Focus: A Call To Action

Text: Jh.14:12

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father."

Saul, later known as Paul, encountered the Lord, and he quickly realized that it was not to no purpose for him to have met the Lord. In Act.9, he asked the Lord two very vital questions. 

The first was: 'Who are you, Lord?' That is the question of identity. The Lord responded by saying, "I am Jesus whom you are persecuting…" That was a shattering revelation to Saul. The Lord did not say, "I am the Christ," because Saul was already conversant with the theology of the Messiah. What was shattering to Saul was the fact that the persecuted Jesus was indeed the Christ, and he had been persecuting the church of Jesus Christ - Jesus' people. The Lord was underscoring the fact that persecution against the church is the same thing as persecution against the Christ, for Christ and His church cannot be separated.

The second and final question was: 'Lord, what do you want me to do?' That is a question of destiny - of purpose. The revelation of God is meant to inspire action. Saul knew that revelation always led to operation. Vision should lead to action. After Isaiah's encounter with the Lord in Isaiah 6, God asked him, "Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?" Isaiah immediately responded by saying, "Here am I; send me." Isaiah moved from vision to action. He was then consecrated and commissioned to go forth and fulfill the purpose of God.

Moses encountered God at the Burning Bush, and that resulted in him becoming the deliverer of Israel. So the burning bush was designed by God to get Moses to do something for Him. 

Divine encounter always leads to divine endeavor or engagement. Vision ignites in us passion, and passion calls for action.

It is written in the book of Daniel that "the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits" (Dan.11:32). You cannot truly know God and not get busy for Him. Knowers of God become also doers for God.

The Lord Jesus Christ says that whoever believes in Him would also do the very works that He did, even greater works than He did. Believers in Christ are doers, not just talkers. They are called to be diligent, not to be indolent. They are required to be laborers, not loafers. The believer is called to be Christ's co-worker. Faith is known for the work it does.

God is not lazy, and the believer must not be. Amos declares, "WOE to them that are at EASE in Zion, and TRUST in the mountain of Samaria…" (Ams.6:1). Paul says, "For necessity is laid upon me; yea, WOE is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!" (1Cor.9:16). Step out of your comfort zone and do something for the Lord your God. The Lord Jesus Christ says, "Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so DOING" (Mt.24:46). The call to action is upon you now!

by Bishop Moses E. Peter