The Call

CALLED AND POSITIONED

Happy New Month - Believing God for an amazing October

We begin a new series - The CALL- FLOWING OUT OF OUR GRACE CULTURE TEACHING

Each and everyone of us have received Graces - endowments of His Spirit and creation - and our calling is where our graces are to be expressed

HAVE YOU HEARD THE TERMINOLGY whatever GOD CALLS you to do- He equips you to do it!

YOU ARE EQUIPPED - YOU ARE GIFTED - YOU ARE GRACED - BUT WHY ARE YOU GRACED --- THIS IS REVEALED IN THE CALLING!

Sometimes the gift is discovered before THE CALLING - many are gifted but are not necessarily using their gifts for the CALLING THEY HAVE BEEN CALLED INTO

We serve a God that the Bible describes - Calls men and women UNTO HIM --- in various instances and places, different ways of life - God would interupt the day to day life, the rat race, the hustle and bustle— AND let His intention be known --- I desire to HAVE relationship with you!

The Lord calls an Adam in Genesis Chapter 2 -Calls a Noah unto Him, Calls an Abraham in Genesis chapter 12, An Isaac, a Jacob, A Joseph - The Patriachs of OLD, Calls an Esther, A Deborah, Calls a Samson, a Saul, A David, Calls a Jeremiah and Isaiah, INDEED WE SEE THAT GOD CALLS A NATION - The nation of Isarel were a called nation - and they are an OLD Testament picture of the New Testament expression of the church --- The Eccelsia --- WHICH LITERALLY MEANS THE CALLED OUT ONES--- THE OUT CALLED

We were CALLED OUT OF DARKNESS, Called out of the world (the course of the world)

Called out from ones king domain into anothers kings domain -

AND THE APOSTLE PAUL EMPHATICALLY TELLS THE ROMAN CHURCH -

Ro 11:29 For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.

Ro 11:29 (NKJV) For the gifts and the calling of God [are] irrevocable.

29For God's gifts and His call are irrevocable. [He never withdraws them when once they are given, and He does not change His mind about those to whom He gives His grace or to whom He sends His call.] AMP

God's gifts and God's call are under full warranty—never canceled, never rescinded (MESSAGE)

THERE IS SOMETHING SO SURE ABOUT THE GIFTS AND CALLS OF GOD!

When He called you He meant it!

IF YOU HAVE EVER HEARD HIS SPEAK YOU, EVER FELT THE DRAW OF HIS VOICE AND PRESENCE AND THEN WALKED AWAY.... TO THIS DAY HE HAS NOT CHANGED HIS MIND ABOUT THAT

IF YOU HAVE EVER HEARD HIM SAY WHAT HE WANTS YOU TO DO FOR HIM ----HE DOES not change His mind!

So who changes their minds about their gifts and their callings

We DO!

In the midst of this THING CALLED LIFE, ONES DESIRES, Relationships, WORK AND CAREER, CHURCH, Spirituality, mission– ONE CAN END UP GOING THROUGH THE MOTIONS WITH NO CLEAR DIRECTION, OR WE CAN SIMPLY BE A SLAVE TO OUR EMOTIONS, HOW WE FEEL ABOUT SOMETHING CAN AFFECT THE DECISIONS THAT WE MAKE IN LIFE FROM WHERE WE WORK, TO WHERE WE GO TO CHURCH, TO WHOM WE CHOOSE TO HAVE RELATIONSHIPS WITH!

A LIFE LED BY EMOTIONS, A REACTIVE LIFE – WHERE WE SIMPLY REACT TO STIMULI – GOOD OR BAD – IS SOMETHING THE Called one MUST MATURE OUT OFF

THAT MY LIFE IS NOT SIMPLY A REACTIONARY LIFE, BUT THERE IS A DIRECTION, There is a decree, there is a spoken WORD FROM THE MOST HIGH GOD CONCERNING ME , AND MY LIFE WILL GO HOW GOD CALLED IT TO GO! YOU ARE CALLED! BY GOD – THAT CALL IS SPECIFIC, ITS FOR YOU AND IT IS SOMETHING HE DOES NOT CHANGE HIS MIND ABOUT!

