Reply To: Pastoral Ministry 2023/2025 Discussion Board 1

[Wechie]

Thank you for drawing my attention to Nehemiah, it didn’t even cross my mind until now.
His story is definitely one that shows how God uses a man to fulfil his purpose.

Moses was the first name that came to mind

Case Study : Moses ( Exodus 2,3)

Moses was born at a time when there was a decree by the King to kill all male children ( Exodus 1:15-22). However , his parents by faith hid him for 3 months and they did this because they perceived that he was no ordinary child and they were not afraid of the king’s commandment. Hebrews 11:23.

Acts 7:20 – At that time Moses was born—a beautiful child in God’s eyes. His parents cared for him at home for three months ( NLT).

The parents of Moses took a step of faith, they believed His life would be preserved even though they didn’t know how. They must have perceived Moses had a purpose to fulfil.
They chose to risk everything to protect their ,by so doing preserving God’s purpose

Moses was later found and taken in by Pharaoh’s daughter. He was raised as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; the kings grandkid.
He at some point began to sense the call of God ; he was inclined towards his purpose even though he didn’t fully understand it. He was Jealous over the Israelites to the extent he became overzealous and killed an Egyptian in attempt to protect an Israelite. In another incident he tried to make peace between two Israelites .
Purpose was beckoning.

Hebrews 11: 24 -26 : When he grew up he refused to be identified as the Son of Pharaoh’s daughter .
He was born into wealth however he willing denounced it. He chose rather to share in the oppression of the Israelites – talk about a man driven by purpose.

Though God had placed a calling on his life , he didn’t enter into it’s fulfilment from the get go, he underwent a process of growth, self denial e.t.c.
In Exodus 3 We see God separating Moses for the very assignment he predestined for him ; to deliver Israelites from the hands of the Egyptians and into the promise land. Hebrews 11:27-29.

– Calling precedes separation.
Separation ushers us into the begining of the fulfilment of God’s purpose for our life.
In Acts 13:1-2 We can see the tenses used ;
Called ( past tense), separate ( present tense).

Before the foundation of the world, God already knew what Moses was going to do. Before Moses was conceived in his mother’s womb, God already placed his call on him.
Same applies to each one of us . Jeremiah 1:5.

-The Principle progression is at play here

A mango seed is a potential Mango fruit, it first needs to be put to the grown before it can sprout, though it has the potential to become a fruit bearing tree it would never happen if it doesn’t fall to the ground and die. It’s purpose has already been predetermined but for the fulfilment to occur it needs to pass through different stages .
Everyone’s call and purpose predates their birth

-There’s usually a time lapse between calling and separation in which the key of faithfulness is being discovered while qualification may be required .

-The timing of calling and separation is set by God. He knows the end before the beginning. Before God starts He already finished.
The timing of separation is not necessarily a function of qualification but more a function of keying into God’s Grace .
Moses didn’t even consider himself qualified.Despite this, all God needed was for him to key into his Grace.

God does the calling as well as the separation and he does them at his own time . What is required us is that we are faithful wherever God places us in each season and key into His grace when He ushers us into the next phase.

Reference: PM 503-C lesson 5