Am I Called?

Welcome

Thank you for worshipping with us today. We are so glad you are here. My name is Keith and my wife, Maegan, and I have the incredible privilege of serving as the pastors of this amazing church.

Series Setup

What do you want to do with your life? It’s a question that we are asked from the time we are kids. It might be easy to think of this in terms of a job, or a family. But what about living a life with meaning? Many people would say they want to live a life of significance, but we’re not sure how to do that. How do you know what God is calling you to do with your life? Where do you start? How do you stay on track? And if you lose your way, how can you find it again? In this series, we’ll be reclaiming the word “calling.” It’s not just what we’re good at, or what we choose to do. Calling is a sacred word that speaks to our innermost beings. As we go through this four-week series, we’ll be reminded that calling isn’t just about what you do. In order to discover God’s true calling on our lives, we need to focus less on what we’re doing and more on what we’re becoming: fully devoted followers of Christ.

Background on Paul

The Bible is simply amazing. It is one story that points to Jesus. It is filled with amazing stories, timeless principles, and profound characters. It isn’t fables. It is the living word of God; written by real people, inspired by His Spirit to communicate His heart and will and the part we play. We are a part of God’s story. We study the words and lives of people in scripture to unearth what truths that we can live by.

This leads me to Paul. Perhaps you have asked yourself, who is Paul? Why do preachers always quote him? Why does it matter? Paul is all of us. He had a past, God interrupted his life, and used him to plant churches, develop pastors and leaders, and study his writings to gain insight on the mysterious of godliness. Paul speaks to calling A LOT! However, it may look a little different than what you think. Paul’s perspective on calling isn’t just about what we do, it is about who we are.

Context on Ephesians

English Standard Version Introduction

The apostle Paul wrote Ephesians to the churches around Ephesus (Acts 19) to display the scope of God’s eternal plan for all humanity—for Jews and Gentiles alike. This is the mystery of God, hidden for ages but now made known in Jesus Christ. The first three chapters focus on what Christians should believe, unfolding the glorious riches of God’s grace in Christ. Dead sinners are made alive and gain eternal salvation “by grace … through faith” (2:8). The last three chapters explain the implications of God’s grace for the church, for individuals, and for families. This second section comes to a climax with a command to stand with the armor of God against the devil. Paul wrote this letter while in prison, probably in Rome about A.D. 60.

Scripture(s)

Ephesians 4:1 NLT

1 Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God.

Prayer

Paul connects our calling to the life we are living. Today, I want to speak for a few minutes around the topic of calling and I have entitled today’s thought, Am I Called?

Lord, we thank you for meeting us today. I pray that you inspire us, encourage us, challenge us. Give us open eyes, ears, and hearts in the name of Jesus. Amen!

Illustration

Is pineapple good on pizza? It is hotly contested. I literally can eat anything on pizza with the exception of olives and mushrooms. Where ever you land, we can all admit, pizza is the most versatile of foods. It all starts with a ball of dough. They roll the dough, pressing and mashing it. Then they start pounding on it. After banging it around for a while, they start throwing it up in the air and twirling it. That dough goes through a whole lot so that you and I can have the pleasure of eating it.

But when you go to a pizzeria, you don’t ask for dough. You want the good stuff. You want the sauce, the cheese, and maybe some meat or veggies on top. Everyone wants the good stuff, but you can’t get the good stuff until the dough has been prepared.

Transition

In the same way, one has to be prepared for their calling. Sometimes, our preparation starts with some pressing and some mashing. Sometimes it means being thrown around or banged up for a little while.

It is in these moments, we can look at all the random ingredients and wonder if we are called. We can wonder if there is purpose in it. But this is only in preparation for the good stuff.

Romans 8:28 NLT

28 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.

Somehow, God is able to use all of our random experiences for His purpose. Who would have thought God could use a divorced home, rapper, children before marriage, mixed with total surrender, radical pursuit for His glory?

Purpose

Purpose means to set forth. Plan. Reason. You were created for a reason. We all were and all of our reasons are actually the same.

We were created to bring God glory. We are all created in the image of God. This means, our lives are meant to exalt Jesus; to magnify Him. We are to live our lives in such a way that it draws people to God.

Maegan and I are in the very beginning stages of house shopping. When we see a nice neighborhood or home, we ask, “who is the builder”? That way we can see where else they have homes. Our lives should have such kingdom qualities that people are drawn to our creator. Our purpose is to reflect the life and light of Jesus to a dark and hurting world.

