E7 | Following God’s Plan for Your Life | How to Step Into Your Calling

Welcome to Episode 7 of the LightUK Podcast.

This week we continue our conversation on following God’s plan for your life.Many people ask: How do I step into my calling?

But often the answer is simpler than we think: Be faithful with what God has already given and put in front of you.

In this episode we talk about:

• Walking in God’s will practically
• Stewarding the gifts God has given you
• The parable of the talents
• Why faithfulness leads to increase
• How obedience opens doors
• Why fear keeps people stuck
• How God directs a moving person
• The importance of saying yes to God
• Why comparison can be dangerous

If you’ve been waiting for clarity, direction, or your “big moment,” this episode will encourage you to trust God and take the next faithful step.

Resources Mentioned

• The Bible
• Walking with God by John Eldredge
• Christ for All Nations
• Christine Caine

If this episode encouraged you:

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And send it to someone asking God about their purpose.

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:01

Welcome everybody.

SPEAKER_03 0:03

This is the Light You Play podcast. Welcome everybody. We're so excited to have you guys back. Honey, how are you doing? And what have we been up to this summer?

Summer catch-up and anniversary

SPEAKER_00 0:15

Welcome, guys. It's uh great to be recording another episode. And um, yeah, we're excited for this. And we've actually just celebrated our third year anniversary. High five, darling. And so three wonderful years with this wonderful woman. Thank you, and you.

SPEAKER_03 0:32

And um we enjoy the Peak District, didn't we?

SPEAKER_00 0:35

Yeah, we've been away to the Peak District for a few days, and now we're back, and yeah, ready to record another episode. So we're excited. Really excited.

SPEAKER_03 0:45

Yeah, really excited. And in the last episode, we talked about um following the calling of God for your life, starting with intimacy, and we talked about how it's really important um to really know God and from if it's from that place, that obedient place, that really you start discovering the calling of God for your life. And so we felt that we would carry on talking about more of that, but this time we're actually gonna focus more, not on intimacy, because we've covered that, but on following God's call for your life. And I thought we could lay a foundation on walking in God's will. Do you want to start us off with that?

The foundation of God’s will

SPEAKER_00 1:20

Yeah, so we're gonna be talking about uh a little bit about the foundation, is obviously knowing God at how everything stems from that. Yeah. Um, about being with him, spending time with him, becoming more like him, and reading and doing the word, becoming who he says in his words, who he wants us, who he's created us to be. We're created to become more and more like Jesus.

SPEAKER_03 1:46

So basically, we're saying that the foundation, really, what we're saying is you've got to start by reading and knowing God's word and having that intimacy, and and as you do the word of God, you start discovering who you are in Christ and what he wants you to do, isn't it?

SPEAKER_00 2:02

Yeah, everything stems from that place of intimacy. That it well, actually, our first calling, the first commandment in the Bible is to love God, isn't it? Yeah, love God with all your heart, your mind, and your soul. And so that is our greatest thing, that is why we're on earth is to know him, to walk with him, to know him intimately, and we do that by studying his word, studying his word, by s w spending time with him, worshiping, praying, being in his presence, just loving on him, and doing his word, you know, because a lot of people are are probably thinking, tell me what God has called me to do.

SPEAKER_03 2:36

And we're saying the foundational aspect is everything is in God's word. I mean, if I went evangelism, um, or if I was preaching but I wasn't trying to walk in love, that would be a bit backwards, wouldn't it? And we know that a lot of people probably sometimes maybe they see people on platforms and they forget the foundation is actually knowing the word of God, having that relationship with him, and then you start discovering who he is.

SPEAKER_00 3:00

Yeah, and no, and and that's that's true. And as we said, we spoke I know we spoke about this a lot in the last episode, is everything stems from that place of intimacy. And if we never preached again, if we never did, you know, and it went on mission again, would Jesus be enough? And and so that's what you know, that's the very foundation of is if you want to step into everything that God has for your life, it's got to come from the place of knowing Him, knowing His Word, and letting Him lead and direct your life.

Every believer is called to share the gospel

SPEAKER_03 3:30

And and the reason why we're sharing that is because one of the things He says in the Bible, and I know you know people might push back on this, is that he said, Go into the world and preach the gospel to everyone. And he says that anyone that believes and is baptized will be saved, but anyone who refuses to believe will be condemned. These miraculous signs will accompany those who believe, they'll cast out demons in my name, they'll speak new languages, they will be able to handle snakes with safety, and if they drink anything poisonous, it will not harm them. They'll be able to place their hands on the sick and see them recover. Notice he didn't say if you're an evangelist or a pastor, he said, You, my children, go ye into the world and preach the gospel, lay hands on the sick, cast out devils, raise the dead. You know what I mean? And I think sometimes because we might see an evangelist doing that, darling, or a pastor doing that, we think it's just for those on stage. Do you want to speak more about why it's important for us to share our faith in our daily lives as part of following God's call for our lives?

