Make Certain Your Calling

(Message by Pastor Philip Joseph. Happy Reading!)

God has called you for a purpose. Today, I would like you to get the big picture of what God has called you to… God has called us for something great and glorious. While getting along with the nitty-gritty of daily life, do not miss out on this great picture of glory! Yes, we came to Jesus; yes, we were cleansed from our sins; and yes, our salvation is sealed with His Spirit. But, that is not all that we are here for!

2 Peter 1:9, 10 says: For he who lacks these things is short-sighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins. Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble;

If you are here, and do not know God’s purpose for you and what you are called for, clearly you are not seeing the big picture! Peter calls such persons, spiritually short-sighted and blind. God has called us for a purpose as individuals and as believers together…

Heavenly Calling

Hebrews 3:1 “Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Christ Jesus.”

Our calling is not of this world. That is why we should never be bogged down by earthly issues. We are called to fix our eyes upward… to those things that are heavenly and eternal. Paul says “I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” [Phil. 3:14]

You have to let go of the earthly things to lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of you [Phil. 3:12]. It is YOUR choice-whether you will hold on to earthly things or lay hold of heavenly things; to lay-off temporal things for those that are eternal. Paul advises Timothy, “Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called…” [1 Tim. 6:12]

Called to Fellowship

1 Cor. 1: 9 “God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.”

This calling to fellowship is not just Sunday fellowship that we are exposed to; it is so easy singing and enjoying God’s presence on Sundays and still not getting into a fellowship with God’s Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. This fellowship is more than just prayer! This is the rock-ribbed confidence in the God who is faithful, and growing into a fellowship with His Son-Jesus Christ, day by day. 

Everyday with Jesus-that’s the fellowship we are called for. Not just Sundays, and not just win-days-but every hour every day; knowing Him and knowing His presence, wherever we are. The Bible says, Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him (Gen. 5:24). What a wonderful way to walk this earth!

Whether we understand or not, whether we have sorrow or pain, we can commit and commune everything to God. Our spirit is made for this-to commune with God. Sometimes, it is not even words; we need not say anything and yet we can commune with God. Oh yes, Jesus understands every pain, every tear-for He has passed this way before us. He is altogether lovely!

Called to freedom

Galatians 5:13 “For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another”

Freedom from sin, freedom from all man-made religions… Free to love and serve.

Called to purity

1 Thessalonians 4:7 “For God did not call us to uncleanness, but in holiness.”

We are called in holiness and sanctification. We must learn to possess our own vessel (body) in sanctification and honor (v3). This is our high calling. It is only right to put away every uncleanness, and embrace His Spirit. Verse 8 continues “Therefore he who rejects this does not reject man, but God, who has also given us His Holy Spirit.”

Called to be saints

1 Corinthians 1:2 “To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all who in every place call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:”

Called for a purpose

2 Timothy 1:9 says “… who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began…”

And the familiar verse in Romans 8:28 that goes “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God and to those who are the called according to His purpose.”

There is a purpose; there is grace sufficient; and you are the chosen and the called in Christ Jesus before time began. What a combination for good success! Yes, ALL THINGS work together for good!

And what is that purpose? It is to be conformed to the image of God’s Son-Jesus Christ. Yes, salvation is experienced in a moment; conforming to His image takes a lifetime. And all things are working together for His purpose-yes, even the troublesome neighbor, the difficult co-worker, the obstinate client and the disrespectful stranger… all working a work in us that is good.

Called for suffering

1 Peter 2: 21-23: “For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: who committed no sin, nor was deceit found in His mouth; who, when he was reviled did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously;”

We are not here to live as we like, once we have come to Jesus. We are here to follow the footsteps of Jesus. So the next time someone insults you, look at Jesus and follow His steps. Do not imagine, that God is working all things together for good according to ‘your’ purposes; but He is working according to His purpose for your good.

Therefore bless those who curse you. Do good to those who hate you. Pray for those who persecute you. (Matt. 5: 44). God has called us to an incomparable spiritual wealth-To be like Jesus Christ. What is the use of all material wealth, if you have not found the purpose for which you were called? What if you should gain the whole world, but lose your own soul?

Jesus is calling us to lay our treasures in heaven; where it does not rot. Ephesians is a good book to start to find out your purpose and calling. The 6 chapters of Ephesians can be divided into two parts: The first 3 chapters talk about our heavenly calling; and the last 3 chapters about how to walk in that heavenly calling. There is a whole new world out there! Get going through your calling. God bless you. Amen.

Look At the Birds of the Air

(Message: Pastor Philip Joseph on Sunday, the 6th March 2011. Hope I haven’t missed much. Happy reading!)

