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WHO CALLED YOU?
by L. DowellReprint 1985, THE BRIGHTSIDE
My Home Church NewsletterWhen anyone professes a calling to preach and teach the good news of God's kingdom to the saved and unsaved, to the churched and unchurched, they should, likewise, be willing to love and submit to the test of those who are in Christ-- Christians-- and, also, nonchristians. And, if they have made it through their heavenly Father's testing grounds -- if they have come out of the fire and have made it through the storms and have withstood the wiles of the devil all along the way, then they will not be "tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness by which they lie in wait to deceive." (Eph. 4:14) "And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good?"
(1 Pet. 3:13)Peter admonishes "Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your calling and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble, for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." (2 Pet. 1:10-11)
One question I have repeatedly asked myself over the past two years [when called by God in 1983] has been, "Who called me?" Indeed, who gave me permission to visit the sick, to pray for the sick, to heal the sick, to cast out demonic spirits, to exhort my fellow man and woman, to stay on the go for God's people?
Ever since June 28, 1983, when I saw Jesus's face, His presence and His touch have been so overwhelming and marvelous, and I am ". . . being confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ." (Phil. 1:6)
In June of 1984, the spirit of the Lord called me into the ministry of evangelism and, although I did not understand how I could or would possibly function in that calling, I trusted in the Lord to prepare the way for me. I was frightened of the impending questions, but Jesus said to just start from where I was --- on the street, on my job, on the church grounds. More importantly, start at home. He said, the mission begins at home. I went where He sent me. I ministered the way He showed me. I learned from those He sent across my path, and I taught those He sent across my path.
I love the Lord. I meditate on Him every day and night upon my bed. I praise His holy name. "Bless the Lord, oh my soul and all that is within me." In March of l985, the spirit of the Lord said to prepare to preach. This was the biggest trying time in my faith walk. For I "walk by faith and not by sight." But this was one thing I did not want to do. Lord am I worthy? Lord am I acceptable? Lord I am already doing what you want, isn't that enough? God placed His hand on me and drew me nearer. It's a powerful and frightening experience. There is no way to rest. And rest did not come for me until I said, "Yes Lord!" Good, He said, now go on a little higher. I will show you how. Your job is just to trust and to obey.
In May of l985, the church answered God's call on my life. Still I was in the preparation stage. Still asking the question, "Who called me?" Nevertheless, I continued in my faith walk in the name of Jesus using every opportunity He presented for me to learn.
The spirit of the Lord awakened me on June 20, 1985, and settled that question in my mind for the duration. As the Spirit ministered to me, the Lord spoke thusly:
Sometimes you have to stand in places you don't even want to walk into. Sometimes you have to walk into places you don't even want to crawl out of. Sometimes you want to just crawl up into a hole and just lay there. But, my God said, I want you to go! Go preach my gospel. I called you out. I fixed you up!
Go -- Walk -- Stand -- Crawl! Go preach my word in season and out of season. I tell you, yea verily, if you don't go preach man my gospel ---- oh the rocks are going to cry out. Let me tell you brothers and sisters, I don't want any rocks to cry out for me.
The Spirit continued to minister to me thusly:
My fate is sealed. My way is set. My path is cleared. My God said I knew you before I put you in your mother's womb. I knew you before the first light of day shone on your little face. I knew you before the first kiss of life was planted on your nostrils. I knew you before your very first cry was heard from your very lips. I knew you before you even knew yourself!
The Spirit of the Lord continued to hit hard upon my spirit. By this time I was writing it down so I wouldn't forget it. And the Lord said thusly:
Stand up! Walk straight! Go now! Don't crawl. You don't have to crawl! You're my child. You're the child of the King. I'll prop you up on every leaning side. I'll strengthen you where you are weak. I'll tear down all of the barriers, for it is written in the book of Proverbs: "A man's gift makes room for him and will bring him before great men." (Prov. 18:16)
Now. It isn't my talents that will bring me before great men. It's my God-given ability to stand in place, steadfast. To open my mouth boldly. The Spirit continued to minister and thundered in my spirit thusly:
Cry loud and spare not! Here now is the way to salvation. Repent ye now for the King is coming! Turn away from your wicked, wicked ways and follow me. Harden not your heart towards me oh you stiff-necked and hard-hearted people. Repent! Repent! Repent! Repent!
After I wrote all as it came to my spirit, the final message was sounded. A question rang out. The question----- "Who Called You?" --- And all of this was truly God and of God.
Synopsis of God's Hand
Upon Rev. L. Dowell's Life
A Five-Fold Minister of God
(Ephesians Chapter 4, and verse 11)Reprint - excerpt
Copy of my post I sent to a List online Clergy Colleague
Dated: March 22, 2000During many hard trials, test, persecutions, prosecutions, God placed in me by His own hand to stand in the Five-Fold Ministries and the devil tried all he and his imps knew how to block it, stop it, and to kill me. Thanks be to God's Hand and Perfect Love, they did not and will not prevail. Have you heard this saying? "Devil, you should have killed me when you had the chance!" Not going back.
Call to Apostle (June 1983)
http://www.clergywomen.org/in_Jesus.html
I have seen the face of Jesus and heard His voice to my spirit.Call to Evangelist (1984)
Preacher (1985- )
Teacher (1986- )
My "Call Testimonial" was Read.
I have heard God's clear call each time and trusted and obeyed. God the Holy Ghost has taught me about the Spirit Realm (heavenly and demonic) filling me with so many Spiritual gifts.In 1983, The Lord said He was preparing me for healing and deliverance ministries. God made me a healer, too. God said, "When you were born, sickness was born in you." When I asked Him about that (realizing we all "are born in sin and shaped in iniquity"), God said, "Yes, but healing was also placed in you when you were placed in your mother's womb, to heal so many." That also happens when *God sends* me to draw near to a sick bed.
Powerful! Overwhelming! Frightening! Peace in God that He was doing it. God placed me in The School of The Prophets -- Ezekiel, Jeremiah, John the Revelator, Isaiah, and with Solomon, Sampson, David were my instructors. Then God graduated me from His own "Trinity University" and presented me with a certificate signed and sealed by the Hand of The Holy Ghost. [Note:I've been to man's school also, but God's Holy School is the best!]
Call to Office of Prophetess (1989)
http://www.clergywomen.org/amistad.html
The Mantle of God placed over me by the Hand of God-- He said, "We sent all the way back to the Throne Room for that garment and it has more than enough material in it to cover you until we call you back across the River." He taught me in the Spirit how "to swim in deep waters." In the natural, I do not swim at all, but God said, "Step in. Go out farther. Now free down the pool in style." The prophecies God gave me to deliver, I did. And so many came true so many times and objective Spirit-filled believers confirmed it each time (mostly among themselves).Call to Pastor (1986- )
In 1986, as a newer member of the Clergy, I asked God, "Lord, who Pastors the Pastors?" Then God said, "You do it." (They were male and female and older who received me into their confidences to support and mentor them as they mentored me.)http://www.clergywomen.org/zions_gate.html
I Planted a church in our community in Spring 1998 by command of God to me in 1997 to do so for that time. Thanks be to God the facility and all I needed jumped up to meet me where I was standing praising Him. Hallelujah Jah! I am in better hands than AllState! I AM FREE IN JESUS! (I know you can appreciate that one.)[end of this edited prior transmission I sent to another colleague]
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Not to be reproduced or redistributed in any form without prior written permission.
Contact Rev. L. Dowell, Five-Fold Minister
Used with permission. Traces2.