We Have All Been Called
10/12/08 AM
Text: 2 Timothy 1:9
INTRODUCTION:
I found the genesis of this lesson in a conversation I had with an individual with whom I was working. This past week I was serving in my capacity as a facilitator of Navy Leadership training with the Center for Personal and Professional Development. At the beginning of the course we go through an exercise to introduce ourselves, facilitators and students, to one another. In this exercise we draw symbols on a large piece of paper which represents some aspect of ourselves or of our lives. All the symbols together tell the story of how we see ourselves. We then introduce ourselves to everyone by telling the story of the symbols. Some of the symbols I draw are stick figures which represent me, my wife, and my children. Above the head of each figure I will place symbols which represent some major aspect of that person. I draw three symbols above the figure representing me, one for my civilian job, one representing the Navy Reserve, and in the center I draw a cross. I explain that cross represents my belief in Christianity and Jesus who I strive to keep center in my life. I also say that I work and preach for a local congregation in Mira Mesa.
It happened that one of the other facilitators, who I had not met before was also a Christian and he sought me out during one of the breaks to discuss our shared beliefs. During the conversation he made the comment, “I have never been called to preach.” In response I related that my preaching was more an outcome of putting one’s OAR in the water (Opportunity + Ability = Responsibility.) That conversation stayed with me and I considered the idea that Christians might not put their OAR in the water because they felt they had not been “called” to a particular vocation or course of action when the reality found in the Word of God is that we have all been called.
I.We Have All Been Called
A.We are all called to repentance.
1.There are numurous scriptures related to repentance, more that a dozen direct calls to repent.
a.Matthew 3:1 - 2 (NASB) Now in those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
b.Matthew 4:17 (NASB) From that time Jesus began to preach and say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
c.Acts 2:37 - 39 (NASB) Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brethren, what shall we do?” Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. “For the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself.”
d.Read Acts 3:17-21
e.All have sinned.
Romans 3:23 (NASB) or all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
f.Our sin merits eternal punishment.
Romans 6:23 (NASB) For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
g.John 3:16 (NASB) “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.
h.Ephesians 2: 8 (NASB) For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;
B.We are called out of the world.
1.2 Corinthians 6:16b – 17a (NASB) “…For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said, “I will dwell in them and walk among them; And I will be their God, and they shall be My people. “Therefore, come out from their midst and be separate,” says the Lord.
a.God sanctifies those who answer the call of repentance, setting them aside from the world.
2.1 John 2:15 - 16 (NASB) Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world.
3.James 4:4 (NASB) You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.
a.How strange it is that people professing Christianity can suppose that with a worldly spirit, worldly companions, and their lives governed by worldly maxims, they can be in the favor of God, or ever get to the kingdom of heaven!
b.Matthew 6:24 We cannot serve two masters.
C.We are called into Jesus
1.Romans 6:3 - 4 (NASB) Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.
a.All who accept Christ and are baptized into Him become new creatures, called from death into life.
2.2 Corinthians 5:17 (NASB) Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.
a.Our old selves are done away with, forgotten by God and we are reconciled to the Father by the righteousness of Christ.
b.Galatians 3:26 - 27 (NASB) For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.
D.We are called to follow His example
1.In conduct
1 Peter 2:21 (NASB) For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps,
a.We may follow Christ in suffering and sorrow, testing and trail, problems and persecution
2 Timothy 3:12 (NASB) Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.
b.But it is the conduct of Jesus in facing all these things that we are to seek to follow.
2.In obedience
Philippians 2:5 - 8 (NASB) Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
3.In Service
a.Matthew 20:24 - 28 (NASB) And hearing this, the ten became indignant with the two brothers. But Jesus called them to Himself and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. “It is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave; just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”
b.John 13:12 - 16 (NASB) So when He had washed their feet, and taken His garments and reclined at the table again, He said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? “You call Me Teacher and Lord; and you are right, for so I am. “If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. “For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you. “Truly, truly, I say to you, a slave is not greater than his master, nor is one who is sent greater than the one who sent him.
c.Romans 12:6a (NASB) Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly:
d.Philippians 2:3 - 4 (NASB) Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.
E.We will be called home
1.All who answer the call will one day be called home.
2.John 14:1 - 3 (NASB) “Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. “In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. “If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.
3.1 Thessalonians 4:17 (NASB) Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord.
Conclusion:
We are all called to repentance and in answering the call we are sanctified by God; called out of the world and into the Kingdom, called from death into life, from darkness into the light. We are called out of the world and into Jesus and to follow His example in conduct, in obedience, and in service so that one day, on the day Jesus comes again, we will be called home.
Invitation
1.If you are a Christian but have fallen away
a.God’s grace is still available.
b.To avoid destruction, one must be faithful and obedient.
2.If you are not a Christian this morning . . .
a.Heed the plan that it has for man’s salvation today!
b.Hear the word; Romans 10:17 “Faith comes by hearing…”
c.Believe with all your heart; Hebrews 11:6 “For without faith it is impossible . . . .”
d.Repent of your sins (Acts 17:30).
e.Confess Jesus as the Son of God (Matthew 16:16).
f.Be baptized for the remission of your sins (Mark 16:15,16).