Calling

What about calling? The root word for calling is KALEO.(call) It means to call, summon or name. A root word is a word or word part that forms the basis of new words through the addition of prefixes and suffixes. (Form=conform, formation; Act=actor, action, acting) Same root word but different renderings. Understanding the meanings of common roots can help you work out the meanings of new words as you encounter them.

Back to call, KALEO, other words connected to the root include:

ekklesia=church: called out

klesis=calling

kletos=called

parakletos=Holy Spirit: advocate, comforter

This is just a few renderings. (blameless, invited in, challenged, assembled) Let’s pull it together. To be called means to be set apart, invited, activated and empowered by the Holy Spirit to fulfill your God given assignment.

You are called! We're called, now when you think about this, if you own it and you recognize that you've been genuinely set apart by God, chosen by God, gifted by God and called by Him to make a difference.

That puts a little weight on your day to day doesn't it? Because if you're called by God then you might wonder well what if I miss my calling? In other words, what if I was supposed to major in such and such in college but now I'm at online college and what if I choose the wrong career? What if I miss my calling? What is it specifically if I'm called by God, what am I called to do? It must be something big, it must be something important. If you're taking notes you may jot this down. We have to embrace the truth that calling is about who you are before what you do. When God calls you, He's calling you to a who before He's calling you to a do. This is crazy important. Paul says it this way.

2 Timothy 1:9 NLT

9 For God saved us and called us to live a holy life. He did this, not because we deserved it, but because that was his plan from before the beginning of time—to show us his grace through Christ Jesus.

Let me tell you what he didn't say. He didn't say for God saved you and called you to be a missionary, father, husband, pastor, etc. He might but that's not what Paul said. He didn't say you're called to be a second grade teacher or you're called to be a professional gamer. How cool would it be to get paid to play video games? Paul didn't say you're called to a task or a job. What he said is this. "For God saved us and called us "to live a holy life." It's a who before a do.

What you are called to do is very important. However, there is more to it than that. Calling is about WHO you are before WHAT you do! (who b4 do)

What you are called to do, flows from who you are called to be. Calling is about who you are before what you do.

What good is it to be a person of influence if I haven’t been influenced by God? As a father, I want to be influenced by God.

We can be so consumed by what we do, that we don’t develop the spiritual characteristics that point people to Jesus when we do it.

Our gifts can open doors that our character can’t sustain.

Observations

Paul did some amazing things for the Kingdom of God, but before there was a what, He was called to become. What is God calling you to be?

We are Called to be Saved

Jesus had huge plans for Paul. Bring glory to Himself through his life and service. However, before Paul could do any of it, he had to have a change of heart; posture. Jesus intercepts Paul and says you need to open your eyes to his true calling…to be saved.

Before God calls you to a job, He calls you to Himself. Jesus says I came to bring sinners to repentance. Repentance means change of heart.

We are Called to be Sanctified

Sanctified means set apart. Paul was connected to the Pharisees. The same group responsible for having Jesus murdered. He could have easily tried to blend in. However, once he had his encounter, he separates himself and begins the process of growing, changing through humility.

Jesus saves us so that we can be set apart. Be a person of love, joy, peace, kindness, patience, self control, sets you apart. We are not called to mimic the world, we are called to change it.

Romans 12:2 CSB

2 Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.

We can’t impact what we impersonate.

We are Called to be Servants

Paul constantly refers to himself as a prisoner or servant. What a lowly state. Paul is arguably a genius. Teacher. Builder. Leader. However, he uses all of these gifts and talents to honor and serve Jesus and reach people.

God has given us all gifts, talents, and anointing. Jesus illustrates this in Matthew 25:14-30. Servanthood isn’t about self indulgences or promotion. It is about taking what you have and putting it in the hands of Jesus.

Paul served Jesus and other by using his gifts, talents, and treasures. Paul glorified Jesus through servanthood. We are called to glorify Jesus serving others.

Closing

Colossians 3:17 NLT

17 And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.

Whatever you do, do it for the glory of God.

God is more concerned about who you are becoming than what you are doing.

Whatever you do, do it for the glory of God.

Calling isn’t about what you do in the future, it is about being faithful to Jesus today.

Teacher, pastor, leader, lawyer, doctor, nurse, engineer, barista, college student, young person, mother, father, influencer…do it all for the glory of God.

What you are called to do, flows from who you are called to be.