Fulfilling the High Call of God

1 Corinthians 3:9-10 For we are laborers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building. (10) According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.

What could be a higher calling than to participate with God as a “masterbuilder”? He is the architect, the one who understands how it is supposed to go together and gives the specifications for the materials that are to be used. How does one reach the point where God would entrust him to work on His Temple (for that is what is being built)?

To understand this, we need to understand the work of the Father in the earth. Jesus came to reveal the Father to us and in the process He also revealed the Father's work.

When Jesus was twelve years old, He already had understanding of His work. Joseph and Mary took Jesus with them when they went up to Jerusalem for the feast of the Passover. When it was over, they left to go home but did not realize that Jesus was not with them. They traveled a full day without knowing that He was absent. When they couldn't find him they returned to Jerusalem where, three days later, they found Him in the Temple talking with the learned ones. When Mary got onto Him about putting them through the ordeal of looking for Him, He answered her with a question.

Luke 2:49 And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?

He felt that it was time for Him to be getting on with His Father's business. Of course, it wasn't time. He went through another eighteen years of preparation before entering His ministry.

After the many years of preparation, you can be sure that when the Father released Him into ministry, He immediately went about the Father's business.

However, before He began His ministry, God sent one to prepare the way for the work of the Lord.

Matthew 3:1-3 In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, (2) And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. (3) For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.

John's preparation message was simple: “repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand”. In preparing the way of the Lord, he was laying the foundation for the teaching and acts of Jesus. Therefore, it is not surprising that as Jesus began to enter His ministry, His message began at the same point as John's.

Matthew 4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Mark 1:14-15 Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, (15) And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.

Jesus was about the Father's business. We can see from His first message that the Father's business has to do with the kingdom of God. The Father gave Jesus work to accomplish and that work related to the kingdom.

John 5:36 But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me.

John 5:17 But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work.

John 4:34 Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.

John 9:4 I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.

We can see from these scriptures that Jesus was fulfilling the commission of the Father by doing the work, which the Father had given him to do. We have already seen that part of that work was to prepare others to carry on the work after His death and resurrection.

John 14:12 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.

Not only did Jesus say that we would do the works that He did but even greater works. We usually think of His works as miracles and other similar things, but it also includes the works assigned by the Father as it relates to His kingdom.

It is one thing to work miracles in the Name of Jesus, it is quite another to participate in the purpose of the Father and further the work of the kingdom. During these times of restoration, we have seen miracles restored to the Church. Through the gifts of the Spirit, every miracle performed by Jesus has also been done by others. But, God is not doing this just so we can have a good time with His miracles. He has called us to a higher calling. The miracles are to demonstrate the kingdom of God, demonstrate that the King is in residence.

Jesus performed the work of the Father. It was Kingdom work. Jesus also began a work for which He is primarily responsible and that is building His Church.

Matthew 16:15-18 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? (16) And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. (17) And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. (18) And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

Jesus told Peter that upon the revelation of Himself as the Messiah, He would build His Church (assembly of called out ones). That is the business of Jesus. He is building His Church.

So, we have two aspects of Work. One relates to the Kingdom and is primarily the Father's business and one relates to the building of the Church and is primarily Jesus' business. We need to understand the difference between these two in order to fulfill the purposes of God and find and finish our part of the work.

Paul speaks of the two types in Ephesians:

Ephesians 2:19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God;

We are all fellow citizens of the Kingdom of God and we are of the household or family of God. We relate to the Kingdom differently than we relate to the family. The type of work that is done in each area is also different.

Through one of His parables, Jesus told us to “occupy till I come” meaning that we are to hold the territory that He gained. We are to dwell on it until He returns. This is Kingdom work.

Luke 19:12-13 He said therefore, A certain noble man went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return. (13) And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come.

The Kingdom of God is our spiritual Promised Land. He owns it and has given it to us.

Luke 12:32 Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

But, just like the Promised Land was given to the Children of Israel, they had to walk on it to possess it and there were giants that resisted them in that undertaking.

Joshua 1:3 Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you, as I said unto Moses.

We have received a kingdom, but the powers of darkness still contest with us as we try to possess it. That is why so few seem to live in the fullness of the promises that the Lord has given. In order to dwell in the land of Promises, we have to clear it of anything that offends. That is the meaning of “occupy”.

It took 40 years and a new generation before the Children of Israel were prepared to possess the land. God had to change their mentality, their mind-set, in the wilderness journey. They left Egypt with the mentality of slaves but would need the mentality of warriors by the time they reached Canaan. Their thinking processes needed to change. That is why He did not lead them by the common caravan route between Egypt and Canaan.

Exodus 13:17 And it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God led them not through the way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, Lest peradventure the people repent when they see war, and they return to Egypt:

Though they left Egypt in ranks like an army, their looks were deceiving. They didn't think or act like an army. All of that would have to change and it took 40 years in the wilderness to do it.

We, too, are set free from the slavery of sin and the world system and God has promised us a land, a kingdom, which He has given to us, but we have to develop a spiritual warrior’s mentality. Our mind-set has to change and it takes time for that to happen.

He has given us the scriptures to help us change.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: (17) That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

The Lord speaking through the scriptures reproves us, corrects us, and provides instructions in righteousness and doctrine. This accrues to our benefit because it makes us complete, fully equipped for every good work that God has before ordained that we should do.

Being equipped is a process. It takes time. A person goes to school for years to become a doctor and then must intern under the oversight of an experienced doctor before he can go into practice for himself. Yet, we think that a person can become a proficient minister of the Lord overnight. It requires more than zeal and desire. We must go through a process of change, equipping, and growth in the knowledge and understanding of the Lord Jesus by attending the school of the Holy Spirit.

We have to get serious about the Kingdom of God, about occupying, about spiritual warfare, if we ever want to complete the work assigned to us.

Matthew 11:12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.