Called by God
Ephesians 4:1
August 9, 2020
For the past weeks I’ve been talking about the fact that you have been called by God. I think we would all agree with that. I think I’m on pretty solid ground when I say most of us believe we were created by God to do something significant, something eternal, something that matters. We all want to do something that matters, but if we were to be really honest, so many times we really don’t know what it is we’ve been called to do and we’re not sure where we should even start.
I want to share a verse that we’ve looked at awhile ago, but I hope you believe what Paul is telling us in this verse. In Ephesians 4:1, the Apostle Paul wrote this from a Roman prison, around the year 61 AD. He wrote -
1 I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called - Ephesians 4:1
When you read the Greek of this verse, Paul starts with the word URGE. And that word has a deeper meaning. If I urge you, I’m kind of encouraging or pushing you to do something. But this word really means to beseech, to beg, to entreat, to plead. Paul is pleading with us - - - - even begging us - - - to live our lives in a manner which is worthy of the calling we’ve received.
I’ve been trying to place a lot of importance on the fact that we’ve all been called by God. I’m not sure how often we think about it. Mostly we think of pastors as being called. God calls us to ministry, and we believe He stops there. God certainly isn’t going to call me. I believe 100% we’ve got that wrong. God does call us.
If for a moment this resonates with your spirit, because you sense that you were created for a reason, a calling, a purpose, a divine destiny because you know no matter what you achieve in this world, no matter what you obtain in this world, you long for more than just success. There's something in you that craves spiritual lasting significance.
You know, it’s the thought that there’s more to this life, than going to work, earning money to pay the bills, maybe having a family and friends. Not that those are bad. They’re all good, but I believe they are all part of the plan, part of the calling.
We live in a world called instafluence! How many people have taken videos or photos that have gone viral, they’ve become famous. They’ve gained 1000's of followers. There’s people who are famous and I can’t tell you why they’re famous, but they are. Now, you can become famous on TikTok. I'm working on my moves. My family is against this! And they’re probably correct. If you saw my moves, you would agree with them.
We live in a world where people want to sell themselves and their brand. They want fame, but what’s the cost of their fame?
We're also called to go into the world. We're called by God. Actually we’ve been set apart by God. We’ve been chosen to go into the world and make a difference.
Here’s the tough part. At least in my opinion. If you’ve been called by God then you might ask, “What if I miss my calling?” In other words, what if I was supposed to major in a certain subject in college, but didn’t. What if I chose the wrong career? And what if I went to the wrong church and didn't hear the right message which spurred me on to the right life changing experience? What if I slept in and didn’t go to the church on that one day when I would have heard the message which would have changed my life forever?
What if I take a wrong turn and the train slows me down and my whole life is changed because of that. If God is calling me, He's chosen me for something special. What if I miss my calling? What is it specifically - if I'm called by God, what am I called to do?
Now, I want you to listen to this part. Not that the first part wasn’t important. But I think this is more important . . . I believe we have to embrace the truth that our calling is about who you are before what you do.
I’m not sure how to say it other than . . . when God calls you, He's calling you to a who before He's calling you to a do. I think this is really, really important.
As Paul was encouraging Timothy. Reminding him of his grandmother’s faith, his mom’s faith, and his faith . . . he tells him this in 2 Timothy 1:8-9 –
8 Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God,
9 who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of His own purpose and grace, which He gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began - 2 Timothy 1:8-9
God saved us and called us to a holy calling. Isn’t that great! That wasn’t just for Timothy, it’s for us as well.
What’s important is that Paul didn’t give Timothy a specific of what he was called to do. He didn’t say he needed to go to Africa and be a missionary. He didn’t call you to be a pastor. He didn’t call you to be an accountant or a teacher, or a nurse, or whatever. Paul didn’t say to become a gamer. That’d be a cool job. Play games all day.
Paul didn't say you're called to a certain job. He said, “God saved us and called us to a holy calling.” It's a who before a do.
Paul added, God did this not because we deserved it, but out of His grace. God had a plan for us before the world was created. God called you to live a holy life. In other words, calling is as much about who you're becoming as it is about what you are doing. You're called to be holy, it means to be set apart, to be different.
As you follow Jesus, you don't look like the world, you don't act like the world, you don't think like the world, you don't behave like the world. You're not driven by the things that other people are driven by because you've been set apart by God, called by Jesus, infused with the power of the Spirit of God to live a holy life. And that’s not always easy in a world which embraces uniqueness, but not Christian uniqueness.
The Bible never talks about your calling for a career. The Bible talks about your calling to become like Jesus. It's a who before it is a do. When we grasp this calling, we should be asking who am I called to be? Who does God want me to become?
Here’s the thing that occurs to me. I’m called to be many different people at different times. I am called to be a pastor. But that’s not my only calling. And I think, I hope this will help us better understand God’s calling.
I’m also called to be a husband! Being a husband is radically different than being a pastor. I think we can all agree on that one. Then, I’m also called to be a dad. That role is different than being a husband and a pastor. We could go on and on about who we are called to be.
Calling is about who we are in Christ! In fact calling is about our faithfulness to Jesus. It's about who you are today, not just about what you do in the future. In Colossians 3:17, Paul makes a great statement that applies to us every second of every day - -
17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
That puts a huge burden on us. Yet, it’s a burden we should want. It’s part of our calling. Whatever I do . . . picking up the trash, cleaning, working, playing, having a disagreement . . . whatever I do . . . I am to do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, and give thanks to God the Father through Jesus. Whatever you do. You do it unto the Lord.
