1.2 What Is Calling?

[Gerry]

Has God anointed people to set them apart for a distinct calling, role, or gift within the Body of Christ, His church?

As was mentioned in the video, our first calling is to God Himself as we allow Him to cultivate a first commandment lifestyle, that is to love The Lord our God with everything that is within us. This is succinctly illustrated for us in Mark 14 with the story of Mary washing His feet with her tears and anointing His body with a very costly oil that was likely her dowery. This oil represented Mary’s entire future, yet instead of saving it for one day, she extravagantly poured it out as an offering to her beloved One. This is our primary call, to be fascinated with Jesus. Everything else regardless of how specific it is to be carried out shall be as a result of the overflow of extravagant devotion we pour out to Him. Jesus said that He only does that which the Father does. We need to live in such devotion and intimacy with Jesus that we will encounter Him and do as we see Him doing.

[ECO]

Thanks @GerryB for a great reflection on putting Jesus first before any other calling. Your meditation on Mary pouring her expensive perfume on Jesus was profound. It reminds me of the song by Misty Edwards called “Pour My Love on You”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ri2ixYRkNzQ.

[Gerry]

Thank you for your kind words, much appreciated. It's funny that you mention Misty Edwards from IHOPKC, I just finished a certificate program this past summer with IHOPU ( International House of Prayer University) in their Forerunner School of Ministry. I found much of their teaching to be very deep that thoroughly expresses our Fathers heart, I'm sure that much of what I learned with them has stuck, I'm hoping for a similar experience with Eston.

[ECO]

@GerryB awesome. We trust that will your learning with ECO will be fruitful! So glad you are here.

[Maria]

God has definitely chosen and anointed people with gifts. The most interesting part is that not one person has the same gifting as someone else. One of the only ways to really know about your own gifts is to get closer to God. I think the most important part is that if the church/ body of people only had one gift, the church may fall apart from a lack of diversity.

[ECO]

Thanks, Maria, the unity in the body is so important. Did you ever see that old coke commercial where the tongue and eyeball are complaining? It always reminds me of how much we need all the parts of the body: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x2CkqikcUDs.

[Nikolas]

I appreciate the way Chris emphsized that our first call is a calling to be a Christian–to abide in Christ. This idea of having an initial calling, simply as a human being, to know, love and serve God and be in relationship with him is crucial. It’s important that we start here, and (for those of us in church leadership ministry) constantly return to this foundational point. I can spend an enormous about of time and energy in my role as a pastor, but if I don’t keep my heart close to Jesus I’m missing something.

[ECO]

Well said, Nikolas. Your answer reminds me of your course, where you talk about “Creation and Image Bearing.”

[Bradley]

Has God anointed people to set them apart for a distinct calling, role, or gift within the Body of Christ, His church?

I believe God has anointed/called people to certain areas of ministry. Ephesians 4:11-12 apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

I believe that we all have different callings (roles & gifts) to do exactly what the above verse says – for the edifying of the body of Christ. I also believe this is important to edify the body of Christ to make it appealing to non-believers – among many other reasons.

[ECO]

Thanks for this response, Bradley. I am curious though, what calling amongst the five-fold ministry (Apostle, Prophet, Evangelist, Pastor, and Teacher) have you felt best represents your own life story? Or perhaps none of these titles resonate with you?

[Bradley]

I would definitely say Teacher. I really enjoy talking about God’s Word with believers and pre-believers. I am never interested in arguing about the Word though.

[ECO]

That isn’t surprising given the way you have been interacting on ECO so far. Glad you are here, and thanks for “teaching” this community through both your attitude and participation.