The Call Part 2

He Needs Your Yes and Your Press

• Praise God and welcome to service today

• We are continuing onto Part 2 of our message series - The Call -0 This flows on from out Culture of Grace teaching

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

• 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 began to look at the fact that God calls! He is a God that communicates with HIS CREATION

• And even we think about who we are as the BODY OF CHRIST -THE ECCLESIA----THE OUT CALLED ONES

Are’nt you Glad He called out to YOU!

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

CALLED YOU OUT OF SICKNESS, Called you out of POVERTY and Called you unto Himself!

1 Corinthians 1.9

9 God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

1 Thess 2.12

12 that you would walk worthy of God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.

WE ARE CALLED INTO HIM

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• God's gifts and God's call are under full warranty—never cancelled, never rescinded (MESSAGE)

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

• When He called you He meant it!

• TO THIS DAY HE HAS NOT CHANGED HIS MIND ABOUT THAT

• We are the ones that change our mind - we are the ones that lose

• 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

• 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,

THEN WE BEGAN TO DELVE A LITTLE INTO THE GREEK WORD USED FOR 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

• 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---

• 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

• WE ended looking at the parable - which i personally believe is a parable concerning the call of salvation

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.’ ” : 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.’

(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.

(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.

I also believe this parable is about a rejection of the house of israel towards Jesus and we are the ones on the highways and byways --- called and engrafted into the feast of God!

In Matthews Gospel - he recounts Jesus telling the same parable and he ends it with -

14 “For many are called, but few are chosen.”. (Mt 22:14).

MANY ARE KLETOS — THE CALL GOES OUT TO MANY BUT FEW ARE CHOSEN - ELECKTOS ---- elected

Systematic Theology (2. The Characteristics of External Calling)

The external calling is a calling in good faith, a calling that is seriously meant. It is not an invitation coupled with the hope that it will not be accepted. When God calls the sinner to accept Christ by faith, He earnestly desires this; and when He promises those who repent and believe eternal life, His promise is dependable

I have said for years I dont believe election is a teaching of God forknowing and choosing you specifically and you have no say in the matter!

What makes you and I chosen ones - is a response of faith to the call!

I WILL SAY IT LIKE THIS - THE CALL NEEDS YOUR YES

When God calls us in anyway or capacity - our yes is necessary for the fulfilling of that call!

Your Call Needs Your YES - What God has called into and unto needs you to cooperate with it - WITH A YES

Again this theme is modelled in scripture - Go Abram to a land I will show you

Gen 12.4 So Abram departed as the Lord had spoken to him, and Lot went with him.

4 So when the Lord saw that he turned aside to look, God called to him from the midst of the bush and said, “Moses, Moses!”And he said, “Here I am.”. (Ex 3:4).

Its hard to find a here i am nowadays ---

ASK YOUR NEIGHBOUR - “Hows your here I am”?

How is it --- God would not be able to continue if Moses did not present HIMSELF! Your call needs your YES!

4 Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying:5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you;Before you were born I sanctified you;I ordained you a prophet to the nations.”6 Then said I:“Ah, Lord God!Behold, I cannot speak, for I am a youth.” (Je 1:4–6).

THE LORD said do not say that! Dont say NO! Dont give me that excuse about what I have called you to do!

Isaiah 6. 4 And the posts of the door were shaken by the voice of him who cried out, and the house was filled with smoke. 5 So I said:“Woe is me, for I am undone!Because I am a man of unclean lips, And I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King,The Lord of hosts.”6 Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a live coal which he had taken with the tongs from the altar. 7 And he touched my mouth with it, and said:“Behold, this has touched your lips;Your iniquity is taken away,And your sin purged.”8 Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying:“Whom shall I send,And who will go for Us?”Then I said, “Here am I! Send me.”9 And He said, “Go, and tell this people:

One of my favourite passages of Scripture in the Bible

The presence of God reveals the man

I am unclean - but a little bit of dirt never stopped GOD!! He purges the man!! He cleans the man! A little bit of dirt HAS never stopped GOD!

Then Heaven ASKS A Question - I believe this questions cycles the earth generation after generation - THIS CRY - THIS CALL

8 Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying:“Whom shall I send,And who will go for Us?”

WHO WILL GO FOR US? WHO WILL GO FOR US? WHO WILL GO FOR US? Who’s going to do it? Who’s going to say it? Who’s going to be it! WHO WILL GO FOR US?

HERE I AM ---- SEND ME!! (QUICKENS)

THE CALL NEEDS A YES - HERE I AM--- SEND ME (HOWS YOUR SEND ME!)

How’s your USE ME…HOW’S YOUR I AM AVAILABLE!!

Isaiah says send me--- but if he did not say yes - the scroll of Isaiah as we know it would be different --- There is revelation that is wrapped up in you that wont be released to the earth unless you say yes!

After Isaiah says yes — GOD SAYS GO AND TELL MY PEOPLE AND GIVES HIM THE MESSAGE.... sometimes we are waiting for the message before we have really said yes to the CALL

(Talk about LA....)

In Acts 9 - God calls a man calls Saul - but before we look at that i want to look at what God told another man about Paul

The New King James Version (Chapter 9)

10 Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and to him the Lord said in a vision, “Ananias.”And he said, “Here I am, Lord.”11 So the Lord said to him, “Arise and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus, for behold, he is praying. 12 And in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and putting his hand on him, so that he might receive his sight.”13 Then Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem. 14 And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name.”15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. 16 For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake.”

Paul is a chosen vessel of mine — The selection of the call belongs to God

You dont choose your won calling! That’s where people get into trouble trying to be and do something that they are not called to do and be!

Embrace your selection!!

The New King James Version (Chapter 9)

9 Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2 and asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.3 As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. 4 Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?”5 And he said, “Who are You, Lord?”Then the Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads.”

Its Hard to kick against the goads (pricks)

Dont resist my calling because it will hurt you - you wonty find rest, you wont find peace ---- this is a word for the chosen --- when God selects you for a specific purpose - to not do that purpose is a pain.... its why some will leave a good paying career…its why some will move outside of comfort —its hard to kick against the goads — its hard to resist the call!

I love PAULS response because in all his flaws and sin---- HE HAD ENOUGH SENSE TO SAY - YES

6 So he, trembling and astonished, said, “Lord, what do You want me to do?”Then the Lord said to him, “Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”

LORD WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO DO?

I FEEL A STRONG LEADING FOR US TO PRAY THAT RIGHT NOW

COME ON AND JOIN WITH ME --- LORD WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO DO”?

Lead the church in prayer

YOUR CALL DEMANDS YOUR YES

Next week we will look at the fact that not inly does our call require our yes — it also requires our press!!