Living Out Your Calling
Love and Marrage • Sermon • Submitted
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· 50 viewsLeading the life that God has assigned to you can be a very ambiguous idea. What is the life to which God has call you? What does it look like? Am I on the right track or am I derailed in the process? These are the questions many Christians face every day and many are parellized by the lack of solid answers. As we look at the 1 Corinthinans 7:17-24, Pauls desire is to answer some of these most basic questions for his new converts especially as it applies in the context of a marriage partner.
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17 Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him. This is my rule in all the churches. 18 Was anyone at the time of his call already circumcised? Let him not seek to remove the marks of circumcision. Was anyone at the time of his call uncircumcised? Let him not seek circumcision. 19 For neither circumcision counts for anything nor uncircumcision, but keeping the commandments of God. 20 Each one should remain in the condition in which he was called.
17 Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him. This is my rule in all the churches.
1 Cor 7:17
21 Were you a bondservant when called? Do not be concerned about it. (But if you can gain your freedom, avail yourself of the opportunity.) 22 For he who was called in the Lord as a bondservant is a freedman of the Lord. Likewise he who was free when called is a bondservant of Christ. 23 You were bought with a price; do not become bondservants of men. 24 So, brothers, in whatever condition each was called, there let him remain with God.
Introduction:
The very essence of marriage from its inception was to accomplish the mission set before them. Many marriages stay in a state of confusion because they are unclear of the target.
The first question every marriage should answer is, “What are we trying to accomplish?”
“The person who aims at nothing is sure to hit it.” - Zig Ziglar
How will you ever know what to do until you know what you are trying to do.
Steps for Family Goal setting:
Steps for Family Goal setting:
Create a “Family Mission Statement”
Make it direct enough that is drives you to action items that will accomplish the mission statement.
Example: “We will honor the Lord Jesus Christ by submitting the his authority in all areas of life and practice in order to build His Kingdom here on Earth as long as He would allow.”
Determine the top 5 values for your family. If you have to violate your values to accomplish your mission, you have the wrong mission statement.
Unconditional love for one another.
Quality time together.
Kingdom Building.
Work Contribution
Moral Support (physical, emotional, and spiritual)
Determine the best tactics that will accomplish the mission and protect our values.
Tactics can change if necessary to accomplish the mission.
Example: Church Worship
Accomplishes the mission statement.
Accomplishes at least 3 of our core values (Quality time, Kingdom Building, Moral support).
Create tasks to ensure the tactics are accomplished.
Now you know what to do because you know what you’re trying to do.
Be ready men, your lady is going to pull a Bruno Mars on you “What y’all try to do!”
Every task takes time so you must assign time to them on the calendar.
When will I do it?
How long will it take?
There are a lot of variables that go into making a good mission statement and not everyone is the same.
Where you are in life might be completely different than where I am in life.
In , Paul understands these differences in life. So let’s dive into this passage and see if we can’t glean some wisdom for our family mission.
17 Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him. This is my rule in all the churches. 18 Was anyone at the time of his call already circumcised? Let him not seek to remove the marks of circumcision. Was anyone at the time of his call uncircumcised? Let him not seek circumcision. 19 For neither circumcision counts for anything nor uncircumcision, but keeping the commandments of God. 20 Each one should remain in the condition in which he was called.
The Calling of the Lord is an invitation to walk with God.
The Calling of the Lord is an invitation to walk with God.
Jesus calls the sinner to repent.
Jesus calls the sinner to repent.
13 But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
We are called into the hope of the Spirit.
We are called into the hope of the Spirit.
4 There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism,
Eph 4:
3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call—
Eph 4:4-5
4 There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
You are called into a relationship with God through the Holy Spirit of God.
You are called into the family and Kingdom of God to be a part of something bigger than yourself.
We are called in spite of our circumstances of life.
We are called in spite of our circumstances of life.
21 Were you a bondservant when called? Do not be concerned about it. (But if you can gain your freedom, avail yourself of the opportunity.) 22 For he who was called in the Lord as a bondservant is a freedman of the Lord. Likewise he who was free when called is a bondservant of Christ. 23 You were bought with a price; do not become bondservants of men. 24 So, brothers, in whatever condition each was called, there let him remain with God.
1 Cor 7
God makes an all inclusive call “whosoever may come.”
The calling of God into his spiritual kingdom does not necessarily change your physical circumstances.
The beauty of the calling is it doesn’t matter where you come from, but that in your circumstances you can live in victory.
Transition: With the calling of Jesus there is also a commission from Jesus.
The Commission of the Lord is an invitation to join God in his work.
The Commission of the Lord is an invitation to join God in his work.
1 I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called,
1 I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
Eph 4:1
1 I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,
The calling of Christ carries responsibilities in the family.
We are to walk worthy of this calling into God’s family.
He has a mission statement, core values, tactics, and tasks to accomplish the mission of his family.
Mission Statement: Producing Jesus Followers of faith that expand God’s kingdom.
Core Values
Bible Believers
Disciple Makers
God Pleasers
Community Engagers
Kingdom Builders
Tactics
Sunday Mornings
Discipleship
Faith Bridge / Foster Care
Jobs for life
Alternative Baseball
Allgood Support
Armenian Missions
Real 4 Christ ministries in Africa
We are called as Ambassadors of the Kingdom reconciling people back to God.
We are called as Ambassadors of the Kingdom reconciling people back to God.
19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. 20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.
:
We have been entrusted with the message of reconciliation.
At Reliant we call this “relational reconciliation.”
We intentionally build and leverage the relationships God gives us in order to reconcile them back to God.
We are chosen to produce the love of the Spirit .
We are chosen to produce the love of the Spirit .
16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.
Your circumstances do not determine your capacity to love.
Your unity with the Spirit determines your capacity to love.
Once you answer the call and embrace your commission you will find contentment.
24 So, brothers, in whatever condition each was called, there let him remain with God.
The Contentment of the Lord is an invitation to peace in spite of your circumstances.
The Contentment of the Lord is an invitation to peace in spite of your circumstances.
The most uncertain thing in life is your current circumstances. “What a difference a day makes.”
33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
Circumstances are constantly changing. To place your hope on circumstances is to build your house on sinking sand. (It’s constantly moving and in flux.)
The constant in our lives is Jesus Christ, The Rock, the same yesterday, today, and forever.
“Contentment is focusing on the consistency of Christ in the midst of a storm of circumstances.”
11 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. 12 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. 13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
24 So, brothers, in whatever condition each was called, there let him remain with God.
Phil
Don’t let the circumstances of life throw you off your mission. If they can you have the wrong mission.
1 Cor 7:
Let the mission of your family and life be based in Christ alone and you will always rise above the circumstances.
Next Steps
Next Steps
Answer the call of Jesus to follow him.
Answer the call of Jesus to follow him.
Submit yourself to the kingdom of God’s love and care.
When you answer the call you are born again as a son or daughter of God.
Be the ambassador of reconciliation that God has called you to be.
Be the ambassador of reconciliation that God has called you to be.
Walk in the hope and Spirit of your calling.
Do everything in your power to keep unity in the body of Christ.
Take every opportunity to build the kingdom of God right where you are.
Find your contentment in the Lord not in your circumstances.
Find your contentment in the Lord not in your circumstances.
Your darkest hour is your greatest opportunity to show the light of Christ.
Focus on the everlasting victory you have in Christ and not the temporary troubles of this world.