We are the Called

Last week I asked this question: What would you do if you couldn’t fail? Over the last 18 weeks we have been working our way through the book of Romans really to culminate here.

We have seen the superiority of the Gospel both in it’s future promise and current life. We have see time and time again that the Gospel promises us everything in Christ. In fact, it promises us a purpose or a mission.

In Romans 8 we see a repeated word. Like all repeated words in scripture, repetition designates, importance. This morning , I want to camp out for a moment on the word “called”.

We often use this word two ways as a confirmation of our actions or as means to dismiss some other action.

We say things like “I feel called too.....or I do not feel Called too”

In most pastoral hiring applications they will usually ask something like this: “briefly tell us about your calling.” What is meant by that statement is tell us why you are in the pastoral ministry and how you came to know that this was God’s will for your life.

But the idea of calling is not limited to those who are in vocational ministry. In other words, “calling is not limited to pastors and elders, missionaries and evangelist. To be called is a universal experience that every believer in Christ has.

So the question I want us to consider today is what is my calling? Why do I live the life I live? Is there any intentional thought followed by intentional action behind the “why” of my life?

In interviewing me nearly seven years ago. I was asked to explain my calling and now I am asking you to explain yours, but not for my own knowledge but for your own growth.

The word “called” means “to become designated”.

Romans 8:28 (CSB) 28 We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.

We see this definition clearly in Romans 8:28

So then because our hearts have been transformed by the gospel, the good(being conformed to the image of Christ) will take place. So then all those that love God have been called.

But what have we been called too?

His purpose.

So in other words, we have been designated to what....His purpose.

Your designation, your assignment is to fulfill God’s Eternal purpose of your life with the gifting and resources he has given you.

So church family what is your purpose in life and what is your plan to live out your purpose?

I think if we are honest, many people do not take this idea seriously.

Our days are often spent with little consideration for our purpose on this earth. It isn’t that we intentionally don’t consider this idea but rather that we are so inundated with day to day activities and entertainment that we seldom allow our minds to consider the reality of our purpose.

Why? Why is this true?

John 10:10 CSB

10 A thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come so that they may have life and have it in abundance.

Did you know that Satan is skilled at stealing. He is able to pull of the biggest heist on the planet without the victim even realizing that something is missing until its to late.

Do you know what it is that he is great at stealing?

Out of everything he could steal, he targets the one thing that can never be returned to you, your time.

Church family the enemy is stealing from you and you don’t even realize it. If he can steal your time. He will steal from you the gift of the abundant life that you have been given.

In what ways is the enemy stealing our time from us.

1. phones, tv, video games, and other forms of worthless entertainment.

There is an epidemic of addiction to devices and entertainment by adults. Adults are struggling to take care of the basic schedule of life because they are sleep deprived from this addiction. If I were to ask the question how many of you spent time each day praying for your family, your church and your mission. How many of you could raise your hand? However, If I asked how many of us did at least one of these each day this week watched tv, scrolled through social media, or played a game how many of us would raise their hand. Now I understand that it doesn’t have to be one or the other but does it not say something about our priorities and our addictions to be entertained when we don’t pray but have time for these other activities.

2. Pettiness - endless arguments in the home and with others.

Do you know what causes pettiness. Pride. if you have trouble getting along with others , you have a pride problem. Now some of you are already saying but pastor Brett you don’t understand, its not my fault. You don’t know the people I live with and work with. If you are thinking this way you are revealing you do not have a humble heart. Pride and arguments fit together like flies on manure. Problems are attracted to attitudes that stink.

3. busyness - If the enemy can’t get you sin, he will give you lots of great opportunities to be busy.

Busyness is not a virtue its a sin.

Did you know that busyness and laziness are two sides to the same coin. Oh sure one of these is accepted in our culture and the other is not Both of these will bear the same result.: Misplaced priorities that result in missed opportunities and the wasting of time that you cannot get back. If you are to busy to be involved in the life of your church. If you are to busy to be involved in serving others than you are to busy.

I think some believe when they stand before God and tell him how busy you were on earth that God is going to say you know i forgot about your busyness hey angels go ahead and throw one more floor on his mansion, it wasn’t his fault he couldn’t serve me he was busy.

It’s time that we own the fact that all of us are given the exact same 24 hour day as everyone else. Why is it that some seem to accomplish much and others little, priorities. There will be some that will use there time and many others that will waste it.

4. Sin habits - laziness, anger, lust, apathy, insecurity, selfishness and greed.

Church do you know what is the difference between a church that is impactful in the world and a church that is not.....It all comes down to how we use our time. Time usage is the key that unlock right priorities and impact for the kingdom.

So then what does this have to do with being called according to his purpose.....We are all called to the same purpose...To live life with a intentionally different set of priorities.

