There is no enduring vocation that is not first shaken

I invite you to go to the book of Lucas. And, today, I wanted to share with you that it is well connected to the message that I was sharing on Sunday. God has kept me reflecting a lot on that idea of what momentum is… momentum. The impetus of the Spirit of God moving within us. And I can tell you, my brothers, there are so many dimensions, so many variants, so many perspectives that one can analyze about this that I could continue preaching about it for at least two more weeks. Amen.

At least someone likes that message. I didn't pay him, help me! Ah, true, if you talk, I don't preach, that's how it is. But, look, last Sunday after I finished preaching, when I evaluated my grades, I said to myself, wow! It kind of began to bring new ideas to my head and last night I was sharing with the group of men at their meeting and I was also preaching along the same lines.

And, after I finished preaching, Pastor Gilberto stood up and had a moment to minister and he said a phrase that was very connected to what I was preaching that turned the light bulb on for me even more. And I said to myself, hold on, I think there's something here. If you'll excuse me, I'll share my heart with you, too. It's not that they have to forgive me, I mean...

But, look, what if I tell you the following... listen well: There is no lasting vocation that is not shaken first. That is the theme I bring tonight. There is no lasting – genuine – vocation that is not shaken beforehand.

I will explain this. I can tell you that I understood the painful truth that I am saying today. And I say painful because most of the time one wishes that one's involvement in their Christian life would be free of trauma or afflictions or anxieties. But obviously that would be a utopian wish so to speak because it's not reality. I believe that one has to learn to make peace with the idea that at all times if one wants to genuinely and honestly live as a disciple of Christ, we have to make peace with the idea that those moments are going to come when our life is going to be shaken in different ways.

So, I wonder what is the intention – what is the purpose of this? Of those moments in which our life is shaken. Why does God through the person of Jesus allow the enemy to sift us? Why does He allow the enemy to sift us?

Let's go to Luke, chapter 22. Luke, chapter 22; and we are going to read in verse 31. And of course, my brothers, I am saying this understanding the context in which I say it. In other words, if we yearn and want to see a move of God in the midst of our lives, we have to make peace with the idea that with that move moments of contention will come, moments of trial will come - moments of trial will come. shaking so to speak. But yes, it is a biblical word.

Look how the text says, Luke 22, verse 31 says: “The Lord also said: 'Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has asked you to sift them like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith does not fail; and you, once returned, confirm your brothers."

Let me read that verse 31, again, it says: Simón, Simón… or Juan, Juan… or Lucy, Lucy… Julia, Julia… or Miguel, Miguel… or Pedro, Pedro… or Mauricio, Mauricio… or Antonio, Antonio… I can keep saying names Oh Philip, Philip. Omar, Omar, help me! Why am I not going to say my name, of course I do! “…behold, Satan has asked you to sift them like wheat, but I have prayed…” Look how he says, “I have prayed”. Prayed has a much greater intensity than saying the mere fact that I have prayed.

Praying is like, Lord, yes, take care of them. I know with them. But, begging is like: Lord! stop! There is an internal force that comes out of one's belly when one begs, so to speak.

But look, what does shaking mean? We who have had relatives in the field or something like that shake many things. Basically shaking is separating one thing from another. Yes, but I know that it is done through wiggling. What's more, if I tell them, show me how you shake someone, I know that everyone is going to twist me here.

But, shaking what you are doing is separating one thing from the other, right? The builders when they are shaking the earth, what are they doing? They are separating the large stones from the dirt they need to build, or with cement. Another example, there is a lot of talk about wheat, right? When you sift the wheat, what are you looking to do with it? It is seeking to remove the grain from the shell that covers the wheat.

If you pick up a rug and you shake it, what are you doing? You are separating the dust and the dirt and the dirt from that carpet, so that the carpet can continue to be usable and not smell bad and not make the house ugly. So, shaking occurs in different ways and we also use it for different ways. But, in the same way – the word form stuck with me… formed. In the same way – in the same way, our lives go through different shakings.

And, look, we're going to…let me go through this text with you for a moment. This text from Luke 24. I'm going to do a little Bible study here with you in three minutes. Look, if you look at verses 24 to 27 of this passage. Sorry, beginning the passages from verse 14 to 23, you can read it; but I will tell you, summarized. Verses 14-23, Jesus is instituting what we know today as the Lord's Supper with his disciples.

