A Joseph Calling
TGIF Today God Is First Volume 1 by Os Hillman
Sunday, February 15 2009
"And he sent a man before them - Joseph, sold as a slave." - Psalm 105:17
God is doing a unique work around the world today. He is rising up Josephs throughout the world. Some are still in the "pit" stage of their pilgrimage, while others are heading toward fruitfulness. What does it take for a man to become a true Joseph? It takes years of preparation and testing to be a true Joseph. It takes what the psalmist says in Psalm 105:17. "He called down famine on the land and destroyed all their supplies of food; and he sent a man before them - Joseph, sold as a slave. They bruised his feet with shackles, his neck was put in irons, till what he foretold came to pass, till the word of the Lord proved him true. The king sent and released him, the ruler of peoples set him free" (Psalm 105:16-20).
A true Joseph is one who is a provider both spiritually and materially for those in the Body of Christ. It is a person who understands that he is simply a manager of all that God has entrusted to him. It is a person who has humility and a broken and contrite heart before God. But how does God prepare modern-day Josephs?
Modern-day Josephs are prepared through their own versions of bruised feet, with shackles and necks put in irons. It is often through the adversity of failed finances, failed marriages, failed relationships, and broken dreams. These are the things that try men the most. These are the things God uses to allow the Josephs of our day to be proven by the Word of the Lord. Once proven, God brings them out of their prisons and uses them mightily for His purposes. Joseph went through his own trials - not because of any failure, but because of an incredible calling: to save and provide for an entire nation. God had to prepare this man with 13 years of broken dreams and humble circumstances in order to break every ounce of pride and self-will. God could not afford to have a 30-year-old steeped in arrogance and pride running an entire nation.
When I attended a world conference on global evangelization in South Africa, I was privileged to sit among 45 other men from different parts of the world who had a Joseph calling on their lives. These men of means had humility of heart and a spirit unlike any others I have met in my country. Each one had his own Joseph story. It was an incredible scene that changed my life and my own view of business. This allowed me to see firsthand this phenomenon that is going on throughout the world. Many believe God is rising up these servants to prepare for a worldwide economic earthquake and to fund a global harvest of souls. Even since this conference, one nation is being dramatically affected because of a Joseph who has stepped forward to fulfill his calling for that nation. It is an awesome demonstration of God's power working today.
Are you willing to allow God to do whatever it takes for you to become a true Joseph? Ask the Lord today to do whatever is necessary to fully use your gifts and talents for His eternal Kingdom.
Labels: Inspirational, Motivation
Posted by thomas.tay at
About L-O-V-E
L-O-V-E. Simple to spell, but I am sure it must be pretty hard to achieve.
Seeing as our faith and ministry is built upon love (Love for God, love for People), therefore I think Pastor Kong's message is really important. Well, you must be thinking, important mehz? I also not like XXXX and XXXX married, or on the way to walk the aisle, no big deal what.
The catch is, there is another side to this message, and it applies to all.
Let's start with the #1 need for the sisters: Affection.
Believe me. I think our beloved sisters do not just want to hear words of praise and appreciation from their husband, boyfriends. They would love to hear from their family members, friends. More so important for the people who are supposed to be part of your destiny in God, i.e. your cell group members, your spiritual family.
As brothers (and sisters of course), i think sometimes we can be a little bit more sensitive to our (other) beloved sisters. Help them arrange tables and chairs during fellowship, help them wash up after cell group refreshments. And if you have sisters who have just did something to her hair, like change of style, colour, well say something nice.
Instead of " WAH! You burn your hair ahz?", say "wah!! Somebody cut hair sia~~ looks better lei"..
Instead of "Hey, you use curtain to make your new skirt right?", say "woowoo, this suits you wor".
But of course, do not lie!
If you think the change is not appropriate, you have to tell her. Tell her to help her. Do not say it directly, try something more indirect.
Instead of "why you wear this? My eyes bleeding liao!!", say "Hey, nice try, but perhaps you could try ... (insert some CONSTRUCTIVE suggestions).
AS brothers, this also shows our maturity, and I am sure the sisters will be grateful for a little more appreciation right?
(Do I hear an Amen from the sisters??)
But most importantly, do not be shy to help them out when they need it. Like for example, you have a sister who needs emotional help, but then you shun away because you are.. shy.... cummon la~~ what generation already? Your words of encouragement will be like gold to them (same to those words of appreciation), you will help them to pick themselves up to move on.
We must pick ourselves up and dust ourselves off! (Obama, 2009).
Ok.. i think i write too many essays liaoz..
Now looking at the #1 need for the brothers is errrrrrrr...*blussssshhhhh*
NONO... I am not asking the sisters to *CENSORED*, I am asking the brothers who do not have the license to *CENSORED* yet, to constantly pray for a strong mind, pray for the Lord to constantly cleanse our thoughts and strengthened our self control so that we do not think immoral thoughts.
HEY!! Nothing wrong thinking about *CENSORED*, afterall we are wired this way. The research that man thinks about sex 7 times a day does not just refer to the married men, it refers to brothers like you and me. But the Bible says that when we lust for others in our thoughts, we have committed adultery already. So we must constantly keep our thoughts in check, and when we DO stray, do not feel guilty, instead, Thank God for our sexuality, but pray for strength and protection of the mind and thoughts.
