What’s Your Calling?
*What Does It Mean to Be Called?
*What might God want to accomplish through you in your lifetime?
“I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.” Philippians 4:13
Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding. 6 Acknowledge him in all your ways, and he will make your paths straight.
You’ve probably heard the phrase “the call of God,” but maybe you don’t know exactly what it means.
*Is the Lord still calling people, or was that something He did only in Bible times?
*Does He speak only to a specific few or to everyone?
* Although He may not use an audible voice, He’s still in the business of seeking followers.
A. Called to Salvation—Because sin has created a barrier between us and God, He first reaches out to establish a relationship with us by offering salvation through Christ.
B. Called to Sanctification—Once we have been reconciled to the Lord, He then calls us to sanctification or holiness.
This means that He sets us apart for His purposes. It’s not a perfect life, but one that is bent toward righteousness and obedience.
Although this is an act of God that begins at the moment of salvation and continues until our physical death, it also requires a commitment from us.
* If WE Choose NOT to cooperate with the Lord in this process, our growth in Christ likeness will be hindered.
C. Called to Service—God has chosen to carry out His work in the world through those who are saved.
HE HAS determined the tasks HE Wants EACH of us to do; our job is to serve Him by accomplishing what He’s planned for us.
*For God’s gifts and His call are irrevocable. [He never withdraws them when once they are given, and He does not change His mind about those to whom He gives His grace or to whom He sends His call.] (Romans 11:29)
How are you responding to the Lord’s various calls?
Remember that someday we will all stand before Him and give an account of our lives.
*Habitually saying NO to His voice will result in loss,
*BUT those who have lived for Him instead of themselves will be richly rewarded.
It is religious exercise that works against us when we have a spiritual revelation or hear the voice of God and then TRY to accomplish it through our OWN efforts.
**There is no power in religion or self-effort, but power comes by the Holy Spirit as we cast away our strongholds and abide in Him.(Acts 1:8, 2 Tim. 1: 7 For God did not give us a Spirit of fear but of power and love and self-control).
John 15:5 I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.
The Holy Spirit is at work bringing his people into a place of utter
broken ness. He’s leading us to a revelation of weakness in our own flesh in order to show himself strong. We- His people are coming to the end of
Ourselves, our stubborn wills crushed, until our mindset becomes only,“Thy will be done.”
And through it all, WE are becoming wholly dependent on the Lord listening to his Call!! His Voice!! His Love!!
Psalms 18:39 You give me strength for battle; you make my foes kneel before me.
*God has chosen me… He has taken the time to select me and pointed at me and said that’s the one…
God has called me… He has called out my name, He knows me intimately and has gotten my attention to do His work and will- God has justified me… He has cleaned me up as IF I was “Never Dirty”…
He has placed a ring on my finger and shoes on my feet God has glorified me… He has given me all I need to live this godly life… He is my strength and my shield… He has crowned me with victory and surrounded me with songs of deliverance! Wow!!!
*God’s Love is the only way out of the dungeon of “self”.
*The deadly essence of sin:
“Not Believing God”.
“The death he died he died to sin, once for all,but the life he lives he lives to God” (Romans 6:10).
*How are sin and God coordinate in this text? Died to sin. Lives to God.
*Sin causes death;
*God causes life.
*Sin is the sting of death—gives death its eternal horror;
***God is the spring of life—gives life it eternal glory.
Christ’s death was infinitely effective in nullifying the miseries of sin; Christ’s life is infinitely effective in confirming the ecstasies of God.
Lord, Thank You for the Cross! Help us know You more and Know we are forgiven so that we spend our time Praising You, listening to you and then put your calling into ACTION verses fighting our past and sometimes our seasonal bad feelings of unworthiness. Thank you for your promises one being ” Before they even call out, I will respond; while they are still speaking, I will hear.” (Is. 65:24)
And For the payoff of sin is death, but the GIFT of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.(Romans 6:23). Lord Thank You for choosing me, and help me through Humility to stay on the path You have designed for Your Glory and my Joy. Thank You Lord for Your Grace.
” The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all”.(2 Corin. 13:13). Thank you Lord for having no favorites, All believers are the same in Your eyes. You do not favor, You will not take sides, You shows equal love for everyone. ” For there is no partiality with God”. (Romans 2:11) ” Then Peter started speaking: “I now truly understand that God does not show favoritism in dealing with people,” (Acts 10:34). You are AMAZING LORD! Thank You for Calling US to You! Amen