A HOLY CALLING
READ 2 Timothy 1:1 12 ...Romans 8:28
A man once visited Tiffany's jewelry store in New York City He was shown a magnificent diamond with its gleaming yellow light, and then he was then shown many other beautiful gems.
But he noticed one that was completely without any luster and said that it had absolutely no beauty at all. The friend who was with him took the stone and held it in the hollow of his hand for a few minutes. When he opened it the man was totally surprised.
There was not one place on it the size of a pinhead that didn't gleam with the splendor of the rainbow. "What did you do with it" he asked?
The friend said, "This is an opal. It is what we call the sympathetic jewel. It only needs contact with the human hand to bring out its wondrous beauty.
Spiritually speaking, I believe we have many in our congregation who are like this stone. Inside there is something that is even far more valuable than an opal, but you need the touch of the Savior's hand to bring out what is hidden inside.
Those hidden gems inside are the gifts that each of us, as Christians, have been given. Let me ask you...How many here feel that they are called of God for specific service? What does it mean to say that we are called of God? What does it mean when we say that we are called to a certain ministry? How does my calling as a pastor relate or compare to your individual call?
In Christ there is neither Greek nor Jew, bond or free, male or female. So as far as our standing before God, we are all equal. And when Paul speaks to us as Christians, he means all who have been called "according to „ªHis„« purpose."
We are all ministers in the truest sense of the word, because a minister is simply one who serves. And our life of service is a holy calling.
But I think that each of us needs to hear the admonition Paul gave to Timothy...to fan into flame the gift of God that is within us. We need to rekindle that call that each one of us has because many times we forget just who we are...and whose we are...and what we're to be and to do.
We each have gifts...and we each have a call to ministry within the body of Christ. This morning I want to look at the call of God as it applies to each and every one of us, regardless of the specifics.
It is only as we recognize our place within the body of Christ and come to the realization that we do each have a specific, important ministry...it is only then that we will find the joy and fulfillment that comes from serving the living Christ.
I. Our Call is by Grace.
Look at v. 1 (2 Timothy 1:) The very first point that Paul makes in this passage is this: Our call has nothing to do with what we have accomplished.
In Ephesians we read that we're saved by grace, not by works...it is the gift of God. God doesn't save us because He realizes just how indispensable we are to the kingdom of God.
In actuality, we deserve nothing but Hell... yet it was because He loves us that we can call Him Savior, and He has called us to serve Him and allow Him to be Lord of our lives.
And we are called, not because we have greater gifts or greater natural talents and abilities than anyone else...or because we are more privileged than anyone else. We are called through God's grace.
God has called us according to „ªHis„« purposes...not according to our works...whether it's what we've done or what we've left undone. It's not something that we sit down and decide..."Well, I think I'll be a pastor...evangelist...teacher...If it were left to us we'd have far too many chiefs and not enough Indians
God, in His wisdom, knows what is best for us and best for the body of Christ. He makes the choice, and gives the gifts...but it is up to us to take what He gives and use it for His glory. And this is the very foundation upon which we must build our understanding of the call of God.
But I find that so many people have no idea what their spiritual gifts are...because they always associate that with natural talents and abilities. If it was something we were naturally talented at, why would God have to give it to us as a gift?
So how do we discover where God is leading and calling us? I don't think there are any "pat" answers for this question. But how many times have you said to yourself, "I wouldn't mind doing that" or "I wish I could get involved in ...(this or that).
And deep down inside you know that it may be something you would not only enjoy doing but it would benefit the body and bring glory to God. But then you rationalize it away by saying, "I could never do that...or I couldn't do it as well as so and so did...or "I have no experience at that..."
And so many times we quench the Spirit's leading as He tries to place us in the ministry He calls us to. I believe that we need to examine our individual gifts and determine just what are the areas God wants to work !through me„Ç. A Spiritual Gift Inventory will help do this.
But once we've received that confirmation, and discover where God has gifted us, we need to come face to face with the fact that God will give us the grace to carry out the task He's given us. This is where we seem to have the most trouble.
If all you married people here had waited until you understood all there was to being the perfect husband or wife, had all the financial planning done to provide for you all through your married life... understood all there was to raising children... on and on....you'd still be single. Most of you wouldn't be here.
When I bought my computer I knew very little about them...but I knew that by having one I would be much better equipped to accomplish my work in seminary...so I bought it. If I would have waited until I felt qualified to run one, I'd probably still be in seminary.
The point is simple...God chooses which gifts to bestow upon what people, and He does it for the benefit and welfare of the body. And He doesn't check a resume before he gives these gifts.
