Main Character Moment - Week Four

Ask someone to pray for a spirit of honesty before jumping in. Ask the Spirit to reveal where you have been selfish regarding your calling. When was a time when you knew the Spirit was asking you to do something, but your plans got in the way (or you chose your plans instead)? What was the outcome? Share your responses with each other.

The Lord has called each and every one of us to a divine purpose. In Exodus 31, Yahweh calls two people to their own assignments: Bezalel son of Uri, and Oholiab son of Ahisamach. They each had very specific skills, and God called them to a very specific assignment- to build the tabernacle where the Lord will dwell in the presence of the Israelites. They believed in their divine assignment and accomplished what the Lord had called them to do. They put aside their plans and their comforts. They stewarded their common assignment, which made it possible for the Lord’s presents to transform the world.

As followers of Jesus, we all have our common assignments. But are we stewarding them in a way that honors the Lord? When we accept our common assignment, there is joy, significance, and transformation. More times than none, our assignments will always interfere with our plans. We must deny ourselves and trust in Jesus and his ultimate purpose.

Discussion Questions

1. How has God’s assignment for you interfered with your own plans? Have you surrendered them to him?
2. Do you know what your assignment is? What have you done to pursue that call? What have you had to lay down in order to be obedient to the Lord?

Ephesians 2:20-22: “Together, we are his house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself. We are carefully joined together in him, becoming a holy temple for the Lord. Through him you Gentiles are also being made part of this dwelling where God lives by his Spirit.”

Have you ever wondered how the Church began after Jesus’ resurrection? It was through the “apostles and the prophets” obedience to their assignments. They all were fully submitted to Jesus, which in turn, was their motivation. When we have a kingdom-based perspective, we have peace in knowing the Lord is using us for something that will ultimately bring the utmost glory to him. As followers of Jesus, we make up his body (1 Cor. 12:27; Col. 1:24), in which we all have a part to play.

Take some time to pray and ask the Lord to reveal any areas of your life that you put ahead of your common assignment. Ask the spirit what you need to do to change that. In order to be fully committed to your assignment, you need to surrender anything that is holding you back from that. Perhaps think of people (or a person) who you know that is faithfully pursuing their assignment. Is there something they do that intrigues you? Share and discuss what comes to mind after praying. How can you encourage one another and provide accountability moving forward?

Take these last few moments to remember the grace and kindness of our God. We are all imperfect without Jesus. Just because we fall short in our assignments does not mean the Lord Loves us less. We cannot do anything to change his affection for us, so do not be discouraged.

He knows what is best for us, and he knows what we are capable of doing when we use his strength to do his will. When we obey the Lord in our assignments, we will be able to gain a brand new type of intimacy with our Lord.