THE PERPETUAL CALL

Revelation 22:17. “And the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.”

we have estblished in this week that the gospel call does not begin in the book of Mathew 28:18, but rather in heaven with God convening a urgent council to discuss man’s escape from sin. It is in that meeting Jesus voruteered to become the sacrificial lamb to take away the sins of the world. the Call to save man was met with Jesus response, “I will go.”

in Genesis 3:9 “9 Then the Lord God called to Adam and said to him, “Where are you?”

This is where the gospel call begins to redeem man, and it is of critical importance to note that it begins with God seeking man in the face of great fall to sin. Adam falls into sin, runs away from God , hides in the bush not to be seen by God, follows him with a voice full of grace, “Adam wher are you.”

This call by God to Adam on this sad and unfortunate day, marks the God’s gracious, and priceless earthly mission to seek the lost, to give them hope, to cover their shame, and to offer a second chance in eternal life.

so He comes to Abram, calls him and bids him go to a country he knew not . Paul says in Hebrews 11:8 “8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.”

God’s gospel call is to give people a better country. God always invites people that they may recieve inheritance of eternal glory in christ Jesus.

He calls Moses and bids him to go to call the children of Israel from the land of slavery to the land of promise whose inheritance was guaranteed through the covenant .

and so Isaiah in 6:8, he hears a loud voice of God crying, whom will i send, and who will go for us? and immediately Isaaih says here am I lord send me.”

Reeling from the relentless message of judgement and wrath that Isaiah has constantly given for the last 39 chapters, God transitions from messages of hopeessnes and despair to meassages of hope and comfort from chapter 40.

Isaiah 40:9 “9 Go on up to a high mountain, O Zion, herald of good news; lift up your voice with strength, O Jerusalem, herald of good news; lift it up, fear not; say to the cities of Judah, “Behold your God!”

Note here; Jerusalem and Zion are cities of God. they represent God’s people. Though faced with captivity, God still favors them to heralds of good news. Though the church be feeble and weak in the slavery of sin, God ha graciously favored the church to be herald of the good news!

The priceless treasure of the gospel message is placed in fragile jars of clay. 2 Co. 4:7 “7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.”

God’s people in view of Isaiah’s prophecy becomes the bearers of the good news of salvation.

So Christ is born, grown and raises up a church in fulfilment of Isaiah’s prophecy, and Matthew 28:18-20 Christ commsions the church as the heralds of the everlasting gospel. “19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.”

But before the church embarks into the gospel mission, Jesus says, wait, wait until i give you a compannion. Luke 24:49 “49 “Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.””

Acts 1:8 “8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

the testimony of Luke shows that after the pentecost day, the Holy spirit fully took charge of the gospel mission, appointing apostle, directing mission activities, and embeuing apostles with power unto great miracles and works of Glory. He took the role of convicting and coverting souls as apostles boldly spoke the message of salvation.

Acts 4:31 “31 And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.”

Acts 13:2-3 “2 As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, “Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” 3 Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away.”

Acts 5:32 “32 And we are His witnesses to these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him.””

"“"and soJohn in Revelation 22:17 “And the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” ALLEUJA! Iam not alone in this! I have got a companion! He is right here with us. Iam on the pulpit, He is on the pews. Iam in your ears, He is in your hearts. I am preaching He is pleading. Iam bruising he is healing. I am gathering, He is sealing. And we are all working for the salvation of your soul! with one appeal, “BEHOLD YOUR GOD.”

John 16:8 “8 And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:”

Oh alleluja! The Spirit and the bride say come. Come and Behold your God.

The woman at the well beheld Him, and she couldnt hold it. She ran to the cities and said,come, come, come and see a Him who told me everything about my life. come come behold him, he is the rock of my salvation.

behold him, He is JEHOVAH, the great I AM of the universe. the only one who possesses all power and authority.

JEHOVAH-M’KADDESH “the God who sanctifies.” He is our our justification and our sanctification.

JEHOVAH-JIREH-“The God who provides.” But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

JEHOVAH-SHALOM-“The God of peace.”-You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you,

JEHOVAH-ROPHE-“Jehovah heals.”-But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.

JEHOVAH-NISSI-“God our banner.”

EL-SHADDAI-“God Almighty,”- The immutable God, the all sufficient God

ELOHIM-“Strength” or “Power”-The Lord is my strength and my song; he has given me victory.

Psalms 23 “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. 3 He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake. 4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup overflows. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the Lord Forever.”

He is the fountain of every blessing which tunes our heart to sing his grace.