Five Steps that Prepare You for Greater Service

God loves to set you apart for great assignments.  He aims to use you to advance his kingdom in ever larger ways.  But how do you prepare yourself to both recognize and respond when God calls you into a greater assignment?

Greater Service

In Acts 13, Barnabas and Saul, two leading men in the early church, were given a big mission.  It was a task that would have broader reach than any assignment they had fulfilled in the past.  This opportunity would spread the gospel of Christ, resulting in many new believers and churches.

All of us are meant to serve the Lord.  He gives each of us tasks to fulfill.  After God uses us one way, he often leads us into opportunities that are greater in breadth and potential impact.  When we are faithful with the smaller, he will many times promote us to the larger. (Matthew 25:21)

This doesn’t mean God will give us more prominence in the eyes of others.  It simply means God opens doors giving you an increased impact for his glory.

The question is, how do you prepare to be used of God in greater ways?

From the example of Barnabas and Saul, here are five steps that you can take to posture your life for greater kingdom impact.

1. Do the things God already called you to do.  Before Barnabas and Saul received a greater assignment, they had completed a mission God had given previously. (Acts 12:25)  Before God gives you a greater opportunity, he is looking to see if you are being faithful with the smaller task he gave you before.  Has the Lord not yet opened a greater opportunity?  Do not fret.  Simply be faithful to the last thing God called you to do.
2. Worship Regularly with God’s people.  These men heard God call them into a greater task as they were doing two things…
   1. Worshiping.  They were with their church family and corporately worshiping God.  There is great power when we glorify God with our brothers and sisters in Christ.  It is easier to hear from God when you are seeking him with others.
   2. Fasting.  They were cutting out the distractions of worldly pursuits.  Their focus was on God and what he wanted.  We would experience the call of God more clearly if we would purposefully set aside distractions for periods of time to focus our energies on the Lord.
   3. Listen for the promptings of God’s Spirit.  It was in the context of the church drawing near to God that they heard the prompting of the Holy Spirit who said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” (Acts 13:2,NIV)  We need to be sensitive to the promptings of God in our lives, always looking for the times he opens doors of opportunity.
   4. Look for confirmation from others who walk with God.  Note that Barnabas and Saul were not the only ones who heard from God about their greater call.  Others in the church sensed it as well and placed their hands on them confirming they too believed these men were called.  It is good when other godly people can confirm that they too see this assignment is being given to us.
   5. Enter into the greater service.  These two early believers, according to the Bible, started their mission without delay.  When you know God called you to something, the time to start that something is right now.  Adlai Stevenson once said, “On the plains of hesitation lay the blackened bones of countless millions who at the dawn of victory lay down to rest, and in resting they died.”

Take action, get started doing what God called you to do.

Question:  How are you going to prepare your life for greater service?  You can leave a comment by clicking here.