How We View God's Call

How We View God’s Call Will Dictate Our Response.

Paul opens up his letter to the church at Ephesus by telling them about God’s call on his life. I do not think that there is any greater thing in the life of a person than the call of God. Paul held this same opinion about the call of God on a person’s life.

“Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God...” (Eph. 1:1a)

Paul viewed his calling as a great privilege.

There is no greater privilege in all the world than the privilege of serving Jesus Christ. Jesus is the very Son of God Himself, the Supreme Lord of the Universe in all its enormity. No matter how far out the universe reaches and no matter how many universes there are, Jesus Christ is the Lord of all. There could be no greater privilege than serving the Lord Jesus Christ, the Sovereign Majesty of the Universe.

Paul was given a special mission

Paul was given the special title as an “Apostle.” This meant that he was called and sent forth on a very special mission. The mission that was given to Paul was that of a messenger. The Lord Jesus Christ called Paul to proclaim the glorious message of salvation to the world.

What we need to know: Jesus Christ is not only the Sovereign Lord of the Universe, He is the Savior of the world.

John 3:16 NKJV

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

Paul considered it a privilege to be a spokesman for the Lord Jesus Christ! He looked forward to taking the message of salvation to the world. This is how Paul viewed his calling.

John 15:16 NKJV

You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.

Jesus spoke these words to His disciples. He also intended for us to read them and to know our calling in our world today.

God chose you

appointed you to a special mission

That mission was to take the gospel to the world.

And win people to Christ. So that they would remain and continue their mission.

If we view God’s Call as a privilege, and our view of Jesus Christ puts Him in the position as the Savior, Lord, and Master of our lives it will dictate our response.

Paul was completely surrendered to Jesus Christ.

Paul saw Jesus as the Lord and Majesty of the universe who had came to this earth and humbled Himself to save it. God’s very own Son has given man the privilege of knowing Him in the most personal way- as his Savior and Lord. Paul knew Christ-knew Him personally-knew Him as His Savior. This is what Paul knew. And this is why Paul completely and totally surrendered his life to Christ.

Christ was Paul’s Savior, but He was also his Lord and Master.

Read these two verses:

John 3:30 NKJV

He must increase, but I must decrease.

Matthew 16:24 NKJV

Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.

The response that Christ is looking for from us today is the same response that Paul had way back then.

Jesus wants to be more than your Savior, Jesus wants to be your Lord and Master.

Paul was called by the will of God

Everything about Paul’s life revolved around the will of God.

His work and employment were chosen by God, not him.

He didn’t choose the ministry because it was a good profession.

Point: God doesn’t call everyone to the ministry. But He does call everyone to be a witness; active in deed and character.

Think about how you have responded to God’s Call.

Do you view it as a privilege to be on mission for your Lord, Savior, and Master?

How we view God’s Call will Dictate How We live.

Paul now turns his attention to the church. Paul refers to the people in the church at Ephesus as Saints. I want you to see the depth of this title that Paul is using.

God Calls Believers to be Saints.

The word Saint does not refer to a particular group of people or to just a few people. It refers to all people.

Saint means set apart, consecrated, sacred, and holy.

A Saint is a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ who has been set apart to live for God.

The Saint has given his or herself to live a consecrated, sacred, Holy life-all for the glory of God.

A believer is a saint in the sense that they have been given a new heart by God: a heart that is renewed and recreated in righteousness and true holiness.

2 Corinthians 5:17 NKJV

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

In other words, everything in your life has been made new.

2. Believers are saints in the sense that they are set apart to live consecrated and holy lives in this world.

Romans 12:1–2 NKJV

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

Paul is urging the Roman church to do what is acceptable to God.

To do their reasonable service.

do not be conformed but be transformed.

Renew the mind that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

When you get home today. Think about your life. What does it say about God’s Call on your Life?

How We View God’s Call Will Dictate Our Relationship With Christ.

God Call’s believers to be faithful.

The word faithful means a person who has placed his or her faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Faithful Person is a Person who has looked upon the Lord Jesus Christ and...

Believed that Christ could and did save him or her.

Counted Christ worthy of his or her trust.

Placed his or her confidence in Christ and His Word.

Entrusted his or her salvation in the hands of Christ.

committed his or her life to Christ.

Everything about faith has to do with a relationship. Our relationship with Jesus will have a direct impact on God’s call on our life. Because if we believe, if we trust, if we are confident, if we have given our hope of salvation into the hands of Christ, and committed our life to Christ that means He is now our Savior, Lord and Master.

The faithful are those that have surrendered and set their lives apart to Jesus Christ, trusting Him to save them.

This is the very first call God gives people: to be the saints and the faithful of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Everyone here today should make absolutely sure that God counts them among the saints and the faithful of the world. Unless you are so counted, there is no escape from the enslavements and corruptions of this world: and most tragic of all, the person that is not counted with the saints and faithful will live an eternity being separated from God the Father.

I want to share with you today how you can know that you are counted with the saints and the faithful.

John 3:36 NKJV

He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”

John 5:24 NKJV

“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.

Romans 10:9 NKJV

that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

Say this prayer with me:

Dear Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner, and I ask for your forgiveness. I believe You died for my sins and rose from the dead. I turn from my sins and invite You into my heart and life. I want to trust and follow You as my Lord and Savior.

Amen