231117-Separated Unto The Gospel

The speaker discusses the concept of being called and set apart for a purpose by God. They emphasize that this calling is not based on worthiness, but rather on God's grace. They also explore the idea of Christ being revealed in individuals and the importance of being a witness for Jesus. They mention the personal revelation of Jesus to Paul and the need to discern and follow God's will in different seasons of life. The speaker shares their personal experience of following their calling despite opposition from others. Overall, the message encourages listeners to embrace their calling and find fulfillment in serving God. Amen. Another Friday study has been imparting to us of his spirit so that we can become useful and fruitful leaders in his kingdom. And we even feel that God is now taking and raising up those of us who've been together for some time and calling in the young ones who also need to learn what we have received from the Lord. And I just believe God is ready to move even into a new season. But today we have a subject where Paul says in Romans the first chapter, Romans chapter 1 verse 1 through 6. Can we just begin there and see what Paul has to say? The congenial version, so it says, From whom we have received grace and apostleship, obedience to the faith among all nations. For his name among whom I hear also the call of Jesus Christ. In the first verse, he calls himself Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus. Called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God. And this is really where we take our title tonight from. Paul realized that he was set apart for a purpose. He was called to be a servant. And he was sanctified. It's the meaning of the word sanctified. Is to be cleansed and set aside, ready for that purpose. What was Paul's purpose in verse 1? You can see that it was set apart, sanctified, cleansed, made ready, trained, prepared. You can have all of that in this verse set apart or sanctified. Because of the vessel that is cleansed, it's made, it's constructed, it's cleansed, it's ready. And it's set there ready for the purpose of the gospel of God, the good news. The evangelical, however you say that word, yes. And I believe that God is calling many in this hour. I believe there's many young people who have lost their way because they don't realize that they're called for a purpose. And they don't clearly, they get lost along the way. They have many struggles and many issues because when you're called, you're set aside, you're set apart. You want to be like everyone, but you're called differently than everyone. And so there can be internal struggles until we really identify what is that God-calling identity that we have. When we realize that we are not able to live our life unto ourselves, but no, we've been enlisted. No soldier who's been enlisted stops to take a vacation because we've been enlisted in a purpose. And the sooner that we accept our calling and our purpose, the sooner joy comes and fulfillment and fruitfulness. You can try to find happiness and joy any other place. But if you're called and you're chosen and God is working with you, you'll find your joy in Jesus. You will find it in the heart of God being poured out to others who have need of the gospel. And this is where we find fulfillment. It's found nowhere else. Paul further describes this calling. We'll get back to Romans 1 in a while and we'll see in verse 6 that we also are called the same calling and the same setting apart. But let's go to Galatians 1. Again, Paul is encouraging us in Galatians 1. Are you ready, Brother Kess? Galatians 1, verse 15 and 16. So when did it happen, Brother Kess? He said, when it pleased God. Not when it pleased me. Not when I felt like it was time. Not when it was my idea. But there's a good pleasure. God's good pleasure, His plan, His perfect desire for your life is God's good pleasure. Oh, what does He say in Romans 12, 1 and 2? He says, I beseech you, brothers, by the mercies of God, present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable unto God. Oh, that we could find that which is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God. He says in the next verse. He says, be not conformed to the world, but be transformed and have a new mind that's been renewed by the Word and the Spirit. I add that. So that you could know. You could prove by experience. You could discover. This word know is tremendous. It's the word assay that we use in English. And assay means to, a metallurgist will take metal and they will test and try it to prove and to discover, is this pure? Is it not? And so the assayer will test and discern and make observations and search through his methods until he knows what is the value. And the same he's saying here, that we could assay to search out, test, discover, and prove what is the good, acceptable, and perfect will of God for you. So it takes that searching, that discovering, that desiring to know. God, I want to know. So Galatians 1 says, when it leaves God, who separated me from my mother's womb, separated for a purpose, at some time during that separated purpose, he was called. And that calling came. Sometimes the calling comes suddenly. How does that calling come? There are many examples in the word of God for those who were called at some point for some purpose. I just said called at some time for some purpose. Many callings sometimes in a person's life for different purposes. But when we begin to know how to discern and to test and to assay what is God's will in this moment, in this season in my life, God, where sometimes there are seasons of prayer. There are seasons