SPEAKER_00 4:31

Yeah, and so as we're talking about the calling of our lives and how to step into the calling, you know, the reason that I'm sharing we we're sharing this scripture with you, Mark 15 to 18, is because the reality is if you want to step into everything that God has for your lives, we have to learn to be faithful in what He's already given us. And you see, this is not uh this this scripture that it says go into all the world and preach the good news. This is not just the evangelists or just those that have a heart for the lost, but actually the reality is of whether we're a teacher, whether a pastor, a prophetic, or whatever, we should all have a heart for the lost, and that's it can be done in different ways, but the reality is it's a command, it's not if you feel like it or if you feel up to it, but this is a command from God go into all the world and take the good news to my people. And so, darling, a question for you is um, what are the different ways that people can share their faith? Because I know not everybody's called to the platform or everyone's uh called to preach on a microphone, but just so that everyone we're all on the same page, what are different ways that people can share the good news today?

SPEAKER_03 5:51

I think one of the things I've seen you practice, and I'll share my I've seen you practice is that you pray for opportunities, just praying for those ordinary opportunities when we are working or on a walk or in Asda or you know, just on a walk with the Lord or out with friends, just recognizing that you don't have to organise an outreach to tell someone about Jesus. You can go out of your house, and if you see your neighbour, you know, sometimes even just using a prop as so for example, you might see flowers. Wow, your flowers are beautiful. Um, you're in a it seems like you're great at gardening, and then you start slowly getting to know people.

SPEAKER_00 6:28

And actually, just to jump in there, I know you just said about going out your house, but actually, you don't always have to even go out your house to evangelize, you know. That for what for one, just to give you an example, is there's been times when people have knocked on our door, and I know there was one woman who came who actually knocked on our door who came to talk to us about you know, you've I'm sure you've had them broadband and stuff, they were trying to sell us, you know, broadband packages. And we ended up talking to obviously uh uh about broadband, but we ended up actually talking to about Jesus and sharing the gospel with it, and she actually gave her life to the Lord, and you know, that was someone who came. We didn't go looking for her, but she came and knocked on our door. And I know that you know there's been times when even Jehovah's Witnesses have come and knocked on our door and I've spoken to them about Jesus and you know, other people.

SPEAKER_03 7:18

I had a woman that recently came, I don't know, she was she was um wanted us to sign up about um supporting death schools that have children that are deaf, and then I I got to hear her passion, and then I told her about Jesus, and and so yeah, I think that you sometimes you don't have to wait, and like you said, you know, I think for me as well is that I had a desire, and so I started off writing poetry and um and I you know hoping that people would just you know and I appreciate the gospel in the poetry. I started off blogging, I went out with my leader, because you have also um you shadowed some of your friends at the beginning. You know, you want an expert from the beginning, and I did the same. I shadowed my leader, um, and we went evangelizing, and people people get saved, don't they? Yeah people get saved. Of course, you get rejection, of course you get people that don't want to, but yeah, people do get saved and they they are grateful that we preach the gospel to them.

SPEAKER_00 8:11

So and this is and the and the and the and I think the point that we're really trying to get to you is obviously this is a command from the Lord to all believers, and so we should all want to share the good news. We're not supposed to keep the love of Jesus to ourselves, and whether and that's why it's so good to pray and say, Okay, Lord, will you give me divine appointments and opportunities? Will you use me? And this is you know, in our workplaces, you know, there's people that you can reach in your circle of life, in your workplace or in your friends, in your families that may be an evangelist or that or someone might never be able to reach them, but yet you, God's positioned you or called you because he wants to use you, if that makes sense. And so this is what when we're talking about evangelism and sharing the good news, we're not necessarily saying you have to go out on the streets or and preach on a microphone, but I'm saying, you know, with your neighbor with your friends, with your neighbours, with your family members, you know, as you're at the shops or whatever, as you get people that knock on your door, as we've shared, even on social media, you might share you might share the gospel on social media. Yeah, you know, people, there's so many different ways that you can do it, whether it's on YouTube, TikTok, you know.

