Fulfill Your Calling When Jesus concluded His earth ministry, He spoke these words to the Father, “I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.” John 17:4 The word “finished” Jesus used is the Greek teleioo which means, “to accomplish, or to carry through completely to the end.” Believers must be determined and persist and follow the example of Jesus by completing the works God assigns to them. Finishing pre-assigned works glorifies God! The book of Acts records these words about John the Baptist, “And as John fulfilled his course...” Acts 13:25 The word “fulfilled” in this verse comes from the Greek pleroo. This word means, “to fill to the top so that nothing shall be wanting, to make complete in every particular, to carry through to the end, to accomplish, to execute.” John the Baptist’s ministry was very unique. It was short and distinguished by this simple message: “Repent, get ready, the Messiah is coming.” Although John did no miracles, he was declared by Jesus to be the greatest prophet that ever lived [Jn. 10:41]. John prepared a group of disciples that Jesus could draw from and helped set things in motion for Jesus’ three years of ministry. The book of Acts records this testimony from God concerning David, “...I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfill all my will.” Acts 13:22 The word “fulfill” in this scripture is the Greek poieo. It is most often translated “do.” Poieo carries the idea of causing something, producing something, or being the place from which something shoots forth. After King Saul failed to do God’s will, God looked for a man with a different kind of heart; a man committed to His purposes. David was the man which, God said, would “do” all His will. When Paul knew by the Spirit that he must go up to Jerusalem and endure great trouble, he told the elders from Ephesus, “But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus...” Acts 20:24 The word “finish” Paul used in this verse is the Greek teleioo, which means, “to accomplish or to carry through completely to the end.” The realization that he had a course to finish and a ministry assignment to complete was one of the primary motivating forces in Paul’s life. In his second letter to Timothy, he wrote, “...I have finished my course.” II Timothy 4:7 The word “finished” Paul used here comes from the Greek teleo. Teleo means, “to perform, to execute, to complete, or to fulfill.” It implies that the things accomplished correspond to the things assigned. Remaining conscious of the fact that he had been given a specific assignment helped Paul to complete his specific course. In his epistle to the Colossians, Paul included a strong word for a man named Archippus. Apparently, Archippus needed some encouragement concerning his stewardship, so Paul wrote, “...Say to Archippus, Take heed to the ministry which thou has received in the lord, that thou fulfill it.” Colossians 4:17 The words “take heed” come from the Greek blepo which means, “to discern, to perceive, or to discover.” Archippus was to discover his ministry, accurately discerning what the Lord had given to him. The word “received” comes from the Greek paralambano and means, “to join one’s self to something, or to not reject something offered.” Archippus was to embrace the ministry stewarded to him; he was to join himself to it, taking ownership of what God had offered him. The word “fulfill” Paul used in this verse comes from the Greek pleroo which means, “to fill up, to consummate, or to perform.” Archippus was to discern the ministry he had been given, engage fully in it, perform it, and fulfill it. The Amplified Bible renders Paul’s words for Archippus this way, “And say to Archippus, See that you discharge carefully [the duties of] the ministry and fulfill the stewardship which you have received in the Lord.” Colossians 4:17 Amp Just like Paul, like John the Baptist, like Jesus, and like Archippus, God has called you and given your works to do. Find out what those works are, engage in them diligently and effectively, and fulfill the plan of God for your life. Then you can say with Paul, “I have finished my course!”
Posted on: Wed, 16 Jul 2014 13:34:10 +0000