of intense learning. There are seasons of intense service. There are seasons of building relationships and family. There are many seasons. But when the call comes, by his grace, called by his grace, Paul knew he wasn't worthy. He said it very clearly in other verses. He says, I was the least of all. He called himself late born. Something like, I'm sorry to say so graphically, but the late born that Paul called himself has the same meaning as an aborted child born dead. Not even worthy, Paul says, to be a leader, a minister. But called by God's grace. We must realize that we're not called and that chosen because we're worthy. But being called, we can become worthy of that calling. Did you hear me? Being called, that we can become worthy of that calling. And that's also scripture. Maybe we'll teach on that sometime. And called by his grace. Verse 16. Brother Cassander, this is profound. It says, to reveal his son, not to me, but in me. Brother Cass, you notice, look at that. To reveal. How does your version say? John's version says, to reveal your son in me. What does that mean, brother? For God to reveal his son in me, that's a deep one. I would say it means that my life becomes an expression of God. I begin to show that Jesus is true. I become a season of manifestation according to what is written concerning me by the word of God. I wonder what it looks like, Cassander, if Jesus begins to be revealed in you. To be revealed. First, let's go to the definition of what does it mean to be revealed? It means that you can see it, but more than that, that other people can see his son revealed in you. Now, I cut you off, but go ahead with where you're going. Okay, you want me to go ahead with where I was going? Yeah, you were about to say something, yeah. And then I interrupted you. I was trying to go along the lines of Paul, talking about how that when Dahl decided to reveal, he seems to suggest that God begins to reveal Christ in a man in a particular season. The Bible says, and the child grew strong and waxed, grew and waxed strong in the spirit until the day of his showing forth to Israel. So, probably this also is in line with the Bible, talking about the new man learns Christ. So, as the new man begins to learn Christ, a time comes when Christ will be revealed in him. God has called us for that purpose, that we go and show whom Christ is, become witnesses of his son. That is the purpose for our call and our separation. Now, if we look back into verse 10 and 11, it says, For do I now persuade men or God, or do I seek to please men? We have to be delivered from being men pleasers. For if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ. Yeah, and we've experienced that, haven't we? But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me or of me is not from man. I didn't receive it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ. Paul often talks about this revelation of Jesus to him, and it begins when he was on the road to Emmaus. And it's how Jesus was revealed to him, sitting, the voice from heaven who declared to him, Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? And there he met Jesus who was revealed to him who he truly was. Before that, he only knew about him, but then a revelation came to him. And he's talking about, I didn't receive this teaching and preaching from man. I received it because Jesus was personally revealed to me. So there's teaching, and then there's revealing of Jesus to us personally. He becomes real to us. And then thirdly, in verse 16, he goes to the place where Jesus is being revealed through him or in him. This, it seems, verse 16, take a look at it, brothers and sisters, in verse 16. Is this not saying that this revealing of his son in me is a prerequisite for truly preaching him among the heathen? Were you able to understand my question, Brother Kip? Paul said, when he had that vision, he did not compare with flesh and blood. One may wonder, is there a problem about that? Is he right? And I want to say, no, Paul knows what flesh and blood could do. Like in my case, it is not generally accepted what I've gone to do. It appears foolish, and it appears reprogressive. Nana, I'm talking about my family. Not my immediate family, but the larger family. For them, I have failed by taking this path of life. They were expecting I would do something. In short, one of them spoke to me along those lines very strongly. But I had to be quiet because this is not the time to reply such talk. Let it remain as foolishness for Nana, the path I've taken. So, if I had conferred, because the question was the question of conferring, the anger about my movements. I didn't consult significant people to say, this is the course, this is what I'm going to do. I just went straight. And normally, people will say, well, you can always have God any other way. He must not have to do this. But for me, I knew I had to do this. And one of the things that I said to myself, whether it was wise or foolish, I don't know, I just told myself, Lord, it is between me and you, this is what I'm going to. I'm going with nothing. I'm just between two of us. So, flesh and blood cannot, Jesus said, you do not savour the things of God. When he spoke to Peter. When Peter was back to the flesh and blood. He said, get me out. Satan, for you savour not the things of God. For flesh and blood, they will talk poor out of division. They also have the capacity to talk any of us out of division. They say, oh, you are too hard on yourself. That's not exactly what God requires. And before you know it, somebody who is called will be wasting away. Daddy, let me share two experiences. Okay. Also, it's in line