SPEAKER_03 9:26

And and as you're saying that, darling, I even really feel prompted to actually God, you know, a lot of us we talk against social media or we we see the dangers of social media, and it is, it can be a dangerous tool if you don't put boundaries in place. But God is so smart, he knows that at the moment, what are people using the most? The internet, they're using media, and so he he's even told us to start a podcast, you know. I didn't have that desire 10 years ago, but God is aware of the times, and so he anoints people to, like you say, to share the gospel

Discovering your gifts through obedience

SPEAKER_03 10:00

or their faith through podcasting, through Instagram, through TikTok. Apparently, TikTok, people are getting people are uh receiving Jesus through TikTok. And so that's not to say that you can't protect your mind and your heart against social media because it has its dangers, just like anything else, you need to be careful. But if you have a media gift, you know, um, but one thing I did learn, darling, when I was using blogging is I realized I still needed to go out there because it still kept me on the laptop, and I didn't really go out there and interact with people, and there's something about one-on-one talking to somebody because you can of course preach a blog and someone can be touched, but praying for somebody, I'm sure you've had moments where you pray for that person and they just feel God's presence, yeah. Absolutely, yeah. So, yeah, darling. So, why don't you talk to us about your view on being faithful then?

SPEAKER_00 10:52

You know, being faithful, yeah, and so actually I think this does lead me nicely on to the next point, my next point, and I will carry on with it. Uh, you'll see how I go along with this. But as as I say, when I first came to the Lord, I you know was growing in my relationship with the Lord, and I remember um reading this scripture going to all the world, and so I remember, I'll be honest with you, I'm sharing this with you to encourage some of you, but I was petrified at telling people about Jesus. I'm just being honest with you. You may think, wow, well, I couldn't imagine that now because I'm sat on a microphone now, or you know, and I go on mission trips, but I actually wasn't always like this. I was I'm was quite introverted. I was happily sit at the back of church, keep to myself, and you know, not necessarily even talk to people, but yeah, I knew that God had told me to preach the gospel because it's a and I wanted to be obedient to him. And so I in our church there there was an evangelism group, and I thought, well, I want to learn how to evangelise, even though I'm scared. And so I spoke to one of my friends who was doing that, and I said, Can I come out with you? He said, Why don't you come out with me but just follow me around, shadow me around, you don't even have to talk, you don't even have to say anything, but just kind of observe and watch and learn on how I on how he did it. And so I actually admit for the first maybe two or three times when I went out, I didn't even really say a word. I literally just watched how he did it, watched how he started the conversations, watched how he would navigate the different questions and how he would share the gospel. And I admit I learned so much from that. And then as I little by little, as I kept praying, Lord, give me boldness, give me divine appointments and opportunities where you teach me how to evangelize, I would pray this daily, daily, daily, and I admit it's been such a journey. But oh, I can honestly look back over the years, I can see how God has increased my boldness, how he's made it easier for me, how he's given me divine appointments and opportunities.

The danger of comparison

SPEAKER_00 13:00

But the reality is was I had to pray and align myself with God. And God has given us this command for all believers to preach the gospel, but yet we have to be serious about it and say, okay, God, will you use me? Will you use me to share the good news? Will you use me? Will you give me that boldness, that courage?

SPEAKER_03 13:20

Because you you you started off from there. You didn't automatically what I'm trying to the point I'm trying to get at as you're sharing that is like you didn't just get a mic day one.

SPEAKER_00 13:28

No, of course not.

SPEAKER_03 13:29

You were faithful, you put yourself in a situation that was difficult. Yes, you want it wasn't your norm, you know. And out of that you became trained, and then through that you started discovering, oh, okay, you know, I have a desire. And it doesn't, and actually, it doesn't you you still even now we can still get nervous going out on the streets, but it doesn't stop us from doing it because God has told us to do it. But I think what we're trying to say is that I think in our day and age where everyone shows what they're doing, we see people on the platform, people can think that you just get there, or people can feel like, well, I'm I'm only in God's will if I have a platform, if I'm famous, if I'm known. We're saying no, if you love God and He loves you and He knows you and you're in His Word and you're preaching the gospel and you're faithful in the Word of God and obedient to it, you are in the will of God, and from that place, God then you start discovering your gifting and your talents, you know?

SPEAKER_00 14:26

Yeah, and so yeah, and that's what we're trying to really drill across to you is that just be faithful in the simple things that God asked you, you know. That's one of the things that people have sometimes asked me, well, how do I know what God has called me to do? And I always I always say to them, Well, this is one of the things that I know that because it's part of everybody's calling, it is a part of everybody's calling. Learn to be faithful in the small, you know, learn to be faithful in reading the word, learn to be faithful in trying to uh share the good news and share the gospel. And you know, we want these things, these things to become a part of our daily lives, not just to pray or share the good news when you go out evangelizing on a Saturday or whatever, yeah, but when you're at work every day every day of our lives, Lord, will you use me today? Lord, I'm on this earth for you so that you can be known.

