pressing towardthe high call of God
one thing I do - it is my one aspiration: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what
lies ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the supreme and heavenly prize to which God in
Christ Jesus is calling us upward
— Philippians 3:13-14
© john clements 2008-09 / academy.eternalpurpose.org.uk
pressing toward the call of God
Genesis 12.1—translated from original Hebrew
by David Newington
get yourself out of your country, … away from your kinsmen and away from
your father’s house … and go to the land that I will show
you
© john clements 2008-09 / academy.eternalpurpose.org.uk
pressing toward the call of God
go away for yourself, for your own reasons, from your country and from your kinfolk
make up your mind separately from your clan
they are going to stay - you go! they are going to settle down,
their religious drive has evaporated
© john clements 2008-09 / academy.eternalpurpose.org.uk
pressing toward the call of God
not so with you Abramyou emigrate. keep travelling.go away to establish your own lifestyle
in dependence upon Almighty God
© john clements 2008-09 / academy.eternalpurpose.org.uk
curriculum
the high call of God
to his messianic community
destiny…
vocation…
design…
dynamic…
pressing towardthe high call of God
running race marked out for us
leading God’s people into their inheritance
overcoming in arena of spiritual conflict
running the racemarked out for us
© john clements 2008-09 / academy.eternalpurpose.org.uk
running the race
let us strip off and throw aside every encumbrance - unnecessary weight - and that sin which so readily, deftly and cleverly, clings to and entangles us… and
let us run with patient endurance and steady and active persistence the appointed course of the race that is set before us
© john clements 2008-09 / academy.eternalpurpose.org.uk
looking away from all that will distract to Jesus, who is the leader and the source of our faith and is also its finisher;
he, for the joy of obtaining the prize that was set before him, endured the cross, despising and ignoring the shame and is now seated at the right hand of God
© john clements 2008-09 / academy.eternalpurpose.org.uk
just think of him who endured from sinners such grievous opposition and bitter hostility against himself - reckon up and consider it all in comparison with your trials –
so that you may not grow weary or exhausted, losing heart and relaxing and fainting in your minds
—Hebrews 12:1-3, Amplified Bible
© john clements 2008-09 / academy.eternalpurpose.org.uk
overview
competing in the race according to the rules, for the prize
praying unceasingly devotional prayer—key to divine
relationship
pressing into our ministry-calling discovering and fulfilling God’s call
competing in the racerun to win!
don’t run aimlessly but straight for the finish line… don’t shadow box but try to make every punch count
—1 Corinthians 9.24-27
© john clements 2008-09 / academy.eternalpurpose.org.uk
I do it all because of the rewards promised by the Good News, so that I may share in them along with the other who come to trust;
don’t you know that in a race all the runners compete, but only one wins the prize? so then, run to win!
now every athlete in training submits himself to strict discipline… we do it to win a crown that will last forever…
— 1 Corinthians 9.23-27
© john clements 2008-09 / academy.eternalpurpose.org.uk
competing in the race
entering the contestrunning the appointed courserunning according to the rulesrunning toward the goalrunning with steady, active perseverance
© john clements 2008-09 / academy.eternalpurpose.org.uk
entering the contest
availability, not merely willingness
— Matthew 21:28-30
starts with training, discipline every athlete in training submits
himself to strict disciplineone thing I do
forgetting what is behind strain towards what is ahead press on to win the prize
© john clements 2008-09 / academy.eternalpurpose.org.uk
running the appointed course
single-minded, persistent focusupon Jesus, Author, Perfector of our faith
individual ministry callingbecoming holy and useful to the Master
discovering personal destinypersonal, not selfish ambition
serving God’s purposepart of bigger picture
© john clements 2008-09 / academy.eternalpurpose.org.uk
running according to the rules
an athlete can’t win a contest unless he competes according to the rules
—2 Timothy 2.5
living a holy life…living in good relationship…living by faith…
© john clements 2008-09 / academy.eternalpurpose.org.uk
living a holy life
a dedicated life offer yourselves as a sacrifice, living and set apart for God; this will please him – it is the logical temple worship for you
— Romans 12.1-3
a heart with room for the Lordkeep pursuing shalom with everyone and the holiness without which no one will see the Lord
— Hebrews 12.7-14
© john clements 2008-09 / academy.eternalpurpose.org.uk
living in good relationship
wife, husband, submit to one another
— 1 Timothy 3.1-13; Ephesians 5.21-33
children, parents; employer, employee
— Ephesians 6.1-9
leaders, elders, congregational leaders
— Hebrews 13.17; 1 Peter 5.5
hospitable— 1 Peter 4.9, Romans 13.8, Heb. 13.2-3
© john clements 2008-09 / academy.eternalpurpose.org.uk
living by faith : looking into invisible
consider and look not to the things which are seen but to the things which are unseen;
for the things that are visible are temporal, brief and fleeting but