with what you have shared at first. When you talked about joy, I immediately remembered what happened. I was in Lagos. The business which you knew of had failed. So, we had this missionary outreach. And I was choosing to go for what I call a feasibility study. You know, go explore the place first, then the whole thing comes. So, we were visiting the church with support, with that outreach. And when we were there, the pastor calls and assigns us some roles and tells me, Cassandra, you pray for the offering. Now, this is a young man who is almost frustrated, talking about myself, business affairs, I was not doing well, family trouble. So, when I pick up the offering to pray, as I pick it up, the scripture that comes to my mind is Jesus praying over the five loaves and two fishes. Jesus says, the Bible says, give time and bless it. So, that's what I did. I just blessed it that God will multiply it just as he multiplied the five loaves and two fishes. But this is my point. After that prayer, the kind of joy I felt, I was confused. I said, how can I be happy because I prayed so far? This was somebody that was nearly depressed. Because I had to go for that outreach, or what I would call feasibility studies, ahead of the outreach, where we go to prepare grants. So, when the team comes, they'll find accommodation and let us know. So, but just an invitation to pray over an offering, I became so satisfied. I have so much joy from that Sunday to the remaining two days. And I was confused. Then I told myself, are you not sure you have been doing the wrong thing all this while? If praying over an offering brings such joy and satisfaction, then you are in the wrong job. You are doing the wrong thing. You are not at the right place. This is the thing that will bring you joy, praying over an offering. That was one of the days I discovered purpose. I said, no, no, no, I'm doing the wrong thing. In another occasion, all I did was make a contribution in church. They were doing Sunday school, so I raised my hand and made some comments in the course of the teaching. The kind of satisfaction I felt by speaking about the Word of God, I said, no, no, no, no, no. So, like you said, it is in purpose that we find that job. Yes. Yes. I found out that there is no better thing I can do. I may do many things because of the kind of different careers I've been part of. I've been a banker. I've done insurance. I've been an engineer. So, I may have one or two knowledge about some of these things and even share it. And people say, wow, that's good. But I know that my joy comes from having something to do with the Word of God. It's my purpose. But flesh and blood, if I confer with them, they say, that's foolish. You're not helping your family. You're being wicked. Don't you know you need money? Don't you know everybody is poor? And as they said, you have to bring them up to a certain level before you go this kind of path. So, for flesh and blood, it's foolish. Anyway, I followed flesh and blood at first. That's why I didn't even go. That's why I went to look for money. Yes. And that's the human way to do it. It's not incorrect unless God has a different calling for your life. And it's very correct to provide for your family and all those things. Even what your family is telling you, naturally speaking, natural wisdom, they are speaking the wisdom of this world, which is not an ugly thing. Only if it goes against the wisdom and calling of God. When God has called us for a different purpose, to reveal his son to us and to reveal his son in us, many spend years of study of the word of God. But they fail in deep fruitful ministry because they have not yet received the revelation of Jesus Christ to them personally and in them that Jesus begins to minister through them. And it's a different thing when the anointing and gifting of the Holy Spirit comes in your life. And you just know it's Jesus ministering through you. It's God who's called you, who's prepared you with his grace. And it's God who reveals to you the word for that season. And he's the one who gives you the anointing to bring it forth. And he's the one that works in the people. And that's a beautiful thing as well. Then you're not the one responsible to try to make the people comply to the word that you've spoken. You simply are the servant of Jesus Christ and you leave the fruit to him. You're content in knowing you obey. What a freedom and a joy in that. Say, Lord, the fruit, I give you all the glory. I'm your servant. I've only served what you gave me to give to the people. And when they're angry with you, you smile again and say, but I only gave you that which the Lord gave me for you. I went to his kitchen and put the food on his platter and I brought it to you. And that's the extent of it. Praise the Lord. Hallelujah. There's an interesting example. This one, Paul, has been separated since his mother's womb. And there's several examples of that. But I also found an example where it's not always from my mother's womb. We read Acts 13, verse 2 to 4. Acts chapter 13, verse 2, 3 and 4. And we can read from verse 1 to 4. It's fine. Okay. None, there were in the church that was at Antioch, second prophets and teachers, as Barnabas and Simeon, that was called Negar, and Lyses of Cyrene, and Manin, which had been brought up with Herod, the Tartar, and Saul. As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, separate me, Barnabas, and Saul, for the work whereunto I have called them. And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away. So they had been sent forth by the Holy Ghost. They parted on to Seleucia. And from thence they set to Cyprus. Here's an