SPEAKER_03 15:20

And and we're not saying that every time the Lord gives you an opportunity, you you will get a chance to preach the gospel. We're not saying that you just cram it down people's throats and you become uh not with wisdom. We're saying that in certain situations the Lord might lead you to start building a relationship with someone you work with, and maybe maybe then um six months later you share the gospel. Um what we are saying is that um I think sometimes people have this mindset, darling, of, well, I'm just gonna be kind and nice and loving. And that is actually true. Of course, if you're kind and you're showing love and you um are a nice person because of what Jesus has done through you, people will experience that. But if you never tell them why you're like that,

God’s timing and hidden seasons

SPEAKER_03 16:00

and if you never share the real gospel, which is he died, he was buried, and he resurrected because he loves us and needs a re wants a relationship with us, and we need to repent. And if people don't know that they need to repent, because it's easy to tell someone that God loves them, but it's hard, it's it starts getting hard when you start telling them now you need to repent that because then we're confronting the sin nature, yeah. And so we're saying both work, you've got to be you've got to live by the word of God, loving people, but you've also got to be honest with with with with them when it comes to the gospel as well and what it is and why they need Jesus.

SPEAKER_00 16:32

But actually, this is the part you know, actually, if you really love people telling them the gospel and telling them the in a sense the seriousness of their sin, that is love. Because the reality is you can love them, you can care for them, you can you know feed the poor, help the poor, you can um, you know, care for the needy and the vulnerable. But the reality is, and that's great, those things are great. We need to do that. But yeah, if you don't still tell them the good news, you may be helping them on this earth, but what about their eternity? That's the reality, is you know, this life is temporary, and that's why God has given us that command. Not he doesn't command us to go out and help the poor, but then don't tell them the good news. He's commanded us to tell the good news because that is the power to save, to set people for free, and you know, as they actually grow in their relationship with the Lord, if they give their lives to the Lord, that's where the transformations will come in and God will grab hold of their lives if they submit to him.

SPEAKER_03 17:38

So, what do you do if you get someone who tells you, darling, well, I feel like I'm more of a prophet or an apostle, and if so if someone was to push back, because we're not talking about office, we're talking about the will of God for our lives, just like walking in lovers. What would you say? How would you encourage them? Okay, that's great, but how would you encourage them to still share their faith?

SPEAKER_00 18:01

Well, I actually I think you know, for for example, prophet someone who's a pro says they're a prophet or prophetic. What a beautiful gift you have. Oh my god and use that for evangelism, you know. This is where you know the gifts go hand in hand. Pray and say, Lord, give me words of knowledge, give me words of knowledge for people, because often sometimes you can talk to someone and they maybe have a their they they've got their guard up or they're not open, but yet the Lord might drop something into your spirit where he says, This person, their brothers hurt them, or or whatever it is, and you can say, I actually you when you ask that question to them or you say, Oh, is this true is this happened in your life? It can break that lower people's guards. And I honestly, I remember I once evangelized with someone in America, and they flowed in the prophetic so much, it was unbelievable. I've never seen almost anything like it, but like every person that went up to the Lord was giving them a word of knowledge for every person, and honestly, to see the the way that how some people would have their guards up to start with, but as soon as he gave them a word of knowledge and their guard lowered and it brought and you know, and they and it would just they would open their hearts to that, it was amazing. And so, you know, just yes, you may certainly have gifts that are you're stronger in other areas, or you may certainly feel you know that God's called you to other things, but the reality is whether you're a pastor of a church, whether you're on the worship band, whether you feel more apostolic, you still have a mandate from God to share the good news of Jesus.

SPEAKER_03 19:34

And also, you know, when I when we even look at that, um before anyone became a pastor in the Bible, before before they even became apostles, they were mess, they were preaching the gospel, you know. And I think sometimes people get the assignment mixed up with the will of God, you know, the assignment can change. One day I could I could be a pastor for five years, but then God might change my assignment. Or I could be a uh traveling evangelist for another five years, and then Lord might want me to just stay local. It does that mean that I don't have a call on my calling of God in my life, of course I do. And so I'm even reminded, darling. You know, I think one of the ways that I another spin that I'll put on it is that what did Jesus do? Jesus is a prophet, he was He was a pastor, he was a teacher, 100%. He was a prophet, he's definitely the apostle of our faith, and he's also an evangelist, he went everywhere declaring the good

The parable of the talents

SPEAKER_03 20:30

news of the gospel. He did it. And so if we really want to be like Jesus, we we we cannot look at Jesus and say, Did he or did he not declare the gospel? He did. And so that that's also something that we need to think about. And people have people are probably thinking, why are we badgering on? It's because you know, it's because I think sometimes we we can get lost in in maybe just the the things of the church and we'll forget that people are hurting. And so we just wanted to just share that be faithful in that, yeah. And as you're faithful, as you're walking in God's calling for your life, suddenly you start discovering your gifts. So, darling, how did you start discovering your gifts? Uh building on from being faithful, how did you start noticing that you wanted there was more for you to do? Tell us about that.

