News and Updates
October 1, 2012
David Copeland · October 1, 2012
Newsletter · Volume: 12 Issue: 10
Jeremiah 1:4 Then the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
5 Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.
The Calling of God. Many misunderstand it. It is laughed at and scorned by others. In my opinion it’s the most honorable position a human being can be asked to do.
God has not only used this passage of Scripture with me to confirm my calling to the ministry, but He has used the life and ministry calling of Jeremiah to call people all over the world to the Gospel work.
Some may choose the ministry as a career; others may simply look at ministry as a hobby…just something to do in their spare time. But TRUE GOSPEL MINISTRY is neither a career nor a hobby: it is a CALLING FROM GOD!!!
I don’t have time to go into detail about this passage here, but this is what I know will happen when the Lord calls you:
1.He rebukes your fears and rejects your excuses. Vs 7.
7 But the Lord said unto me, Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak.
8 Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the Lord.
7 The Lord replied, “Don’t say, ‘I’m too young,’ for you must go wherever I send you and say whatever I tell you. 8 And don’t be afraid of the people, for I will be with you and will protect you. I, the Lord, have spoken!” NLT
Jeremiah used his age in an attempt to convince God He was making a mistake. That’s funny; tell God He’s got the wrong person. Let me know how that turns out for you! That never has worked for me. Nor has it ever worked for anyone truly called by God.
All of us could come up with some kind of excuse: I’m too young/too old/I don’t have enough education/I’ve got the wrong education/born into the wrong
family/I’ve wasted too much time/I have no money/I’m in the wrong church, wrong denomination/didn’t have a Christian upbringing….
Then there is the fear factor: what if no one will listen to me…what if no doors open…what if the doors that do open close…what if I run out of money…what if I make a fool of myself…what if I fail…
There are over 4,000 documented fears recognized by psychologists…I group them into 4 main fears:
Fear of Unknown
Fear of the Future
Fear of Failure
Fear of Abandonment
Be assured, when the Lord calls you, He will rebuke every fear and reject every excuse of how/why you cannot…because He knows through HIM all things are possible if we would believe!
2.When the Lord calls you, the Lord puts HIS hand upon you vs 9
9 Then the Lord put forth his hand, and touched my mouth…
When God lays His hand on you, you can’t get away from what He’s calling you to do. Rejecting the call of God for your life not only makes your life miserable it also robs others of a blessing. He’s calling you to become an answer to someone’s prayer and a miracle in someone’s life!
3.The Lord gives your assignment; He determines your territory vs 10a
I realize there are men and women in ministry who are sent to many different areas and will only stay for a short season. This is the way God has used Pam and I for the last 12 years. Then there are people God calls to specific places, for a lifetime assignment.
If you only look at ministry as a job or a career, you will always be looking for the next bigger, brighter, better paying church or ministry that will take you.
In this hour of history, we desperately need men and women who will sense God calling them to cities, villages and towns with THE WORD OF THE LORD and stay there until He brings the breakthrough!
Jeremiah was called to the nations. I know God has called Pam and I to the nations! Others are specifically called to Miami. Others to Dallas Texas. Some to Chattanooga Tennessee, and others to Lanett Alabama.
It is God who establishes the boundaries for your life and the territory for your assignment. You don’t get to choose where you go; God sends you!
No matter where you are or your current age, don’t be afraid to answer God’s call for your life. No matter where it is or what He is asking you to do, when you obey
Him you position yourself to hear those words all of us want to hear: “…well done good and faithful servant…”
Thank you for helping us fulfill our part of the Great Commission!
David & Pam