Embracing God's plan as your calling

We are in a series in Ephesians entitled “Fitting into God’s Plan”

I started by saying that God has a plan in to bring everything under the Lordship of Jesus Christ.

Jesus is the KEY to absolutely everything!

Knowing the mystery of His will.

Entering into his purpose

Yielding to Jesus’ Lordship.

Then we talked about finding your place in God’s plan, that is, knowing who you are in Christ.

Last week we talked about overcoming obstacles to God’s plan. Much of that comes down to understanding and accepting God’s grace.

Today we are going to talk about calling, not that we haven’t already touched on it, but Paul goes back to the subject so we will too.

Calling is often referred to as that inner call of God, just like Jesus calling the disciples to “come and follow me.”

How many of you have heard God’s voice at one time or another which caused you to change the course of your life?

There is also an outer calling of the church, which is really an affirmation of the inner call.

It is the recognition that God has called a person an set them apart for the work of the ministry.

But that can be confusing because we affirm the call of God on the life of leaders, but all of us are called to be followers of Jesus.

During the Charismatic movement this was referred to as “every member ministry” or “body ministry”

In today’s story, each of the Wemmicks was given a gift to use, not just for their own enjoyment but for the benefit of others.

The concept comes from Ephesians chapter 4 which states that gifts are given for equipping so that the whole body of Christ is built up and working together.

Some churches have gone so far as to grant all of their members a ministerial license or a lay-ministry certificate so they would know their assignment.

We believe that leaders are not the only ones called to do the work of ministry, but that they are called to lead, to demonstrate and to equip the whole church to do the same.

So whenever you hear the word “calling” today, don’t think that I’m talking about someone else.

I am talking to everyone in the church. You are called by God and you have a ministry!

The mystery of calling

Ephesians 3:1–13 ESV

1 For this reason I, Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles— 2 assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace that was given to me for you, 3 how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have written briefly. 4 When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ, 5 which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit. 6 This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel. 7 Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God’s grace, which was given me by the working of his power. 8 To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, 9 and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God, who created all things, 10 so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. 11 This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, 12 in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him. 13 So I ask you not to lose heart over what I am suffering for you, which is your glory.

Ephesians 3:

Calling is a stewardship of God’s grace.

We talked last week about how great God’s grace is. Grace is not just the fact of God’s goodness, but it is a divine impartation as well.

We said on the first week that our divine inheritance comes with a responsibility. Grace is a stewardship, an inheritance.

A stewardship means that you are entrusted with preserving, ultimately increasing, what you are given. (ex. - parable of the Talents)

luke

Luke 19:26 NLT

26 “ ‘Yes,’ the king replied, ‘and to those who use well what they are given, even more will be given. But from those who do nothing, even what little they have will be taken away.

Grace is not yours to keep for yourself. It is yours to grow and to give away.

Grace is not yours to keep for yourself. It is yours to cultivate, grow and to give away.

Calling is a revelation of God’s mystery.

All of the other Apostles were called by Jesus early in his ministry. Paul received his calling by revelation.

There was the revelation of Jesus on the road to Damascus.

Acts 9:3–6 ESV

3 Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. 4 And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” 5 And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. 6 But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.”

Acts 9:3-6

I believe that every calling begins with an encounter with Jesus Christ. Maybe not literally getting knocked off your horse, but certainly the realization of who Jesus is - Lord of heaven and earth!

The second part to the revelation has to do with what Jesus told Paul to do. “Go to the Gentiles.”

Ephesians 3:6 NLT

6 And this is God’s plan: Both Gentiles and Jews who believe the Good News share equally in the riches inherited by God’s children. Both are part of the same body, and both enjoy the promise of blessings because they belong to Christ Jesus.

We get the first part of the revelation when we realize that we are called to Christ and to His church. The second half of revelation comes when we realize that God’s heart is really for the world and we are called to the world.

Calling is a gift of God’s power.

Remember that grace is not just a realization of who God is and what he says about you. It is a divine impartation of the power to be who God has called you to be.

When you are called by God, he also gives you the resources to do what he has called you to do.

You can expect wisdom and guidance for each step that you are to take. (v. 8)

You can expect God to give you strategies and creative ways of expressing truth. (v. 9)

You can expect that you have the God-given authority in the spiritual realm to defy threats from demonic opposition. (v. 10)

You can expect God to give you courage and boldness. (v.12)

You can also expect some set-backs and suffering along the way. (v.13) But cheer up! It’s all for glory, God’s and others!

The strength of calling

Ephesians 3:14–21 ESV

14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, 16 that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. 20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Ephesians 3:14-21

The strength of humility.

For this reason- Paul has just described the opposition that he is facing.

He is in prison, not because he is in trouble with the Romans, but because he appealed for protection from the Jews.

Paul’s language here is intense. Not just bowing the knee but plural -both knees!

