God Is Calling, Will You Answer?

For example:

- YOU KNOW WHEN the telephone rings at three in the morning, more than likely someone has an emergency.

- YOU KNOW WHEN the sheriff’s department calls, it is important because more than likely your wife was caught speeding again!

- YOU KNOW WHEN the boss calls, more than likely it is not a social call.

We know immediately that many calls we receive are to be taken seriously. If we were to take those calls, or telegrams, any other way it would be foolishness on our part.

However, listen very closely - many do not take the most important calls of life seriously at all!

The most important calls we receive are from God, and some people ignore every call God sends them! Sad to say, this has been a practice of SAINTS and SINNERS.

Let me show you, from the Word of God, important calls He sends us. You judge for yourself how you have responded to those calls. For example-

I. GOD’S CALL TO THE SAINTS.

What is the message God sends to the saints? Look at Ephesians 6:10. We read, “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.”

What a message to the saints! “...BE STRONG IN THE LORD, AND IN THE POWER OF HIS MIGHT.”

WHY DOES GOD SEND THIS MESSAGE TO THE SAINTS? Because it takes strength and courage to be a victorious Christian. That is why God gives us this clear command - “...BE STRONG IN THE LORD...”

You are absolutely deceiving yourself to think that you are a match for Satan if you are NOT STRONG IN THE LORD!

CAN WE BE STRONG IN THE LORD?

YES, WE CERTAINLY CAN! GOD WOULD NEVER HAVE COMMANDED US TO BE STRONG IN HIM IF WE COULD NOT.

HOW DO WE ACQUIRE STRENGTH?

God tells us He is our strength! We acquire spiritual strength much the same way we acquire physical strength. For example-

Illus: Many fellows have made up their minds they will not be content being physically weak. Some were not content with being “beat up on,” and decided to do something to change their situation. WHAT DID THEY DO? They began exercising their muscles. They stopped eating “junk food.” They began eating nutritious food. Now guess what - THEY ARE NO LONGER NINETY POUND WEAKLINGS!

Illus: Do you remember the story of Charles Atlas? Many claim it was he who made “body building” what it is today. It is public knowledge that he began lifting weights because one day he was on a beach, in his bathing suit, and some boys made fun of him. They called him all kinds of names. He decided to do something about that and he became the Hercules of his day. No one picked on him again!

The reason Satan “beats up on” so many of God’s people is because he knows they are no threat to him. He knows they are spiritual weaklings so he walks all over them.

Many Christians have been that way all their life. Sad to say, they will continue to be that way right on. The only ones who will change are those who are willing to do something to grow stronger spiritually.

CAN YOU DO SOMETHING ABOUT YOUR SPIRITUAL CONDITION?

YES, you can! Although there are many things we have no control over that enter our lives, our strength is something we can control. The same way one can often improve hair and skin tone and appearance, they can also change appearance by eating nutritious foods, exercising regularly.

Just as a young man can build physical muscles in a body-building program, so one can also become strong spiritually. If you are tired of Satan beating you up, of people not regarding you as spiritually strong, and of being less than you are capable of being, YOU CAN DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. YOU CAN BECOME STRONG IN THE LORD. With His help, you can “beat the socks off” Satan every time he shows his ugly face!

However, before you can become a spiritual “Hercules” you will have to BECOME DISCONTENTED WITH BEING WEAK. You have to say, “By the grace of God, I am going to do something about this pathetic situation!”

Notice, the responsibility of becoming strong in the Lord is placed upon us, not on God. Paul did not tell us to fall on our knees and ask God to open the top of our scalps and pour in some strength from heaven...no! No! No!

Why? That is not God’s way. If Christians became STRONG IN THE LORD that way they would never learn to trust God. God placed the responsibility in our laps. He expects us to recognize our condition. Those of us who are weak must DESIRE TO BE DIFFERENT. Then we must dedicate ourselves to doing all we can to become strong.