Ok.. this is turning into a manhood thingy, but then again, why not?
We are men by birth by male by choice,
1,
2,
3,
YESSS!!
Last point about needs unmet. I am sure many of us heard of this phrase "The Lord does not hear my prayers".
Now, we know that there is probably a fruit- basketful of reasons why God does not hear and answer your prayers, and finding these glitches and getting our lives right with God is of ultimate importance.
But what about the needs and prayers of our neighbours? When Pastor mentions needs unmet, what immediately came to mind is that many of us have needs to be met, but we also have needs to meet. We have people to pray for, people to bless and people to help.
Again, sensitivity.
We have to be sensitive to our neighbour's needs. And that is also one way which we can build love, intimacy (friendship style..) and unity within the cell group. BUT, not forgetting the people in the marketplace. So let us start to communicate more and try to help one another out.
Afterall, its economic recession, and this is the best time for us to shine in the marketplace.
WOOHOO~
Hope this helps~
Cya guys is PM.
Zhengguo a.k.a. Daogei
Posted by daogei at
Matthew 7:7
Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.
In this post, I want to thank God for a new pair of shoes and the best thing was that it came free as a blessing! Let me elaborate- During our Arise and Build season, here is a conservation you will find familiar:
A: “Hey Bugis got 1 shop selling gothic clothes got 30% sale lei… Want to go down and buy together?”
B: “Erm… building fund now I very tight lei…”
But God provided for me according to my specific need!
Zhen Xian and I have signed up for Adidas Sundown Marathon 2008 and in our training for it, we need to clock mileage. The problem here was that I only have one pair of running shoes and it is issued by the army. Having no credit left to buy new ones and my SAF running shoes are needed in camp, my progress was slow. Also, after pledging a sacrificial amount, I really have no money to buy a pair of running shoes and I wanted something more than the shoes offered by the army. So, I prayed and asked God for a pair of running shoes.
Praise God! After service today, I asked my dad if he could lend me his shoes so that I can go and do some proper training. To my surprise, he told me that my uncle has given him a new pair of Nike running shoes and he kept it in his car. My first response was “Wow Nike shoes lei!! Better than New Balance right...” What was amazing is that my dad wears US size 6 and my uncle somehow bought a US size 9 for him! Needless to say, Abba knows exactly how to meet my need by the fact that even a pair of shoes bought of the wrong size is actually an answer to my specific need! In short, God answered my prayer and I got a new pair of running shoes! Yeah! Hallelujah!
Lastly, what I want to say is that some of you might be financially tight right now that you don’t even have money to buy a new pair of skirt or pants, but we must know that our God is Jehovah Jireh, that our God is a God who provides. So, keep on keeping on till the end of this season and knowing that your breakthrough is on its way ^_^
Thank You Abba Father!
Posted by Beloved Child at
hey everyone, it's Nadia here! not all of you guys might know me but I'm a visiting W115 member from New Zealand! =) that's like halfway around the world...! but anyway, since I'll be heading back to NZ later on tonight, would like to post some thoughts about the time I've been back! and seeing how I like to take photos, this post can be a photo post! will just put up some of the group photos!
this was the group of us who went to Johor for one of the Sat City Harvest JB services. it was really an experience, something different yet similar, and hearing Pst Chee Kiang preach was great! what an amazing time we had there, being ministered to by the Word and even having a hotdog eating competition! I believe the people who ever went to JB would agree that over there it's something different, and that something is going to be happening soon!
I followed along on one of the E290 outings to Sentosa...and these young people are so fun to be around! I think there is this "thing" about youths - the energy, vibrance, carefree-ness about life...it's something to be cherished and made the most of. really looking forward to see these people step up to the calling that has been placed in their lives!
this was at my house, where I had a surprise birthday party planned for me by my sister. and these were the past/present pple from W115! really appreciate the things my cell group has done for me the past few years that I've been back. even though I'm just a visitor whenever I'm back, they always make me feel welcome!
and this is the group which makes up the present batch of W115/W458! we had this BBQ at Jurong somewhere and it was so much fun. think Chen Guo posted up an entry before, and it definitely was a time where we had a time of fun and fellowship! really glad I've had the chance to meet this group of people...although we're not as young as we were anymore, these guys are still fun-loving and energetic! =) always young at heart yah?
then along came the Christmas service!!! so good to see the W115/W458 members bring their friends for service, because this was what it was about, sharing the good news with the people around us. and the drama was amazing, don't you agree? =)
and finally, this was my last service with the present W115/W458! such an awesome bunch of people, gonna miss you guys now that I'm leaving, although we've only known each other for barely 2 months! may you guys keep on growing, multiplying and keeping the light shining as you reach out into your various places of influence to win the lost for Christ!
and last but not least, presenting...Kenneth! all of you would know this really cool and hip cell group leader! an amazing man of God, a role model the younger ones should follow. I really must thank him for where I am now...and I'm looking forward to when I can be back in the cell group for longer than 2 months!and thus comes to the end of my entry. it's almost time to leave the house to head to the airport...this holiday back in Singapore has been a great experience with all of you guys who've been around in cell group and service! unfortunately I don't have the chance to spend longer getting to know the W115/W458 people better, but thank you all for making my stay in Singapore a good one! waiting to hear about more exciting things that will be happening throughout the year, and till when I get back again, take care and God bless everyone!
Posted by nadia at