Ephesians 2:10 NIV
“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT

Before designing a new building, the first thing an architect needs to know is what the building’s purpose is and what it will be used for. The function of the building always determines its shape. Before God made you, He decided what role you would play on earth. He planned with precision and dedication how He wanted you to serve Him, and He formed you according to His plan. You are the way you are because you were created for a specific ministry.

The Bible says that we are God’s handiwork created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which helps us understand that we are a hand-crafted masterpiece…created by God’s very own hands. He not only formed you before you were born, but planned every day of your life to serve as the process of formation to transform you into His image and likeness.
God uses every process in our life to mold us into the shape He wants us to have.

LET’S GO DEEPER

1. ACTIVATE THE SPIRITUAL GIFTS

1 Corinthians 12:4-10 (NIV)
“There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues.”

Without the Holy Spirit we can do nothing. We might think we’re very good in certain areas or that we are well prepared to complete a task, or maybe feel the complete opposite. We might think we don’t know how to do what is asked of us, but the surest thing is that through the spiritual gifts the Holy Spirit has put inside of us, we have the anointing and grace to fulfill our purpose and help others find theirs and live in fullness.

The Holy Spirit is our guide, our counselor, the fountain of wisdom to run to, and the One who helps us in every situation. So today, ask the Holy Spirit to fill you so you can experience how He takes your calling to the next level. In experiencing this, you will be able to guide others and help them conquer.

2. SERVE GOD WITH ALL OF YOUR HEART

God wants you to serve Him with passion, not out of obligation. People will rarely give the best of themselves to a task they don’t enjoy. God wants to use your natural interests to serve Him and others. When you identify your internal motivation, you can work towards the ministry God wants you to have.
How do you know you’re serving God with all of your heart?

The first characteristic is enthusiasm, which means “God in you”. When you do something you like, no one has to motivate or encourage you. You do it because you like it and have a passion for it. You don’t need rewards, applause or to get paid because you enjoy serving that way. The opposite is also true; when you don’t have a heart to do something, you’re easily discouraged.

The second characteristic of serving God with all of your heart is effectiveness. When you do what God created you to love, you give the best of yourself. Passion demands perfection, and perfection implies preparation and study. If you’re not interested in an area, you probably won’t give your best. The people who accomplish their goals across many fields are those who do things with passion, not out of obligation or benefit.

3. WE WERE CREATED TO SERVE

We spend most of our time thinking and working to find our purpose and obtain benefits for ourselves. But Jesus is calling us to follow His example; He came to earth to serve mankind and give His entire life out of love for us. Being the Son of God, He did not come to be served, but to serve others.
We need to understand that God did not give us talents and gifts just to feel good about ourselves. God poured out the best of Himself in us so that we could be a blessing and light in the path of many who do not know Him and want to affirm their lives in Him.
Our greatest privilege is to serve God and others! In doing this, we will receive a great reward and witness miracles in our lives.

PRAYER

• Before starting, give everyone a few minutes to evaluate if there is a mark of failure or frustration in their lives.
• Through prayer, guide them to visualize the cross and stand in front of it. At the foot of the cross, pray and let go of every wound, mark of the past, negative word they released over their lives, or anything negative a family member may have said that marked their purpose.
• Declare that by the blood that Jesus shed from His right side, every mark, wound, and failure is removed from their lives.
• Confess that by the blood that Jesus shed from His hands all the spiritual gifts are activated in their lives and that they receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
• Lead them to make a personal commitment with the Lord to serve Him with all of their heart.
  Pray for each of them, declaring that God’s purpose is fulfilled in their lives and that they will receive a great reward for giving their lives to serve God.