the things that are invisible are deathless and everlasting
—2 Corinthians 4:18
© john clements 2008-09 / academy.eternalpurpose.org.uk
living by faith: daring to do impossible
faith is the assurance, the confirmation, the title-deed, of the things we hope for,
being the proof of things we do not see and the conviction of their reality –
faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses
—Hebrews 11.1
© john clements 2008-09 / academy.eternalpurpose.org.uk
living by faith
only way to please Godwithout trusting it is impossible to be
well pleasing to God—Hebrews 11.6
seeing into invisibletrusting is being confident of what we
hope for—Hebrews 11.1
with God all things are possibleAbraham was past hope, yet in hope he
trusted…—Romans 4.18
© john clements 2008-09 / academy.eternalpurpose.org.uk
running toward the goal : love
greatest commandmentlove from a clean heart, a good
conscience, a sincere trust— Matthew 22.36-40; I Timothy 1.5-7
love covers a multitude of sinsalways be humble, bearing with one
another in love— Ephesians 4.1-6
everyone will know that you are my disciples by the fact that you have love for each other
— John 13.35
© john clements 2008-09 / academy.eternalpurpose.org.uk
with steady, active perseverance
do not grow weary of doing good…for if we don’t give up, we will in due
time reap the harvest— Galatians 6.9
enduring discipline, testing as a son, a soldier
the testing of your trust produces perseverance; but let perseverance do its complete work; so that you may be complete and whole, lacking in nothing
— James 1.3-12— Hebrews 12.7; 2 Timothy 2.3
© john clements 2008-09 / academy.eternalpurpose.org.uk
overview
competing in the raceaccording to the rules, for the prize
praying unceasinglydevotional prayer—key to divine relationship
pressing into our ministry-callingdiscovering and fulfilling God’s call
praying unceasinglykey to divine relationship
always be joyful, pray unceasingly, in everything give thanks, for this is what God wants from you who are united with the Messiah Jesus
—1 Thessalonians 5.16-18
© john clements 2008-09 / academy.eternalpurpose.org.uk
prayer : key to divine relationship
intimacy with the Fatheruniting with Messiahobedience to Jesuswalking in step with Holy Spiritfoundational to all ministry
© john clements 2008-09 / academy.eternalpurpose.org.uk
intimacy with the Father
prayer is…a natural response to new naturewhere our anxieties are released to Godwhere our fears are calmed by Godwhere our hearts hear God’s heartwhere consecration takes placewhere conviction is strengthenedour access to throne of God
© john clements 2008-09 / academy.eternalpurpose.org.uk
uniting our soul with Messiah
uniting with Messiah means being transformed in our minds, yielding our will to his, sharing in his emotions… being changed into his image
— Romans 12.1-3 & 8.29; 2 Corinthians 3.18if you remain united with me and my words
with you, then ask whatever you want and it will happen for you; this is how my Father is glorified – in your bearing much fruit; this is how you will prove to be my disciples
— John 15.7
© john clements 2008-09 / academy.eternalpurpose.org.uk
walking in step with the Spirit
discipleship relationship with Holy Spirit
brokenness, key to sensitivity Spirit leading, key to intercession
supernatural realm of relationships towards God towards people towards spiritual powers
foundation to successful ministry provides fuel for running race
© john clements 2008-09 / academy.eternalpurpose.org.uk
overview
competing in the raceaccording to the rules, for the prize
praying unceasinglydevotional prayer—key to divine relationship
pressing into our ministry-callingdiscovering and fulfilling God’s call
pressing into our ministry-callingdiscovering and fulfilling God’s call
one thing I do - it is my one aspiration: forgetting what lies
behind and straining forward to what lies ahead,
I press on toward the goal to win the supreme and heavenly
prize to which God in Christ Jesus is calling us upward.”
—Philippians 3.7-14
© john clements 2008-09 / academy.eternalpurpose.org.uk
discovering our vocation
our passionour dream, our deepest hope, motivation
our giftour talent, our capability, capacity
our styleour individuality, personality
our personal work, vocation, callingdiscovering it, pressing in to fulfil it
© john clements 2008-09 / academy.eternalpurpose.org.uk
our passion
our dream our deepest desire clarity frequently emerges out of crisis,
brokennessmeanwhile can lead to years of frustration
often difficult to interpret requires patience and perseverance
no satisfaction without pursuing it we may be satisfied, but not the Lord presence of both probably indicates
calling
© john clements 2008-09 / academy.eternalpurpose.org.uk
our gift
spiritual gifts, natural abilities both God’s gifts, according to grace discernment sometimes required between
them exercise according to faith combine together to give unique
capabilityunderstanding and appreciating brokenness
learning to rest from our own works
© john clements 2008-09 / academy.eternalpurpose.org.uk
our personal style
organised by being structuredbeware of being over-controlling
organised by being unstructuredbeware of being irresponsible
individuality emerges out of freedom…… freedom emerges out of maturity
maturity doesn’t depend on age…“experience is not what happens to us… it’s what we learn from what happens to us!”
