Receiving Revelation of Our Calling in God
16 I do not cease...making mention of you in my prayers: 17 that the…Father of glory, may give to you the spirit
of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, 18 the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that
you may know what is the hope (assurance/confidence) of His calling… (Ephesians 1:16-18)
I. WALKING IN CONFIDENCE IN GOD’S CALLING FOR OUR LIFE
A. Paul prayed that people receive revelation of how God views their calling. Why is this revelation so important? God
created each of us with a longing to participate in that which has deep and lasting significance and relevance. We are
restless and agitated in our spirit until we answer this longing. However, only that which is significant to God is truly
significant. Thus, we must agree with God. This requires resisting the secular values that are so natural to us.
B. God answers our longing for significance by giving each of us a unique 3-fold calling. We must have a clear vision
for our life by knowing what we are to do in our partnership with God.
II. UNDERSTANDING THE 3-FOLD DIMENSION OF OUR CALLING IN GOD
A. The revelation of God’s calling in our life is a vast subject that has 3 dimensions (internal, external and eternal) and
two aspects (individual and corporate).
B. Second to our standing before God as an individual is standing before Him as a corporate people (ministries, cities,
nations and generations). Jesus spoke of generations being judged together (Matthew 11:16; 12:39-45; 16:4; 17:17;
23:36; Luke 11:29-51). Paul spoke of the glory of a corporate people standing before God (1 Thessalonians 2:19-20;
2 Thessalonians 1:11). To the 7 churches of Asia, Jesus gave corporate promises and warnings that applied to this age
and the age-to-come (Revelation 2-3).
III. OUR INTERNAL CALLING: TO BE A FAITHFUL DISCIPLE OF JESUS
A. Our primary calling in this life is to be a disciple of Jesus. In other words, we are to do say and do what He said and
did (Sermon on the Mount lifestyle) without regard for how much honor or money we receive nor for the size of our impact
in ministry.
27 God has chosen the (so-called) foolish things of the world (Mt. 5-7 lifestyle) to put to shame the wise, and
God has chosen the (so-called) weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty…
29 that no flesh should glory in His presence. (1 Corinthians 1:27-29)
B. Our primary calling in this life is internal. The activity of serving, giving, fasting, praying and forgiving that is
foundational to our call is weak in the eyes of men. The Holy Spirit gives us confidence that our weak activity is valuable
to God and has an eternal reward. This seems too hard and somewhat unrewarding. We must have faith (confidence)
that our calling to so-called weakness as a disciple is valuable to God. This revelation equips our heart to rejoice in the
“weak and small things” of the Kingdom instead of despising them. Only with this perspective can we consistently live
wholehearted.
IV. OUR EXTERNAL CALLING: TO FUNCTION FAITHFULLY IN SMALLNESS
A. Our secondary calling includes our position and function in the market place or in a ministry organization or in the
home. This one dimension is what most focus on when considering their calling. This is an important part of our calling,
however, it is the least important of the three.
B. Our culture tells us that we are only successful if we have a function that creates a big impact in man’s eyes.
However, the Lord has given the vast majority (99.9%) an assignment that involves few things and makes very little
impact. The majority of believers strongly reject this important truth until God gives them a revelation of its value to
Him and of its inevitability.
21 You were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. (Matthew 25:21)
17 You were faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities. (Luke 19:17)
C. It takes revelation to see the exchange of the “very little” in this life to “government over ten cities” in the age-to-come
or the exchange of the “few things” now to “many things” then.
D. The truth that God gives 99.9% of us only small assignments offends or disinterests the majority. It is not sufficient
to motivate them until they have revelation of its value to God. The spirit of revelation upon this truth can spare people
much anxiety and frustration. They are broken hearted when they discover that their sphere of function is small because
they formed their expectation of their destiny in this life by motivational self help speakers who told them to go for the gold
(get rich and make a name for themselves).
E. We often experience much pain and despair as we go through the process of failing to establish ourselves in a big
role and in transitioning to the idea that our external calling is small. This pain is rooted in having our expectations or
dreams rooted in wrong ideas. Much pain and depression could be stopped by changing this by the spirit of revelation
instead of the slow death over decades of resisting this truth.
F. The weak activity of serving, giving, fasting, praying and forgiving along with having only a very small impact
offends the carnal mind. The Spirit gives us confidence that our weak activity the and small number impacted is valuable
to God, makes us successful, and has an eternal reward. We live differently when we have confidence that our small,
weak and seemingly insignificant choices and activities are important to God. This makes our heart feel powerful because
by revelation we can rejoice in truth instead of despise or neglect our real calling.
G. Many people live in significant fantasy about how big their function in ministry will be. It is founded on secular values
that tell them that they will be more important if they have a big ministry. The call to a big impact motivates them more than
being a faithful disciple of Jesus. Thus, many have “big vision” that is rooted in unperceived pride that is dressed up in
religious language that we are only seeking it for God’s glory. After a few years of disappointment, many lose zeal for
fasting and prayer once they conclude that it may not guarantee them a big ministry.
V. OUR ETERNAL CALLING: TO FUNCTION IN “BIGNESS” IN THE AGE-TO-COME
A. Our calling in the age-to-come is far bigger in power and impact. Our calling then is determined by the growth of
our heart now, thus our difficulty now works for us.
16 Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. 17 For our
light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of
glory… (2 Corinthians 4:16-17)
18 The sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed
in us. (Romans 8:18)
B. It takes revelation to receive the truth that our biggest and most important function is in the age-to-come. It takes
revelation to see the exchange of being “last” in privilege and prominence now to being “first” in authority and impact
in the age-to-come because of our faithfulness to God.
