Knowing God's Calling

Knowing God’s Calling

“What We Need To Do”

Tonight I’d like to give some practical advice on how we can align ourselves to the will and way of God. And the reason we need to do so is because by knowing more about God’s will and way will help us know more about God’s calling upon our lives.

Again, what I’m going to share most you already know, but timely reminders help. Again, this was the Apostle Peter’s assessment as well.

He said,

“For this reason I will not be negligent to remind you always of these things, though you know and are established in the present truth.” (2 Peter 1:12 NKJV)

Being In God’s Word

To align ourselves with God’s call we first need to get aligned with His word. On this journey of faith that we are called to take there’s going to be times of darkness, uncertainty and doubt that only God’s word will light a pathway through.

The Psalmist said,

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” (Psalm 119:105 NKJV)

Only God’s word can cut through humanity’s deceptive emotions and Satan’s destructive strategies and get to the heart of the matter. This was the writer of Hebrews’ assessment as well.

“For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12 NKJV)

The reason is because God is the one who inspired everything contained within the Bible. That’s why it’s called “God’s word.” It is profitable for everything we need to live an effective life.

The Apostle Paul’s said,

“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17 NKJV)

The Apostle Paul tells us that God’s word was literally breathed into the men who wrote down these words.

The Apostle Peter confirmed this saying, “Prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.” (2 Peter 1:21 NKJV)

As we’re in God’s word, the Holy Spirit reveals God’s purpose and direction. It’s like the seeing guide to a blind snow skier. A sighted skier will ski either behind or next to the blind skier shouting instructions as to what they are about to encounter, and how precede forward without a major mishap.

By following these commands, the blind skier successfully navigates down the hill with all it’s bumps and curves. But if they don’t trust their guide or refuse to listen, thinking they know what’s best, they are in for a disastrous outcome.

God’s word is our guide, and through the Holy Spirit guidance telling us what direction we should take as we read God’s word, we’ll successfully navigate this journey of spiritual transformation. But if we fail to trust God at His word, then we’ll most likely find ourselves in the woods plastered to a tree.

So the first thing we need to do is get ourselves aligned with God’s word is to fill our hearts and minds with it, and then we’ll know a little more of God’s calling upon our lives.

Prayer and Fasting

Critical to success in any endeavor is having the right tool and knowing how to use it. This is true when it comes to prayer coupled with fasting. Fasting, when used with prayer, increases our effectiveness allowing us to know God’s calling for our lives.

While fasting and prayer are central for many things, including getting free from bondages (Isaiah 58:6), and receiving deliverance in times of crisis (2 Chronicles 20). It’s also used to gain spiritual insight and receive God’s wisdom for the direction we are to take.

This is seen in God’s call upon both the Apostle Paul and Barnabas as God’s missionaries to the Gentile world. The Christians at Antioch fasted and prayed before sending them out.

“As they (the church leaders of Antioch) ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, ‘Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.’ Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away.” (Acts 13:2-3 NKJV)

This was also what Ezra, a Hebrew scribe found to be true. While he was given great favor by King Cyrus, along with the articles of the Temple taken by King Nebuchadnezzar, he knew they needed the strength and wisdom of God to make it back to Jerusalem. So Ezra proclaimed a fast to seek God as to the right way to go.