MANY PEOPLE MAKE IT SEEM THAT GOD IS CONFUSED ABOUT WHAT HE IS CALLED THEM TO DO –CHANGE JOBS LIKE THE WEATHER, CHANGE CHURCHES LIKE COATS, CHANGE THEIR PLANS AS WHEN IT SUITS THEM, START SOMETHING THEN STOP IT WHEN THE SITUATION GETS ADVERSE OR INCONVENIENT!

I am challenging us this MONTH TO CONSIDER OUR CALLINGS

STOP GUESSING, TAKE SOME TIME (HOW LONG THAT TAKES IS UP TO HIM) TO HEAR HIS VOICE AND THEN FOLLOW HIS CALL WITH YOUR WHOLE HEART!

THE SAD THING IS THAT MANY BELIEVERS LIVE THEIR WHOLE LIVES WITHOUT EVER WALKING IN THEIR CALLING – ANY LIFE IN CHRIST IS GREAT!! YOU CAN LIVE A JOYFUL AND FULFILLED LIFE

BUT DON’T YOU WANT TO DO EXACTLY WHAT YOUR CREATOR HAS PUT YOU ON THE PLANET TO DO!

CONSIDER YOUR CALLING!

Ephesians (Chapter 4)

4 I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called,

Walk in a manner worthy of the magnitude of your call

walk suitably — when you are called you cannot JUST WALK ANYHOW, which is the implication Paul writes with as he calls Himself a prisoner of the Lord - I am bound to his and His purpose for my life ---- so I am telling you also to walk worthily of your calling --- which you are called

THE greek word for CALL IS very interesting - Klesis - KALEO

That word CALLING IS ONLY EVER USED FOR WHEN GOD CALLS - In Hebrews 3.1 - it is called a heavenly calling

It is the act of calling someone to a goal or purpose

It is the idea of an invitation or a summons!

IT IS ALSO USED OFTEN WITH THE CONNOTATIONS OF BEING GIVEN A NAME

Mention - TD JAKES teaching of the word KALEO - That THE CALL OF GOD ECHOES THROUGH TIME…THATS WHY ITS VERY DIFFILCULT TO OUTRUN A GOD WHO DESIRES YOU.... IT might not be today ---- BUT THAT CALL FOLLOWS YOU - waiting for your response!

This word Kaleo is used as a root word for at least 17 other words in the NEW Testament

klesis (calling), kletos (called), parakaleo (entreat, exhort, comfort), paraklesis (entreaty, exhortation), parakletos (an advocate, intercessor), and most important of all, ekklesia (church, outcalled).

When Jesus called His disciples - Matthew --- He Called them to HIM …summoned them

BUT THE WORD GOES BEYOND JUST THE SUMMONING OR THE INVITATION - IT was also USED TO DESCRIBE THE APPOINTING OR DESIGNATING TOWARDS THE ASSIGNMENT

Matthew (Chapter 10)

10 And when He had called His twelve disciples to Him, He gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease

SO NOT ONLY WAS THE CALL THE SUMMONING IT WAS ALSO THE DESINATING AND NAMING TO THE POSITION OR OFFICE THAT ONE WAS CALLED TO

THE CALL HAS THE IDEA OF PLACEMENT — YOU HAVE NOT JUST BEEN CALLED BUT YOU HAVE BEEN PLACED INTO POSITION---

Our modern English word "call" does not now signify the ideas of appointing, designating, placing, positioning, or naming. Today, we would say, "The Prime minister has not yet named the Health secretary, we would not say, "The Primeminister has not yet called the Secretary of State,"

it would mean something quite different. However, there was a time when the king's call or invitation to serve was equal to appointment to the position, since none dared refuse the call of his monarch.

