17 [a]Choosing you out [selecting you for Myself] and [b]delivering you from among this [Jewish] people and the Gentiles to whom I am sending you—
18 To open their eyes that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may thus receive forgiveness and release from their sins and a place and portion among those who are consecrated and purified by faith in Me.
Observation:
This has been GOD's commission to me ever since January 2010. GOD has chosen me for a specific purpose similar to Paul, being sent to do specific things for GOD. That is to open the eyes of the blind, to bring them from darkness to light to GOD's power so that they will receive forgiveness and release from their sins and to be chosen as I am, consecrated to do GOD's will and purpose for their lives.
Application:
As believers, we should not be content to be a Sunday Church goer. We should be followers of Christ, turning our ears to His voice day by day and walking in step with Him as HE leads us to His will and purpose. There are 5 fold ministries of the church. When we belong to the church, we ought to know which ministry GOD wants us to be part of. Ephesians 4:11 So Christ himself gave the apostles (sent ones/missionaries), the prophets (foreseers), the evangelists (soul winners), the pastors/elders(leaders) and teachers. You need to find out what spiritual gift the LORD has given you. Can you and do you like to teach the word of GOD? Do you have the passion to tell the unsaved about Jesus - the salvation of GOD? Does GOD give you foresight of the future? Do you like to lead or nurture people in their spiritual walk? Or Are you always being sent by GOD to places you never would go on your own? From there you will know what ministry you belong to.
Purpose:
Why do we need to actively participate in the body of Christ? Why can we not just sit around church every Sunday being blessed by the preacher and take and take all the time? Ephesians 4:12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of Godand become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
GOD did not save us just to be saved, but GOD saved us so we can bring others to the salvation of Jesus Christ and to train the new believers to reach out to more unsaved souls.
Philippians 2:12 says work out (cultivate, carry out to the goal, and fully complete) your own salvation with reverence and awe and trembling (self-distrust, [a]with serious caution, tenderness of conscience, watchfulness against temptation, timidly shrinking from whatever might offend God and discredit the name of Christ).
