philippians 3:7-9)

There are no great advances made in Christianity by men who are unwilling to give up their lives. We have to remember, we no longer live for ourselves any longer.

We are Christ’s ambassadors, given the ministry of reconciliation.
Each day, about 155,000 people slip into Christless eternity
It will take a sacrifice to not live for self.

Here’s the choice that our Father wants us to understand as Christians – and I believe this is the choice of our age: “Do you want to be brave or safe? … because you cannot be both!” (Gary Haugen, International Justice Mission)

Brave means trusting God for your future.
Brave means to not know the details before obeying.
Brave means that God doesn’t have to ask for your permission.
Brave means that God doesn’t have to explain before you obey.

If your God has to ask you first then he is a small god.
Brave is not the absence of fear but the assurance of His peace.

Jesus proved His love on the cross.
He doesn’t have to prove His love for you again.

You and I are dead to ourselves when we gave our lives to Christ.
Dead men are no longer afraid. They don’t flinch.
Poke them and they will not react.
However, some of us have never died. We just fainted.
There’s still self-preservation left inside the coffin.

Challenging question: “Is what you’re living for worth Christ’s dying for?”

STICKING TO YOUR CALLING

Reading through the book of Nehemiah for our recent series “Ako, Ikaw, Tayo,” I noticed a shift in chapter 8.
Nehemiah takes a step back and Ezra steps in to read the Book of the Law to the people of Israel.

It’s interesting that Nehemiah didn’t step beyond what God called him to do – to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.

As the church continues to grow by the grace of God, many have come suggesting that we need to focus on this more, teach on that better, prioritize this more and concentrate on that a bit more.

Hinging from what we read in Nehemiah, not understanding the call and stewardship God has given may lead to confusion.

Lesson? Know what God’s called you to do and stick to it. Well meaning people with wonderful intentions may come and suggest which will inadvertently distract you from what God’s called you to do.

So what is it for Victory? HONOR GOD. MAKE DISCIPLES.

“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 28:19-20)

As Steve Murrell would put it, it’s the same ole’ boring strokes.

While the method may change, the message has remained the same throughout these years: Preach Christ and Him crucified.

For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. (1 Corinthians 2:2)

HOUSTON, WE HAVE A BIG PROBLEM

You might remember this line from the movie Apollo 13. The space craft was in the verge of disaster and so were the lives of the astronauts inside it.

It was in this framework that Dr. Howard Hendricks mentioned the problem in leadership we have in the church.

There is a lack of leadership in the church that eventually spills out into society.

The greater problem he presents is that unfortunately, we have people who are in positions of leadership yet one thing is lacking – CALLING.

Houston, we really have BIG problem.

Dear leaders, this is a moment for us to assess why we are where we are today. If we are in ministry today because we don’t have anything else to do or we feel stuck because we thought this is what we were supposed to do and realized we while be somewhere else, then something has to change.

We need to ask ourselves certain questions.

1. Do I remember a specific moment when God clearly spoke to me about His call in my life?

I don’t mean an audible voice like with Moses and the burning bush. I mean a real sensing in your heart that you just know it was God who was speaking to you.

Career is what you’re paid to do. Calling is what you’re made to do.

2. Do I still have the fire as I used to have?

Passion is hard to explain yet easy to spot. You just know.

Bill Wilson once said, “If people don’t know what your passion is, then you probably don’t have one.”

3. Do I know where I’m headed?

No one really knows exactly. Abraham left Ur without really fully knowing where he was going. However, there was a sense of direction and confidence that I am going the right way.

Vision. Passion. Direction.

If we have none of that, then we need to go back to Houston for some recalibration.