Gifts and Callings of God

The Gifts and the Callings of God

Book Report

Tracey L. Stallworth

Jacksonville Theological Seminary

October 13, 2014

For Course: Gifts and Callings of God

INTRODUCTION

The main objective of this book report is to introduce and to examine closely the subject
the calling and gifts of God through leadership. This paper will address the specifics in what
leadership should be. There are many different views of leadership which could be viewed for
example, a general in war in Vietnam leading soldiers to war for a cause, a captain of a
basketball or football team leading them on the field to execute every play precisely, or a young
student being disciple for a greater cause through a willingness by submitting to the master.
Many great leaders are not born they are developed through the fiery furnace of their experience,
trial, frustration, pain and accomplishment. This is what occurred to Billy Frank Graham when
his girlfriend agreed to marry him but changed her mind shortly stating that she wasnt sure they
were made or right for one another. He was devastated which led him to surrendering totally to
do the will of God.
Great leaders are focused on the vision but realize that in order for the vision to actually
come about there must be a complete horizontal level of submitting to God and definitely have
genuine love for the people. If there is no love how do you expect the vision to come about?
Throughout the bible you see time and time that God works with men in the bible so that they
can reach the sons of men. Apostle Onu states that we all are laborers together with God. He
further elaborates that God uses ordinary men who are endued with the Power and Ability of God
to reach His people in the world. In addition, all mighty God has given us many gifts with
different functions to lead in the Church. Through the different gifts it allows us serve in different
positions and capacities but understanding the vision is Jesus Christ.
Onu states in his book that we must understand in the body of Christ, that Jesus left us the
fivefold ministry. Some are called apostles, some prophets, some evangelist, some pastors and
teachers ( Eph. 4:11). He alludes to the fact that there are other gifts in the body such as miracles,

exhorters, organizer and financial supporters. This many gifts of the body are instruments in
maintaining the church in the body of Christ. As believers God has equipped us with His gifts of
the spirit that is enabling us to serve in all capacities that He has called us to serve in. Believers
must acknowledge that if it were not for the gifts, where would we be? The gifts alone are not
ours to just sit on and to make them prosper for us alone. The bible states that we were all called
upon to be good steward of the Manifold Grace of God. Furthermore, we all are commanded to
use the gifts of God that were given to us. In retrospect the gifts of God should be uses for the
good of all and not for selfish reason or negativity.
In the book of Romans 11:29, the gifts of and calling of God are without repentance. We
must understand that when God calls you it is for His purpose, even when God gives you a gift,
he does not retract or take the gift and calling back. When He gives it to you, it is yours until you
return back to God in heaven.
THE CALLING
The calling of God is very important to becoming a very effective Christian leader in this
earth. Even though God initiates the calling, it is the individual who has to be willing to believe
that they are actually hearing from God in order to comply. The strangest thing before Moses was
called to lead the Jewish people out of bondage from Egypt; he was merely a sheep herder for his
father-in-law Jethro leading and watching a flock of sheep. The calling that God initiated on
Mosess life completely changed the outcome of his current situation and fueled it with Gods
purpose and that was destiny.
The call of David came about through King Saul disobeying what God instructed him to
do. And the LORD said unto Samuel, How long wilt thou mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected

him from reigning over Israel? fill thine horn with oil, and go, I will send thee to Jesse the
Bethlehemite: for I have provided me a king among his sons.
In the story everybody assumed it would be one of the older sons of Jesse that is why
David was left in the field to tend sheep. When David arrived the Spirit of the Lord told Samuel
to anoint him.
Follow me and I will make you fishers of men These are the words that Peter and John
heard while fishing. Immediately after they heard that they drop their nets and accepted their
calling to become disciples of Jesus Christ.
The callings of Gods are just not limited to elders, bishops, pastors, teachers and other
people who are in the ministry doing work for Jesus Christ. Jesus calls every Christian to listen
follow him through discipleship. This process reminds me of joining the military. In order to
become a believer in Christ you have to confess Romans 10:9-10. Once you do that by
confession you are automatically called into the works of the ministry. In the military you
commit swearing and signing forms two different times, once you are in you go to basic training
so that you are conditioned and taught to understand your calling in the military.
The specific role of the calling in the ministry or in life is to respond to that voice or
desire that propels you to engage actively in it. With that said it is incumbent upon that individual
to develop a relationship with Jesus Christ so that they would know him for who he truly is and
to fulfill their call on their life.
SERVING/TRAINING LEADERSHIP
I was a store manager at one time and I was having a store manager meeting because my
divisional manager was not pleased with the store numbers. As time went on I got the feeling that
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my employees were just here to get a check and that was all. My feelings were that they were
just carnal minded because of a paycheck. After that thought I told them in the meeting that I
needed people who wanted to work and not just do their thing on the job.
Stewardship can be secular or spiritual in the church setting. As a believer it is very
important that we embrace the mind stewardship. According to Romans 12:2, Paul tells us not to
be conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may
prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Apostle Onu presents a question by asking where your heart is. He further indicates that
this is a very important question to ask, because it has a lot to do with you as an individual.
People have hidden motives to accomplish certain things that they want and not necessarily what
God wants for them. In the bible it mentions that if you are raised with Christ, to seek those
things which are above, where Christ Jesus is sitting at the right hand of the Father. It is very
imperative that we set our minds as believers on things that are above and not on the things of
this earth. When we are able to do this then we will be able to appear with Him in Glory.
As believers we have to understand that we are not here for us but for the kingdom of
God. We just manage things here on earth until He returns. Some people have misunderstood the
definition of this word and have actually lorded over the people as if they belong to them.
The church understands the role of stewardship as time, talent and treasures. I have heard
it preached one day in the church after a question was asked what if you do not have any money
to put in the offering plate. The pastor indicated that money is very important but it is not
everything. He said we all have something to give. For example, many people might have extra

time than others to come to the church and clean and help maintain the function of the church.
Others are financially stable to be good stewards of treasure.
Serving and Training are very vital in the ministry. People today in the church are really
not being discipled like they should be. We have visitors that come to service and they feel the
presence of God tugging on their heart so they get saved their happy and they come to service the
next two weeks then all of a sudden you dont see them anymore, why? Because the church was
not a good steward over the newly young convert. Not all people and churches do this but in
some they do not know how to teach and train people to become good stewards or disciples.
PRAYER
According to Dave Early prayer is certainly not the only act of leadership, but it is
the indisputable common denominator of spiritual difference-makers in every generation and in
any setting. In order for you to solve a fraction or improper fraction you must first figure out the
common denominator in order for you to actually solve the problem.
Many effective leaders throughout history have realized the value of power in prayer.
Prayer is a direct communication with God. Prayer provides insight. This allows you to have a
relation with the Father because you are speaking to Him and He is talking back to you.
Prayer is the most important task to any spiritual leader. Andrew Murray states, in war,
everything depends upon each soldier being obedient to the word of command, even though it
cost him his life. As it is important for the soldier to being obedient it is also important that
prayer is everything to spiritual work.

Charles Spurgeon (834-1892) was an effective leader. He looked at prayer as the slender
nerve that moves the muscle of omnipotence. John Chrysostom (c. 347-c. 407), understood the
power through prayer: The potency of prayer hath subdued the strength of fire; it hath bridled the
rage of lions, hushed anarchy to rest, extinguished wars, appeased the elements, expelled
demons, burst the chains of death, expanded the gates of heaven, assuaged diseases, repelled
frauds, rescued cities from destruction, stayed the sun in its course, and arrested the progress of
the thunderbolt.
WARFARE
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the
rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil
day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and
having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel
of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery
darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the
word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching
thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; Ephesians 6:12.
Ever since Lucifer was cast out of heaven and he took a third of the angel with him, there
has always be a battle good and evil. The battle that is talked is a spiritual battle which is unseen
but yet could manifest in the natural. Leaders must realize the moment you accept you calling to
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lead Gods people the warfare begins because the enemy will attempted to steal, kill and destroy
so that he could sift you as wheat so that your calling is aborted. Leaders must also realize that
Christ has already one the victory but until he returns that the battle still continues through the
world, the flesh and the devil.
Prayer is definitely important to the leader and believers, but the leader must know how
to spiritual warfare and is going behind the casual prayer and actually warring opposition in the
spiritual realm as the enemy attempts to inflict upon you. The leader must be willing to learn and
quote scripture on a continual basis to fight the good fight with the armor of God.
CONCLUSION
Out of the two books for this course for leadership the Conformed to His Image was more
applicable for this paper. Simplicity is the best thing when attempting to learn anything and I did
not find this in the Christian formation book. The title in Kenneth Boa book gave structure to
navigate the reader into learning and understanding leadership principles. Being a leader is not a
simple thing and sometimes many leaders would like to stop being one because of the weight it
brings to themselves and their families. The things discussed in this paper are minutes but yet
helpful in a leaders life.