And it was at this moment that Jesus identified the person who… what? That he was going to betray him. In verses 24-27, Jesus begins to give his disciples a lecture about who is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven. In other words, Jesus was giving them a lesson about what true leadership is. Who is the real leader. And He was saying that the true leader is not the one who sits down first at the table and the others serve him, but the true leader is the servant-leader. He is the one who serves others.

Now, this is where I see a very important key. Verse 28, if you read it; look at how it says verse 28. Verse 28 says: "But you are the ones who have remained with me in my trials." That verse for me is key in this context. Because what it means is that Jesus is exalting his disciples for their faithfulness to him despite the fact that a traitor had already been identified in their midst.

After all the traumas that Jesus had gone through facing the Pharisees, the Sadducees, the Menggees and everyone else that was out there… after all the things that happened; people who rejected him, people who accepted him, his disciples were there, faithfully with him. And Jesus was exalting them for it.

But, in verse 31, which is what we have just read, I say that Jesus turns the tortilla over to the disciples. He tells them something that is like contradicting them. Because after you hype them up by saying, “Wow! You have stayed with me until the end and I am very happy with that." Then he comes and goes with it, "but, Satan has asked to sift them like wheat." Listen, I don't know about you, but that seems very special to me.

Satan has asked them to sift them... in other words, even though they were enjoying a move of God in the person of Jesus, in a very tangible way; it did not imply that they were free from danger or temptation. Do they follow me where I go?

On the contrary, now was when things were going to get good. After Jesus was arrested, that's when things were going to get wild for all of them. And it is here, my brothers, where I understand that in order to have a sense of vocation – and by vocation I mean a sense of calling – vocation is not like going to a vocational school and studying to become a secretary or a carpenter. Those are vocations; but vocation, in this sense, I am using it as that sense of calling.

Like that reason for being, that purpose that God gives to our lives. That is where I mean, or that is the use that I am giving to the word vocation. For us to be able to have a vocation, a call, a lasting ministry, we have to face moments of shaking.

Look what happened with Pedro; what was it that caused this shaking with him. What was the reason for Peter's failure? If you remember the story well, where did Peter's failure take place? If I keep reading to you, what did Peter say to him: I am ready, Lord, to be with you not only in prison but also in death. Pedro, I tell you that the rooster is not going to crow today, before you deny me… what? Three times you don't know me.

So, you know, that must have been a slap to Pedro's face. I mean, it's like, “Wow! I am telling you that I am willing to die for you or to die with you and to go to jail with you and you are telling me that I am going to deny you. Hello! What's going on?" However, Jesus knew why he was saying it and Peter's failure was seen in his denial.

Why did Peter deny Jesus? Excuse me for asking so many questions, but I like to make you think. How many of you – by show of hands – how many of you believe that Peter was afraid? We'll see. That Peter's denial was due to fear. That he was afraid of what was going to happen to him. OK. I'm going to give you another option. How many of you believe that Peter's denial was due to lack of faith? Ah, no… Okay, the third option, how many of you say that it is the first and the second?

I covered all the bases then. Look, no, no, no. For me b) is correct. They know that I don't think Pedro was afraid. Didn't Peter cut off an ear of one of those he came looking for – to arrest Jesus? Do you think that was out of fear? Oh yeah! Because he was next to Jesus, he dared to cut off his ear. “Ah, yes, I'm going to cut him…” It's an impulse, yes… a, pah. There a momentum was seen, it cut off the edge of the soldier's ear.

But no, my brothers, I don't think it was out of fear. I think it was more lack of faith. And lack of faith in the sense of believing in the person of Jesus. It's interesting that a few chapters earlier, if you read this in the 9th chapter of Luke. Look at this, I'm telling you a secret, a story here.

Luke, chapter 9. Wasn't there a momentum in Peter's life in Luke, chapter 9, verse 18? Look how it says, Luke 9:18, says: It happened that while Jesus was praying apart, the disciples were with him and he asked them saying: who do the people say that I am? And they responded. Ah, some say that you are John the Baptist, others say that you are Elijah and others say that you are some ancient prophet who has risen. And He tells them, hey, and you, what do you think of me? What do you think I am? Who do you think I am? And there Peter stopped.