Calling starts with the who and when you're holy and set apart for God then whatever you do, you do it for God. When you get to work, whatever it is . . . you seek to honor God by what you do. You focus on bringing glory to God. Because you know it’s not about you, it’s about God. You’ve been called to that moment!
In the gospel of Mark in chapter 10, James and John, two of the more prominent disciples of Jesus, asked if they could sit on Jesus’ right and left when in heaven. That’s a huge request, which the other disciples didn’t like. Jesus replied to them-
43 But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all.
45 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.”
Jesus is telling us this is a huge part of our calling. We all want to be important and noticed. That’s in all of us. It was in James and John. They wanted to be important, but look at what Jesus tells us - - We need to be willing to serve. We need to be a servant, just like Jesus did. He’s our example.
You need to have a heart of a servant. It's who you are, again, it doesn’t matter what your job is, you’re still called to serve. It’s a who first, not a do.
Even when you’re asked to do what you think is beneath you, it’s about who you are. Your character speaks loudly! Who you are is more important than what you do! It always will!
Think about in the next chapter, in Mark 11, Jesus is about to make His triumphal entry into Jerusalem. Jesus asked 2 disciples to go to some guys home and get a couple of colts, so Jesus could ride in on them. Now, some people may have said that this was beneath them. You know what I mean?
Has that ever happened to you? Someone asked you to do something and you look at them, “YOU MEAN ME?” As if what you’ve been asked to do is beneath your standing. Or maybe you’re cleaning up after someone’s mess. You don’t want to, I get it, I’ve been there. But we do it anyways because that’s what we’re called to do. It’s more about who you are, because that will dictate what you do. The who dictates the do! You know what I mean?
The size of God’s assignment or calling never determines the significance of your impact. Whatever God is calling and enabling you to do, may not feel important in the moment but could be more significant than you could ever imagine.
We never know the impact we can make when we’re obedient to God. I also believe that when God calls you to do something, it’s because He’s equipped you and He will go with you to enable you to make that calling visible.
Because of who you are, you do it - - - not for me or your neighbor, but it starts by doing it for the One who has called you. It's so much more about the who than it is about the do.
You want to find your calling? What am I created to do? Start with the who. Be faithful to Jesus today, draw closer to Him. Pray for the Spirit of God to fill you in such a way that you grow and change and your who leads to you doing.
Serve God with integrity, passionately love God and others, live a generous life, be willing to die to yourself and your needs in order to serve and honor Christ.
Practice humility. And we can go on and on. You know those 9 fruits of the Spirit that can be so difficult at times to demonstrate? It all comes from who you are. Think about them - -
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control.
We demonstrate these fruits and make them visible, but only because they are in our heart and spirit. If that was not the case, we couldn’t demonstrate them. They come from who we are - - - before we can do them.
So, it becomes all about the One who suffered, shed His blood, gave His life and rose again. Why? So you could be forgiven, so your sins could be washed away. So we could be filled with the very same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead, and powered Him to heaven. We can be empowered because of th Spirit of God.
Then everything you do, you do for the glory of God, you don't have to find your calling, your calling will find you. It overtakes you, something as meaningless as getting a donkey or cleaning after someone becomes something meaningful when it's for the one who gave His life for you.
What are you called to? You're called to become like Jesus. You're called to be set apart, to live a holy life. We don't live according to the same values that this world lives toward.
We recognize the needs of our neighbors, of our brothers and sisters in Christ. Even in the midst of these times, we learn new ways in which we can serve. Even a simple phone call, or cutting someone’s grass, or getting food, or cleaning some part of their home, doing a home repair. Whatever it is - - it all comes from who you are. If you weren’t who you are, you wouldn’t help!
It all starts with the fact that we are children of God who have been redeemed and forgiven by Jesus more than we can ever imagine. I'm called to shepherd this church under the good shepherd Jesus. I'm called to lay down my life to serve Debbie and I'm called to raise and disciple my boys to become men of God.
I want to do something important. I want to be remembered and be significant. It’s within all of us. We want to be remembered for something good we’ve done. We want to be known for helping people, for standing up for our faith. Leaving a legacy
In all honesty, I would want you to say, “Oh look what Pastor Michael built up. Look at the church and how it has changed and grown . . . . and all that good stuff.
But . . . I’ve come to learn and grow and kind of mature . . . since I’m not fully there yet, that it’s not about me . . . it’s about who I’ve become in the name of Jesus. That’s what it’s really about. You will look at me and see my character. You will see the WHO . . . more than the DO.
I'm called to be faithful to Jesus. One day, when I stand before Him, He's not going
to say, “Man, Deutsch, you were a stud! I’m impressed at all you did! You rocked it, man!!” No, I hope He’s going to say, “well done my good and faithful servant.” Faithful. That’s a huge part of the call. When you’ve been called by Jesus and no matter what happens, you are faithful to Him.
We’ve been called, chosen, and set apart as part of that holy calling! We aren’t called to live a life that's all about us, and our comfort.
Go back to the beginning scripture - - - Paul said ---
1 I urge, beg you, beseech you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, - Ephesians 4:1
We are called to glorify the One who gave it all for us. We’ve been called by God to be someone we maybe didn’t set out to be. It starts with a who.
And when we recognize that, it changes who we are. When that who changes, we recognize and believe that church isn't just an add-on. It’s more than that. Because, we’re called to reflect the glory of Jesus in everything we do. In every conversation, and everywhere we go, we’ve been set apart by God.
Uniquely created and empowered, set aside to live a holy life. To become like Jesus. To make Him known to a world desperately in need of knowing the King of kings and Lord of lords!
Will you answer His call and become WHO God is calling you to be, so you can go into the world and do?!
