 April 2007 Rhema Word...
The
foundation of your calling
Foundational Text:
And as you go, preach, saying, The kingdom
of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the
lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely
ye have received, freely give. Matthew
10 verse 7 and 8 KJV
As I continue to work with
women from around the world, the one unifying
question they have is, “What am I called to
do?” Knowing our purpose is what drives us
to have a full and exciting life. Our purpose for
living produces the vision to carry it out. It
calls to us. Makes us uncomfortable with the way
things are. Makes us unsatisfied if we
aren’t doing what we are purposed to do.
Whether you know what your calling
is or not, the foundation is the same. In
whatever you are called to do, whether it be a
doctor, lawyer, or stay at home mom, there are
five things that Jesus tells us we are to carry
out:
- Preach,
saying that “The Kingdom of God is
at hand.”
- Heal
the sick
- Cleanse
the lepers
- Raise
the dead
- Cast
out devils
What does preach mean?
And what exactly is the kingdom of heaven?
What does He mean it’s at hand?
The word for preach in
verse 7 is the Greek word kerusso
(kay-roos’-so). One of the definitions for
preach is to publish, proclaim openly:
something which has been done. Simply put,
though we are not all called to the office of
preacher, we all called to preach: to openly
proclaim the Good News of the Gospel of peace
through the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. This is
our main duty as citizens of heaven.
The word for kingdom
is the Greek word basileia (bas-il-i’-ah). A
kingdom is a territory subject to the rule of a
king. Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is
God’s territory subject to the rule of the
King. We know from 1st Timothy 6:15
and Revelation 17:14 that Jesus is the King of
Kings and the Lord of Lords. Therefore, the
kingdom of heaven is a kingdom where a territory
is subject to the rule of the King of Kings
(Jesus). Since Jesus is the King of all kings,
all things are under Him. This is also pointed
out in Ephesians 1:21 where Scripture tells us
Christ is far above all principality, and
power, and might, and dominion, and every name
that is named, not only in this world, but also
that which is to come. Dominion is synonymous
with kingdom. Jesus is the King and
His territory trumps all others.
Is at hand is the
Greek word eggizo (eng-id’-zo). It means to
come near; approach; draw near. The tense is
perfect (an action which is viewed as having been
completed in the past, once and for all, not
needing to be
repeated). The voice is active (the subject is to
do something). The mood is indicative (simple
statement of fact).
The simple statement of fact
is this:
No matter what you are
called to do, the first order of business is for
you to preach (openly proclaim the Good News of
the Gospel of Jesus) that the kingdom of heaven
has come once and for all to take dominion over
all territories. Proof that this territory,
God’s kingdom, has approached us is that the
sick are healed because the Kingdom of heaven
trumps the kingdom of sickness and disease; the
lepers are cleansed because the Kingdom of heaven
trumps the kingdom of lack and insufficiency; the
dead are raised because the Kingdom of heaven
trumps death in any area, and the devils are cast
out because the Kingdom of heaven trumps the
kingdom of the enemy.
God does all the work. We
are only to be His hands, feet, and mouth. We
need not be afraid of “what if it won’t
work”. Faith comes by hearing and hearing
the word of God. We cannot please God without
faith. The children of God did not enter the
promise land because they did not mix what God
said with faith. Start to stir up this calling in
you. Meditate on the word day and night that this
is your job above all else: to proclaim the Good
News of Christ. God will back it up with signs
and wonders.
Everything you need is
already inside of you. God creates a purpose then
creates the vehicle to carry it out. You were
created for such a time as this. You are needed
to demonstrate the kingdom of Love so that others
will be set free. Did you notice that points 2-5
is about showing love to someone: setting them
free to be who they were created to be? And God
wants to work through you to make that happen! Of
anything you can do in the world, isn’t that
the most exciting job you can ask for? To be
God’s co-partner in setting people free? I
think it’s a worthy and fulfilling work. And
you were created specifically to meet that need
in people.
My prayer for you is that as
you read this and meditate on the Word, God will
show you how to begin implementing what you have
inside of you to set people free. Your life will
never be the same if you yield to the calling to
preach.
In His Grip,
Raquel
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