The Effectual Call Of God

The Bible says Faith Comes by Hearing and Hearing by the Word Of God.

Romans 10:17 ESV

So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

It is clear from the context , it’s talking about preaching.

Romans 10:14–15 ESV

How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”

1 Corinthians 1:21 NET 2nd ed.

For since in the wisdom of God the world by its wisdom did not know God, God was pleased to save those who believe by the foolishness of preaching.

1 Corinthians 3:4–9 ESV

For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not being merely human? What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned to each. I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor. For we are God’s fellow workers. You are God’s field, God’s building.

God has chosen to bring salvation to others through human instrumentation, But we are only messengers with the words of another.

We need to pray to the Lord of the harvest that He will send out laborers into his harvest field.

Matthew 9:36–37 ESV

When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few;

The effectual call of God on your life, doesn’t just cover salvation, it also covers Gods call on your life after salvation.

Romans 11:29 ESV

For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.

Romans 11:29 AMP

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.]

In John 10, Jesus gives a parable about The good shepherd and the sheep. He is the good shepherd and He calls His own sheep by name.

John 10:4–5 ESV

When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.”

John 10:16 ESV

And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd.

John 10:25–30 ESV

Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name bear witness about me, but you do not believe because you are not among my sheep. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.”

It is comforting to know we are doing what the Lord wants us to do. We dont always know why the Lord has called us to certain places. Sometimes we doubt and let fear come in. Even Paul was afraid at times and needed the Lords reassurance.

Acts 18:9–11 ESV

And the Lord said to Paul one night in a vision, “Do not be afraid, but go on speaking and do not be silent, for I am with you, and no one will attack you to harm you, for I have many in this city who are my people.” And he stayed a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.

All who have heard the Gospel preached have been called to some extent. The Word of God calls every sinner to repent and trust the Savior, but that call brings nobody to Christ unless it is accompanied by the special effectual call of the Holy Spirit. Speak, Lord!, Volume 43, Sermon #2526 -1 Samuel 3:10 Charles Spurgeon