• God gives out assignments.
  • To His angels
  • To people
  • Even to animals
• His kingdom moves forward as His people carry out assignments.
• This word is used in the New Testament and paints a picture of God giving us personal assignments
• John 9:4 NLT: We must quickly carry out the tasks assigned us by the one who sent us. The night is coming, and then no one can work.
• Acts 20:22–24 NLT: 22 And now I am bound by the Spirit to go to Jerusalem. I don’t know what awaits me, 23 except that the Holy Spirit tells me in city after city that jail and suffering lie ahead. 24 But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God.
• Two main reasons we don’t do our assignments: 
  • WE DON’T KNOW THEM
  • WE DON’T LIKE THEM.

Describing Our Assignments

• Your assignment has a place, a people, a proclamation, and a propensity.
• A PLACE — the great city of Nineveh: Jonah; south down the desert road: Philip; with the men from Joppa: Peter
• A PEOPLE — the woman at Zarephath: Elijah; lost sheep of Israel: Jesus; “I am sending you to the Gentiles”: Paul
• A PROCLAMATION — repent: John; word of encouragement, word of wisdom, word of knowledge
• A PROPENSITY — always doing kind things for others and helping the poor: Dorcas; bringing gifts to Paul: Epaphroditus

How to Receive Your Assignment

• Assignments come from the King, by the Spirit.
• Assignments come to those who are CLOSE.
  • Isaiah was in the throne room.
  • John was at the cross.
• Assignments come to those who are CALM.
  • When you are focused on this life, it’s hard to hear an assignment.
  • Elijah had to get in a cave.
• Assignments come to those who are HUNGRY.
  • Moses was on a mountain for 40 days.
• Assignments come to those who are UNENCUMBERED.
  • The rich young ruler missed his moment.
• Assignments come to those who are SENSITIVE.
  • Rolling out of bed at 2:30 a.m.

My Question

• Are you tapping into a bigger assignment than survival?
• Do you know your assignment: a place, a people, a proclamation, a propensity?
• Are you postured to hear and carry out your assignment?