The Calling of God

Hebrews 5:1–4 NKJV

1 For every high priest taken from among men is appointed for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins. 2 He can have compassion on those who are ignorant and going astray, since he himself is also subject to weakness. 3 Because of this he is required as for the people, so also for himself, to offer sacrifices for sins. 4 And no man takes this honor to himself, but he who is called by God, just as Aaron was.

Hebrews 5:12–14 NKJV

12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. 13 For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. 14 But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

Hebrews 6:1–2 NKJV

1 Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, 2 of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.

The History of God’s Calling

Old Testament Leaders

++Priest

++Prophets

++Kings

Some leaders were chosen

++ By God

++By People

All leaders were chosen from among the people.

Exodus 3:6–8 NKJV

6 Moreover He said, “I am the God of your father—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look upon God. 7 And the Lord said: “I have surely seen the oppression of My people who are in Egypt, and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters, for I know their sorrows. 8 So I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up from that land to a good and large land, to a land flowing with milk and honey, to the place of the Canaanites and the Hittites and the Amorites and the Perizzites and the Hivites and the Jebusites.

They were called

++To bring deliverance

++To bring order

Exodus 18:21 NKJV

21 Moreover you shall select from all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them to be rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens.

Judges 2:16 NKJV

16 Nevertheless, the Lord raised up judges who delivered them out of the hand of those who plundered them.

New Testament Leaders

Ephesians 4:11–13 NKJV

11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;

They are called by God

++To equip

++To edify

++To educate

++To encourage

There goal is

++The unity of faith

++The knowledge of the Son of God

++Maturity

A Calling to Compassion

Hebrews 5:2 NKJV

2 He can have compassion on those who are ignorant and going astray, since he himself is also subject to weakness.

We must understand our weakness

Romans 5:6 NKJV

6 For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.

God did not wait for us

++To fix ourselves

++To clean up

++To get right

Romans 5:8 NKJV

8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

A Calling to Consecration

Hebrews 5:4 NKJV

4 And no man takes this honor to himself, but he who is called by God, just as Aaron was.

Jeremiah 1:4–5 NKJV

4 Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying: 5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations.”

Ephesians 4:1 NKJV

1 I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called,

To walk worthy takes

++Divine Alignment

++Living Example

++Diligent Attitude

++Uncommon Obedience

A Calling to Maturity

Hebrews 5:12 NKJV

12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food.

By This Time

God knows

++Were we are

++Were we are called to be

No more milk

Hebrews 5:13–14 NKJV

13 For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. 14 But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

Milk is

++Is dependent on an outside source

++Supplied by another

Psalm 1:3 NKJV

3 He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper.

Calling to Step Up

Hebrews 6:1–2 NKJV

1 Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, 2 of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.

We step up

++From an established foundation

++To Another level

++Into His Destiny for us