SPEAKER_00 21:17

Well, as I kind of did share a little bit about, I I felt like God, you know, I well I read it in the thing, go into all the world and preach the gospel, and so I I started just doing that. Of course, I was pre you know spending time with the Lord, reading my Bible, praying, you know, pressing into God. But it was from that place of just trying to be obedient to him, being hungry for him, that, you know, God started opening other doors up and you know, I got opportunities to start leading church services in my and then I got the opportunity to pre well, God put it on my heart and you know, he started saying, Josh, I've called you.

SPEAKER_03 21:56

Because a normal Josh before you before that wouldn't preaching wasn't Oh no.

SPEAKER_00 22:00

As I say, I was petrified. I was petrified when God told me he's called me to start preaching. I I was, you know, petrified and I didn't want to do it. And even like actually my wife is even a witness. The first time I went to when I went to an evangelism training camp where we met, the first time God, you know, God they take you out onto the streets to preach the gospel. And I remember I actually nearly cried because I was so scared. I was petrified of preaching on the microphone in the streets. But yet I wanted to do it. And the reality is, and that this is what I want to say to you, is if you want to step into what God's for got for you, it often requires stepping out your comfort zone. You won't be able to step into all that God has for you unless you step unless you get used to stepping out your comfort zone. And even in a sense where these podcasts that we're doing, you never thought you'd do a podcast. I never thought I'd do it. No, you know, we had it's this is not something that we ever thought we would want to do, but yet God's put it on our heart, and so we've had to learn a new skill, teach us, you know, invest a lot of time learning.

SPEAKER_03 23:05

And that's how you and that's how you start discovering what we're trying to say is that it's not you don't just arrive, it's a journey of different assignments. But if you're not faithful at number one, how can you ever move to assignment number two?

SPEAKER_00 23:18

No, and that's actually a great point. I'm reminded, you know, even of that I'm not gonna read the whole scripture, but you can read it for yourself because it's a long one. But you know, the parable, the parable of the the three servants with the uh the with the talents, and I'll paraphrase quickly. Most of you should know what I'm talking about. Um but where there's one ta one servant gets one talent, the second one gets two talents, and then the third one I think the second one gets three, and then the third one gets four, but we'll we'll clarify that show notes. So they get different um they get these different talents, and the first one goes and plants theirs in a field and thinks, well, if I don't lose it, that's a good thing. The second one goes and he doubles it, and he if he had two, he got four, and then the the the third one has five, and then he doubles it and gets ten. And later on, after a while, the master comes back who had given them these these talents, and he and he says, The first one, so what did you do? Yeah, and the one that had uh had five, he said, Well, Master, I've invested it and I've doubled it, and now I've got ten for you. And so he says, Well done, my good and faithful servant. And then he goes to the next one, and the one who had two and he's now got four. He uh again he said, Well done. Well done, my good and faithful servant, you've been obedient. Yeah. And then he goes to the third one who had just planted it in the ground and he says, So what did you do? And he says, Well, I did nothing with it, I just stuck it in the ground because I didn't want to lose it.

SPEAKER_02 24:51

Or I didn't read it, it's quite could actually read it, might be nice from verse 24.

SPEAKER_00 24:54

Oh yeah, from

Faithfulness with what God has given you

SPEAKER_00 24:55

verse 24. That then the servant came with one bag of silver and said, Master, I knew you were a harsh man, investing crops you didn't plant and gathering crops you didn't cultivate. I was afraid I would lose your money, so I hid it in the ground. Look, here is your money back. But the master replied, You wicked and lazy servant, if I knew I if you knew I harvested crops I didn't plant and gathered crops I didn't cultivate, why didn't you deposit my money in the bank? At least I could have gotten some interest on it. And then he ordered in verse 28, take the money from the servant and give it to the one with the ten bags of silver. To those that use well what they are given, even more will be given. That's the and they will have an abundance. But from those who do nothing, even what little they have will be taken away. And wow. This is you know that is that is um well, I I actually can't really say it any better than this. Yeah. You know, the gifts that God has given you, the the things that God has for your life, if you don't be faithful in the small so that God can bring the increase, they will actually be taken away and given to someone else who is prepared to use them and prepared to move forward. And that's what we're saying. The little that God has asked you to do, in a sense of faithfully reading your word, faithfully pressing into him, seeking his face, becoming more and more like him, sharing the word, sharing, sharing the gospel, sharing the good news of the communion. You know, this is what I'm saying. People can ask us, how do I step into the court into my calling? Be faithful with the what God's told you to do. Do the next thing that he's doing. Be faithful, be obedient to what is God, and God will bring the increase. Be incre be faithful in sharing the word, and God will lead you to preaching or leading or whatever it is, and that's just be faithful and obedient.

