Anointed and Appointed: Called to Action

Devotional

Day 1: Apostleship as a Call to Serve

Apostleship is not about holding authority or titles but about being sent to serve others and make disciples. Jesus called His apostles to follow Him and share His teachings, emphasizing service over hierarchy. This calling extends to all believers, not just the original twelve apostles. We are all "sent ones," empowered by the Holy Spirit to be witnesses to the ends of the earth. Our actions, driven by love and faith, are the seeds that sow the Word of God in the lives of others. The early church fathers may have distorted this concept, leading to an unhealthy focus on authority and hierarchy. However, Jesus is the only true Lord, and we are all under-shepherds, called to serve and love others. [01:51]

1 Peter 5:2-3 (ESV): "Shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock."

Reflection: Who in your life can you serve today without seeking recognition or reward? How can you demonstrate Christ's love through your actions?

Day 2: Empowered by the Spirit for Witness

Every believer is empowered by the Holy Spirit to be a witness for Christ. This empowerment is not for personal gain or status but for the purpose of spreading the gospel and transforming lives. Our actions, driven by love and faith, are powerful tools for sharing the message of Jesus. The story of Brother Frankel illustrates the transformative power of simple acts of kindness and testimony. As believers, we are called to be active participants in God's mission, using our unique gifts and opportunities to make a difference in the world. [07:48]

Acts 1:8 (ESV): "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."

Reflection: What specific action can you take today to be a witness for Christ in your community? How can you rely on the Holy Spirit to guide and empower you in this endeavor?

Day 3: The Impact of Simple Testimonies

Preaching is not about loudness or theatrics but about sharing the simple gospel of Jesus Christ. The world needs ordinary people to share their personal experiences with Jesus, just as the early Christians did. Our homes can be sanctuaries for sharing the gospel, and we should use our freedom to invite others into our lives and share the love of Christ. Ordinary people sharing their personal experiences with Christ can have a profound impact on the world. [13:09]

1 Thessalonians 1:5 (ESV): "Because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction. You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake."

Reflection: Who can you invite into your home this week to share your testimony and the love of Christ? How can you create an environment that encourages open and honest conversations about faith?

Day 4: Prayer as a Celebration of Victory

Prayer is a time of communion with God, reflecting on His goodness and resting in the victory of Jesus. It is not about agonizing for victory but about celebrating the triumph of Christ over all spiritual powers. We must reject distorted teachings that portray spiritual warfare as a battle between equal powers. Jesus has already triumphed, and our role is to live in that victory. Prayer should be a joyful and restful experience, where we connect with God and align our hearts with His will. [26:41]

Colossians 2:15 (ESV): "He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him."

Reflection: How can you shift your perspective on prayer from striving for victory to celebrating Christ's triumph? What specific aspect of God's goodness can you reflect on and give thanks for today?

Day 5: The Universal Call to Follow Jesus

Jesus' call is simple: "Follow me." This call is for everyone, and it involves going where people are, touching lives, and sharing the good news. We are anointed and appointed for action, and our mission is to teach and preach Jesus Christ daily, just as the early church did. This calling is not limited to a select few but is an invitation for all believers to participate in God's redemptive work in the world. By following Jesus, we become agents of transformation in our communities, bringing hope and healing to those around us. [33:12]

Matthew 4:19-20 (ESV): "And he said to them, 'Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.' Immediately they left their nets and followed him."

Reflection: What does it mean for you personally to follow Jesus in your daily life? How can you actively participate in His mission to touch lives and share the good news today?

Sermon Summary

Summary:

Today, we explore the theme of being "anointed and appointed for action." Jesus called His apostles not to elevate them above others but to send them out to make more disciples. This calling is not about titles or authority but about service and action. The early church fathers may have distorted this concept, leading to an unhealthy focus on authority and hierarchy. However, Jesus is the only true Lord, and we are all under-shepherds, called to serve and love others.

The essence of apostleship is being sent out to share the message of Jesus. This calling extends to all believers, not just the original twelve apostles. We are all "sent ones," empowered by the Holy Spirit to be witnesses to the ends of the earth. Our actions, driven by love and faith, are the seeds that sow the Word of God in the lives of others. The story of Brother Frankel illustrates the transformative power of simple acts of kindness and testimony.

Preaching is not about loudness or theatrics but about sharing the simple gospel of Jesus Christ. The world needs ordinary people to share their personal experiences with Jesus, just as the early Christians did. Our homes can be sanctuaries for sharing the gospel, and we should use our freedom to invite others into our lives and share the love of Christ.

Prayer is essential, not as a means of agonizing for victory but as a communion with God, reflecting on His goodness and resting in the triumph of Jesus. We must reject distorted teachings that portray spiritual warfare as a battle between equal powers. Jesus has already triumphed, and our role is to live in that victory.

God's call is simple: "Follow me." This call is for everyone, and it involves going where people are, touching lives, and sharing the good news. We are anointed and appointed for action, and our mission is to teach and preach Jesus Christ daily, just as the early church did. Let us embrace this calling and allow Jesus to work through us to transform our communities.

