You are called - Be in your position

Continuing our study on Book of Ephesians on the 15th Day of fasting prayer, today Pastor Anoj spoke from the Word.In his inimitable style, he brought out some of the serious topics of this epistle.
He discussed about two aspects, more specifically the second part.

1. What is the purpose of your calling?
Every one who is assured of their calling by Lord, must understand the purpose of their calling.
Thats what Paul clearly tells in Ephesians 1:4
According as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love,

You are called to be Holy and blameless.

2. How can we keep our position according to His purpose?
Ephesians 3:14-21.
14.For this cause I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
15 of whom the whole family in Heaven and earth is named,
16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man;
17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love,
18 may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth and length and depth and height,
19 and to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge, that you might be filled with all the fullness of God.
20 Now to Him who is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,
21 to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, forever. Amen.

This is Paul's second prayer in this epistle. The first prayer we can see in Ephesians 1:15- onwards. Here Paul very clearly tells about the various things which every one of us needs to follow to keep our position according to His purpose
a. Bow your knees - Always Pray (3:14)
We need to bow our knees before our God because
- He chosen us
- He adopted us
- He gave us inheritance
Prayer will lead you to spiritual maturity

b. Inner man(inner spirit) is strengthened by His Spirit(3:16)
If the inner man is not strengthened then sinful nature of the flesh will dominate us.If our inner man is strengthened then we can overcome the temptations
- This is what Jesus showed after His fasting for forty days
- This what Stephen showed when he was showered with stones (Acts 7:55-60)

c. Indwelling Christ - Christ must be a permanent resident in you and not as a guest.
2 Corinthians 6:16
... For you are the temple of the living God, as God has said, "I will dwell in them and walk among them; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.

When He dwells in you and walks among us, then He knows our infirmities. He will clear all of them.
When Abraham unknowingly gave a feast to God's angels, they knew that what is lacking in Abraham's family without telling it(Genesis 18:10)

d. Incomprehensible Love - rooted in Christ's Love (3:17)
If we are rooted in the love of Christ, we will bear fruits
Ephesians 2:4 - But God, who is rich in mercy, for His great love with which He loved us

e. Grow in the Infinite fullness of God(3:19)
When we grow in the fullness of God
- We will become spiritually mature
- We lack no gifts

We need to follow the above five advices to keep our position in Christ.

3. What will happen if we follow these?
Ephesians 3:20
Our God will do "exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,"

The Hope of His Calling

Ephesians 1:15-19
We continue our meditation on Book of Ephesians in our fasting prayer. Today Evg.Saju Pappen lead the session on the topic "His Calling"

Ephesian 1:15-19 is a prayer of Apostle Paul. In his prayer, Paul is pleading that, every one of us should know our calling and the hope of our calling or why we are called. To understand this calling our spiritual eyes must be enlightened
Then he discussed about two persons and their calling and how they responded to their calling

1. Moses- God calling Moses
Exodus 3:4,10
Points to note here
- Moses was 80 years old when this calling happened
- First 40 years he was in Pharaoh's place as a prince and next 40 years he was looking after the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro .
- Now he is desert, close to Mountain of God, Horeb. But he is almost down and out. His passion is dying.
- When Moses saw the bush burning, he moved closer to Horeb to see what it is
- God asked him to remove unholy things first, then come to Mountain of God. This very true now also. God wants us to be holy in every aspect
- Then God introduced himself to Moses as God of Abraham,Jacob and Issac. This is just to remind Moses where he is now and who is he and who is his fore fathers

How Moses responded to God's call?
- Moses raised 4 doubts/questions/excuses to avoid the calling
a. What is my merit/worth in taking up this huge task of delivering Israelites? Ex 3:11
Moses is trying to explain God that I am worthless, good for nothing fellow. But God does not require any qualification to use you. As Ephesians 2:1, we were dead in our sins, but still He loved us and died for us.
b. What is the name of the God who send me? Exodus 3:13
God introduced Himself to Moses initially. But still Moses again ask the question. Then God explains it further
- I AM THAT I AM .
- I am the God of Abraham, Jacob and Issac
- I am the God of your Father's
c. I am slow in speech and has slow tongue Exodus 4:10
Here Moses is trying to make God understand about his infirmities, even though he knows that God is his Creator. many times we also try to teach God and try to make Him understand about our issues.
d. Send somebody else other than me. Exodus 4:13
Even after clearing all his doubts, Moses is still not willing to go. Then God became angry
Jeremiah 13:15,16
But in the end Moses obeyed God's calling. Later he never questioned God. He did exactly what God commanded Exodus 39:32, 39:42, 40:16, 40:25, 40:32..

2. Calling of Elisha 1 Kings 19:19-21
- Elijah put his mantle upon Elisha, when he is working in the field
- Elisha responded immediately and ran after Elijah
- He killed the Oxen which was keeping him in the fields and followed Elijah

And God used Elisha mightily, with double spirit.

Conclusion
1. Are we sure about our calling?
2. Are we responding to the calling? or still telling excuses?
3. If we respond, it will be a blessing to us and our generations