What follows is actually a sort of prayer. Not for himself, but for the readers, believers in Christ, for you!

What do you do when things get tough? Go low!

It reminds me of what Moses and Aaron did when the people turned on them.

Numbers 14:5 NIV

5 Then Moses and Aaron fell facedown in front of the whole Israelite assembly gathered there.

When confronted, we tend to get cocky and defensive and push back.

Better to press into God, make sure you are doing exactly what God told you to do and if so, just hold fast.

When I had been serving in Denmark for some years and was considering coming home again. I received a call from our Associate Pastor back home. He urged me to come home and serve on staff at our home church which had grown quite a lot while we were away.

But when we came home there was no immediate offer of employment so I got a job and was told to give it six months.

After six month I met again with our Pastor. by that time I suspected that not everyone was in agreement with his plan to bring me on staff. So I asked him, “We’re going to have to fight for this aren’t we?”

“Yes, I’m afraid so,” was his reply.

“Well, I don’t think a position is something I should fight for,” I said.

“You’re right.” He said, “because I’ve learn that what you have to fight for to get, you will have to fight to keep!”

And with that we informed him that God had spoken to us about going to Hopewell.

The beautiful thing about calling is that if you are walking in obedience to God you don’t have to promote yourself or defend yourself

Your calling comes from God first, when its challenged you should go to

The strength of Christ in you.

In chapter one we learned that the Holy Spirit is given to us as a seal and a deposit.

At the end of chapter one and again in chapter two we are told that we are designed to be a place for God to dwell.

Here Paul says it three times in three ways in just four verses. God, Christ, the Holy Spirit is in you!

God has chosen to dwell in us and to work through us. That should change the way each of us live our lives.

You have divine power residing in you! When you pray, minister and touch people you are releasing the power of God.

This divine power is something that will grow if properly cultivated and nurtured.

The power of God manifests as Christ-like love.

The strength of Christ-like love.

The power of God manifests as Christ-like love.

I say Christ-like love because it is beyond what we mostly know and experience as love.

Paul describes Christ-like love as being four-dimensional - it’s not like anything we have known or experienced. (v.18)

It surpasses knowledge. I can tell you that God loves you, but until you experience it for yourself, you have no idea! (v. 19)

This kind of love fills us to overflowing. When we overflow with love, we overflow with God.

More on how we manifest Christ-like love over the next few weeks.

The walking-out of calling

Ephesians 4:1–16 ESV

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. 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. 7 But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. 8 Therefore it says, “When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.” 9 (In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth? 10 He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.) 11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, 14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. 15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

Ephesians 4:1-16

The walking-out of calling is a walk in the Holy Spirit.

The unity of the Spirit.

Sin is basically selfishness. Christ-like love looks like unity.

The Spirit unites us in Christ. The Holy Spirit is in each of us. (We can hear together)

The Spirit will not pit us against each other. He is the Spirit of peace. (The flesh divides, the spirit unites)

The Holy Spirit may lead us differently, but there will be harmony toward the same goal and purpose.

The goal is to bring everything under the Lordship of Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit will always promote that goal.

The Five-fold gifts of the Spirit.

Now there are different gifts that Jesus give the church through the Holy Spirit.

Other gifts of the Spirit relate to how you are motivated or empowered to serve.

These gifts relate to how you can motivate or empower others.

This business about ascending and descending is a poetic metaphor with a twist.

Jesus dying and rising from the dead is compared to a king going down to another territory and conquering it.

In this analogy, the conquered territory is hell and satan.

The he leads his prisoners captive in a triumphal procession. Expect in this analogy he is leading prisoners out of captivity!

A triumphal procession would include conquered rulers bearing tribute. But it this procession Jesus is giving the gifts to those who will rule with Him.

The gifts that are given to expand Christ’s Kingdom are that of the Apostle, Prophet, Evangelist, Shepherd and Teacher.

These gifts are both a result of Jesus’ conquest and for the purpose of uniting all things in Him.

The five-fold are considered ministry gifts because their expressed purpose is to build up the Body of Christ

The equipping of the Spirit.

These gifts are given to help believers to mature and grow. (v. 13)

These gift are given to the church for stability and direction. (v. 14)

These gifts are to help the church to function as one body under Christ as the head. (v. 15)

These gifts are to help the church to function as one body under Christ as the head. (v. 15)

These gifts, when properly used in harmony will help us to reach our goal of fullness, completion in Christ-like love. (v. 16)

Questions for reflection:

Are you aware of a call of God on your life? Have you had a personal encounter with Jesus? What gift has God given you to use for His glory?

When you wake up each morning, what motivates you? Are you aware of the presence of the Holy Spirit in you? How does Christ in you impact the world around you?

Which of the five ministry gifts best describes you? How do you use your gift? How does your gift benefit others?