You've Been Called Out

Have you ever Been Called Out?...

Story of 12 Grade Science awards

A Commendation for something that I didn’t even know or realize...

Called Out:

To draw the attention of a specific person or group of peopled

To draw attention to something specific, such as a specific quality or trait.

To summon action or change

Paul is calling out their Works

To Encourage them

To Spur them on

An example to encourage and spur us on

1 Thessalonians 1:1-3

1 Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 2 We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers, 3 remembering without ceasing your work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of our God and Father,

Church (Ekklesia):

Called out Group

Set Apart from the World; Different

An assembly or gathering

John 15:19 (NLT)

The world would love you as one of its own if you belonged to it, but you are no longer part of the world. I chose you to come out of the world, so it hates you.

1 Peter 2:9

But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;

Physically/Geographically in

Called us to Orange County

Called us to assembly and gathering here at Coast Hills Church

Spiritually:

Called to live different lives than the World

So we can proclaim His praises!

Matthew 7:16- You will know them by their fruits....

We are going to see 3 traits that Paul calls out in a positive light about the Thessalonian Church that we can learn from.

Called out of Faithless Works to Faith that Works

Faithless Works have no value or power in God’s economy

He doesn’t need us to give or to do for Him, He wants us to give and do out of obedience to him.

Matthew 7:21-24

21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’

This could be a sobering reminder to many of us who have grown up in America “Religious” but lacking true faith in God

Maybe you have grown up in a flavor of faith that is all about what you do or what you have given

Good deeds done and time and money given without faith are valueless and powerless in God’s economy

Luke 18:9-14 (Valueless)

9 Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: 10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’ 13 And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’ 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Example of Timothy

Classmate giving a lollipop to one of His friends but not him

So he wanted to take in a car to give to the classmate so He would give him a lollipop

Its not about what we have given or time that we have spent serving him, He desires an obedient heart.

Matthew 17:19-20 (Powerless)-Trying to cast out a demon possessed boy

19 Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not cast it out?” 20 So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.

We can be doing all the right things with the right motives but if It isn’t what God has called us to or we don’t have faith while doing it, its powerless

Faith that works is powered by obedience to God

James 2:14

What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him?

True Faith is more than verbal affirmation in your belief in Jesus, it is manifest in the work you do FOR JESUS

James 2:15-22 (NLT)

Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing, 16 and you say, “Good-bye and have a good day; stay warm and eat well”—but then you don’t give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do? 17 So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless. 18 Now someone may argue, “Some people have faith; others have good deeds.” But I say, “How can you show me your faith if you don’t have good deeds? I will show you my faith by my good deeds.” 19 You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror. 20 How foolish! Can’t you see that faith without good deeds is useless? 21 Don’t you remember that our ancestor Abraham was shown to be right with God by his actions when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see, his faith and his actions worked together. His actions made his faith complete.

He is the Lord of our lives and we are His servants.

He has commanded us to Deny ourselves and take up our cross daily and Glorify Him through our lives

Thus, our works are a response to an understanding (Faith & Belief) of the Lordship of God and His blessing and Grace in our lives.

***Reminder***

The Lord Wants our heart/belief in Him

The Lord wants us to Live for Him

Called out of laboring and Lusting to Laboring in Love

Apart from Him, we labor and Lust for Self

(1982 Willie Nelson- You ( I AM) were always on my mind)

From the Moment we wake up we begin labor for the things we desire

Ephesians 2:1-3

And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, 3 among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.

1 John 2:15-16

15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world

Lust of the Flesh

The Craving/longing/desire of indulging in things that excite sensual pleasures.

Lust of the Eyes

The Craving/longing/desire related to coveting and wanting to acquire things.

Pride of Life

The pride and arrogance that boasts of who you are and what you have

With Him we are to Labor in Love for God and Others

1 Thess 1:3- “Labor”- (Kopos)

To toil, work to a point weariness, work hard

Matthew 22: 37-40

You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’

Labor to Love God

With All your heart, soul and mind,

A steadfast commitment to His word

Up early or late to be in His word, going to be here early on sunday so that im not rushing in at the min before service starts.

Imagine if we rushed in at the last min or even 10-15 min late to every meeting throughout our week?

Time sharing with him and listening to Him in prayer

Being led by His spirit to take the faith-filled steps that He Calls us to

Nothing motivates someone to do something more than Love

God’s Love for us is immense,

Ephesians 2:4-6

because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,

Laboring to Love Others

Be in community with others

Hebrews 10:24-25

And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.

In order to Labor to Love Others, we must be in relationship with others V:25

1 Thess 1:1 Church (Ekklesia)

Its Called out Group

Set Apart from the World; Different in Character

An assembly or gathering

In this age of Covid it is now both harder and easier than ever to be connected.

There are some that have need to be at Home, but can still be connected and gathered

If that’s you I want to encourage you to Hop in on Wednesdays and Join the online group

We can not stir up love and good works if we are not connected

Bear the weaknesses of others

Romans 15:1-2

We then who are strong ought to bear with the scruples of the weak, and not to please ourselves. 2 Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, leading to edification (built up).

We are labor to love them so they are built up

No one Labors to Love for the building up of others more than Mom’s Literally (Labor and Delivery)

Being a mom is hard, tiring, messing (Personal Story)

They are up all night feeding, changing diapers, getting spit up on, hearing the continual cry of the child

Likewise, Laboring to love others is hard, tiring, messy (Personal Story)

Who has God put you in community with that you have a responsibility to Labor to Love them so they are built up

Personal Story

It get’s messing. feelings get hurt, people are offended....but you have a God given responsibility

Called out of Hopelessness into Hope

Without the Hope of Christ we are hopeless

Without a relationship with Jesus there is absolutely nothing to look forward to.

Romans 6:20-21 &23 (NLT)

20 When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the obligation to do right. 21 And what was the result? You are now ashamed of the things you used to do, things that end in eternal doom. 23 For the wages of sin is death

V:23- Death- Eternally Separated from God and anything good or pleasing

With the Hope of Christ we can endure trials

The church in Thessalonica was facing persecution

Psalm 27:14

Wait on the LORD; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the LORD!

The Church was being called to look forward to what’s to come with Christ’s return, not dwelling on their present circumstance.

We are called to have an eternal mindset

Not focused on worries and woes of the day

But on our Calling to make him known

and to remember he has given us The Holy Spirit as a helper (Acts 1:18)

Reflection:

Believer

You’ve Been Called Out

Out of Darkness and Into His wonderful Light…Walk worthy of the manner in which you were called and be known for...

Works of Faith

Are your works are a response to an understanding (Faith & Belief) of the Lordship of God and His blessing and Grace in our life.

***Reminder***

The Lord Wants our heart

The Lord wants us to Live for Him

Labors of Love

He wants you to labor in Love for Him and for others

Seek Him with your whole heart (through Prayer and in His word)

Be in community and be faithful to Love those He has entrusted to you

Endurance of Hope

You’re not doing life alone, but call out to Spirit, He is our helper.

Live in the Hope to come not the despair of the day.

Non-Believer

God wants you to put your faith in Him, to trust Him with your whole life.

Jesus Labored on the cross in pain and agony to demonstrate His love to you.

The Spirit of God wants you to experience a hope that endures and calms no matter what you have or ever will walk through.