Published November 10, 2010 | 
The Climax of the Conflict
Confronted by the scriptural revelation of the rebellion of Satan and his angels against God, we might be tempted to exclaim: “Well, couldn’t God have crushed that rebellion on the spot and sent Satan and all his angels to the lake of fire, where they belong?”
Certainly God could have done that, but He chose not to. In His inscrutable wisdom God chose to make Satan in his rebellion an instrument that God could use for purposes of His own. It was C.T. Studd, the English cricketer turned missionary, who remarked: “God has used Satan almost more than any other created being.” Continue reading
Published May 8, 2010 | 
Don’t Delay
Lastly; the calling of God is urgent. When Joshua put before the Israelites the call to the service of God, he said: “Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve” (Joshua 24:15). Psalm 95:7 (NLT) says: “Oh that you would listen to his voice today!” The call of God does not wait upon man’s convenience. We may not defer our decision to surrender to Him to some more “convenient season.” The devil says 
“tomorrow,” but God says “today.” In Proverbs 1:24–32, there is a solemn warning against deferring to answer the call of God. It describes people who — in their prosperity and self sufficiency — turn away from the call of God. In fact, later when they change their minds and turn back to seek God, it’s too late! God has withdrawn Himself. The voice that once called is now silent. The hour of opportunity has passed. Whether His calling to you is general (like in Micah 6:8) or specific (like in 1 Peter 4:11), let me encourage you to heed His call. Take it seriously. Endure His tests. Dedicate yourself to being about the business of heaven. Don’t become another name added to that of the “many” who were called—but never chosen.
As ever, thank you Derek Prince.
Published May 6, 2010 | 
The Weight of the Call
The Bible uses three powerful words concerning the calling of God. First, it is a “high calling” (see Philippians 3:14). It is on a different level from all the other interests and claims of life. In a Christian’s life nothing else may take precedence over the calling of God — neither a home, nor any family or earthly ties. “If you want to be my follower you must love me more than your own father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters — yes, more than your own life. Otherwise, you cannot be my disciple” (Luke 14:26 NLT).
Secondly, the call to serve God is a “holy calling” (see 2 Timothy 1:9). It is something sacred, to be guarded jealously from all compromise or defilement. It demands dedicated time of prayer and spiritual self emptying. Its fulfilment demands our strength, our time, and the consecration and development of every gift and talent that we possess. Continue reading
Published May 6, 2010 | 
Two Types of Testing
There are two main ways in which God tests Christians who are called to service: by allowing things to become hard, and by allowing things to become easy.
In the parable of the sower in Mark 4, Jesus spoke of the seed that fell on stony ground and compared it to Christians who “endure only for a time. Afterward, when tribulation or persecution arises for the word’s sake, immediately they stumble.” But He also spoke of the seed that fell among thorns and compared it to Christians in whom “the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.” Some Christians are not prepared to endure opposition, persecution, ridicule, loneliness, poverty or apparent failure for the sake of the Gospel. Others cannot remain steadfast in the midst of worldly ease and comfort, popularity, wealth and success. Those whom God accepts for His service must neither be deterred by the one nor entangled by the other. Continue reading
Published May 4, 2010 | 
Have you ever known someone you would call a “born leader?” Or do you know anyone who is blessed with such a beautiful voice you would say they were “born” to sing? If so, have you also ever witnessed the heartache that develops if people aren’t doing what they were “born” to do? There is definitely a difference between being called and being chosen.
When Christ uttered the words, “Many are called, but few are chosen” in Matthew 22:14, He was not offering us an opinion or a probability. He was stating a fact. That fact is still as true today as when Christ first stated it. (While this Scripture refers to salvation, the principle also applies to our calling to Christian service.)
Many Christians are called by God to His service, but few are ever chosen and appointed to walk in that service. Some Christians are called in childhood. Some are called comparatively late in life. But very often I’ve found the call to God’s service comes to Christians in their teens or twenties. Therefore, Matthew 22:14 should be of particular interest to young believers. Between the time when a Christian is first called to service and the time when he is actually appointed by God to that service, there nearly always intervenes a Continue reading