Matt. 6: 25, 26: Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?
Matt 6: 31: Therefore do not worry…

Sparrow

Our Lord Jesus is asking us to do this: Do not worry about what to eat and what to wear. Therefore: Do not worry about anything; whether about your future, finances or even your basic necessities of food, clothing and shelter. Remember Jesus spoke to people in those times, with practical difficulties of getting these basic necessities of food and clothing; for many were laborers earning their daily wages. They would earn something only if they found some work to do on that day.

There may be some in a government job-where you get paid regularly whether you do your work or not. And it is not a simple matter to remove anyone from their government job. You have full job security. There maybe some with private companies or MNC doing well, and you get paid according to the amount of effort you put in and result that you deliver-pretty decent in terms of job security. Others maybe in the business of their own, where there are a lot more uncertainties, because it may involve so many factors extraneous to the job itself; and there will be risks. And there will be others in Mumbai today, who are daily workers toiling away. But whatever is your job today, do not worry!
We must NOT worry: this is the job to do. If you are feeling that this may be a difficult job to do, Jesus answers: “Look at the birds of the air”. Pause, reflect, look at the birds! Did you notice that the birds-they do nothing for their food security? They don’t sow, they don’t reap, they don’t gather into barns, yet…they do not worry! You and I are more precious to God than the birds. God values us-His children, much more and is sure to provide what we need; much more than we as parents do to our children! Do you realize how much we are willing to do for our own children? Regarding their food, clothing, stay, education, play…the list goes on. God will DO MUCH MORE to His children. This is the truth. Get into a revelation of what it is to be found in God’s everlasting arms; to be found in God’s love… and you can find security in Him. Do not worry. Look up… and live.

In the parable of the Sower, Jesus describes the seed that fell among thorns as those who hear the word and receive it; but the cares of this world (yes, the worries) … chokes the word and there is no fruitfulness (Matt. 13:22). You may be in your teens, or in your youth… if you start worrying, your worries will keep you from being fruitful in God’s kingdom. I have shared with you, how as a 15y old, I came to Christ; at that time my biggest worry was my exams and education. But God has taken care and has provided all my needs.
If you are a student, your career may be your biggest worry; if single, then getting married may be worry; of if married, taking care of children may be your worry… and the list can go on. But Jesus warns us that we must be keen not to worry after these earthly things; Christ is coming. Be on your guard; take up a stand; DO NOT WORRY! Jesus is coming again to collect His church-His bride. Nobody knows when the rapture will happen (except the Father); no one can predict that it will not be today! But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly. For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. (Luke 21:34, 35).

1 Peter 5:7 “casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.”
Philippians 4:6 “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
You must choose to cast your cares on Him who cares for you. You must choose to have a talk with Him in prayer, in case something bothers you. If you do these, God’s peace will descend upon you. You can live as free as the birds above-free from worries!
Deut. 32:11: As an eagle stirs up its nest, hovers over its young, spreading out its wings, taking them up, carrying them on its wings, so the LORD alone led him…
The way of the eagle in the air is simply amazing. The eagle builds its nest in a very high place; it lays its egg, waits for the hatched young bird, which must then learn to fly. The exercise of teaching the young bird to fly is quite unique. The parent eagle ruffles the nest and gently pushes the young bird out of the nest. Most likely, the young bird will flap its wings but may not succeed in flying… but before it falls to the ground, the parent eagle swoops down to catch it mid-air on its own wings and brings it back to the safety of the nest. Few days later, the process of pushing, flapping and swooping… will start all over again; until one day, when its life is made uncomfortable, the young eagle succeeds in flying!
God is dealing with His children in this manner of the parent eagle! James 1: 2-4 says this: My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. You know, if God so chose, you and I can live in comfort, with all protection and free from all trials… but you see, we would have been like that young eagle unable to fly. Probably, the young eagle would have thought, ‘How can my parent do this to me? Pushing me away that I fall…’ But then, the parent eagle swoops down and carries it again to safety. Then the young eagle will realize the power, the skill and the care of the parent eagle… more and more. Then one day, the young eagle will realize the reason for all the testing times… and thank its parent for teaching it to fly! We can do this right-away… thank the Lord for all the trials; James says we can count it as joy, because of the result it will produce; we will be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. In the meanwhile, we can know Him more and more…
God LOVES you. But He also wants you to fly high… the testing of faith produces endurance. I know Sundays are easy, singing Hallelujah! What about the Mondays and Tuesdays… and the rest of the week. We meet our neighbors near our homes, we meet our co-workers in the office: there are a pile of work ‘to-do’ and the ‘deadlines’… Is your faith intact? God wants you to be mature, perfect and complete…
Are you facing delayed response for your prayers? To God be the glory…great things He has done. Jesus delayed His going to Lazarus’ house, even though He knew he was sick. By the time Jesus arrived at Martha’s place, Lazarus was dead and buried 4 days… What a turnaround on that day, when Jesus spoke “Lazarus, come forth!”; and the dead man came out of the tomb!

