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 Spirit-Filled Service by Zac Poonen


[b]Spirit-Filled Service[/b]
[i]by Zac Poonen[/i]

Spirit-filled service is a service that fulfils God's specific calling.
In Colossians 1:23-25, Paul says, "I am made a minister" and
in 1 Timothy 2:7 "I am ordained an apostle."

Paul had been ordained by the nail-pierced hands of his Savior, and
not by any man. It was God who had called Paul to be an apostle. This
calling, he says in Colossians 1:25, was given to him. It was God's
gift - not something that he had achieved or earned. He also says in
the same verse that this calling was given to him to serve others.
It was a stewardship entrusted to him by God for the work of building
up the church.

God has a specific calling for each of us. It is futile asking God to
make us into something that He has not called us to be - for the Holy
Spirit decides what gift each of us should have. Paul was called to be
an apostle. But not everyone has such a calling. What we do need to
seek God's face about is for power to do that which He has called us to do.

“Take heed to the ministry which you have received in the Lord, that
you fulfill it," was Paul's advice to Archippus (Col. 4:17).

God does not put square pegs into round holes. He knows what His
church needs at a particular time in a particular place, and He
prepares each of us, (if we are submissive) for a specific task -
which may be quite different from what we ourselves want to do.

“Is everyone an apostle? Of course not. Is everyone a preacher? No.
Are all teachers? Does everyone have the power to do miracles? Can
everyone heal the sick? Of course not. Does God give all of us the
ability to speak in languages we've never learned (tongues)?...No”
(1 Cor. 12:29-30 LB). But God has placed each of these gifts in the Body
of Christ. The important thing is for us to recognize our gift and
calling - and to exercise that gift and fulfill that calling. Spirit- filled
service is service that fulfils that specific calling which God gives us.

If there is one gift that the New Testament specifically encourages us
to seek, it is the gift of prophecy (1 Cor. 14:39). This is perhaps
the most needed gift in the church today. A prophetic ministry is one
that edifies (strengthens and builds-up), exhorts (rebukes and
challenges) and consoles (comforts and encourages) (1 Cor.14:3).

We need to pray that God will give us prophets in our churches, who
will speak the truth of God, without fear or favor - men of a
different caliber from the professional religious scribes, who are
more interested in their salary, status and popularity.

May the Lord help each of us to seek His face earnestly to find out
what our calling is.


_________________
SI Moderator - Greg Gordon

 2010/3/26 14:44Profile
Earendel
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Joined: 2009/3/17
Posts: 308
Central Alberta, Canada

 Re: Spirit-Filled Service by Zac Poonen

Thanks for the great article!


_________________
David

 2010/3/26 20:11Profile





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