I want to imagine that moment. I imagine Jesus asking that question, and perhaps the boys were sitting like this on the ground, perhaps Peter was biting into one of those very long straws of wheat, he was biting it and suddenly he heard this question from Jesus: And you, who do you say that I am?

I imagine that he stayed like… You are the Christ, the son of God. Listen to me, but I don't say to myself, Glory of God! Still, do you know why? What did Jesus say? Blessed are you because flesh and blood has not revealed it to you, but this has been God's revelation about your life.

Look at this, Peter received that revelation from God. However, the revelation would not have been cemented or penetrated to the depths of Peter's being, if he had not been shaken in the way that he was. Did you understand me or do I have to repeat it?

This revelation that was given to Peter would not have been cemented in his life if he had not been shaken in the way that he was. Look, this was a revelation for me, because I know that we can have many prophets in our midst. Or that God can bring revelation in our midst and I love that, and I want that, that God speaks but the mere fact that there is a revelation in the midst of our lives does not mean that this word is going to materialize until something happens between us. us to release the power of that word. Amen.

Are you understanding me or am I confusing you? I believe that there are words that God brings into our lives, that at the moment sound rich, that at the moment it sounds like this is glory here on the mount of transfiguration so to speak. But the mere fact that you have received the word does not mean that you will experience the power of that word in your life until something more abundant happens in you.

Until something more shocking doesn't happen to you. It is as if saying that this word that God gives you puts you in a bubble. And you are in that bubble, wow! What a beautiful word. And it's not until an event of reality, of life, comes and makes you 'pop' and bursts the bubble, that then when that bubble bursts you understand that word in a totally different way. Amen.

Tell me if that was not what happened in Pedro's life? That Peter with all that celebration that he received – and look at how Peter's revelation was given, it was not only at that moment that he said, Ah, you are the Christ, the son of God! No no no. Peter's revelation was given in many other ways; the mere fact that he was able to contemplate the miracles that Jesus did, is more than that he was, as they say, a partner in those miracles. That he also healed the sick, that he cast out demons, that he announced or said things that perhaps before he did not think he could say, but since he was in the presence of Jesus, that power was flowing through him.

But as it had not materialized yet. Oh yes, Jesus I am willing to die with you, to go to jail with you. But he didn't even know what he was saying.

Because? Because he… Okay, I'm going to put it this way: how many times is Jesus not announcing that he had to die? And, on how many occasions did Peter also, “But, Jesus, what are you saying? You are the King of the Jews. You are the one who is going to rule over us.”

In other words, on several occasions, in the biblical instant, it is seen that Peter is persecuting Jesus in the wrong way. So, imagine when they take Jesus, that they take him away, that they arrest him. He stays like… and what happened here? Your power is not there, the angels that can come and free you are not there. And now I'm seeing you at the most vulnerable point of your life. They slap you, they spit on you. Who is not going to be confused by that? Obviously when the moment of denial occurs, the story becomes more interesting.

But, look my brothers, let me go ahead because it's already nine o'clock. The beauty of this story is the following. And it was that Jesus himself warned him. In other words, Jesus knew that this needed to happen in Peter. What's more, I would go so far as to say, that this is why Jesus himself allows our enemy to get close to our lives and cause some kind of imbalance without wreaking havoc with the mere purpose of bringing out the best in us.

Perhaps the Bible does not say the following: There is a reason that the Lord allows the enemy to approach us and shake us, but without causing havoc. Because he wants, as they say, to use this little devil as a guinea pig, I'm going to do it as my instrument to get the best out of them. Doesn't the Bible say the following, in John, chapter 16, verses 33, which says: "In the world you are going to have affliction..." But, what does Jesus say? I have overcome the world.

Romans, chapter 8, verse 31, tells us: "If God is for us, who can be against us." First Corinthians, chapter 10, verse 13 says, “You have not suffered any temptation that is not common to the human being; but, faithful is God who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what…” What? “… they can resist or endure. Rather, when temptation comes, He's going to give you…” What? He's going to make it easy: he's going to let them out, too, with temptation.

