Called

Scripture

For the final time—

1 Peter—power letter written by Peter, disciple of Jesus wrote to Christians scattered due to persecution

Most Christians were living in what we know as Turkey

This is year 2020—written in year 64

We have been in a series called Chosen—last Sunday in series

Next week—Love Handles

Next Sunday

I don’t think there is a better way to start the year than with a series like this

To be reminded:

God is not stuck with us, he has chosen us

Staying connected to God is what brings change

Life is not perfect but in Christ it is complete

Life is complete in Christ b/c we are set free from the power and penalty of sin

Each week we’ve read

“But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.” NLT

“But you are not like that [not like those who have rejected Christ], for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests [complete], a holy nation [changed], God’s very own possession. As a result [because you are chosen, complete, changed], you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.” NLT

Prayer

God you are here. If you weren’t there wouldn’t be a reason to be here. Today we bring you our questions, worries, and doubts about our calling. We know that you have called us, but often times were left asking, “what have you called us to.” I know your Holy Spirit is going to speak, just help me to be quite so others can hear you. In Jesus name, Amen.

Story

On Sept. 10, 1990 a certain sitcom aired for the first time on NBC

Any guesses? Fresh Prince of Bel-Air

Air from 1990-1996—6 seasons—148 episodes

What may be more popular than the show is the theme song

People who have never seen the show know the song

I want to play a game called “finish that lyric”—I’ll start—you finish

In west Philadelphia born and raised On the playground was where I spent most of my days

“In west Philadelphia born and raised...On the playground was where I spent most of my days”

Fresh Prince—born in west Philly spent time on the playground

When I was growing up I spent a lot of time in West Lynchburg

On the porch was where I spent most of my days

719 Euclid Ave—great aunt’s house

Spent a lot of time at that house—on that porch

As a kid—always asking mom and dad about jobs

What was I suppose to do as a grown up? Calling?

This is a true story—Amanda is my witness

I thought so much about my job as a kid—I would try anything

Sitting on the porch—dumpster truck drives by

Man gets off to get the trash—remember looking at that and saying, “I should empty people’s trash”

I chased after the dumpster truck screaming, “I want to empty trash”

A Common Desire

I was so desperate to find out what I was made for—I ran and ran and ran

In college I started in music (switched 3 times in that field) then switched to ministry

This is why 80% of students end up changing major at least once (Borderzine Reporting)

From kid to adult this desire does not change—questions change

Am I wasting my time here? Shouldn’t I be further in life by now? Why can’t I find a new job? Should I even be looking?

We ask God, “Give me my calling...” (repeat)

As adults—like me chasing after dumpster truck—we’re running

Running from one idea to the next trying to find satisfaction

My hope is that you will leave here satisfied

Our Calling

We focus so much what we to do instead of focusing on who we are

Peter in this letter is not telling these Christians to do a certain thing—he’s reminding them of who they are

In this midst of this difficulty Peter tells them:

Chosen, changed, complete, called

I want to tell you this—in the midst of your difficulty you are:

Chosen, changed, complete, called

You may already know you are called by God

And you may say, “Yeah I know I’m called but to what?”

Dumpster truck driver, start business, accounting, stay at home

We wait for that job, that call, that interview

It creates so much worry within us

Steven Furtick has said, “We worship a God who can be best explained as mystery, but live in a culture that worships certainty”

We

We want to be certain of where and what we’re going to next

Trusting God is difficult—not always great at it

You hear preachers say, “Find you’re calling...”

It’s so uncomfortable to hear that

God knows what job is there for you—it is something to pray about and seek Him about

First because it doesn’t make any sense

Everything you need to know—in this moment, right now—you know

Secondly...

God has not revealed to you where you’re headed yet—he asking you to trust

Finding your calling is a cultural concept—not a Biblical one

Finding your calling is a Christian cliche

You know it’s a cliche because everyone has a different definition of what that means

Don’t mistake me—praying for job, trusting God—good

Finding your calling and getting a job, not the same thing

What is listed in the Bible is this: you are called by God

I want to tell you what God has called you to

You’re calling is to serve the purpose of the season you are in

Serve that purpose by showing others the goodness of God

Your calling is to show others the goodness of God

“But you are not like that [not like those who have rejected Christ], for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests [complete], a holy nation [changed], God’s very own possession. As a result [because you are chosen, complete, changed], you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.” NLT

“...you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.”

It’s not based on where you’re at or what you’re life looks like

Let’s say you’re going through a divorce and so is a friend of yours

You’re divorce can be a mess and you still show the goodness of God to that friend

Let’s say you’re in a financial crisis—you can show the goodness of God by even if you’re going through one yourself

Let’s say your marriage is falling apart you can be a light to someone who is also going through a marriage difficulty

You’re circumstances do not determine your purpose

God determines your purpose

He has called you to show the goodness of Him to others

“...you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.”

Application

You’re calling is not to constantly be looking ahead

As you look ahead—you miss opportunities God is giving you right now

You have people in your life that need a reminder of the mercy, grace, love, peace, and joy God has to offer

Showing the goodness of God can look like:

Sending someone a verse to encourage them

When someone messes up in your family, forgive them quickly

When someone disagrees with you, you show them patience

Giving someone something you know they could never pay back

I mentioned early that Peter is writing this to persecuted Christians

When I say persecuted—it was pretty extreme

Emperor of Rome at this time—Nero

He was so power hungry and loved building so much

He burned Rome in 64, blamed it on the Christians, just so he could build a lot of it again

Many Christians faced painful deaths:

Burned alive, eaten wild animals as a “sport”

Nasty rumors were spread across the Roman Empire about Christians:

Cannibals: bread and wine represent the body and blood of Jesus

Incestuous: call one another “brother” and “sister”

In the midst of all of this—Peter is reminding these people their calling is to show God’s goodness to others

Who in their right mind would show the goodness of God to someone who is tying them to a tree or shutting them in a cage

How is this possible?