Key Takeaways

1. Apostleship and Service: Apostleship is not about authority or titles but about being sent to serve and make disciples. Jesus calls us to follow Him and share His teachings with others, emphasizing service over hierarchy. [01:51]
2. Empowered for Action: Every believer is empowered by the Holy Spirit to be a witness for Christ. Our actions, driven by love and faith, are powerful tools for spreading the gospel and transforming lives. [07:48]
3. The Power of Simple Testimony: Preaching is not about loudness but about sharing the simple gospel of Jesus. Ordinary people sharing their personal experiences with Christ can have a profound impact on the world. [13:09]
4. Prayer as Communion: Prayer is a time of communion with God, reflecting on His goodness and resting in the victory of Jesus. It is not about agonizing for victory but about celebrating the triumph of Christ over all spiritual powers. [26:41]
5. The Call to Follow Jesus: Jesus' call is simple: "Follow me." This call is for everyone, and it involves going where people are, touching lives, and sharing the good news. We are anointed and appointed for action, and our mission is to teach and preach Jesus Christ daily. [33:12]
** [33:12]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:51] - Apostleship and Service
[03:12] - Authority and Leadership
[05:26] - The Sent Ones
[07:48] - Empowered for Action
[10:50] - The Power of Simple Testimony
[12:32] - Redefining Preaching
[13:09] - Ordinary People, Extraordinary Impact
[16:02] - Witnessing Through Love
[18:15] - Reflecting on Personal Testimonies
[20:28] - Using Our Homes for Ministry
[23:16] - Christianity in Action
[25:32] - Prayer as Communion
[29:13] - Triumph Over Spiritual Powers
[33:12] - The Call to Follow Jesus
[36:50] - The Foundation of the Church
[38:21] - Prayer and Blessing

Sermon Clips

"Jesus is wanting to make followers among all people and to make more disciples. So, he selects twelve whom he also calls apostles. Simply meaning, in essence, you twelve have been with me a lot. You've heard my teachings. You've watched my teachings. You've made me minister. You've heard me interpret the scriptures. You've walked with me." [00:01:19]

"And because of all of this, we've been handed down some very almost weird ideas about the progress of Christian growth. And today, and as people grow, they get more authority and more authority and bigger titles and bigger titles. And then they become aware of their authority. And they begin to rule. Instead of lead." [00:02:48]

"There are no other lords. We who call ourselves pastors would do well to regard ourselves as under shepherds, under the great shepherd. So we can get off at all of this authority phobia that by the way then scoops into its drive all of the so-called teachings about women and until we get a phobia about women submitting and subjecting and we bring out our chains of command, though God never had any." [00:04:00]

"Everyone that he chose to follow him and train them and made disciples out of them. Then he turned them, turned around and said, sent them out, in that sense, apostles with a little A, if you want to put it that way, to get yourself off the hook and keep the twelve holy enough, you know. But don't bother me, but it bothers a lot of people and bothers a lot of doctrine, so we've got to protect it." [00:06:45]

"That is God's plan for every one of us. It's an appointment of action. Now, the verse that I penned when I wrote the poem about these seven points, the verse on that fourth one said this, The fourth great key, spelling M-I-R-A-C, M-I-R-A, action. The fourth great key in miracle to help me make Christ known is A. It stands for action. By deeds, his seeds are sown." [00:08:16]

"In the early church you know, we talk a lot about preaching. I get up and preach and sputter and splash you know and can't swallow enough. I lift my voice until I make it hoarse and I don't know why but I learned how to do it and I offer I always do it, and I try to keep it calm, even teaching a class, and I get in high gear, and it goes high again, and we call that preaching." [00:11:46]

"Billy Graham says, The greatest need in the world is for the preaching of the simple gospel of Jesus Christ, but not by the professional clergy, but by the ordinary man or woman of the street who simply tells what he wants. He or she knows about Jesus Christ. That is what the world needs." [00:13:09]

"To that end, we are believing God for the believer's network to take root in your hall. We're believing that individual Christians in this community will get the idea and will start opening their homes on certain nights and taking a message that Pastor LaDonna or Daisy or me have preached and boiling it to essence and give it in your home and teach it to people in your neighborhood, friends." [00:16:59]

"May God help us to catch up. Young people, the preachers of the early church, of early Christianity, I should say, were the people who knew Jesus and went and told about Jesus to somebody else. Purpose, if you're going to make any resolve. For 1989, make a resolve, I am going to be an individual that's going to learn to communicate what I know about Jesus Christ." [00:17:57]

"God wants the prayer ministry of this church to blossom. God wants the people of this church to learn again to pray. There is no power without prayer. Prayer is the key. Prayer is the avenue. I can't explain all about prayer. I haven't got time to teach on it this morning. But I know this, if nothing else, it's the communion time between you and God, during which time you reflect on His goodness." [00:24:18]

"I'm talking about a time of reflection between before God's presence. Confessing and stating God's ideals. and hearing him echo back to us. through his word, his ideals, and resting and rejoicing in the great triumph of what Jesus accomplished for all of us in the spiritual power, overcoming and conquering and triumphing over all spiritual dominions and powers." [00:28:26]

"God, listen to me. Young people, old people, everybody. Jesus came and gave one call. He said, follow me. I was at a great convention not too long ago. And the leader of the convention was very profound, and theological, and statesmanlike, and serious, and monotone, and spooky, and puckered, and all that goes with it." [00:31:25]

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