And, in First John, my favorite; In First John, chapter 4, verse 4 says: "You, dear children, are of God and have defeated these false prophets..." Why? "... because the one who is in you is more..." Than the one who is where? Of course, it can come to disturb our lives, but it is not that it will not destroy us or it will knock us down. What's more, I can tell you so many other biblical verses but I don't have time.

Look, all these passages, my brothers, help us understand that when God begins to move in us, there is another who will want to move too. So that we arrive at what God intends in our lives. Obviously that other, that enemy, knows that he will be left at a disadvantage if we begin to move in the direction of what God wants for us.

Let me end here. I think this is going to stay, to be continued. It will continue next week. No no no. Let me finish here.

That is why I say, my brothers, that it is important to recognize how Jesus, in his infinite knowledge, knows where he is leading us and who he is bringing to our path. Let me finish by reflecting on this concerning Peter. Jesus knew what he was going to do with Peter, and in the same way the Lord knows what he is doing with each one of you. Although it may not seem here, but He knows what He is doing with each one of us.

Jesus knew the ability and potential that Peter had, just as he knows the potential and ability that you have as well. But likewise He had to treat him. Jesus had to deal with Peter. Jesus, I dare say that Jesus himself shook Peter on many occasions. Alas, it is getting late and there are many people here! You go and feed them. But you're talking about five thousand people and we have nothing. Wow... Isn't Jesus testing his disciples right there? Of course!

Oh no, let me laugh.

I'm going to leave them in suspense, I'm going to leave them here. Right there in that chapter of Luke 22, verse 54 I came across something that was very particular. Because when Jesus was arrested, that they took him away, look at what verse 54 says: "They took him away and led him to the house of the high priest." And says…. "And Peter followed him..." There I can say that the man was afraid.

Look, do you think that this is the type of disciple that Jesus wants? The disciple who hides, the timid disciple. The disciple who is intimidated by things or who is intimidated by the circumstances of life. It is for something that He wants to deal with us. Because He knows what He is doing in you.

On an individual level He knows what He is doing in you. And since you are part, not of any church, but you are part of this church; all the more reason the Lord wants to deal with you and me. Good grief! Let me put myself there too.

So, you have a double burden. Forgive me for breaking the news like this, but you have a double burden. Not only does the Lord want to work with you individually, he wants to work with you because you are part of this church. For a time like this, as Queen Esther was told, for a time like this... "For a time like this, God has raised you up to be here."

So I want to put them on hold.

Your vocation will not be enduring until it is shaken. If you want to hear more, don't miss it next Wednesday.

We are going to stand up, my brothers, and we are going to pray. Father, in the name of Jesus, we acknowledge that we stand before you, oh, God. We recognize that You have a calling on our lives, Lord. You call us, you want us to be able to live according to the desires that You have for our hearts; for our life as a church.

And, Lord, Father, what I am saying... I know we laugh but it is something very serious, Lord. Because it is not easy for us to deal with that shaking that comes in our lives. At least for this first part, in the things that I have shared, Lord, I ask that You help us to begin to reflect within ourselves, deep in our hearts, Lord.

That just as You dealt with your disciples, those people... those men who walked so closely with you, Lord, and saw wonders from you. So too You walk today You too. And You want to deal with us; You also want to bring out the best in us. You want that through life we can be shaken to get the most valuable thing that You seek in the midst of our lives.

So Lord, as we continue to meditate on this Word, Lord, that we are hearing all these messages of your move in the midst of this church, in the midst of our lives. The move in Your spirit, Lord, and how You want us to be a church of power and authority; I ask you also to help us to meditate concerning this; how You want to work our character, work our person so that we can be effective servants, radical disciples committed to You, to Your Kingdom.

Father, I ask that You bless my brothers and sisters tonight as they leave here, this place, Father, that this word may echo in their hearts and cause them to keep searching, studying more of You, Lord. To see what we discover in the richness of Your word, Lord. May it be a blessing to our lives.

Allow that tonight we can have a peaceful, restful sleep, my God. And that tomorrow, if you allow it, wow! Let's get up as if we had slept a whole week straight, Lord.

So, Father, bless my brothers and sisters. We give honor and glory to You, Lord. We celebrate what You do in our lives. And we thank you, in the name of Jesus. Amen. And Amen. My brothers God bless you.