Your Calling Is After His

"I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of THE CALLING with which YOU WERE CALLED, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit; just as YOU WERE CALLED in one hope of YOUR CALLING; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all." (Ephesians 4:1-6)

after- in agreement or conformity with; in imitation of; following the completion of (3 of 14 definitions from Webster's dictionary)

"Therefore, I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: (so) that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him (Jesus Christ), the eyes of your understanding being enlightened, that you may know what is the hope of HIS (Jesus Christ's) CALLING, what are the riches of the glory of His (Jesus Christ's) inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe (this), according to the working of His mighty power, which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places...." (Ephesians 4:15-20)

The Christian's calling is in agreement with/conformity to/imitation of Jesus Christ's death and resurrection IN THE HEART. Following the completion of that process of salvation, we shall say, as Paul did, "I have been crucified with Christ: it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me".

Scripture declares that "though He (Jesus) was a Son, He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. And having been perfected (made complete) He (then) became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him. (Hebrews 5:8,9)

We know Jesus did; Paul, likewise, speaks of following the Lord in this way. Jesus; Paul, in His name, committed himself to Him who judges righteously. Individual callings follow the completion, in us, of Jesus Christ's calling.

When You Come Together To Eat, Wait For One Another

(1 Corinthians 11:17-34)

"Now in giving these instructions I do not praise you, since you come together not for the better but for the worse. For first of all, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you, and in part I believe it. For there must also be factions among you, that those who are approved may be recognized among you. Therefore when you come together in one place, IT IS NOT TO EAT THE LORD'S SUPPER."  (v.17-20)

Paul delivers to the Corinthian church that which he received from the Lord: that they/we should eat the bread, and drink the cup, in remembrance of Him. "For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you (we) proclaim the Lord's death till He comes." But if we eat this bread and drink this cup in an unworthy manner, we eat and drink judgement to ourselves, not discerning the Lord's body.

It could be the Corinthians were partaking unworthily of the bread and the cup because they did not know how to make themselves ready to receive. The mountain (Mark 11:23) Jesus teaches His disciples about kept the chief priests and scribes from receiving Jesus Christ, the Living Bread, when He came to the temple. They unworthily received the Bread of God when He came to them.

When we come together in one place, it is always to eat the Lord's Supper! Wait for one another as we speak to that mountain (all fleshly confidence) so that we may partake worthily of the Bread of God and drink His cup. That must be the most anointed place.

                                                                                                                                                                     

Walking Worthy Of The Lord, Fully Pleasing Him

"We give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and your love for all the saints, because of the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, of which you heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel, which has come to you, as it has also in all the world, and is bringing forth fruit, as it is also among you since the day you heard and knew the grace of God in truth; as you also learned from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf, who also declared to us your love in the Spirit. For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you may WALK WORTHY OF THE LORD, FULLY PLEASING HIM, BEING FRUITFUL IN EVERY GOOD WORK and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power for all patience and longsuffering with joy;.........(Colossians 1:3-11)

PATIENCE AND LONGSUFFERING WITH JOY. 

"And shall God not avenge His own elect, who cry out day and night TO HIM (for Him), though He BEARS LONG WITH THEM?" (Luke 18:7) The joy comes as He reveals Himself to the saint: showing forth what reconciliation to Jesus Christ means; His perfect will in it!

So, how is the worthy walking, fully pleasing fruitfulness formed in these?

"And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified. What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be (successful) against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? Who shall bring a charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written: 'For Your (His) sake we are killed all day long; We are counted as sheep for the slaughter.' Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither life nor death, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any created thing shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

None of those things will be able to separate us, but we can separate ourselves. If we don't KNOW the cost; if we don't KNOW the hope of Jesus Christ's calling; the Son's calling; a son's calling; your calling. Worthy walking/fully pleasing KNOWS and is willing to persevere WITH HIM in it. 

The Testimony Of Jesus Is The Intent Of Prophecy

"Then he said to me, 'Write. Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!' And he said to me, 'These are the true sayings of God'. And I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, 'See that you do not do that, I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren who have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.' "(Revelation 19:9,10)

"Now I, John, saw and heard these things. And when I heard and saw, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel who showed me these things. Then he said to me, 'See that you do not do that. For I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren the prophets, and of those who keep the words of this book. Worship God.' " (Revelation 22:8,9)

spirit- general meaning or intent (one of many definitions in Webster's)

It seems that the reason prophecy comes is to reveal to the church Jesus' testimony; what His calling was; so that the church may become like the "brethren" mentioned.

"Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries. But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men. He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church. I wish you all spoke with tongues, but even more that you prophesied; and he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks with tongues, unless indeed he interprets, that the church may receive edification." (1 Corinthians 14:1-5)

Prophecy comes by the will of the Father, by the quickening of the Holy Spirit, to edify, exhort and comfort the church to/in the testimony of Jesus. I think I can say this is His intent: to HAVE the testimony of Jesus!

Brethren! Complete This Application!

Recently, the county where I reside received word from state officials that their application for grant funding had been denied. The reason for denial was FAILURE TO COMPLETE THE APPLICATION. Apparently one very important component, REQUIRED BY THOSE WHO HAD AUTHORITY, had been left out.

"For we (Paul and those who are with him) are glad when we are weak and you are strong. And this also we pray, that you be MADE COMPLETE." 

(2 Corinthians 13:9)

"Finally, brethren, farewell. BECOME COMPLETE." (2 Corinthians 13:11)

application- a form to be filled out by an applicant; the act of putting to a special use or purpose (two of ten definitions in Webster's)

There is no paperwork to fill out in this process Paul discusses, but the understanding to put to special use or purpose is vital. Becoming complete is in God's hand, in the name of Jesus Christ by the quickening of the Holy Spirit, accompanied by your submission to it. 

"Paul, an apostle (not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised Him from the dead), and ALL THE BRETHREN WHO ARE WITH ME." (Galatians 1:1,2) With these words Paul begins his letter to the Galatian church.

"I have been crucified with Christ; it is not I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh (body) I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me." (Galatians 2:20)

Just as completion of the grant application would have provided dedicated funding, the understanding to allow the Lord to show us how to be crucified with Him will provide the avenue to intimacy Paul had received.

Sainthood: Comprehending the Love of Christ

Ephesians 3:17-19

".....that you, being rooted an grounded in love, may be able to comprehend WITH ALL THE SAINTS what is width and length and depth and height - to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God."

comprehend - to understand the nature or meaning of; to take in or embrace; include; COMPRISE (Webster's)

comprise - to consist of;  to be composed of (Webster's)

I would say that sainthood begins when a person first trusts in Christ; after hearing the word of truth, the gospel of their salvation, having believed and sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory. 

(Ephesians 1:12-14)

Paul greets these as "the saints who are in Ephesus and faithful in Christ Jesus".(Ephesians 1:2)

Yet, that is the beginning. Saints of God are willing to turn toward Him at every revelation of Jesus Christ, counting not the cost there of; receiving the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him; the eyes of their understanding being enlightened; that they may know what is the hope of His calling; what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints. (Ephesians 1:17,18)

The love of Christ requires that they keep His commands, are willing to lay down their lives for their friends and let Him show what it means to become the called according to His purpose, as He is head of all things to the church.

Would you like to be one of those who comprehend? Would you like to be comprised of the width and length and depth and height of Christ's love? Ask the Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, and your joy will be full! 

"Strive to enter through the narrow gate; for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able." (Luke 13:24)

Wasting His Goods

Luke 16:1,2,9; 19:11-27

"He also said to His disciples: 'There was a certain rich man who had a steward, and an accusation was brought to him that this man was WASTING HIS GOODS. So he called him and said to him, "What is this I hear about you? Give an account of your stewardship, for you can no longer be steward'."

Then, if you will read ahead, the unjust steward compounds his unrighteousness. Instead of repenting, He makes himself a home, with the unrighteous, by unrighteous mammon. 

The heading of that portion of scripture is "The Parable of the Unjust Steward". 

"Now as they heard these things, He spoke another parable, because He was near Jerusalem and because they thought the kingdom of God would appear immediately. Therefore He said: 'A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and return. So he called ten of his servants, delivered to them ten minas, and said to them, 'Do business till I come.' But his citizens hated him, and sent a delegation after him, saying, 'WE WILL NOT HAVE THIS MAN TO REIGN OVER US.' (Please read through v.27) 

"And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, 'Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.' And he was called the FRIEND of God. You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only." (James 2:23.24) A man is made into a "just steward" as he seeks, knocks, asks; hears and repents as God reveals; allows 'the nobleman' to reign over him.

Wasting (squandering) or scattering His goods is the rejection of those things we already understand about the kingdom of God. The "wicked servant" (Luke 19:22) had an understanding of what to do ("Do business till I come") but rejected the works by which he could be justified. He would not let This Man justify him.