Where do you fit in?
Notes
Transcript
Intro
Intro
Illus: Moses and Aaron
Moses at the burning bush () receives a call from God
Come, I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring my people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.”
Moses responds:
Then Moses answered, “But behold, they will not believe me or listen to my voice, for they will say, ‘The Lord did not appear to you.’ ”
God responded with signs:
Staff to a serpent
healing his leprous hand
Moses responds with doubt:
But Moses said to the Lord, “Oh, my Lord, I am not eloquent, either in the past or since you have spoken to your servant, but I am slow of speech and of tongue.”
Ex 4:1
God’s response:
Then the Lord said to him, “Who has made man’s mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the Lord? Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak.”
Ex 4:11
Moses tries one last time:
But he said, “Oh, my Lord, please send someone else.”
Fine, take Aaron
Calling
I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift.
Eph 4
Called as a Christian - disciple of Jesus
Yet, many of us are like Moses and are refusing to listen to and obey God’s calling for our life.
Principles of Faith
Principles of Faith
God providentially ordains each of our callings (6)
(6) God shows no partiality
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17 For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who is not partial and takes no bribe.
The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.
God of Integrity
Nothing he does is wrong
Balance
God allows things
God does not sin
Kingdom of God does not include social boundaries
In God’s sovereignty he ordains each of our callings
App: We are called as Christians? More specifically what are you called to?
You do not have to be somebody to be sued by God.
Illus: Minsters call. Called inwardly and outwardly to a specific role in the church. We are called to be Christians, but what is your calling in the church.
God shows no partiality. I am not from a line of preachers. Most are not. Yet, my calling is from God. What are you called to in God’s Kingdom?
God uses each of us for specific roles (7-8)
In each season of life
negatively and positively
Paul
used to persecute the church
used to preach the gospel to the Gentiles - uncircumcised
Peter
Betrayed Jesus and offered him up to death
used to build the church, preach to the Jew-circumcised
God “worked” through them
Both were “entrusted with the gospel”
Both were given specific Aspostleship
God calls us to work together (9-10)
These men had some things in common
Gospel centered
Pillars of God’s Kingdom
Filled with grace
the Holy Spirit gives us a sense of one who is filled with grace
grace
given from God
Grace of God
Grace toward others
They joined hands for the service of King Jesus
right hand of fellowship
even though their ministries were different
App: We need to be careful in condemning others or showing them anything but grace. Presbyterians can have a tough time with this. We have in our history.
Marrow Controversy. Does one have to show fruit before they can be offered the gospel of Jesus? Or can one hear the gospel no matter their current heart condition.
Free offer of the gospel.
Secondly, we need to be careful to show only grace to other brothers and sisters in Christ who are being used by God in various ways.
Conclusion
Conclusion
In His Sovereignty God has ordained a Kingdom where he uses many people in a variety of ways to further the gospel. This is why I believe he allows many denominations under the Christian umbrella.
Yet, within that umbrella, His kingdom, he ordains men to work on his behalf. He calls them to specific roles. This is how God works. He is sovereign and chooses to use us, without partiality.
He calls us to walk in grace and to work together for the spreading of the gospel.
App: ARP denomination - various churches working together
Community - various churches working together
Church - working together to share the gospel
What is your calling in all of those various works that God is using to work in this world?