Are you facing trials with results that are contrary to what you thought you deserved? Remember Romans 8:28 “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.”

Next time you go through a trial, remember the eagle! In Psalm 103: 5, we find another image of the eagle-renewed youthfulness! Your youth is renewed like the eagle’s! Now you know the story of how an eagle’s feathers and talons fall away during it’s life… and it has to wait and wait till new feathers and talons grow again. It may seem like long… but soon it will turn into the swoop, soar and song! Isaiah 40:31 says: But those who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.
Are you busy with your routines of life-work, family, sleep, work, family, sleep …? Jacob was into such a routine life of hard-work, toil, sheep, family, wives, children for many years… until all alone, Jacob met with God one day. And his life was changed! His name was changed… to Israel.

Do not worry about the basic necessities. Do not worry about the future necessities. Look at the birds of the air! In all your trials, look at the eagle; take it to the Lord in prayer and thanksgiving… peace and joy is your portion. You will soon learn to fly! You will become mature, perfect and complete. In the meanwhile, you can be immersed in His love and His care; and know Him more and more. In your waiting, look at the eagle… it is just a matter of time before your youth is renewed. You will gain new strength… you shall run and not be weary; you shall walk and not faint. Amen.

Mystery of His Will (Part-1)

(Message by Pastor S. Joseph, Founder-NLMI. Happy reading!)

Hallelujah! How wonderful it is to worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness! Let’s open our hearts to receive God’s word; for the flesh is unprofitable but the words that He speaks to us are spirit, and they are life (John 6:63).

By His grace, here I am 54 years in His service; and I have interacted with Christians of all denominations. I have seen some of them find ‘good success’ while some others are up one day, down another, and up again, and down again… and wonder how this can be! Of course, you can always blame the circumstances and situations, your parents and siblings, maybe your pastors and people in the church, too; and there is always the devil to blame!

Do you want to know the secret to success? Paul found it during his 40y of ministry, after he met the Lord Jesus on that road to Damascus; he says: “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.” (Gal. 2:20). How many of you can say that with Paul? If not, then the question is, why?

Are you mired in religion or are you living by revelation? You see, revelation comes by faith when you hear God’s word; when you meditate on God’s word, and assimilate God's word and put your trust on God’s word… There is the battle of the flesh you must fight-flesh against the spirit, and the spirit against flesh as long as you are alive on this planet earth. But note that when you meditate and trust on God’s word, you are feeding your spirit and starving your flesh! Man is, first of all, a spiritual being-and we ought to feed the spirit. Without this spiritual ‘being’, there will be no value to our spiritual ‘doing’. Acts 1:1 says about Jesus: …Jesus began both to do and teach.

Youths today are so caught up in the ‘activities’ of the church, without growing in a relationship with God. My advice to them is this: ‘Get in touch with God and His revelation’- because this leads to righteousness. Then you will be able to think rightly, walk rightly, do rightly… try it! Righteousness will lead you to peace, and the result of that peace will be joy.

Don’t wait for some evangelist to come and lead you in the right way! Acts 1:8 says: “…you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Do you know that the original word for ‘witnesses’ means ‘martyrs’? Now think of Acts 1:8 again. We are not here to measure ourselves with ourselves; or ourselves with others… but, here we are on an exciting journey-being witnesses; and along the way, we are also called to encourage others to walk through the narrow gate.

Today, I want to talk with you about the revelation of the mystery of His will. Deut. 29:29 says: The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.

Imagine that! We are in this ‘natural’ realm-of flesh and blood, while beyond what we can see with our naked eyes lie the realm of the supernatural-as real as it can be. Someone called this supernatural realm as the 4^th dimension; and from this supernatural realm, we receive secrets that are revealed to us as God’s children. And the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children… why? To do all the words of this law (God’s commandments).

And so we realize the secret of being called as ‘children of God’; being fellow heirs together with Christ; and mysteries revealed about the kingdom of God; of sitting in the heavenlies along with Christ Jesus… And so can pray the Lord’s Prayer: Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven…

Someone said that it is possible to create a whole new world of your own, and live in that 4^th dimension, apart from the world that we live in the flesh! Just as God created everything new from nothing, and from chaos and darkness… to all that was good, in order and in light! We follow His footsteps; first realize He who is in us is greater than he that is in the world. Secondly, we speak…just as God spoke ‘Let there be light’… and life and …anything. Thirdly, we see the result! Because God too, after His creation, saw that it was good. So we too will see those things that were not, but now is-good! By faith we see the substance of things hoped for… and the evidence (title-deeds) of things that are not seen (Heb. 11:1). Seek Him first; speak your hope and see by faith and see it come to pass… we are in this world, but we are not of this world!