And if He gives you something, it will be a gift that you will be capable of using for His glory. Which leads to my next point:
Our calling is to Christ's power.
The second great truth we can find in 2 Timothy is that our calling has everything to do with what God has done in Christ. The one central truth that Christianity rests upon is the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ.
And the resurrection tells us that Christ has the final, ultimate victory...even over death. It is that same spirit that raised Christ from the dead that dwells in you as a Christian...
And because of that we can go beyond the bounds of our own natural abilities and limitations. Not even death and the grave could hold Christ back from doing God's will, and we can walk in that same power and victory as we strive to accomplish His will in our lives.
You ought to be shouting about that...Do you believe it? That same resurrection power that raised Christ is ours to raise us up above the natural realm, and into the supernatural. As a joint heir of Jesus that is my promise.
But let's face it...it is fear that keeps us from stepping out and doing what deep inside we really know God wants us to do, and what we would really like to do for God. But look at what Paul says...
"For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self discipline. I'd like to take a look at this verse in a little more detail, but first I want to give a brief introduction to this letter so we can see clearly the parallels there are for us.
2 Timothy is, in a sense, a kind of last will and testament for the apostle Paul. He had been arrested again, in Rome, and placed in close confinement. He already had his preliminary hearing and is awaiting his final trial...from which he has little hope of anything except death.
Many who had been with Paul are no longer there, and some had even deserted him. So he is writing to Timothy to come to his side, to be with him in Rome.
But the greater reason is this appeal to Timothy's loyalty...to the gospel, to Paul himself, and to his own calling. And so, the basic thrust of this letter is an appeal for Timothy to carry on the ministry of the gospel after Paul's death.
Timothy is often pictured as a very young man, somewhat sickly, full of timidity, and lacking in personal forcefulness. In the letters addressed to Timothy, Paul is seen as trying to boost his courage in the face of difficulties.
But I think the picture is a bit overdrawn. He was young, by ancient standards, but according to 1 Tim. he was at least over 30. And he did have some recurring stomach trouble.
But someone as young as he was must have had some courage to carry out the earlier missions to Thessalonica and Corinth. So the exhortations to loyalty and courage are likely the result of his youthfulness and the strength of the opposition.
In other words, Timothy legitimately had some of the excuses we use for not getting involved in God's work. Yes, he had some shortcomings or things that could possibly hinder him...and there was opposition within the church as well as outside the church.
But Paul is saying to look at it from a different perspective...God's!
And I believe he's saying that to us as well. He has called us with a holy calling, and He's given us all the resources of heaven to carry out that task.
God has given us something to do...a place to be...and gifts to give. But there's more. Because if we have a spirit only of power, it is not enough.
I have known people who've had great spiritual power...they had tremendous gifts...but they became "bulldozers" who would roll over other people, no longer conscious of their needs or hurts. God has given us a spirit of power...but also a spirit of love.
The word used here is based on agape...and that is love for those who aren't very lovely at the time. This is loving in the practical ways that God provides for us. And when this spirit of love is let loose in the world it will cast out all fear.
The spirit of love will allow you to do things that once you could never do. If you can truly begin to love the unsaved, as Christ does, you will find ways to reach them that once would have scared you to death.... Love will cast out fear, and free us up to serve.
Our calling is also to faithfulness.
The description of the spirit that comes last in Paul's list is translated several different ways. One says "a spirit of a sound mind" another "self control" and mine says "self discipline."
All of these are a part of this Greek word. And we need each part in our lives. Self control literally means to stand firm in a time of panic or passion. And how many times have you needed to stand firm when faced with either of these situations?
The spirit of discipline...keeping on with things that we know are right to do...even when the results are not coming in. Continuing to be on our knees in prayer when we're tired of being on our knees in prayer. If we just maintain the discipline, the results will come.
And a sound mind. We all face complicated questions that require a lot of thought and prayer. God can give us the spirit of a sound mind to come up with the answers that are not easy...but are possible.
All this is our ministry. Look back at v. 6 7 (READ)
We need to fan into flame the gifts that God has given each of us... It's like the Prego spaghetti sauce "It's In There" And not only is it there, but along with those gifts came all the necessary ingredients for putting them to use.
We all know the story of the Wizard of Oz and those three who went on the journey with Dorothy seeking the missing ingredient for their lives. You remember the end of the story?
They didn't get those gifts from any human wizard...they already had those gifts within them. They were there ready to be used.
If you are a Christian...the Scripture says that God has already given you a holy calling...He's given you gifts necessary for the body to function properly and for your fulfillment in life...He's given you all the power necessary to use those gifts for His glory.
The rest is up to you...