Discovering gifts while stepping out

SPEAKER_03 26:50

I I mean I remember when I was out on the streets, and suddenly I would get all these like thoughts will come to me as I'm preaching, and I didn't realize that was the prophetic at play. But if I just stayed at home or if I never shared anything, maybe I would have later on, but I wouldn't have discovered that oh, the Holy Spirit is in it. Because we read in the Bible, he says the Lord works with them, confirming the word, you know. And so that faithfulness, my goodness, when I when you read that scripture, the fear of the Lord came into me. So we want to encourage you, as trust God. You might not, you know, Christine Kane normally says, she said, when she became saved, she didn't, she didn't know what propel was, propel women, she didn't know what A21 was, that's her anti-um sex trafficking organization. She didn't know that she would write all those books. It wasn't until she just did the normal thing of everyday, being an everyday Christian, just sharing her faith, that suddenly she started discovering her gifts. And so we're saying, you know, I I'm reminder of David, darling. David started off just by just by making music to the Lord and tending to sheep. We think of Moses. All these people just in in the back of nowhere, you know, because I I think the reason why I'm hidden this is because I can feel that some people feel like, man, Lord, like when is it going to be my turn? It's your turn today. As in, like, what is God asking you today? He must be asking you to do something. And even if it's just to be loving to your husband or um be being kind to your grandparents or cooking your your friend who's sick a meal, that is the will of God at play because God would do those things for people. You know, we have to get away from fulfilling the will of God being this big thing. Now, am I saying that the Lord does not put people on platforms? Of course he does. And we can't we can't uh deny that either. But is everyone gonna be on a platform? We would be lying to if we said yes, and so you've got to be content in the everyday life, don't you?

Being content in the everyday

SPEAKER_00 28:47

It's it's being content, but it's also doing what God's asked you to do. For some, God might have told you, I want you to intercede for the nation for and I want you to pray for one hour a day. Some people, that's what God tells them to do. Some people, God gives the gift of intercession, and you know, that's what we're saying. Well, okay, be faithful in that. Do you know what I mean? If God tells you to help go and help the homeless people and to feed the homeless, well, go and be obedient and go and do that. Do you know what I mean? It whatever God is asking you to do, if that's to be an usher in the usher in your local church, whether that's to He wants you to sew into the local ministry, whether it's whether that's cleaning toilets in the local church, yeah, whether that's sewing money into other missionaries so that as they go you pray and you intercede for them and you you help them to go, or whatever it is. God wants to use you, He wants He's got things He wants to partner with you and just this is what we're trying to say be obedient in pressing into Him, be obedient in what God's asked you to do, be obedient in sharing the word in your day-to-day life.

SPEAKER_03 30:01

And and I think you've helped me with this, and I think I'm gonna share my my story with this, the journey of following God, because I can definitely say that, depending on obviously the environment that you're in, um you can learn it wrong or you can mishear, you know. I can't, I don't exactly know whether it was what I was taught or whether those dis those desires were in me. But, you know, I can definitely say that when I started doing this, I started off loving the Lord. I love Jesus. And then along the way, I think sometimes maybe ambition got in, you know, um selfish ambition, um, you know, then could maybe competition. And especially if you're in an environment where you're compared to. And so I'm not saying that I grew, I became a Christian and suddenly I just was perfect and like, yeah, the will of God. I've uh over the years the Lord has humbled me and stripped me back and to show me, Sarah, if you never preach again, you're still in my will. If you, you know, you don't need these big things to think that you're fulfilling my will. And so I want to speak to somebody who who's maybe experiencing that where maybe you're you're overlooked and maybe you haven't been chosen. Kristen Kane says something. She says, you don't need someone to discover you, God created you, He sees you, He already sees you. And so as long as we are following what God tells us to do and we don't dismiss our gifts. Because don't you think there are people who think, well, I'm I'm not as bold as Joshua, so what can I do? And that's just not true because you might not be as out there as Joshua, but you know, that maybe you are an amazing um at hospitality. Are you amazing at hospitality, darling?

SPEAKER_00 31:40

Um I try I try, I try. I wouldn't say it's my special one of my special gifts, but I try. But no, that but that is you know that's a good point. Like, for example, my mum, she's so hospitable. She's you know, okay, she's never really she's never really preached on a micro on a on the platform or a microphone, but yet she's got such a heart

Obedience before promotion

SPEAKER_00 32:00

for bringing people together, yeah, bringing those that are alone or vulnerable or need help. And she, you know, growing up, the amount of times that she I would come home and there's just people in the garden, she's invited people over for lunch, she's just loving on people, and you know, she that was certainly without a doubt, one of her gifts, gifts that the Lord had given her was just loving on people, and you know, and she was being faithful in that, and so that's what we're saying is just be faithful in what God has caught got you got for you.

