Embracing Our Uncommon Calling in Christ

Devotional

Day 1: Uncommon Anointing and Favor

As God's people, we possess an uncommon anointing and favor that the world cannot understand. This anointing empowers us to live differently, speak differently, and act differently, aligning our lives with God's purpose and plan. The world may not comprehend this blessing, but it is a powerful reality for those who walk in the Spirit. This anointing sets us apart, enabling us to accomplish extraordinary things for God's kingdom. It is not about being different for the sake of it but about being empowered by the Holy Spirit to fulfill God's unique calling on our lives.

[01:59]

1 Peter 2:9 (ESV): "But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light."

Reflection: In what ways can you recognize and embrace the uncommon anointing and favor God has placed on your life today?

Day 2: Breaking Barriers

The inclusion of the Gentiles in Acts 10 demonstrates how God's anointing breaks down barriers and extends His favor to all who believe. This teaches us that God's love and power are not limited by human boundaries or prejudices. Peter's vision was revolutionary, showing that God's grace is available to everyone, regardless of their background. This breaking of barriers is a testament to the inclusive nature of God's kingdom, where all are welcome to experience His love and power. As believers, we are called to extend this same grace and love to others, breaking down any barriers that may exist in our hearts or communities.

[03:59]

Ephesians 2:14 (ESV): "For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility."

Reflection: Are there any barriers or prejudices in your heart that need to be broken down? How can you extend God's inclusive love to someone different from you today?

Day 3: Transformation Through the Spirit

Our transformation as believers is marked by a change in our language, lifestyle, desires, and actions. This uncommon way of living is a testament to the power of the Holy Spirit working in us, enabling us to accomplish extraordinary things. When we are filled with the Spirit, our lives reflect God's character and purpose. This transformation is not just about external changes but a deep, internal renewal that aligns us with God's will. It is through this transformation that we can impact the world around us, showing others the power of a life surrendered to God.

[05:54]

2 Corinthians 5:17 (ESV): "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come."

Reflection: How has the Holy Spirit transformed your life? What areas still need to be surrendered to His transformative power?

Day 4: Guarding Against Conformity

The story of Israel demanding a king in 1 Samuel serves as a warning against the desire to conform to the world. We must guard against the world's pull to make us common and instead embrace our calling to be set apart and transformed by the renewing of our minds. Conformity to the world leads to spiritual compromise and a loss of our unique identity in Christ. Instead, we are called to be transformed by God's Word and Spirit, living lives that reflect His kingdom values. This requires intentionality and vigilance, continually seeking God's guidance and strength to resist the pressures of conformity.

[07:27]

Romans 12:2 (ESV): "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."

Reflection: In what areas of your life are you tempted to conform to the world? How can you renew your mind and embrace your unique calling in Christ today?

Day 5: Walking in Divine Favor

In these last days, we are called to walk in the anointing and favor of God, making a difference in the world. Through the Holy Spirit, we have the power to overcome fear, anxiety, and discouragement, and to see divine favor and blessings in our lives, even in challenging times. God's provision is not limited by our circumstances; He is able to provide abundantly even in times of famine. As we walk in His favor, we become a testimony of His faithfulness and power, bringing hope and light to those around us. Let us embrace this calling and walk confidently in the favor and anointing of God.

[10:42]

Psalm 37:19 (ESV): "They are not put to shame in evil times; in the days of famine they have abundance."

Reflection: How can you walk in the anointing and favor of God today? What steps can you take to overcome fear and discouragement, trusting in His provision and blessings?

Sermon Summary

### Summary

Praise the Lord, everyone! Today, I want to share a Bible study that the Lord placed on my heart about the concept of being "uncommon" as the people of God. This idea of uncommonness is deeply rooted in the anointing and favor that comes from being Spirit-filled and called by God. The world doesn't understand this uncommon blessing, but it is a powerful reality for those who walk in the Spirit.

In Acts 10, Peter received a vision that the Gentiles would also receive the Holy Spirit, which was a revolutionary idea at the time. This uncommon inclusion of the Gentiles into the family of God illustrates how God's anointing breaks down barriers and extends His favor to all who believe. Similarly, Daniel and the three Hebrew children in Babylon experienced uncommon favor because they stood firm in their faith, refusing to be assimilated into the world's system.

Our lives as believers are marked by a transformation that sets us apart. Our language, lifestyle, desires, and actions all change to align with God's purpose. This uncommon way of living is not just about being different for the sake of it but about being empowered by the Holy Spirit to accomplish extraordinary things. Jesus' miracles, as recorded in Mark 2, left people in awe because they were not common occurrences. Likewise, Peter describes us as a "peculiar people," set apart by God's anointing.

The story of Israel demanding a king in 1 Samuel serves as a cautionary tale. They wanted to be like other nations, but God had called them to be different. This desire to conform led to their downfall. We must guard against the world's pull to make us common. Romans 12:2 warns us not to be conformed to this world but to be transformed by the renewing of our minds.

In these last days, we are called to walk in the anointing and favor of God, making a difference in the world. We are the salt of the earth and the light of the world, and our uncommonness is what enables us to bring about change. Through the Holy Spirit, we have the power to overcome fear, anxiety, and discouragement, and to see divine favor and blessings in our lives. Psalms 37:19 assures us that we will have plenty even in times of famine, highlighting the uncommon provision of God.

Let's embrace our uncommon calling and walk in the power and anointing of the Holy Spirit, making a difference in our communities and beyond.