© john clements 2008-09 / academy.eternalpurpose.org.uk
our vocation, work, calling
an ordained drawing into God’s purposes
called first of all to Godcalling becomes commissioning
specific, focused, defined boundaries why? where? who with? with what purpose, goal, method?
many things offer distraction main thing : to keep main thing as
main thing!
© john clements 2008-09 / academy.eternalpurpose.org.uk
discovering ministry-calling
1. seek God’s face and heart break-through in prayer to passionate
determination to know and love God diligently search Scriptures
2. become holy make room in your heart for God’s
priorities3. become grace-filled
don’t be driven by insecurities don’t confuse concern with a desire to
control
© john clements 2008-09 / academy.eternalpurpose.org.uk
discovering vocation
4. become big-hearted open-minded towards different streams
of God’s people and purposes avoid fads and fashion
5. remain leadable, teachable use wide cross section of resources to
improve understanding and knowledge of God’s purposes
6. finally : become unmovable! once discovered—don’t let go, don’t
give up
© john clements 2008-09 / academy.eternalpurpose.org.uk
pressing in to complete the call
fan the flame the gift of God…— 2 Timothy 1:6-9
keep your sense of urgency; fight the good fight of faith: finish the race
— 2 Timothy 4:1-7
according to the prophecies made about you
this charge I put to you, in keeping with the prophecies already made about you, so that by these prophecies you may fight the good fight
— 1 Timothy 1:18-20
a prophecy for you…a prophecy for you…““what does it mean to be what does it mean to be
an ambassador of Christ?”an ambassador of Christ?”
© john clements 2008-09 / academy.eternalpurpose.org.uk
I have a purpose, my life has a meaningI have been born for a reason and I have come to the kingdom of God for such a time as this;
© john clements 2008-09 / academy.eternalpurpose.org.uk
…there is a work that I must perform; there is a destiny that I must fulfil; for I have been called and chosen…
© john clements 2008-09 / academy.eternalpurpose.org.uk
I have been set apart to the Lord, to Adonai, to serve him and his purpose, among this generation - my generation –
© john clements 2008-09 / academy.eternalpurpose.org.uk
…by picking up his heartbeat for the body of Christ, for Israel and for the peoples of the world,
© john clements 2008-09 / academy.eternalpurpose.org.uk
…in the dynamic of the Spirit's presence, power, fire, freedom and anointing,
…until death or until Y'shua Messiah, the Lord's Anointed One, Jesus Christ, returns in great power and glory!!
© john clements 2008-09 / academy.eternalpurpose.org.uk
I am chosen by him to serve as his ambassador - a divine representative,
…performing his own work as my own work; bearing his name as my own name…
© john clements 2008-09 / academy.eternalpurpose.org.uk
…serving him in the eyes of the world, but never serving the world itself;
…forsaking all other loyalties in pursuance of my loyalty to him;
© john clements 2008-09 / academy.eternalpurpose.org.uk
…representing him faithfully and excellently, truthfully and honestly, powerfully and courageously in every encounter;
© john clements 2008-09 / academy.eternalpurpose.org.uk
…bravely and confidently enduring each and every arena of conflict,
…knowing that whether I live or die, in obeying him, I have overcome all things!
© john clements 2008-09 / academy.eternalpurpose.org.uk
“ and henceforth, there will be laid up for me a crown of life”
© john clements 2008-09 / academy.eternalpurpose.org.uk
… for each and every ambassador of Christ: our calling, our gifts, our abilities, our ministries are diverse
…but each one must hold fast to the divine mandate of “revival for mission”
© john clements 2008-09 / academy.eternalpurpose.org.uk
… revival represents the divine touch that awakens the people of the light from the slumbers of complacency, that sets apart, separates, makes holy, pure and refined a people ready and equipped to serve God's purpose
© john clements 2008-09 / academy.eternalpurpose.org.uk
… mission represents the eternal purpose of God: to bring many sons to glory “not willing that any should perish,”
for God's heartbeat is people and we are his ambassadors to those people…
leading God’s peopleinto their inheritance
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