SPEAKER_03 32:35

Um I think so. No, no, I agree, completely agree, and there's so many things that I could add on there, so many conversations coming up, but one last question, darling, is that why do you think in the day and age we're in, what do you think are the causes of people feeling discontent or comparing themselves or feeling that they're not they just don't have what it takes to do what God has called. What do you think causes that kind of disrespect for your calling or for your gifting? Because your mum, I've never heard her say, I'm just I just have hospitality. She embraces that.

SPEAKER_00 33:07

I think I think above all you've got to be content with your who you with your relationship with God. You know what I mean? You've got to So that's the first thing. That's that's the first thing you we at the end of the day, we don't do any of this for approval of man, we do it for approval from God. You know, when I when in whatever I do, I wanna st when I st I want God to be saying, Well done, my faithful servant, you've been obedient in evangelism, you've been obedient. I see your heart, how you keep coming to me every day to spend time with me, or whatever it is. And I'm not saying we we're far from perfect, hear our voices, we're far from perfect, we make mistakes, we get things wrong, but above all, I can say this hand on heart our heart is to serve the Lord, is to love him, is to know him, is to advance his kingdom. Yeah, and so I think some of the things that can stop people is well, one comparison or what do you think causes that? I think you can sometimes look at someone who's maybe a lot louder, who's out there, who's you know, who seems to be a lot more bold or confident, and you think, oh man, I could never be like that. But the reality is they haven't just woke up one day and they're like that. It's a journey, they've maybe been walking with the Lord for 10, 15, 20 years and they've been faithful, or whatever it is, but they've been faithful in the little, and so God has given them the increase. Yeah, and um and so you know that can be one thing. I think also another thing can be the busyness of life. I think this is a serious one that people can get caught up in work or in their jobs or in responsibilities, their kids or friends, or family, or even whatever it is, just the busyness of this life, and some people can be so good at filling their lives that actually they almost they block that they don't have any time for to serve God, or they don't have any time for the simple things, and this is what we're trying to drill hole home is when we keep God at the centre of him and we say, God, will you lead me and guide me and all that I do? Then we let him guide us in how we fill our calendars. We let us guide us in we let him guide us in our responsibilities, in our workplace,

Taking the handbrake off

SPEAKER_00 35:20

in uh in how we serve in the church, in whatever it is, pray about it and say, God, should I meet this person on this day? God, should I go and should I disciple? Should I go and do this? God, do you how do you want me to disciple this person? How do you want me to serve in the church? And God might strip you all back. There's different seasons, different seasons, but God might strip you back and say, I just want you to come deeper in me. Stop, don't fill your calendar anymore, but just set an hour aside every day to come and be with me, or two hours a day, I want you to just come and spend time with me. And that's what I'm saying. I can't start saying that I know what God's calling is for every person, but what I will say is I know that the reality is if you want to step into what God has for you, above all, seek his face above all, and he will lead you and guide you, and just be faithful in the little in the things that God has asked you to do.

SPEAKER_03 36:12

And and another thing to add on to that, if you if people ever get to a point where they're discontent with their the gifting they have or the assignment, I would say return to the word. Remember what this is about. It's not about you, it's about Jesus. Remember what this is about, it's about this glorious savior that in Revelation it says that he will wipe away every tear and every, you know, and he'll we're gonna and he's gonna be our son and he's wonderful. And for me, that helps me remembering oh, I am here for God, I am alive for Jesus. Knowing him, loving him, feeling his anointing and his presence and the glory of God is enough. Of course, I'm I'm not saying we can't, but I think that helps so because even there's been times, even sometimes where maybe I have felt face-face comparison and I had to go back into the word of God and find out, oh Lord, okay, this is what you say about me. I've left I've left social media many times before I deleted it completely, didn't I? Because I was struggling with comparison and I knew it wasn't right, it didn't make me feel good. Yeah, and so I unfollowed some people. So I'm giving them practical things. Maybe it's social media, maybe other people compare you to your brother or sister. Maybe you're comparing yourself, maybe it's the devil putting thoughts in your mind. Again, all of these pull away from them, get into the word of God, and find out he says you're his masterpiece, he's got good plans for you that he ordained before time began, that you're his special one, you know, you're the light of the world. I tell you, if you meditate on those and you remove yourself from situations where you're constantly comparing yourself to others and you remind yourself of who you are, you'll start loving your calling again, your giftings again, and your assignments again. So, yeah, that's something that is worth sharing.