###

Key Takeaways

1. Uncommon Anointing and Favor: As God's people, we possess an uncommon anointing and favor that the world cannot understand. This anointing empowers us to live differently, speak differently, and act differently, aligning our lives with God's purpose and plan. [01:59]
2. Breaking Barriers: The inclusion of the Gentiles in Acts 10 demonstrates how God's anointing breaks down barriers and extends His favor to all who believe. This teaches us that God's love and power are not limited by human boundaries or prejudices. [03:59]
3. Transformation Through the Spirit: Our transformation as believers is marked by a change in our language, lifestyle, desires, and actions. This uncommon way of living is a testament to the power of the Holy Spirit working in us, enabling us to accomplish extraordinary things. [05:54]
4. Guarding Against Conformity: The story of Israel demanding a king in 1 Samuel serves as a warning against the desire to conform to the world. We must guard against the world's pull to make us common and instead embrace our calling to be set apart and transformed by the renewing of our minds. [07:27]
5. Walking in Divine Favor: In these last days, we are called to walk in the anointing and favor of God, making a difference in the world. Through the Holy Spirit, we have the power to overcome fear, anxiety, and discouragement, and to see divine favor and blessings in our lives, even in challenging times. [10:42]
### [10:42]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:59] - Uncommon Anointing and Favor
[03:59] - Breaking Barriers
[05:54] - Transformation Through the Spirit
[07:27] - Guarding Against Conformity
[10:42] - Walking in Divine Favor
[15:14] - Closing Remarks and Church Updates

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

What was the significance of Peter's vision in Acts 10 regarding the inclusion of the Gentiles? [01:59]
How did Daniel and the three Hebrew children demonstrate uncommon favor in Babylon? [03:59]
What does Romans 12:2 warn us against, and what does it encourage us to do instead? [10:42]
How did the people react to Jesus' miracles in Mark 2, and what does this tell us about the nature of His works? [05:54]

Interpretation Questions

How does the inclusion of the Gentiles in Acts 10 illustrate the breaking down of barriers through God's anointing? [01:59]
In what ways did Daniel and the three Hebrew children resist assimilation into Babylonian culture, and what can we learn from their example? [03:59]
What does it mean to be transformed by the renewing of our minds according to Romans 12:2, and how does this relate to living an uncommon life? [10:42]
How does the story of Israel demanding a king in 1 Samuel serve as a cautionary tale against conformity? [07:27]

Application Questions

Reflect on a time when you felt the world's pressure to conform. How did you respond, and what could you do differently in the future to embrace your uncommon calling? [07:27]
How can you actively seek to break down barriers in your community, similar to how Peter's vision in Acts 10 broke down barriers between Jews and Gentiles? [01:59]
In what specific ways can you allow the Holy Spirit to transform your language, lifestyle, desires, and actions to align more closely with God's purpose? [05:54]
Think of a situation where you experienced fear, anxiety, or discouragement. How can you rely on the Holy Spirit to overcome these feelings and walk in divine favor? [10:42]
How can you guard against the world's pull to make you common, especially in your daily decisions and interactions? [07:27]
Identify one area in your life where you can make a difference by being the salt of the earth and the light of the world. What steps will you take this week to act on this? [10:42]
Reflect on the story of Israel demanding a king. Are there areas in your life where you are seeking to be like others rather than embracing your unique calling? How can you change this mindset? [07:27]

Sermon Clips

### Quotes for outreach

1. "There is an uncommonness that comes along with being the people of God. It's an uncommon anointing and favor. It's an uncommon protection and a blessing and ability that all comes from being the children of God. It comes from and through the anointing of the Holy Ghost and God's call and His blessing on our lives." [01:59] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "Through the anointing of the Holy Ghost, we have an uncommonness about us. We don't speak the same language of the world. Our vocabulary changed. Our lifestyle changed. Our desires changed. Our agendas changed. All that was absorbed into God's agenda and God's plan and God's purpose for our lives." [03:59] (24 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "We can walk in in anointing and favor and blessing and health. We can walk in in in God's divine ability to where the things that that brings others down around us doesn't bring us down. The things that discourage us or or would maybe make us fear or you know have anxiety or stress those things they don't affect us that way because there is a uncommon anointing and an ability on us." [10:42] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "Our hope is in the Lord. Our hope isn't in the world. Our hope is in the the maker and creator of this world who has given us a power that even that's over all the power of the enemy. He said he's given us authority over all the power of the enemy and so that verse alone just speaks to the uncommonness of the people of God and ability that that we have through the spirit of God to be unlike everybody else." [13:35] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

### Quotes for members

1. "The enemy wants to try to reduce God's people down through just assimilating into the world, changing our thinking, our anointed thinking to be like the thinking of the world. Our called out from among the world trying to pull us back into being common and walking like the rest of the people of the world." [03:59] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "You think of the great works that were accomplished through the book of Acts. It was done through people who were just regular, ordinary people, but they had a powerful, powerful encounter with the Lord that set them apart. And they went and did what would be considered as very, very uncommon things. Through the anointing of the Holy Ghost." [05:54] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "We can't make a difference if if we haven't come out of the world if if if we're common like the rest of the world there there's no way we can change that world but if we understand our position in the anointing and and through the power of God and and and God's purpose and the place he has put his church into we can walk in that place and we can make a difference." [09:04] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "Paul wrote in in Romans don't be conformed to this world be not conformed to this world that's in essence that's what he's saying don't let the world make you common don't let the world pull you back and absorb you into its thinking its systems its lifestyle its way of of living and doing don't allow that we are not of this world." [12:10] (21 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "That same spirit that was upon those people has was poured out in the day of pentecost and that spirit is not just on God's people that spirit is in God's people to give us an uncommon favor and and results somebody says i don't know that i can look for results i i but you can't you can look for results you can live in such a way where where God will bless the work of your hands he'll bless he'll bless the the labor that you put forth with with an uncommon blessing that the world cannot expect." [12:10] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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