“For God’s gifts and His call are irrevocable.” Romans 11:29 It is dangerous to align your calling and your vocation as dependent on each other. God calls us into relationship with Him. That is our foremost calling. It is from this relationship that our “physical” calling results. Whether that is to be a teacher, a

“Yet I have reserved seven thousand in Israel, all whose knees have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him.” (1 Kings 19:18). One of the great acts of the prophet Elijah took place at Mount Carmel where he called down fire upon the altar of Baal and slaughtered 400 prophets

“As for the donkeys you lost three days ago, do not worry about them; they have been found. And to whom is all the desire of Israel turned, if not to you and all your father’s family?” 1 Samuel 9:20 Saul and his servant were out seeking his father’s lost donkeys. This was symbolic of

“When they came to the threshing floor of Kidon, Uzzah reached out his hand to steady the ark, because the oxen stumbled. The Lord’s anger burned against Uzzah, and He struck him down because he had put his hand on the ark…” 1 Chronicles 13:9-10 There are good things we can do, but only God-things

“After that, God answered prayer in behalf of the land.” 2 Samuel 21:14b During the reign of David, there was a famine in the land for three successive years. So David sought the Lord regarding this famine, “Why is there famine on this land?” The Lord answered David, “It is on account of Saul and

“Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘See, I have chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability and knowledge in all kinds of crafts-to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, to cut

…”Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,” says the Lord Almighty. Zechariah 4:6 God’s people should be the most positive, joyful people on earth. This joy should be a by-product of a healthy, intimate relationship with Jesus. In today’s business climate, we are barraged with every possible means of becoming more productive

“And David knew that the Lord had established him as king over Israel and that his kingdom had been highly exalted for the sake of His people Israel.” 1 Chronicles 14:2 King David learned an important lesson every leader must learn if he is to ensure God’s continual blessing. He knew why God blessed him.

“With the tip of the staff that was in his hand, the angel of the Lord touched the meat and the unleavened bread. Fire flared from the rock, consuming the meat and the bread. And the angel of the Lord disappeared.” Judges 6:21 How does God call people into His service? There is a clear

“These were the chiefs among Esau’s descendants: The sons of Eliphaz the firstborn of Esau: Chiefs Teman, Omar, Zepho, Kenaz.” Genesis 36:15 God is big on giving meaning to names. Names often are specific indicators of God’s plans and purposes for that individual. A young boy grew up as Moses’ servant. His Hebrew name, Hoshea,

“The Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, so that he pursued the Israelites, who were marching out boldly.” Exodus 14:8 Overprotective parents do their children a great injustice. The caterpillar that lies inside the cocoon will never become the beautiful butterfly if someone cuts open the cocoon prematurely. It is the struggle

“Then Moses raised his arm and struck the rock twice with his staff.” Numbers 20:11a Will you fulfill the destiny God has for your life? Perhaps you have never thought about it. God had a perfect plan for Moses to lead the people out of Egypt and into the Promised Land. It’s been said the

“Then Moses said to him, ‘If Your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here.’” Exodus 33:15 Moses was in the middle of his journey through the wilderness, leading the people of Israel out of Egypt. The people had just sinned by worshiping the golden calf. Moses interceded for them

“So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my mind; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my mind. 1 Corinthians 14:15 How real is the spiritual realm? My lawyer friend from Nigeria tells a personal story of how he was

“If My people would but listen to Me…. Psalm 81:13 God has a specific training ground for leaders. There are three patterns of preparation that have been common among most of God’s leaders. First, there is a time when the leader is separated from his old life. Consider Moses, Joseph, Abraham, and Paul. In order

“My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death” (Mt 26:38). Often the place of our greatest pain becomes the place of our greatest triumph. Gethsemane was the place of Jesus greatest trial. Three times He asked the Father to let this trial pass. It was not to be. The Father sent His Son to the

“The Lord’s anger burned against Uzzah, and He struck him down because he had put his hand on the ark. So he died there before God.” 1 Chronicles 13:10 A business friend of mine confessed that he did not like to read. He found it a difficult discipline. I replied, “If you do not commit

…”I have become an alien in a foreign land.” Exodus 2:22 God’s preparation of a leader involves training, extended times of waiting, pain, rejection, and isolation. Are you ready to sign up? Moses was brought up in Pharaoh’s court. He had the very best of everything-education, clothing, food, and personal care. But there came a

“May the favor of the Lord our God rest upon us; establish the work of our hands for us- yes, establish the work of our hands.” Psalm 90:17 Many of us begin our careers with the goal of achieving success. If we haven’t entered our work as a result of God’s calling, we will eventually

“While Peter was still thinking about the vision, the Spirit said to him, ‘Simon, three men are looking for you. So get up and go downstairs. Do not hesitate to go with them, for I have sent them.’”Acts 10:19-20 Peter had never preached to the Gentiles. In fact, he believed it was against Jewish law

“Whether by day or by night, whenever the cloud lifted, they set out.” Numbers 9:21b God brought the Israelites out of Egypt, and they had to pass through the desert on their way to the Promised Land. God was their guide by means of a cloud that appeared overhead. When it moved, they moved. When

“This was now the third time Jesus appeared to His disciples after He was raised from the dead.” John 21:14 William Wallace was a Scotsman who sought freedom from a tyrannical king of England in the 1200s. He initially took up this cause in retaliation for his own personal family losses. His cause grew among

“When He comes, He will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment.” John 16:8 I had recently come back from a mountaintop experience. As I attempted to get back into my routine, I found a great cloud of oppression come over me. Each day I attempted to press through

“Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.” 2 Corinthians 7:10 What does it mean to repent? When you or I wrong another person, or we sin against God, do we simply say we are sorry and move on? A few years ago I was involved

“As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him.”Acts 9:3 For Moses, it was the burning bush. For Peter, it was walking on water. For Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, it was walking through the burning furnace untouched. For Paul, it was being blinded and spoken to by Jesus on

“But the whole assembly talked about stoning them.” Numbers 14:10a Have you ever had to stand up against the majority for a cause that wasn’t popular? God brought the Israelites out of Egypt and promised He would lead them into a land of milk and honey. The process of moving out of Egypt was difficult.

…”Cheer up! On your feet! He’s calling you.” Mark 10:49 Do you recall the circumstances when God first called you into relationship with Him? Were you in need of something? Were you in a crisis situation? Every day God calls someone into relationship with Him through different circumstances. More often than not, the circumstances relate

…”Peace be with you!” John 20:19 How would you respond to a group of fellow workers if you were their leader and you poured your life into them, teaching them all you know for three years, only to have them disband and go their own way when troubles came? What would you say to them

“Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.”Proverbs 19:21 Have you ever heard of someone who spent years of preparation for one vocation only to end up doing something completely different? Perhaps this could be said of you. Quite often we have in our minds what we

“When the king heard the words of the Law, he tore his robes.” 2 Chronicles 34:19 Josiah was a godly king in Israel. However, before he came to power, the nation had fallen into all kinds of evil. One man, Manasseh, had brought the nation to a condition of inexorable evil. God finally had enough.

“Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing.” Acts 9:8a When God calls one of His servants into service, there is often much travail. There are many examples where God makes His presence known through circumstances that tax the individual to his very soul. Consider Paul, who