This is the idea that the Greek writer is trying to get us to understand about our calling — ITS NOT JUST THAT HE CALLED YOU, SAID YOUR NAME - BUT THERE IS ALSO A DESIGNATED, ASSIGNED POSITION THAT HE SETS YOU INTO!

THAT WORD CALLED HAS THE IDEA OF GOD MARKING YOU OUT

Eph 4:4 (BBE) There is one body and one Spirit, even as you have been marked out by God in the one hope of his purpose for you

NOW OUR CALLINGS ARE DIFFERENT AS WE SPOKE ABOUT GRACES ETC — But there is one call that goes out to all - NO ONE IS EXEMPT - AND JESUS RELAYS THIS IN A PARABLE

Luke 14 .15 Now when one of those who sat at the table with Him heard these things, he said to Him, “Blessed is he who shall eat bread in the kingdom of God!”16 Then He said to him, “A certain man gave a great supper and invited many, 17 and sent his servant at supper time to say to those who were invited, ‘Come, for all things are now ready.’ 18 But they all with one accord began to make excuses. The first said to him, ‘I have bought a piece of ground, and I must go and see it. I ask you to have me excused.’ 19 And another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to test them. I ask you to have me excused.’ 20 Still another said, ‘I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.’ 21 So that servant came and reported these things to his master. Then the master of the house, being angry, said to his servant, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in here the poor and the maimed and the lame and the blind.’ 22 And the servant said, ‘Master, it is done as you commanded, and still there is room.’ 23 Then the master said to the servant, ‘Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. 24 For I say to you that none of those men who were invited shall taste my supper.’ ”

Christian Life Outlines (10. God’s Call and the Christian (Luke 14:15–24))

Spirituality—v. 15. Those who “eat bread in the kingdom of God.” This means that those who live according to God’s law will be in heaven.

B. Story—vv. 16–17. Jesus uses a parable to explain a truth. The Bible offers many invitations: THIS INVITATION TO EAT SUPPER

3 EXCUSES AS WHY WE DONT ANSWER THE CALL THAT ARE AS OLD AS TIME!

18 But they all with one accord began to make excuses. The first said to him, ‘I have bought a piece of ground, and I must go and see it. I ask you to have me excused.’ 19 And another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to test them. I ask you to have me excused.’ 20 Still another said, ‘I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.’

Christian Life Outlines (10. God’s Call and the Christian (Luke 14:15–24))

A. Possessions—v. 18. A man bought some property and wanted to see it. However, you do not look at property at night. Possessions keep many people from full surrender to God.

B. Work—v. 19. A man bought some oxen. He wanted to work them at night. However, no farmer works at night! Work and extra work keep many from following the Lord

C. Family—v. 20. This man was married and could not attend. However, his wife hadn’t kept him from work or from other duties.

The family should not come between God and man. Note the words of Jesus in Matthew 10:37

Matthew 10:37 NKJV

He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.

Christian Life Outlines (10. God’s Call and the Christian (Luke 14:15–24))

A. Command—v. 21. The servant tells the Master of the excuses. The Master tells him to go out and invite all people to come.

1. Poor—the beggars. Those without money should be invited and welcomed in the church.

2. Maimed—crippled. All men are crippled by sin. They need Christ.

3. Halt—lame. Those who cannot help themselves need Christ.

4. Blind—all men are spiritually blind.B. Concern—v. 22. Many are invited; yet there is still room for more to attend.

C.Compelling—v. 23. Go into the highway and hedges (where the poor dwell) and compel people to come in. Compel means an urgent invitation.

THIS CALL IS URGENT - THE POSITION IS PRICELESS - THE TIME TO ACCEPT THE INVITATION, THE SUMMONS, THE CALL IS LIMITED

THE TIME OF YOUR CALLING IS NOW

LOOK AT THIS WORLD

YOUR DESIGNATION IS NECESSARY, YOUR GOD GIVEN POSITION IS A MUST

Ephesians (Chapter 1)

16 do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, 18 the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power

PRAY FOR PEOPLE - INVITE THEM TO GOD