Romans 12:2 NIV

2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Why does a church struggle to know its mission(the will of God) because its members are conformed to the pattern of the world. Let me ask you if this pattern sounds familiar.

Wake up, go to work/or take care of the kids. The work day ends. Eat dinner, turn on some form of entertainment/attend a sport practice. Waste a few momments until I am tired and then go to sleep. Then do it all over again. Did you know this is the exact same pattern most of the country lives by? Religious or non.

You see that pattern referenced here is not just talking about charachter issues or immoral habits but also the pattern of our every day. How is your time being used differently because you are a believer?

As you look back on this past month, would you say you have used your time/energy for the Glory of God?

What is that pattern?

Matthew 6:33 CSB

33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you.

Do you see a comparison to Jesus words and Paul's....

Romans 8:31–32 CSB

31 What, then, are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us? 32 He did not even spare his own Son but gave him up for us all. How will he not also with him grant us everything?

If we want our church to thrive it’s not going to happen because we offer better programing, preaching, music, or activities its going to come when God’s people repent of wasting their time and change their understanding of there calling and purpose.

Are you tired of mediocrity in our church?

Are you tired of not seeing peoples lives changed by the proclamation of the Gospel, prayer and the word?

Does it bother you that our baptismal is seldom used? Or have you even noticed?

Are you tired of the brokenness around us going unchecked?

We are the people of God, We are his elect, we have been designated to his purposes. We have been given everything in Christ. We are filled by the holy spirit and therefore filled with the power of God. We will not be distracted, discouraged, or afraid.

It’s time we as Cooper River Baptist church repent turn from our sin and fully embrace the mission of God.

We are all the called......we have been called into battle. There is an unseen battle happening for your time and mind.

As I talked withNow some of you remember this story. A couple of months ago we had our local teen mission week. It started on a Wednesday and was kicked off by an evening of worship. During that day, I would see this woman walking bake and fourth in front of our church talking to herself. Multiple times that day. At the time I didn’t think much of it. There are a lot of people that walk by with mental health issues on this road.

However, during our worship service she came back. She was at our steps right out there. Come to find out she was not crazy. She was a witch. The enemy sent her here to disrupt. She was outside chanting and praying against our church. She then began to placed cursed items on some cars. I didn’t quite understand what she was doing. So I looked up the items that she left. The curse was inhibit the spirit of God.

Now fast forward. Hope and I were at a dinner on Friday night sponsored by the Charleston Baptist Association. At these dinners we always share about highlights and struggles of ministry. I mentioned that I felt our church right now was being spiritually oppressed and I briefly mentioned this story I just told.

This Pastor stopped me and asked when this happened. Then he told Hope and I this story. Just a couple of months ago. One of their staff members was out on Remount rd. He saw this woman and felt he should share the Gospel with her. Immediately she recoiled and told him that she is a witch and that they had been there to pray against the churches on remount rd. When this staff member asked if they had prayed against his church , this woman said “no” (she was probably lying) but that they had claimed the daycare that the church was leasing space too.

this is where this gets serious. That Daycare has now been shut down for non-reported physical abuse of the kids.

Church family, i want to say something that may alarm you. Over the last couple months, I have watched as attendance and commitment to our church and its ministry has declined significantly. At first, I couldn’t put my finger on the reason. Both Hope and I have felt discouraged, if Im honest , at times wanting to give up. Our kids have been discouraged. We have watched as more and more of our church is distracted by ife. Hope, Jonathan, and David about it. Did you know that we can trace it back to that week? The week this individual began to pray against our church.

Am I telling you this to scare you?

No,

I telling you this to remind you

Ephesians 5:11 CSB

11 Don’t participate in the fruitless works of darkness, but instead expose them.

Ephesians 6:12 CSB

12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this darkness, against evil, spiritual forces in the heavens.

Going into the summer everything was gaining momentum and then all of the sudden it was like a heaviness fell on our church. There is a spiritual battle that is waging right now. So my question for you this morning are you going to let God call you into the war? If you are a member of our church than by joining you have said this is the place where I will join others in battle. this is my Battalion. I I will be committed to ministries and the mission that God has called me to...I will recommit my life to God’s kingdom purposes. I will once again see his kingdom first.

Well this is your call to arms this morning.

So i am going to do something that I have never done here. I’m going to ask for a public call to action. Who is willing to say by standing that I repent of these things and I ready to move forward with God’s kingdom work. I am going to commit these things to pray I am going to make myself available for God’s Kingdom purposes.

Today is the day I go to war.

Look and if no one has the courage to stand at least I will know the true state of our church, but I can no longer pretend that everything is okay.

Choose today who you will serve. The purpose of the world or the purpose of the king.