Ephesians 1: 3-10 – Redemption in Christ

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.

In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth-in Him.

We are gathering together unto Him-Jesus Christ. Because God has revealed to St. Paul, the mystery of His will; a mystery hidden for ages, but was revealed to Paul and now through the Scriptures is also given to us-His children: The secret of the gift-of-salvation through Jesus Christ.

We worship the triune God; One God in three Persons-the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. This is seen right from the book of Genesis (Gen. 1: 1, 2) and throughout the Scriptures; but revealed through the coming of Jesus the Christ and of the Helper-the Holy Spirit. There are a few other mysteries revealed in God’s word. Can I share them with you… maybe I will share a few of them today, and the rest when I come here again sometime soon-God willing.

1. Mystery of Christ’s Incarnation: the Word became flesh!

1 Timothy 3:16: And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh, Justified in the Spirit, seen by angels, preached among the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up in glory.

Gerard (Gerrit) van Honthorst (1590–1656), Adoration

The mystery of godliness is also spoken of in the gospel according to St. John. The light shone in the darkness, but the darkness did not comprehend it (John 1:5). John was emphatic in his description of the revelation of Jesus’ godliness: And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:14).

Firstly, the redemption work of God (Word became flesh); and secondly, the revealing work of God (and we beheld His glory). Then there is the receiving work of God: But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name; who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh , nor of the will of man, but of God. (John 1:12, 13)

You are born again because of God’s work; no human influence, inducements or interference… but according to the will of God. Now once you become sons and daughters of God (children of God), God’s DNA and genes has been injected into you! The Son of God became Son of man (divinity of Jesus, clothed in humanity) in order that sons of men may become sons of God (the vacuum in your humanity is now filled with divinity).

2. Mystery of Christ’s Indwelling: the hope of glory!

Colossians 1: 26, 27

The mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints. To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

Christ in you, the hope of glory! I remember when I was small, in a remote village in Karnataka; a village named Mariapura (Town of Mary), where I don’t remember even a single family of non-Christians. My parents were very religious and took me regularly to the local church, although I was often sick. But whenever I was there in the church, I was made the altar-boy carrying the sacraments of the Lord’s Supper. It was also a practice in that village that whenever a person is sick, they would call for the priest to give Communion. When the priest, in his fine robes pass by, (and I go along with a bell, the scene is still graphic in my mind), the entire street would come to a standstill as if God Himself is passing by…

It was all religion. But tell me now, when people see you and me pass by, will they say that God is passing by? Because Christ is in you-the hope of glory! This is the revelation – God in us. And He who is in us is greater than he who is in the world (1 John 4:4).

Knowing this hope of glory, we must boldly speak. Philip and I had gone to meet an IT official regarding some social work cause. It was a spiritual battle and the people had warned me before that this particular IT officer was the most corrupt of all. But when I began to speak, he became subdued like a lamb! Christ in us is greater than he who is in the world. Hallelujah!

3. Mystery of Christ’s Intimacy: with the church –His body and bride!

Ephesians 5: 30-32

For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones. “For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

Ephesians 5 is a favorite passage from the Scriptures for pastors solemnizing a marriage. I remember that I met my wife-Florence, in a Bible study class in 1958 (now that is 53y back); when I was just into the ministry. For us, there was a waiting period of 4 years, before we could marry! And next year, God willing and if the Lord tarries, we will complete 50 years of married life. And I can say that everyday with Florence is better than the day before… But in the initial waiting period of 4 years, it was quite painful. 

In marriage, there must be a leaving (leave his father and mother) and there must be a cleaving (joined to the wife). Someday I will talk all about marriage.

Jesus is preparing His holy bride-a church without spot or wrinkle or blemish. He is cleansed the church by His word. Jesus is gone to His Father to prepare a mansion for us-and He will come again and receive us to Himself (John 14: 2, 3). Jesus is coming soon to take His bride; yes, the Bridegroom is coming!

In this mystery, lies our fellowship with one another in the body of Christ-the Church. There must be fellowship (unity, as members in the body), and flowing (life, as the blood flows to different parts of the body) and functioning (each with a specific purpose).

Beloved, each person-each member of the church is a master-piece and special in the sight of God. Each part of the body has got their unique function; there are no spare-parts and there are no dispensable members! You see, God has blessed me with 10 fingers; and here even the little finger has its function and growth. Now don’t ask me what its function is; see for yourself when your ears gets itchy inside. ;) Also, how can a bowler spin the (cricket) ball without his little finger? I don’t know…

Here is what I am saying: Do not think you are a-nobody. You ARE someone special. Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus (Phi. 2:5). Also, Paul says to the Corinthians ‘But we have the mind of Christ’ (1 Cor. 2:16). Renew your mind according to Romans 12:1 and be transformed into the person God has called you to be. God bless you. Amen.