You Have a Divine Assignment
When we take a deeper look at Ephesians 3, we see it is a message from the Apostle Paul, who is writing from prison. In the letter, he speaks to the importance of one's divine assignment while maintaining spiritual growth and a true commitment to Christ.
In a recent sermon at V1 Church, Pastor Sandra Anderson highlighted four components she believes the apostle wanted believers to learn from in his third letter to the Ephesian church. The four components she listed are God's plan, the church, spiritual growth, and assignments. She focused the majority of her message on “assignment.”
Nothing Stopped Paul’s Assignment
The apostle was under house arrest for about four years in Rome for preaching the gospel. The Holy Spirit graced him and gave him the authority to fulfill his assignment. The sovereign hand of God was on his life, and that sometimes meant walking through extremely difficult times. Pastor Sandra referenced the via dolorosa as an example. Jesus taking the walk down the via dolorosa carrying the very cross He would be hung on was part of His assignment to shed His blood and set mankind free.
As Paul shares in Ephesians 3:1–11, he had fully embraced God’s call on his life and was now sharing it with others. For a Christ follower to recognize their assignment there has to be a point where you come to the end of yourself. It’s telling the Holy Spirit to take all of you so God can have His way.
The apostle knew his assignment and told the Ephesians not to feel sorry for him. He understood well that it is an honor to suffer for Christ. “You realize that it is not about you,” Pastor Sandra shared. Suffering is followed by God’s glory and the glory of God always makes it all worth it.
The great commission detailed in Matthew 28:21–20 tells followers of Jesus to go and make disciples. That is an assignment for everyone who calls Jesus, Lord. If you are still wondering what your calling could be, start there.
Persevere in Your Assignment
Personal hardships will come when fulfilling your spiritual calling but you must persevere through the power of the Holy Spirit. Pastor Sandra shared her testimony. As the mother of senior pastor Mike Signorelli, she recounted raising small five children as a single mother in Indiana. She was deserted by her partner who wanted her to denounce her faith in Christ and she had to rely on public assistance to get by. Had she thrown in the towel then and walked away from her assignment to raise her children in the Lord, perhaps there would not be a V1 church today.
The minister encourages believers to embrace their divine mission, reject false religions, and focus on the transformative power of God's love and sovereignty. When God’s sovereign hand is on your life you know you are on assignment you have to accept it. You can't talk the way the world talks and act the way the world does. “You are called to be an eagle” she declared, encouraging Christians to rise above the storms that come their way and go higher.
Psalm 100:18–23 tells believers how to posture themselves in God: “Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; come before Him with joyful songs. Know that the Lord is God. It is He who made us, and we are His; we are His people, the sheep of His pasture. Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name. For the Lord is good and His love endures forever; His faithfulness continues through all generations.”
Paul’s letter to the Ephesians carries the same tone as he testified of the length, width, depth and height of God’s love. In the final verses of the chapter, the apostle tells the people of God to be “filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen.”
One's assignment calls for spiritual maturity to carry out the call and deepen a relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.
About the Author
Jeannie Ortega Law is a chart-topping singer, evangelist, media personality and author from New York City. She can be reached on social media: @JeannieOrtega or emailed at Info@JeannieO.com
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