You may not be tied to a tree—someone may not be calling you a cannibal

But you have been: betrayed, lied to, cheated on, bullied

You’re here asking yourself, in what way can I find the strength to show the goodness of God to:

My lying spouse

When you look up the word

Family member who causes nothing but pain

Friend who is a drama king or queen—causing trouble everywhere

Called by name

The Greek word for “called” doesn’t just mean “to call”

It means “to call by name”

You are called by name

Which means if he wanted anyone else to do what he’s asked you to do—he’d ask someone else to do it

He has called you to show the goodness of God to those around you

He is more intelligent than we are

Each of us have a sphere of influence—people who we hang around

Those people are not there by accident

He knows who needs to be in our life and who doesn’t

Who he’s placed in our life we have the responsibility to

Yes we have an overall call to show God’s goodness

Jesus himself was very intentional about who he choose to be around

, “One day soon afterward Jesus went up on a mountain to pray, and he prayed to God all night. At daybreak he called together all of his disciples and chose twelve of them to be apostles. Here are their names: Simon (whom he named Peter), Andrew (Peter’s brother), James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James (son of Alphaeus), Simon (who was called the zealot), Judas (son of James), Judas Iscariot (who later betrayed him).”

12 One day soon afterward Jesus went up on a mountain to pray, and he prayed to God all night. 13 At daybreak he called together all of his disciples and chose twelve of them to be apostles. Here are their names:

14 Simon (whom he named Peter),

Andrew (Peter’s brother),

James,

John,

Philip,

Bartholomew,

15 Matthew,

Thomas,

James (son of Alphaeus),

Simon (who was called the zealot),

16 Judas (son of James),

Judas Iscariot (who later betrayed him).

Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation (). Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.

That looks differently for each person according to:

Our strengths, talents, gifts, experiences

Our lives and abilities look different but we all live for one purpose

We are all called to the same action

This is what makes the church the church

Common purpose—1 goal, 1 calling to be Jesus to others

Jesus put it this way in

New Living Translation Chapter 5

14 “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. 15 No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.

I’ve read these verses many times, but the words “good deeds” jumped off the page

You’re good deeds is what shines

People like good people—Christian or not

Showing others the goodness of God shines bright

We are called by name to show others the goodness of God

Your closets friends are those who would do anything for you

You will not be the one to shine—your good deeds will

You are needed and desired by God

God does not call us by name so that we will get the credit

If you were not desired then Jesus would not have died for you

Repent

He calls us by name so that our good works will glorify him

One more step from

I want you to know that Jesus is that kind of friend

Last step for this whole series

You are called by name, out of the darkness

Your calling is to display the goodness of God to others

He’s calling you by name, calling you out of the darkness

When we calls you to show his goodness, he calling you out of darkness

Darkness and light are 2 images used throughout the NT

Darkness symbolizing evil, wrong, sin

Light representing goodness, God

God is calling you by name to show his goodness but we have to leave the darkness behind

Jesus has come and in the glorious display of the cross he showed the world the goodness of God and made it accessible to us

This past week—read

Jesus tells his disciples—I’m going to be crucified and rise on the 3rd day

Disciples always seems confused by this—I probably would be too if I were hearing it for the first time

Luckily we live on the other side of his resurrection and can read and understand this with ease

, “Listen,” he said, “we’re going up to Jerusalem, where the Son of Man [name Jesus gave himself] will be betrayed to the leading priests and the teachers of religious law. They will sentence him to die and hand him over to the Romans. They will mock him, spit on him, flog him with a whip, and kill him, but after three days he will rise again.”

33 “Listen,” he said, “we’re going up to Jerusalem, where the Son of Man will be betrayed to the leading priests and the teachers of religious law. They will sentence him to die and hand him over to the Romans. 34 They will mock him, spit on him, flog him with a whip, and kill him, but after three days he will rise again.”

Jesus is the only person to say ever say this and it actually happen

Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation (). Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.

The OT—written 100’s of years before Jesus’ birth contains over 300 prophecies Jesus fulfilled

Mathematically speaking—this is nearly impossible

Let’s put it this way:

Mathematically speaking, the odds of anyone fulfilling this amount of prophecy are staggering. Mathematicians put it this way:

1 person fulfilling 8 prophecies: 1 in 100,000,000,000,000,000 (100 Quadrillion)

1 person fulfilling 8 prophecies: 1 in 100,000,000,000,000,000 1 person fulfilling 48 prophecies: 1 chance in 10 to the 157th power 1 person fulfilling 300+ prophecies: Only Jesus!

1 person fulfilling 48 prophecies: 1 chance in 10 to the 157th power (the number doesn’t even have a name)

1 person fulfilling 300+ prophecies: Only Jesus

The amazing thing is—it was planned a long time ago

1 Peter 1:19-20

New Living Translation Chapter 1

19 It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God. 20 God chose him as your ransom long before the world began, but now in these last days he has been revealed for your sake.

It is for our sake—our purpose we are called by name out of the darkness to show others the goodness of God

Question is—who in here is ready to walk out of the darkness?

It takes one thing—repentance

Repentance means to change one’s mind

More than that—change one’s behavior—walk away from the darkness

It is your time to walk into the light

STAND

Pray salvation prayer

Ask people to raise hands for walking out of the darkness

Explain last song and prayer teams—pray again