Naomi Mohr
This Month's Feature Article
How to Develop Your
Calling
Message by Naomi
Mohr
Part Two - June 2004
My son Stephen was about 10 years old when he had an experience that taught us both an important lesson.
He came in from recess with tears in his eyes, and blood gushing from his knee. He had been playing football with a bunch of kids, slid on his knees on the ice and ended up on a gravel road. The result was a mashed up right knee with a jagged wound about 5 inches in diameter.
He saw the school nurse who thought he should go home, so he called me to come and pick him up.
It wasn't long before Steve was laying on a bed and a nurse was preparing his knee for stitches. She took a small scrub brush with some foamy green stuff and began to scrub right on the wound.
Steve's eyes were pleading with me as if to say "Why are you letting her do this to me?"
Of course, it wasn't fun for me
either but I knew that if the wound wasn't cleaned out it
wouldn't heal properly and infection would set in.
That is how the Lord looks at us when we come to Him with
all the "stuff" in our lives. He has great love and concern
for the condition we are in.
As the potter and re-maker of our lives, God begins to shape us and mold us into a vessel that is useable for His service.
He begins to work in our lives, picking out the pieces of "stuff" that would hinder the beauty of the finished vessel. The "things" that would cause infection, and the situations that need to be changed.
This is the 3rd step of Developing Your Calling. The stage where we are squeezed and pressed together. This is also the place where MANY lose out. It's just not fun to be molded and have the rough edges rubbed off!
Can you recall the insights you have learned from scripture? What have you learned about conflicts in relationships? How has God healed you, changed you? What about health issues you have faced?
What has God done to rub off the rough edges in your life? (Yes - write it down!)
The truth is that those rough edges
don't come off easily. So - are you willing to let God work
on you? If so, take a deep breath and let's get started
.
There are four stages to developing your calling.
Stage One - Your
Salvation - A Ministry Seed is Planted
When you become a Christian there is planted in your spirit
a desire to serve the Lord. Because of my gratefulness to
God - I just wanted to serve Him the rest of my life. "What
can I do for you Lord?"
Stage Two - Your Call - A
Ministry is Birthed
As you grow in your walk with Christ, you are given
opportunities to serve. As you accept these opportunities
you begin to sense an anointing on your life. The desire
grows in you as you sense God's call on your
life!
Stage Three - Your
Preparation - Your Ministry is Tested.
Whoever God approves, He must prove. You've been
serving in a ministry, fulfilling your dream to be used of
the Lord, and suddenly you are facing the death of your
vision. There is conflict, frustration and you don't know
where to turn. This stage of testing is necessary for you to
move into the final stage of ministry.
Stage Four - Your
Function - Your Ministry Matures into a Tree Bearing
Fruit.
In this stage you begin to sense that God has brought
you into an effective place of ministry. You are helping
people, touching lives, and making a difference for the
Kingdom of God. Are you functioning in your ministry now?
Would anyone suffer spiritually if you were to die
today?
That's our goal - a mature ministry! To get there we have to pass a number of tests. Check these out and see if you've taken any of these. How far along are you?
He will take your mess and give you a message!
Here are 10 Spiritual Tests We Must Pass!
1. Test of Time - Why not
now?
I'm ready Lord. You just wanted a willing vessel -
right? Well here I am. Put me out there. I'll do a great
job. What - Wait??
Habakuk 2:3 ..."The vision is yet for an appointed time."
2. Test of Scripture
There is a calling to build the Word of God in your
life. It is important to memorize large portions of
scripture. Will you take time to learn God's
principles?
Psalm 119:130 "The entrance of thy Word gives light."
3. Test of Character
We are called to separate ourselves from sin or sin will
separate us from fellowship with God. One of the greatest
causes of diminishing the potential of our life
message is the failure to turn from all thoughts, words,
and actions, which we know grieve the Spirit of
God.
Proverbs 5:21 "The ways of a man are before the Lord."
We must discern and turn from evil in all it's forms.
4. Servant Test
Will we purpose to make others successful? The basis of
fruitful Christian service is only possible by developing
self-control which allows us to serve one another.
Un-noticed, unrewarded service.
1 Peter 4:10 "Minister the gift one to another ..."
5. Faithfulness Test
Faithful in little, we will be faithful in much. What
has God given you to do now? Have you been
faithful?
6. Wilderness Test
It is in the wilderness that we learn the ways of God.
Through hard times we learn different aspects of God's
nature. Unconditional love, humility, mercy, etc.
7. Misunderstanding Test
Saul tried to kill David 21 times in 9 years. Sometimes
people's words, attitudes, actions, are like sharp arrows
that wound us and nearly kill us off. How will we
respond?
Proverbs 24:19, 20 "Fret not thyself of evil doers... Guard your heart against bitterness."
8. Suffering Test
Suffering is essential in order to experience a mature
ministry. Suffering will usually come from people you would
least expect. Our Lord was rejected by the very people whom
He taught, fed and healed.
Psalm 119:71 "It is good to be afflicted so I can learn thy statues."
9. Discipline Test
Will you do the work necessary? Study, pray, get proper
rest?
2 Timothy 2:15 "Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."
10. Motives Test
Not striving for position, but having a pure, undefiled
love for God's people. What are the motives of your
heart?
Proverbs 16:2 "The Lord weighs the motives of our heart".
Proverbs 18:16 "Your gift will make room for you."
DEDICATION
The mature action of giving to God what really belongs to
Him already!
Will you pray along with me?
Dear Lord Jesus, I've begun my journey with You and am so grateful for Your watchful care over my life.
I thank you for the work you've already done in my life. Thank you for loving me enough to die on the cross for my sins, and thank you for forgiving me completely.
Right now I dedicate myself to Your purposes and will for my life.
I ask you to help me continue the process of developing the calling that you have placed on my life. I desire to become all that You have planned for me to be.
I open my heart to you Lord Jesus. Please help me to hear your voice and respond to your call. Thank you, Amen.
"Father, I agree with each one who is praying with me right now. I know you have a divine calling on each one of our lives - and Lord I agree that you will indeed complete the work you have begun in their lives.
Increase their confidence,
and give them the steps to take to fulfill that
significant place of service that you have for them.
Thank you Lord. Amen!"
You may want to receive the entire teaching on cassette tape or CD. (Cost is $6.00 plus postage). Go to our "Ministry Resources" page and order or call us at (651) 686-4688.
At
Mohr Ministries we have a vision! To touch women and men
for Jesus Christ. Our desire is that you find and fulfill
the exciting plan He has for your life.
Developing your gifts and finding a place of service will be the most exciting discovery of your life!
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Questions or comments?? You can reach us at nomimohr@aol.com.
Joyfully Serving Jesus!
Naomi :-)
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