Words for Life Articles

Ephesians 4:7-13

7 But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift. 8 Therefore He says: “When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive and gave gifts to men.” 9 (Now this, “He ascended”—what does it mean but that He also first descended into the lower parts of the earth? 10 He who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.) 11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ

I believe with all my heart that Jesus had and still has a divine plan for His Church. He did not leave the Church without direction, leadership, or provision. Through His ascension, He gave gifts to men for the building, governing, and equipping of His Church.

In Matthew 16:18, Jesus declared:

18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock, I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not [g]prevail against it.

Jesus is committed to building His Church according to His own plan, pattern, and purpose and so He gave gifts to men.

GOD IS A GOD OF ORDER AND PURPOSE

God never does anything randomly. Everything He does is intentional, purposeful, and perfectly planned. Throughout the creation account in Genesis, after each act of creation we repeatedly read:

"And God saw that it was good."

GOD HAS GREAT PLANS FOR YOU

God has a great plan for every one of His children. He doesn’t save us and then start figuring out what to do with us. He saves us because He already has a purpose, a vision, and a destiny prepared.

Jeremiah 29:11 is one of the most quoted scriptures on divine purpose:

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.”

Even though this encouraging word was originally spoken to Israel in exile, it reveals a timeless truth about God’s heart toward His people. It applies to us today.

This scripture says, “I know” God is not ignorant of His plans for your life, He knows His plans and purpose for your life.

God is not uncertain, confused, or undecided about your destiny. He says, “I know.” 

He is fully aware of His plans for you, plans of peace, wholeness, and hope. You and may not have known the details. People around you may not know. Circumstances may not look like it. But God knows, and His knowledge is perfect.

His plans for your life began even before you were conceived, before you were born, God had your life all planned out.

1 Corinthians 12:4-12

4 There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. 6 And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. 7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: 8 for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, 10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills. 12 For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ.

This month we will be looking at SPIRITUAL GIFTS. The theme for the year has been WALKING IN YOUR HIGH CALLING. We started the year by laying foundations as to what it means to walk in your high calling.

We looked at the Kingdom of God, what does the Kingdom of God truly mean to you and me. We looked at being the light of the world, what is the importance of being light in a world of fear, hopelessness, depression and despair, as light we bring illumination to darkness. This month we want to explore spiritual gifts, and you can then ask yourself, which is my gift, am I already walking in it. The book of Corinthians 12 and Romans 12, give us insight into these spiritual gifts.

These gifts can be divided into 4 categories.

SPEAKING GIFTS, GIFTS OF KNOWLEDGE, SIGN GIFTS and SERVING GIFTS.

Matthew 5: 13-16

13 “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavour, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.

14 “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

The believer’s identity is to be salt and light in the earth.

To be salt in the world is to bring flavour and preservation in the world.

To be light of the world is to reflect God's love, truth and hope in a world that is groping in the darkness of hopelessness, fear, uncertainty, lies and lovelessness. So, Jesus in Matthew 5: 13-16, popular known as the beatitudes, reminds His disciples that they are the salt and light of the earth.

Many Christians, sometimes wonder what their high calling is and sometimes focus only on ministry gifts, such as, Pastors, evangelist, Apostles, teachers, gift of healing, gifts of prophecy etc, spiritual gifts are valuable, but they are not the destination. Our first and greatest calling is to be salt and light, living in such a way that Christ is seen, felt, and glorified through us every day.

WHY SALT?

There was a time when I struggled with the statement that salt is not good for us. I found myself asking, why would salt be considered bad? Yet Jesus says, “You are the salt of the earth.”  If He chose salt as a metaphor, then there must be something deeply good and purposeful about it.

1 Timothy 2:5

For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus,

One of the most profound truths in Scripture is that there is only one mediator between God and man and that is Christ Jesus. The Old Testament gives us a picture of this through the ministry of the high priest, the only person permitted to enter the Most Holy Place to offer sacrifices on behalf of the people. His role was essential in the Old Testament because sinful humanity could not approach a holy God directly. So, the writer of Hebrews puts it this way in -

Hebrews 4:14-16

14 Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

This scripture reminds us that we now have a Great High Priest who has passed through the heavens—Jesus the Son of God. Unlike the priests of old, Jesus is not limited by weakness, sin, or mortality. He is both fully God and fully man, able to sympathize with our struggles yet without sin. Because of Him, we are invited to “come boldly to the throne of grace” to receive MERCY and GRACE in our time of need.

So why do we need a high priest and why is Jesus the great high priest.

The Kingdom at the Core of Jesus’ Mission

Matthew 6:9-10

9 In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven,

Hallowed be Your name. 10 Your kingdom come.

Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven.

Luke 11:1-2

11 Now it came to pass, as He was praying in a certain place, when He ceased, that one of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.” 2 So He said to them, “When you pray, say: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven.

Jesus did not just mention the Kingdom; He made the Kingdom central theme of His preaching and His Prayers, His parables, His miracles, and His mission. When we read the Gospels, it becomes obvious. Jesus spoke about the Kingdom more than anything else. Not church growth. Not personal success. Not even heaven as a destination. The Kingdom was important to Him — and He intended it to be ours. Jesus began His ministry with:

“Repent, for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

WALKING IN YOUR HIGH CALLING

There comes a time in the life of every believer, defining moment, of an upward invitation from heaven to rise, to step forward, and to embrace the purpose for which God created them. For Word of Life Church, 2026 is such a time. Our theme, “Walking in Your High Calling,” is not just a slogan or cliché for the year; it is a divine challenge to awaken the gifts God has placed within us and to walk boldly in the destiny He has prepared. It is a call to stir up, a call to keep the fire on the altar burning. A call to arise and be counted. A time to create a legacy.

In his second letter to Timothy, the apostle Paul writes with tenderness and urgency:

2 Timothy 1:6

6 “Therefore, I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands”

Paul reminds Timothy of the sincere faith passed down from his grandmother Lois and his mother Eunice. He acknowledges Timothy’s tears, his struggles, and his hesitations. Yet Paul does not allow him to shrink back. Instead, he calls him to action—to rekindle the flame of God’s gift within him. This same call is my challenge to us as a Church in 2026. “Stir up the gift of God which is in you”

Many believers hesitate to step into their calling because fear whispers that they are not ready, not capable, rejection, or not worthy. But Paul addresses this lie head‑on when he said to Timothy