Call Of God

Ammie - SS

The Calling of God

Intro

You know those times when a guy or a girl says they will call you and then you spend the next 1 million hours waiting by the phone?  You FORBID anyone to get on the phone, cuz they are SUPPOSED to call.  Isn’t that annoying?  Then you see them the next time and you want to slap them up side the head and ask them why they didn’t call!  But you know to do that would make you look needy…so you play the “I didn’t even remember” game.  Ahhh…the silly things we do!

Tonight talking about the call of God…and rest assured that he didn’t lose your number or forget…he most definitely has your digits!

There is a calling to salvation

John 6:44 (NKJV) "No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day."

Matthew 11:28-30 (NLT) "Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke fits perfectly, and the burden I give you is light.”"

There is a calling to follow Him (be like Him)

Romans 8:28-30 (NLT) "And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn, with many brothers and sisters. And having chosen them, he called them to come to him. And he gave them right standing with himself, and he promised them his glory."

Follow after Him, be like Him, Filled with His Spirit and power. 

Ephesians 4:1-4 (The Message) "In light of all this, here’s what I want you to do. While I’m locked up here, a prisoner for the Master, I want you to get out there and walk—better yet, run!—on the road God called you to travel. I don’t want any of you sitting around on your hands. I don’t want anyone strolling off, down some path that goes nowhere. And mark that you do this with humility and discipline—not in fits and starts, but steadily, pouring yourselves out for each other in acts of love, alert at noticing differences and quick at mending fences. You were all called to travel on the same road and in the same direction, so stay together, both outwardly and inwardly."

          -not talking to pastors here.  This was addressed to all believers!

          -No lone rangers

There is a calling to full-time ministry

Ephesians 4:11-12 (NLT) "He is the one who gave these gifts to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ,"

I believe that many more are called than are in positions of full-time ministry right now. 

Many people look at their own flaws or shortcomings just like Moses did and think that God can never use them.  “God I pee my pants when I have to speak in front of people,”  “God I have buck teeth and a hair lip!  I can’t be used of you.”

God doesn’t call the qualified, but qualifies the called!

I also believe that there are those in positions of full-time ministry that were never called to be there, but because they were connected, knew the right people, said the right words they were offered positions.  Full-time ministry has nothing to do with POSITION, and everything to do with DISPOSITION. 

Everyone is called to ministry.  The woman called to be a mom and stay home with her kids, has no less of a calling than a great preacher or evangelist. 

But if you believe you are called to full-time ministry, the pathway there is Faithfulness!

Matthew 25:21 (NLT) "The master was full of praise. ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!’"

The way to abort your calling is FEAR!

Matthew 25:25-27 (The Message) "I was afraid I might disappoint you, so I found a good hiding place and secured your money. Here it is, safe and sound down to the last cent.’ “The master was furious. ‘That’s a terrible way to live! It’s criminal to live cautiously like that! If you knew I was after the best, why did you do less than the least? The least you could have done would have been to invest the sum with the bankers, where at least I would have gotten a little interest."

“I was afraid to truly trust you with my life!” 

“I was afraid to step out in faith!” 

“I was afraid to simply wait and be faithful where you have placed me…I had to take things into my own hands!”

Many are called, few are chosen.