example. Paul already confessed that he's separated for the work the Lord had for him from his mother's womb. But this was a separate time for a specific purpose of ministry that the Lord says, set these apart, sanctify them. They're not for other purposes. I have a purpose for them, a work for them to do. So we observe here in the scripture, during fasting and praying, in the council of some very amazing ministers, it sounds like. Somebody who had been from the house of Herod the Tetrarch. Interesting that he would be mentioned in that council. I found that interesting. But here they're fasting and praying. They lay their hands on them as the Lord spoke. And they separated them for that purpose God had called them. I think it's an interesting thing that God can call you to a certain work in a certain season. They had already been doing a work in Antioch. And there was a tremendous work being done. But God called them forth and sent them all throughout the regions that's mentioned in the Lord. A certain anointing and a certain season. A certain calling and purpose for a certain day, a certain season. I believe that's very interesting. And it's important to note. Yes, sir. Yeah, and what do you see there, Brother Cassius? Very interesting and interesting point to note. Yes, there's the suppression by God. Which was personal to God. Yet the Lord also wants a work to be done in a certain season. And he suppressed them for that particular work too. Now, I'll take this and go back to Romans. The first chapter, Romans 1. And let's pick up verse 6 again. Because even though Paul confesses to be called for the purpose of the gospel. Separated for that purpose. In verse 6 we find that Paul is not the only one called. Romans 1 verse 6. Okay, Romans 1 verse 6. Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ. If I understand this correctly. All these first six verses are connected. And he is saying, verse 1. Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ. I was called to be an apostle. I was separated unto the gospel of God. And then he mentions that this must be formed by the prophets. And concerning Jesus in verse 3. He was made of the seed of David according to flesh. And declared to be the son of God with power. Verse 4. By being raised from the dead. This is what declared Jesus to be the son of God with power. And he says, by whom we have received grace and apostleship. For obedience to the faith among all nations for his name. So Paul confesses he's received that grace. He's called to the Gentiles, to the nations. But then he says, among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ. And to all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints. Grace, peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. He says, you know, I was called, but you're also called. Called to be a saint. Called to also be a servant of Christ. Isaiah, I don't see it said there. But I just wanted to mention that, you know, in the progress of what he's saying. That he's talking to those in Rome. And he says, I was called, but you also are called. And I think that we can't just leave that calling to Paul. Because that calling is upon us as well. You know, there's many places in the word of God, New Testament, where he talks about us being called. Romans 9, 24 says, even us whom he has called, not of the Jews only, but of the Gentiles. We're the called. First Corinthians 1.9, but God is faithful. By whom ye were called into the fellowship of his son, Jesus Christ our Lord. We're all called into that body, aren't we? But some in the body at times, there's a season where God calls you out and separates you. And we need to note that. Just like Paul was called to the gospel. That we're called into the fellowship of Christ. We're called into the kingdom of God. We're called unto holiness. But may we realize the calling of God on our life. We have to know that Jeremiah was called and set forth and sanctified for his purposes as a prophet to the nations. In the first chapter of Jeremiah verse 5, it says, before I formed you in the belly, I knew you. And before you came out of the womb, I sanctified you. And I ordained you as a prophet unto the nations. That was Jeremiah. Even Jesus, he knew his calling, his purpose. He knew what he was about. And it says in Hebrews 7, 26, for such a high priest he became like us. Who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separated himself from sinners and made higher than the heavens. Jesus Christ kept himself separate for a particular person. Now we're using a different definition of this word to separate. Because there's two words. Where God calls and separates you. But the second is when you separate and prepare yourself. There really in the New Testament especially there are two ways that he calls this. Samson in the Old Testament is another example. He was called and separated from his birth. But he also had to separate himself from alcohol, from cutting of his hair. And from those very practical, physical obediences. And yet for us, he says in, what is it, verse 72. That if we will cleanse ourselves from these things, we become a vessel unto honor. Fit and ready, prepared for the master's every good use. So I think this word separate is both. That God has called us and separated us. And yet we can separate ourselves from sin. From selfish ambitions. From the world itself. And from things God hasn't called us to. And we can begin to separate ourselves as a holy sacrifice. Cleansed as a holy vessel prepared for the father's every good use. So not only does God call us and separate us. But we also in scripture separate ourselves. Jesus is a good example. Brother