05/14/2026
MAY 2026 LETTER
When the Lord calls a man or a woman, He calls us into intimacy with Himself. It is from this place of intimacy that we live for Him, serve Him, and become His voice. Without intimacy with the Lord, we cannot truly live for Him, nor can we fulfill our calling. We all have a calling from God: some are called to be pastors, evangelists, teachers, prophets, and apostles, while others are called to various other ministries; yet, we are all called to live for Him. (Ephesians 4:9-12) When we live for Him, we are able to fulfill the specific calling He has placed upon our lives—a calling that is personal, and to which only the individual receiving it can personally respond. The Lord can use any individual He chooses; He simply seeks a willing and humble heart—this is all He requires.
In Acts 9:1-9, we see how Saul’s life was transformed following his encounter with Jesus. From being a religious man and a persecutor of the church, Saul became a man used by God—a servant dedicated to doing His will by preaching the Gospel. A divine encounter with God has the power to change our lives. Such an encounter brings about a transformation so profound that those who know us can clearly see the evidence that we are no longer the same individuals we once were. Yes, this is indeed possible for any man or woman who experiences a divine encounter with God. He did it in Saul’s life, and He can do it in the life of anyone who has a divine encounter with Him. To God be the glory!
Verses 21 and 22 of Acts 9 provide clear evidence of Saul’s change; it was evident to the very believers he had once persecuted that his life had been transformed—the proof lay in the fact that Saul was now preaching the Gospel. Saul grew stronger and stronger, confounding the Jews; all of this occurred because his life had been transformed through a divine encounter with the Lord. Even the Jews could see that Saul was no longer the same man.
The transformation of our lives must be evident. We cannot merely profess it with our lips; rather, the evidence of that transformation must be reflected in the way we live our lives. An encounter with God leads to transformation; we cannot remain the same. We find evidence of this in the written Word of the Bible; Saul’s life led him to fulfill the will of the Lord.
One thing I have observed in my walk with God is that while many are called by Him, not everyone responds to that call. They look to themselves—relying on their own natural abilities—to carry out the calling. Everything they do is limited to what they can accomplish in the natural realm through their own efforts. Others may start well, but along the way, they stray from the specific calling God placed upon them. Still others retreat in the face of persecution, fearing that speaking the truth will cause their social circle to shrink; consequently, they preach only what people want to hear. I say this because I have heard it directly from their own lips. This tells me that their focus is not on God’s work, but rather on what is personally convenient for them. There is a distinct difference between them and those who truly do the will of God. If you continue reading verses 23 and 24 of Acts, you will see that Saul’s life was in danger—there were those who sought to kill him. Yet, Paul’s sole focus was on preaching the Gospel, regardless of the cost to his own life. Many people still cling tightly to their lives because they believe that doing the Lord’s will is simply too difficult. Doing the Lord’s will requires that our lives be surrendered to Him completely—without reservation!
I have come to realize that, for many of those who claim to be doing God's work, their motivation is not to serve the Lord and others, but rather to serve themselves. I have been in ministry for over twenty-five years, and—truth be told—I have seen many things that are not pleasing in the eyes of God; many are not doing the Lord's work because they wish to establish the Kingdom of God, but rather for their own benefit and interests. This is truly heartbreaking! Why do I say this? Because I have experienced it firsthand. When you hear a minister of God say—or imply—that he believes he knows more than everyone else, you can clearly see the fruit of his character: everything revolves around "me" and "my ministry." Such an attitude fails to build up the Church as the Lord has called us to do. The evidence is undeniable; it is reflected in one’s behavior—proof that the focus is on the self, rather than on the Kingdom of God. Others claim that this is *their* circle—implying that no one who is not aligned with *their* cause is permitted within it. They may not voice this sentiment explicitly, but their behavior makes it abundantly clear. They know how to deceive those within their inner circle, and they know how to keep everyone under their control. Exercise discernment regarding such people! The Lord grants us discernment so that we are not deceived. And regarding those whom they cannot control or manipulate any longer, they claim that these individuals are against their vision; yet the truth is that they are not against them but rather they do not agree with their unrighteousness.
Paul did not seek to deceive anyone, but rather to carry out the work of the Gospel and build up the Church! Nowadays, there are many whose every action serves only to build their own ministry, rather than the Lord's.
If we are truly committed to the cause of advancing the Gospel, then everything we do serves the greater good of the Church and the establishment of God's Kingdom—building up the Church! Not everyone who claims to be called by God is truly committed to the cause of the Kingdom. First and foremost, if there is no evident transformation in our lives and in our actions, then it is abundantly clear that the evidence of a true calling is simply not there. Let us not deceive ourselves, for no one can deceive God.
The Lord requires that we do His work because we love Him, others, and His kingdom; and from that place, we respond to our callings. When we perform His work out of love, we are able to carry out the ministry He has entrusted to us exactly as He requires. The underlying reason for which we pursue His divine purpose is of the utmost importance. If everything we do is for His glory, it becomes a sweet fragrance to the Lord.
Saul—the man who later came to be known as Paul—was a deeply religious man and a persecutor of the Church; yet, he experienced a divine encounter with Jesus that completely transformed his life. A divine encounter with the Lord can transform your life as well. Paul not only finished his race, but he also remained in the faith until the very end.
2 Timothy 4:7-8 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
God's work is sacred; do not take it lightly. Do His will! Jesus Christ is Lord!
