The Awakening
I was born on March 31st, 1948, into great danger — a veil (placenta) over my face causing me to turn blue for lack of oxygen.
There was a medical concern for brain damage… yet the old black midwives who delivered me said it was a sign that the baby has something to do for The LORD, stating, “The devil tried to kill him at birth; he will survive and know God’s plan for his life.”
My mother believed that until the day she died. I too had an intuitive awareness that I was created for much more than I have become.
Some years back I began to pray according to Jeremiah 33:3,
“Call to me and I will answer you and show you great and mighty things, fenced in and hidden, which you do not know (do not distinguish and recognize, have knowledge of and understand.)”
Is there some purpose in life beyond just being a good Christian man?
Does God have a plan or something specific for us to do?
Could it be that He made us to fulfill a work that He prepared in advance for us to do?
I also pondered me doing something for God in contrast with God doing something through me; also, the idea of being fulfilled by God in contrast to fulfilling Him and His plan upon earth. It all seemed to point to “oneness.”
Returning to the question, could it be He made us to fulfill a work that He prepared in advance for us to do?
I found this,
“For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, WHICH HE PREPARED IN ADVANCE FOR US TO DO.” Ephesians 2:10
“All the days ordained for me were written in your book BEFORE ONE OF THEM CAME TO BE.” Psalm 139:16
Yes, God wrote down in a book the destiny and Kingdom purpose for each of our lives.
“For it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.” Philippians 2:13
“For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom He predestined those He also called; whom He called, these He also justified, and whom He justified, these He also glorified.” Romans 8:29,30
Five things Paul mentions here, 1) Foreknew, 2) Predestined, 3) Called, 4) Justified, and 5) Glorified.
We were known to God before the foundation of the earth.
Purpose and Grace
Paul told Timothy in 2 Timothy 1:9 that purpose and grace were given to them before time began.
“Who saved us and called us…not because of anything we have done, but because of His own purpose and grace.
This grace was given us in Christ Jesus BEFORE THE BEGINNING OF TIME.”
Think on this, you were known to God before the beginning of time. Once we realize we were known to God before the beginning of time, we begin to comprehend the idea that He has a plan for our life.
This means when we find our purpose, we will also discover ‘grace’ that has been apportioned to us for that purpose.
What we realize is that in this “PURPOSED ACTIVITY”, THERE IS GRACE – A profound ability to do what we might consider impossible.
The Called Stage
The two stages of “foreknowledge and predestination” all occurred before time began. They happened in the eternal realm of God, outside the time realm.
The next stage is the “called” stage — where we begin to get glimpses of what we were made for — we begin discovering what is written in the books of heaven about us.
What is the predestined plan of God for my life? What is written in my Book?
“Sacrifices and offerings you do not desire; my ears you have opened. Burnt offering and sin offering you did not require. Then I said, behold I come: IN the scroll of THE BOOK it is written of me…I delight to do your will, O my God and your law is in my heart.” Psalm 40:6-8
“And your law is in my heart” – And so whatever is written in your book in heaven is also written in your heart. If you want to discover what is in your book, look at what is in your heart.
“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations.” Jeremiah 1:5
Before I formed you, I knew you – that means that in eternity passed you had a meeting with God.
One of the reasons He sent you down to creation, through a birthday, through a place in time, IS TO FULFILL AN ASSIGNMENT.
Fulfilling Our Call
What prevents us from fulfilling His fullness in our lives?
Scripture tells us “Many are called, yet few are chosen.”
The answer is an unbelieving heart, caused by the god of this world, the world we are living in now. It is important to understand, that this is not saying an “unbeliver,” but an unbelieving heart can snuff out a great plan by simply accepting a good plan.
Those that make the greatest slaves are those who don’t know they are!
“The god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” 2 Corinthians 4:4
All who’ve accepted Christ have the gift of faith, yet many are denied God’s best by an unbelieving heart.
Understanding your calling is a journey. A part of that journey is separating us from the ways of the world, pointing us to the ways of God (the Kingdom).
My calling is His business, not my worry, stress, or freak out. Do not let His business become your business. He is responsible for that which He made us responsible.
My businesses are not my businesses, they are His. His responsibility, His concern, His to do with as He pleases.
