“Each person should remain in the situation they were in when God called them. Were you a slave when you are called, don’t let it trouble you. Although if you can gain your freedom, do so. For the one who was a slave when called to faith in the Lord is the Lord’s freed person. Similarly, the one who was free when called is Christ’s slave. You were bought at a price. Do not become slaves of human beings, brothers and sisters. Each person as responsible to God, should remain in the situation they were in when God called them.”
(1 Corinthians 7:20-23)
God Moves people.
Someone may be called while he is a slave. The Bible says, that in the situation you find yourself – in the place God places you – serve; hard. Serve well, with all your heart. Know that as you are doing that, (like we learn from Paul), you may go through troubles, stress, beatings, and all sorts of things. But you will see God’s hand at work if you are doing what you are doing as unto the Lord, with love and all your might.
As you serve, you will go through phases. And you will grow in the fruit of the Spirit because you always need fruit to execute your giftings well. You have to remain willing to move as God leads you. In my experience, to stand in one place and refuse to yield/move (especially because of the discomfort suffered) is the opposite of fulfilling your calling.
Paul’s situation involved moving. When the Lord appeared to Paul, He said, “You will be My witness…I’m going to send you to the Gentiles.” You see, this is Paul’s first missionary journey. He did it four times at least, out and about, fulfilling his calling. Paul’s journeys were actual missionary journeys.
There will be challenges and resistance if you’re fulfilling your calling. The temptation to seek perfect comfort is never from the Lord. There will be new experiences: like Paul, entering a new place and then moving on to the next phase of God’s purpose for you. You may pass through your Pisidia, come into your Pamphylia, and then God tells you, “Now, pitch your tent here.”
After Pamphylia, they went down to Attalia. From Attalia, they sailed back to Antioch, where they had first been committed to the grace of God for the work they had now completed (see Acts 13:2-3).
Think of your seasons as projects. So, there are seasons (which make up your ‘walk’), where you have projects to carry out as a congregation that may be different from what you would think. But it is what it is! In my experience, we were told to farm. One of those nights, I saw a group online called ‘prophetic seers’. They are having a program called “Joseph’s Mandate” where they are training people in micro-farming and gardening! Interesting to see that others were receiving the same signals in the Spirit.
So, what’s the point? God can give you a project at different times. People have different jobs to do. It can be going from school to school doing outreaches, like Paul, or farming!