Chess, can we read John chapter 17 and verse 19. Okay. You read. Yes. He said that for their sake I sanctify myself that they also might be sanctified through the truth. What if Paul had not warred against the flesh that wanted to rise up in his life. He says I beat down my own flesh. So that I could fulfill the purposes of God. I seek to do the will of God. Jesus said. In this case Jesus himself said for their sake I consecrate myself. I keep myself holy. For our sake brother Lawrence, brother Cassandu, brother Faber. For your sake Jesus said I consecrate myself. And what about us? The challenge to us today is God's calling and God's consecration of us is one thing. But like Jesus did. He separated himself. He kept himself holy. So that we could be sanctified by the truth. So that we could receive that cleansing fire of the word of God. That comes through a servant of the Lord. A sanctified vessel. Are you willing for God to separate you? And are you willing to separate yourself from these things? For them. For the sake of the gospel. And for them that they might be. You see Jesus didn't do it for himself. He didn't seek a comfortable life. He sought. He said I come. It says in the word of the book to do thy will oh God. Can we separate ourselves as it says in Romans chapter 12. Oh to find and seek and to do that perfect acceptable wonderful will of God. Are we willing to present our bodies living sacrifices? So that we could be used the gospel for them. This is the challenge I hear today. Are we willing? Oh Jesus help us. Amen. Yeah. Second Corinthians 6 says it this way. Therefore go out from their midst be separate from them says the Lord. Do not touch the unclean thing. And then I will welcome you. That whole section there chapter 6 from verse 14. Into even chapter 7. It speaks a lot about this. And Paul gives clear instructions even. Hallelujah. Oh may we be challenged. First Peter 3 15 says but in your hearts. Honor Christ as your Lord. As holy. Being prepared. To make a defense to anyone who asks you. For the reason of the hope that is in you. Yet do it with all gentleness and respect. In your hearts honor Christ. As holy. What a word. So that we could be prepared. May the Lord help us to just receive this word today. Separating ourselves. Sanctified unto every good work. Prepared to give an answer. Oh it's not just scripture verses they need. They need to see Jesus lived out through our life. So that our talk measures with our walk. So that when we speak there's power. And there's clarity and anointing. And there's revelation that comes as we speak. That only comes from a sanctified set apart life. That says Lord not my will but yours be done. I am your servant. I've been called unto the gospel. I've been separated unto good work. May the Lord help us. Amen. And even Peter is the one who wrote that we are a chosen race. A royal priesthood. A holy nation. A people for God's own possession. So that we could show forth and proclaim the excellency of the Lord. The excellency of the gospel. I believe that the more that we get in tune with God. The more the fruit will be in souls being one. And people being discipled. And leaders being raised up. Who are full of character and gifts. I think we should not throw out the gifts because of these who don't have the character. But the gifts is for the edifying of the body of Christ. And the true manifestation of his gifts. Do not draw attention to the gifted. But draw attention to those who are being ministered to. And they bring fruit. They bring true fruit. When it's truly a gift of the Holy Spirit. Not just telling you some prophecy to tickle your ears. But the fruits of the prophetic words that I see in Corinthians. So that even those who are unbelievers will be convinced and follow the Lord. That's a strong evidence and fruit. Which I don't see in modern churches. And we can desire those. We're instructed to desire those. Not throw it away. I think Paul was gifted in many of the gifts. But the fruit was there because the character was there. The character of Christ. So important that we allow the nature of Christ to draw man to Jesus and not to us. Amen. To discover the will of God. To assay, as it says in Romans 12. To assay. To discover, to search out, to prove, to experience even. The purpose of God for my life. I'm called as a servant. But for what purpose? There are many servants. Many purposes. And we saw that by the prophetic word of God. They were separated, Paul and Barnabas, for a particular work. And that's also for each of our lives. Often we find that in a time of really seeking God. God, I've surrendered all. I'm seeking you. You know, one of your ministries right now, Lawrence, is minister to your family, to your wife. I think you'll find another different type of ministry once your child is crying through the night. And you will be the assistant to your wife. That will be a different level of ministry. And now you'll minister to your wife and to your child. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Another degree of flesh must die. I'm going to sign that. I have to do my wife. Amen. God bless you guys tonight. Let's pray tonight. Amen. Father, we're asking your blessing even tonight upon the gift of that child. And Lord, even upon the parents. Lord, there is grace for every season. There is wisdom that brings us to a place where we can enjoy every part of our lives. And we thank you for it. Father, I thank you. Bless Lawrence with so much of your ways and your thinking. And I bless you, Lord, for being so kind to them. And Lord, we rejoice with all of our hearts that you're bringing new life. In Jesus' name, amen.