Lifted Vision Ministry

Hello everyone! God is so good! I have returned safely from the Philippines and MAN did God do great works in us and through us while we were there! I’ve had the privilege of sharing what God did with my church family at Calvary Chapel and I am extremely excited to share with First Baptist Church of Wolcott, Sterling Christian Church and North Wolcott Christian Church as well!

I’d like to do a bible study today that exemplifies what it means to follow the calling of God. I have been reading in the book of Ezra and it is so encouraging/inspiring to see that when King Cyrus felt God calling him to build a house for the Lord (Ezra 1: 1-2), he sent out a decree to the people of the land saying,

Ezra 1:3 (KJV)

“Who is there among you of all his people? his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build the house of the Lord God of Israel, (he is the God,) which is in Jerusalem.”

What King Cyrus was essentially saying if you have faith in God and know that God is with you and you are his child, then do what you can to help build and contribute to this temple. No hesitation. No fear. King Cyrus put out out the decree- and the people’s response was nothing short of INCREDIBLE.

Ezra 2:68-69 (KJV) says,

‘And some of the chief of the fathers, when they came to the house of the Lord which is at Jerusalem, offered FREELY for the house of God to set it up in his place: they GAVE THEIR ABILITY unto the treasure of the work.”

I think each and everyone of us should strive to be like these people; who dropped everything to follow the call of God and to further His kingdom. What is most impressive was their free and willing response to the command of God. They not only acknowledged to themselves, but to the world; that they were God’s children and they stepped out with their best foot forward; giving their time and ability to further the house of the Lord, and to do his good will; all because he had commanded it. The question we need to ask ourselves brothers and sisters is: are we RUNNING to freely sacrafice our time, efforts, and abilities for what God is calling us to do? Or are we using all the abilities and resources God has given us for selfish reasons and our own will..? Are we in a place where if God told us to do something today, we would drop everything in our lives and do what he wanted us to, no questions asked, not thinking about what we would be leaving behind? This life is so short; the way we spend every moment counts. God has shown us in countless ways that he is so faithful. He freely gave himself for us; it should be our good pleasure (and not a struggle) to do the same for him.

Selah. Blessings💓