When you hear the words PURPOSE, CALLING, ASSIGNMENT AND DREAMS, what comes to your mind?
Do you think there are differences between them?
When we talk about purpose, calling, assignment and dream, they all function to achieve one thing.
God’s plan for us
Jeremiah 29:11 says for I know the plan I have towards you, they are the plans of good and not of evil TO GIVE YOU AN EXPECTED END
There is an expected end
This expected end is what birth these 4 and others like vision
Most of us know what purpose is.
The reason for our existence but the challenge lies in understanding what differentiate it from calling, assignment and dreams
Now let’s move with the Scripture and we will now relate it to our personal lives.
May God grant us understanding in Jesus name
I will explain Purpose, calling assignment first.
Ephesians 4:11-16
And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.
Using Ephesians 4:11-16
👉🏼Calling is an appointment given to a person. A transportation that brings you to that thing you have been called to do.
[3/13, 8:27 PM] Odunayo Sonde: 11And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
That is what they have been called into.
This calling makes them have a particular duty or desire. It includes their talent and burden
👉🏼 Assignment is a task given and it is time bound (IT HAS A FINISHING).
It helps in actualizing the purpose and can be more than one.
Assignment changes.
Calling and purpose don’t
That is why we shouldn’t place our identity in our assignment
Assignment is time bound
12-13 for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ TILL we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ
Look at that, TILL WE ALL COME
👉🏼Purpose is lifelong. It is the intent or reason for which a thing is created.
It is the big picture
Hence, we will say the gift (Apostles, Prophets, etc) were given (to the person himself he is called) …
… and they perform a specific assignment which is time bound (that is, for the perfecting…till) and the big picture for all these is :
that we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
15 but speaking the truth in love, MAY GROW UP INTO HIM IN ALL THINGS, WHICH IS THE HEAD, EVEN CHRIST:
16from whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.
In other words, someone can be called to be a COUNSELOR /SUPPORTER and the purpose is to be pillars to others so that they can live a life God has destined them to be while the assignment for that time might be to bring men to the point where they stand in God and for other times might be to work with singles who are hurtingThe assignment changed.
But she is still a counsellor (calling) and the reason for that calling is still so that they can live the life God wants them to live
Another example is Jesus.
He had a call to be the SAVIOUR, purpose is to Save Man From Their Sin And Bring Them Back To God and one of the assignment is to die on the cross of Calvary for their sin so that they can finally have access to that which God has for them.
Now, we have general purpose and we have specific purposes.
Take a spoon and a fork for example.
They were both created to aid eating.
But they have different call😁
One is used to scoop food while the other is used to pick food.
That’s calling and purpose!
Yet both can perform specific assignment sometimes depending on the period
So, what will you say your purpose is?
What will you say you are called to do?
What assignment do you have to do at this time or season of your life
My purpose is to see that kingdom marriages are built so that many will come to the knowledge of Christ.
The higher purpose is to reconcile men to God
I am called into relationship counselling.
My assignment at this time is to help people heal emotionally
Last year, it is to see that people make right decision in life of choice partner
But to know our calling and assignment, we must discover our purpose!
Look into your life, have you discovered your purpose?
If you have discovered your purpose, what part are you to take?
A pastor, a teacher and all the other ministry gifts were all called to a purpose.
But their calling is specific.
And the assignment they perform in the body differ!
Yet one God gave them the purpose😁
We have many people with similar purpose.
If your purpose is to see marriages built, what part of it are you?
What specific assignment do you have at this time?
We have many relationship coaches yet we perform differently.
That is why you should understand your role.
If you and sister A have the same purpose… What part are you?
I might be a builder relationship coach and you might be an intercessory relationship coach.
All depending on timing
Then Dream as we round up
Dreams are psychological and not intentional.
You have no role in creating your dreams.
Dreams are ideas and ideas are abstract.
What do I mean by this?
Our dreams are in our heads and it is when we act it becomes a vision and that vision points to our calling and purpose
I pray God grant us more understanding in Jesus name