30 But many who are first will be last, and the last first. (Matthew 19:30)
14 Many are called (invited to greatness), but few are chosen (worthy to rule). (Matthew 22:14)
C. Only a few will have a sufficient maturity in meekness to share in the Millennial government. Life in this age can
be likened to a 70-year internship (Psalm 90:10) which prepares us for our life on earth in the age to come. Our ministry
in the Millennium is our primary ministry calling.
D. Jesus gave a great promise to the compromising Laodicean church. Jesus motivated them to resist compromise
and passivity by offering them a place in His Millennial government. This is the same way Jesus motivated Peter, John
and the other apostles (Matthew 19:27-28).
21 To him (Laodiceans) who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne… (Revelation 3:21)
27 Peter said, "We have left all and followed You. What shall we have?" 28 Jesus said, " I say to you, that
in the regeneration (Millennium), when the Son of Man sits on the Throne of His glory, you who have
followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones...” (Matthew 19:27-28)
VI. THE RESULT OF NOT HAVING REVELATION IN ALL THREE DIMENSIONS
A. In each of the three dimensions of our calling we need revelation (breakthrough for our heart). In each of these we
by nature have the wrong perspective. God resists much of what His people are seeking in ministry. They only assume
that it is mostly man and the devil who resists them. The more we labor for a big calling that is outside of God’s will, the
smaller our heart gets.
6 God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble. (James 4:6)
B. When we look for our calling in the wrong places we grow very frustrated and despairing. Having clarity about the
multi-dimensions of our calling causes us to persevere in godliness. However, if we lack understanding of our calling then
we live aimless and frustrated.
C. The right approach to all three dimensions of our calling demands faith that God sees (values, esteems and
rewards what it right). In context to laboring in smallness (external) and difficulty (internal) for a bigger and better place
(eternal), Paul said that we walk by faith not by sight.
7 For we walk by faith, not by sight. (2 Corinthians 5:7)
D. The hope (confidence) of our calling refers to the confidence that God wants us to have that our real calling is very
important to God. This truth functions as an anchor in our soul. It makes our heart strong and steady because it gives us
a sense of destiny before God and makes us steady.
19 This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast… (Hebrews 6:19)
E. We must be resolved to lay hold of our calling in God (Ephesians 1:17). We need specific revelation of the details
of how to walk it out, but more so we need revelation of its value to God. The “weakness” of holy things is a stumbling
block to the natural mind. The Holy Spirit wants to give us revelation about the value of our calling to intercession. Jesus
appeared to 500 people after His resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:6), but only 120 of them had sufficient revelation of
intercession to come to the Upper Room for ten days of continual prayer (Acts 1:15).
F. Many Christians lose this vision over time because the revelation of our calling does not come to us automatically.
We must labor to receive it through prayer, study and discussion with others of like heart as we re-align our heart 10,000
times to truth. The truth sets us free (John 8:32).
G. We pray to receive the spirit of revelation that lifts the “fog of darkness” off our heart. Why? That we might have
confidence that the small things we do in obedience are esteemed by Him. We pray this for our own heart as well as for
others, both believers and unbelievers (family, friends, ministries, cities, nations, government leaders and especially our
enemies).
12 Epaphras...always laboring fervently for you in prayers, that you may stand perfect and complete (instead
of despising or neglecting) in all the will of God. (Colossians 4:12)
9 We...do not cease to pray...to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will (revelation of
God’s assignment) in all wisdom and spiritual understanding... (Colossians 1:9-10)
H. We live different when we see ourselves in God’s story by seeing our purpose. The turning point comes when we
understand that we also can go deep in God as others have. We then begin to cry out to God, “Why not me? I want to
go deep in God like others from history.”
18 Where there is no revelation (vision), the people cast off restraint (discipline). (Proverbs 29:18)
I. Paul prayed that we have revelation of the knowledge of God (Ephesians 1:17) which includes knowledge of how
Jesus walked and carried His heart as a man in a fallen world. Jesus as God’s “ideal servant Israel” knew that His life in
servanthood and meekness appeared to accomplish nothing on the world stage. Yet, He knew His reward would come
after His death.
3 He (Father) said to me (Jesus), “You are My servant, O Israel, in whom I will be glorified.” 4 Then I said,
'I have labored in vain, I have spent my strength for nothing and in vain; yet surely My just reward is with
the LORD, and My work with my God.'" (Isaiah 49:3-4)
J. Seeing ourselves in God’s drama changes us. Josiah (1 Kings 13:2 nearly 300 years before 2 Kings 23:15-20),
Cyrus (Isaiah 44:28-45:8), Alexander the Great (Daniel 8:5-8), David, Paul, and the apostles saw themselves in God’s
plans (1 Chronicles 28:4; Matthew 19:28; Acts 13:47; Isaiah 49:6).
K. If we have nothing to die for (to give all for) then we have nothing to live for, thus, we live bored. The principle of
wholeheartedness is seen in part with unbelievers (business, arts, athletics, Communism, terrorists). False teaching on
grace offers insurance while continuing in sin and passivity without imparting urgency or power to live in
wholeheartedness. The very design of our spirit requires our wholeheartedness if we are to consistently feel strong
and joyful.
L. One of the key functions of a spiritual father or mother is to help others see who they are and what their purpose
is. It is damaging to live disconnected to God’s purpose. We live spiritually aimless. This has severe consequences that
cause us great loss in this age and in the age-to-come. Much compromise and spiritual passivity can be traced back to
lacking a sense of purpose.