The instant we retake matters into our own hands, doing things our way, we banish ourselves from the Tree of Life, the ability to hear God. (Genesis 3:21-24).
When we take matters into our own hands, we enter our own works, strength, and dependency.
In the world, little is accomplished without toil. In the Kingdom, His burden is light.
Far more is accomplished with less effort.
When I leave peace, righteousness, and joy, I venture back into my own self…
My best is my worst before God. (Matthew 11:29).
If a work is producing toil, we have either left rest, or entered an ungodly work. We can leave the rest in a Godly work. When we leave God’s way, we begin to sow fig leaves.
When we are operating in the Kingdom, THINGS WORK FOR US.
When we are operating in the world, we must WORK FOR THINGS.
~ Clay Sikes
Clay Sikes ~ Lighthouse Prophecy.
Thank you for that wonderful – and timely word, Clay.
Glenn Jackson
Thanks, Clay. That was a wonderful – and timely word for the Body.
Glenn H. Jackson
Thank you Clay for this awesome teaching we need so much in this dark world. We need to go back to our first love in the body of Christ. Unfortunately many in the church are believing that we are saved by works and not by faith, which is very sad. I pray Ephesians 1:17 for the body so that we know what is the hope of His calling and what are the riches of His glory in the inheritance in the saints. I pray the pouring of His Spirit be upon all flesh and bring in the greatest harvest of souls into the Kingdom.
I liked this: My calling is His business, not my worry, stress, or freak out. Do not let His business become your business. He is responsible for that which He made us responsible. Thanks again and blessings to you and family!!!
The Old Black Midwives that were anointed by the Lord to deliver you and bless your. Other with the words of the Lord. Bless her for believing. In Jesus Name my name means Jehovah Shall Increase I being a black woman was born with many veils that were removed at 6 when I started my life with Christ!
Yes! O God, HOW Great You Are.
Thank You Jesus.
YOU ‘BETTA’ TEACH mighty man of God! i Believe w/you the ‘oneness’ you speak about is key to finding Kingdom Purpose/s. Romans 8:29 30 the 5 things Paul mentions ‘called’ but not ‘chosen’. We have to keep ‘hearing’…We know that the first ‘Call’ is to salvation in Jesus. And many have answered this ‘call’ – The ‘call’ of God is progressive. Few ‘chosen’ are those that progress in hearing, obeying the Holy Spirit manifesting gift/s Rom. 11:29 which often leads us into territorial tugs and takeover for ‘good works’ Eph. 2:10 in the earth, for Kingdom purpose and Kingdom dominion. Please share more of this man of God! YES!
Acts 9:15 But the lord said unto him go thy way for he is a chosen vessel unto me. This verses is about Paul at the very start of his earthly ministry telling Ananias to go to Paul and all he knew about Paul was he was killing Christians. Paul was a chosen vessel from the start. Not all believers are chosen but all are called. Just a thought
Interesting…Here’s another thought to consider: Both ‘called & ‘chosen’ in Greek ‘Eklektos’ can mean to invite. Believers are indeed His chosen Ex.19:4-6. Ecclesia. To empty personal spiritual ‘elitism’ of the word ‘chosen’ in context of Matt. 22:14 in part, because it has more to do w/our partnership w/God – as God is no respecter of persons but He IS a respecter of His divine principals we choose to activate/operate Acts 10:34. In pre-destination, we understand all Believers were ‘called’ to eternal salvation Eph.1:4-6 before the foundation of the world. Few ‘chosen’ seems to be predicated on human decisions made as we follow the Lord, in divine destiny on earth. Jeremiah 29:11 John 15:16 1Peter 2:9
I myself see called or chosen as two different things. In the church world where most dwell I heard many say they were called. And knew very few almost none who were what I would say were chosen. Chosen is like a specific thing God himself always knew He would use at the appropriate time. A time sort of like now. All those who have been called have made quite a mess of it. I believe it is time that by His hand the few who have been chosen are to be used. Mostly those who have been called don’t accept those who have been chosen they nearly always see them as a threat now if they had believed and done it right in the first time the chosen would have remained hidden content that their fathers will was being done. The situation we are in will reveal the hidden or chosen ones for that is all that can resolve it. I pray they will listen history says most likely they won’t. The time is short use it wisely