“Look unto Abraham your father…for I called him alone, and blessed him, and increased him.” - Isaiah 51:2
Fundamentally, no calling is a collective calling. Every calling by God is an individual calling. God does not give callings or assignments to His people colletively but individually. God speaking in our anchor text above said very clairly concerning father Abraham: …for I called him alone…He was not called together with others though others such as his immediate family members became partakers of that heavenly mandate. So every calling in scripture was an individual calling. This is why no one will successfully fulfill his/her calling or God-given mandate by looking for a consensus from men.
In connection to his calling, Paul the Apostle makes this profound statement:
-Galations 1:15-16
(15) But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace,
(16) To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:
Paul was trying to say that after I received my calling from God, immediately, I did not look for a consensus from mortal men. I did not seek for anyone’s approval. It’s crucial to note that every authentic calling or mandate from God follows this partern. Men will usually not approve of whon God has called. That was the story of our Lord Jesus Christ:
Act 2:22
Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know:
He was a man called and approved of God yet disapproved of men. All the rulling authorities and popular groups did not approve of him nor his ministry (from the high priest to the Pharisees and the Sadducees). Yet His mandate was direct from heaven. It is very obvious from some of the utterances of Christ when He taught the people that He did not seek the approval of any man. For instance in many instances he called these authroties and their followers hypocrites:
Mathew 23:13
But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in. (See also Matthew 23:14,15,23,25,27&29, Matthew 6:2,15&16, Matthew 22:18, Mark 7:6, Luke 11:44)
And remember we’re mandated to “…look unto Jesus who is the author and finisher of our faith…” (Hebrews 12:2, paraphrased). So if our master and Lord did not seek the approval of mortal men, who are we to seek men’s approval when God has given us a mandate to run with? Let us examine a few other characteristics of a genuine divine calling which will help put us on the right path and guard against derailment.
Key Characteristics of a Heavenly Mandate (I.e A Calling from God)
#1. It is Fire in your bones
Jeremiah 20:9
But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones…
Every heavenly calling is a burning fire in the bones of the called. When your calling is genuinely from God, you’re always on fire with the mandate. It’s an unquenchable fire. It does not diminish with time. Neither does circumstances of life cause the fire to go out. The fire is ever freshly burning many years after the mandate was received. Apostle Paul wrote in 2Corinthians 6:4-10:
(4) But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,
(5) In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings;
(6) By pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned,
(7) By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,
(8) By honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true;
(9) As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed;
(10) As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.
Such is every calling that is truly from God. It remains ever strong despite the ups and downs of life. Again, Apostle Paul made the following statement several years after he received his calling:
Acts 26:22
Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come:
The fire of the calling remained ever burning such that he could “…continue unto this day…” doing what he was called to do. May that be your own experience too.
#2. It gives you unusual joy
Every divine mandate fuels your joy. It’s a source of extreme joy; one that is described in the new testament as joy unspeakable and full of glory (1Peter 1:8). The mandate itself gives you this unusual joy that cannot be explained--not the rewards that come from running with the mandate. You may not be enjoying any immediate rewards such as material blessings in the interim, but your joy looks like you are. The rewards will eventually come anyway, as some of us have experienced, and it comes in phases and also in dimensions. The goodnews is that this supernatural joy, gives you the endurance to never give up untill you begin to see/taste the rewards of your labour.
Psalm 34:8
O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.
May this order of joy become your portion as you continue to trust God to see you through.
#3. It gives you Rest
Your divine assigment will give you rest, even in the midst of storms. This is because your divine assignment/calling has God as your anchor; so, you remain unshakable despite the storms of life.
Ephesians 2:20
And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
So every heavenly mandate or calling has Jesus Christ (God the Son) Himself as the chief corner stone or anchor. Thus your rest is guaranteed in and out of season (remember: when Jesus is in the boat, you will only laugh at the storms).
Thus, ultimately, your calling will give you rest. You’re always at peace within as you pursue that assigment. However, when you try to navigate away from the path that God has chosen for you, in doing other things, you lose your peace.
Psalm 85:8
I will hear what God the LORD will speak: for he will speak peace unto his people, and to his saints…
May you enjoy unperturbed peace and rest allthrough your journey. Amen!
#4. Your Calling will feed you
Every divine mandate/calling enjoys divine supplies/provision. In otherwords, God who called you will always provide for you. We find in scripture many examples of how God provided for his called servants. Let us enumerate a few:
The Prophet Elijah:
* We saw how God provided for him even in a season of famine (1Kings 17:8-15)
* We saw how God sent an angel to feed him in an obscure place (1Kings 19:5-8)
Elisha the Prophet:
* God through a woman and her husband provided free accomodation and food for him (2Kings 4:8-11)
Jesus Christ & the 12 Disciples:
* God through some women supplied material blessings for them (Luke 8:1-3)
* They enjoyed supernatrual provisions (Matthew 14:15-21, Mark 8:1-9)
Apostle Paul:
* He was well provided for and lived in his own rented house where he preached the gospel (Act 28:30-31)
The word says that by the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established (See Deuteronomy 19:15, Matthew 18:16, 1Corinthians 13:1). Now we have more than three examples from scripture, which is enough proof that your daily provision is inside your calling. God who called you will never leave you stranded; He will always provide for your needs as you abide faithfully, doing what He called you to do.
May you enjoy these four-dimensional blessings/benefits and more as you abide faithfully in your calling. Amen!
Meanwhile, the foundation for receiving a heavenly mandate/calling is relationship with the Master Jesus Christ by becoming a member of His sheepfold. Jesus said in John 10:27:
My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
To be able to hear the voice of the Master, pointing you onto the pathway of your calling, you must accept Him as your Lord and personal Saviour. Therefore, If you want to accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour, Please say this simple prayer:
I believe that Jesus is the Son of God and He shed His precious blood for my sins. Today, I confess Him as Lord and Saviour. Thank you Lord Jesus for saving me!
Amen.
Congratulations! if you said that prayer. The Word of God says you are now a new creature and old things are passed away. All things are become new (2 Corinthians 5:17). In other-words, God will never call your past life (sins/faults) to remembrance. They are totally forgiven and forgotten. Check this:
I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins. (Isaiah 43:25)
For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more (Hebrews 8:12)
If you have said this prayer, we encourage you to get into a bible-based church near you where you can grow in the Lord (1st Peter 2:2 and 2nd Samuel 7:10). Also, continue to follow us online and via our social media platforms below to receive more inspiration:
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Remain ever blessed.
Jesus is Lord!