SPEAKER_00 37:54

Yeah, no, absolutely. I think that's some good stuff. And I just want to say, you know, finally, we're gonna be coming to a close in a minute. But I want to say if you are being, you know, maybe you are already serving in your local church, maybe you are already, you know, doing different things for God. I want to encourage you, keep going, keep going, keep going, keep pressing it, keep that above all, keep that hunger for God. You know, God responds to hunger, and so be hungry and say, God, I want to use me more, use me to advance your kingdom, use me, God, and God, as God sees you're serious about Him, He will bring the increase. He, you know, uh one of my favourite sayings is God can't drive, God, you can't drive a parked car, and that's the reality is move move forward, even with the little that God's asked you, and God will steer you and direct you to where he wants you to go. But if you've got the handbrake on and you're just sat there waiting for, well, I'm just waiting for God to whatever, well, you're not gonna go anywhere because God, you can't drive a parked car. Take the handbrake off, start being obedient to what God's asked in you, and then God will direct your steps, he will lead you to what he wants you to do.

SPEAKER_03 39:05

And I preached

God trusts those who say yes

SPEAKER_03 39:06

this uh this past weekend on something like that. I said sometimes we see that the people that are already doing things have more to do, and sometimes it's not because people are choosing them, it's because God can rely on them to say yes. You know, we wonder why some people keep getting maybe promoted and elevated and stuff like that by God. I'm not talking about people, but by God, well, it's because God can rely on them and so he keeps putting more things in your hands, you know, darling, uh and this is a story for another day. I don't actually I believe some of the giftings I have were for my brother because he got saved first. Well, uh uh he received the gospel first, and I think God has a had such an amazing plan in his life. But when the when he pulled away from the Lord, I believe the Lord passed some of those to me. So there are so there are there are crowns. We we heard this, um, we had um Mishka um from um the Assemblies of God preach at a church, and he said, a lot of people actually have crowns, but actually God needs some work accomplished. If you're not doing something, you know, sometimes he can actually just pass it on to somebody else. And I don't want the Lord to pass me by. And so yeah, we just pray that this has been encouraging to you guys.

SPEAKER_00 40:14

Yeah, no, and there's so much we can say about that. The last thing I want to add is that was an amazing point, but Reinhard Bonke. We may have actually shared this in one or another another episode or not, but if not, I'll I'll say it again for those that haven't heard it. Reinhard Bonkey, when God called him to start Christ for all nations, the ministry that has, you know, does huge crusades uh throughout Africa. Reinhard Bonkey wasn't God's first choice. He actually tried to give it to three other people before Reinhard Bonkey, and yet they rejected it or they didn't want it. And so I remember Reinard, this was Reinhonke's own words. He came and he gave it to him when he said, I want to give you this, and he gave it to Reinhardt, but he said, You weren't my first choice, but you are faithful and obedient in what I've asked you to do, and so I want to give you this increase. And so God took someone else's inner sense calling that he had for someone else and gave it to Reinhard Bonkey.

SPEAKER_03 41:09

And so, you know, that's not to say that those that people, if if they suddenly got up and said, Okay, Lord, I'm ready, the Lord can still have something great for them, but they still have to make the journey. Yeah, they still have to start from A, B, C, and is yeah, you can't get away from being trained by God, being proved by God to be faithful.

SPEAKER_00 41:29

Yeah, you just can't get away from it. Absolutely, absolutely. Shall we pray?

SPEAKER_03 41:33

Let's pray.

SPEAKER_00 41:34

All right, well, Lord Jesus, I just pray that you've touched the touched all of our hearts today, Lord. And Father, I just pray for every person that listens that you will, that they will feel your love, that they will feel your presence, and I pray that you above all that you'll take them in a deeper, intimate relationship with you. But Father, I just pray that you would use them, Lord. Help us all to step into all that you have for us. Help us to be all of us to be faithful in the things that you've called us, help us to be faithful in the preaching of your gospel. I pray that you would give us all divine appointments and opportunities to share your good news. Help us to be faithful in seeking your face, in reading your word, and whatever else you've put on our hearts, or whatever else you've told us to do, I pray that you'd help each and every one of us to be obedient and faithful to you in Jesus' name. Amen.

SPEAKER_03 42:31

I just

Book recommendation: Walking with God

SPEAKER_03 42:32

wanted to just recommend the book Walking with God. That's a very good book for what we're talking about. Just walking with God in your daily life by John Eldridge. I'll put that in the show notes as well. Walking with God, you can get it on Amazon by John Eldridge, it'll be a great book for people to start walking with God in their calling and in intimacy.

SPEAKER_00 42:49

Amen. Amen. Well, thanks for listening, guys. I hope that's blessed you. Until next time, God bless. Bye. Bye.