
As Christians, when we accept salvation we confess Jesus as Lord of our lives. Actually, most people accept Jesus as their savior, but very few accept Him as the Lord of their lives. Lord is another word for master. That means that we should consult him about every aspect of our lives. Every person has a specific purpose in their lives given to them by God. Your purpose is your original intent or the reason you were created. Ephesians 4:1, the Amplified version says this "I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, appeal to you and beg you to walk (lead a life) worthy of the divine calling to which you have been called--with behavior that is a credit to the summons to God's service." Paul is talking here to the whole Ephesian church here, not just the Pastor or leaders which means each person in that church has a divine calling. Your purpose given to you by God is not going to be sinful, of course. It will in one way or another be used in building His kingdom. You may not be called to be a Pastor or evangelist, but you may be called to be a light in the business world or sports arena. Paul was begging the church to lead their lives worthy of the calling God has called each of them to which shows how important it is to God.We must live our lives and fulfill our callings in a way to is pleasing to God. II Thessalonians 1:11 says this "Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill and the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power. The first step to walking worthy of our calling is to do it with faith and power. Faith is absolute reliance on God. Power comes from the Word of God and the Holy Spirit. Paul said in Romans 1:16 "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ; for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth, to the Jew first, and also to the Greek." That word salvation there means much more than just saving your soul from Hell. It means rescue, safety, deliverance, health, and prosperity. So the Word of God is power for deliverance into every area of our lives including fulfilling our purpose. Power also comes from the Holy Spirit. In Acts 1:8, Jesus promised us that power to help us fulfill what he asked us to do. But you shall receive power--ability, efficiency, and might--when the Holy Spirit has come upon you and you shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem and all Judea and Samaria and to the ends--the very bounds-- of the earth.Step two to walking worthy of your calling is live a holy life. When people call themselves Christians and act otherwise it only turns off people that could have potentially come into the Kingdom of God. Also, when you are not living a holy lifestyle, you are cutting of your power source.Step three to walking worthy of the call is to stop making excuses! When you say you can't fulfill something God has told you to do, you are not living in faith. Jeremiah 1:5-9 says this "Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations. Then said I, Ah, Lord God! Behold I cannot speak for I am a child. But the Lord said unto me, Say not, I am a child, for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak. Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the Lord. Then the Lord put forth his hand, and touched my mouth. And the Lord said unto me, Behold I have put my words in thy mouth. Jeremiah was trying to make excuses here why he could not do what God had asked him, but God would not allow it. God told Him he would give him what he needed to fulfill his purpose. Don't say I am too young, I am too old, I don't have any money, I am shy because whatever it is that you need to fulfill your purpose, God has it!Step four to walking worthy in your purpose is to pursue it with all diligence. Diligence means giving every effort to something or working hard at it. II Peter 1:10 says "Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things ye shall never fall." Once again, he is talking here to the brethren which means people in the church, everyone not just certain people. It says here that if you give every effort to knowing what your calling is that you will never fall. It says never. Now, I know that people tell you that you are going to fall, but the Word of God here says you will never fall.Step five to walking worthy of your calling is concencration or setting aside time to be with God and hear what he wants you to do and then, of course, obey what he says. In Genesis 22 starting at verse one, God asks Abraham to do something very difficult for him. Earlier God had told Abraham that he would be a father of many nations which is what the name Abraham means. Then in Genesis 22 God asks Abraham to give up His only son. That seems very contradictory. God told Abraham that he was a father of many nations and then asked him to give up his only son and he was already over a hundred years old by that time. Many times God will ask you to do something and it will not make sense. That is where trusting in God comes in. Abraham was obedient to God and when he was ready to sacrifice his son, God had a ram in the bush that he could sacrifice instead. Because Abraham was obedient, this is what an angel of the Lord said to him starting at verse 16. And said, By myself have I sworn, saith the Lord, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son: That in blessing I will bless thee, and and in multiplying, I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven and the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.As Paul begged the Ephesians to walk worthy of the call that God has given them, I am doing the same. If you follow the steps I have given you which are (number one) walk in your calling with power and faith which are obtained by the Word of God and the Holy Spirit; (number two) lead a lifestyle that is holy and pleasing to God; (number three) stop making excuses and remember God has everything you need to fulfill your purpose; (number four) to pursue you calling with diligence or with all of your heart; and (number five) spend time with God to hear from and be obedient to what he says. As you do these things, you will experience power and joy in the Holy Spirit like never before.