GOD HAS CALLED YOU
1 Peter 2v9-10 “for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into His wonderful light.
Once you had no identity as a people; now you are God’s people. Once you received no mercy; now you have received God’s mercy.” NLT
God has called YOU
What has God called you to? One lady once told me “I feel God has called me to something (she wouldn’t say what) and I feel frightened and unable.”
As a new Christian I had the privilege of ministry from some pioneer missionaries to Africa who had retired after long and challenging service. They had a burden on their heart for the people over there and felt the call to go. 1920’s to 70’s.
You may wonder what challenges God is going to lay upon you this morning – fear not! The calling that God has given you is all embracing and it’s encouraging; as you might gather from our reading.
The call to you and to me is to COME. Our call to worship was from Revelation 22v17:
“The Spirit and the Bride say ‘Come’. Let anyone who hears this say ‘Come’. Let anyone who is thirsty come. Let anyone who desires drink freely from the water of life.” NLT
So many scriptures mention the call of God. So much could be said and learned.
Just 3 points (good old 3 point sermon! And with 3 P’s!!)
God’s call is
• Personal
• Practical
• Perpetual
It’s a Personal Call
For He has called YOU out of the darkness into His wonderful light.
Once we were all in darkness without even realising, maybe life was good but we were spiritually alone without a Saviour and without true hope and fulfilment.
I was like that, but in mid 30’s found myself in a dark place both mentally and in challenging circumstances.
At the point when I was virtually ‘burnt out’ I heard God’s call “Come, give your life to Jesus”. It was irresistible – I did.
Peace descended and life became new.
I figuratively drank from the living waters of life eternal and gained life more abundantly.
Maybe God’s calling you this morning out of the darkness of life into His wonderful light. Maybe there are shadows encroaching into life and God this morning is calling again for you to come to Him in renewal.
That’s the most basic personal call – out of darkness, repentance and new life.
Then there’s God’s personal call at different times in our lives.
Psalm 139 tells us how well God knows our bodies, our thoughts, our moments and days. His thoughts about us are countless and unceasing. They are personal for and about each of us, individually.
The Old Testament prophets were each called personally by God to their work.
He may call us individually to some Christian work (small or maybe a little greater), some action, a time of prayer, a job or a ministry. It may be by His spoken word into our hearts, by circumstances, by association with a church or group, or by any means He chooses.
Jesus called his disciples individually by name.
In Acts 9 we can read how God called Ananias by name to go to Saul, that great persecutor of Jesus’ followers. God called Saul by name through Ananias to be the apostle Paul.
In my own life I can testify to the calling of God personally, by word, by circumstance, by scripture, and especially by that wonderful prompting and endorsement of the Holy Spirit.
Be always ready to receive God’s personal call at any time in your life, it’s always a special moment, perhaps a time when like Mary, you need to treasure up and ponder things in your innermost being. (Luke 2v19)
So it can be a personal call and it will also be
A Practical Call
If we have God’s call it doesn’t just stop there. We may need to act immediately or wait a little while as we prepare, or we may need to ponder things in our hearts until the call is confirmed. We don’t want to go rushing off before we’re certain it’s God who’s calling. Too many good intentions have caused great trouble when some sincere Christians have felt an idea was God’s call, when in fact it was just a good sounding human thought.
But when God does call us, guide us, direct us, and we know it’s true, then we have a responsibility to follow the call or leading.
When God called Moses, like many of us Moses questioned God and felt inadequate for the task. Moses’ response was firstly “who am I that I should go to Pharaoh?”
Then “What if they don’t believe me?”
And then “I’ve never been eloquent.”
And even after all that and God’s reassurance “Please send someone else to do it!”
Of course, God became angry at Moses apparent refusal but ultimately His call was real and was for Moses. It needed obedience with practical action.
When the angel of God came to little Gideon threshing wheat hiding away from the Midianites in a winepress, the call was to action. Again, Gideon reacted as many of us might, with feelings of inadequacy and fear. But with conformation from God he obeyed and was indeed a mighty warrior for God among his people.
Well; we probably won’t be called to become mighty prophets or warriors but in our own ways, with our own characters, we can be part of God’s kingdom here on earth.
I’m reminded of that old children’s’ song:
Jesus bids us shine with a clear, pure light,
Like a little candle burning in the night;
In this world of darkness, we must shine,
You in your small corner, and I in mine.
Jesus bids us shine, first of all for Him;
Well He sees and knows it if our light is dim;
He looks down from heaven, sees us shine,
You in your small corner, and I in mine.
Jesus bids us shine, then, for all around
Many kinds of darkness in this world abound:
Sin, and want, and sorrow—we must shine,
You in your small corner, and I in mine.
Jesus bids us shine, as we work for Him,
Bringing those that wander from the paths of sin;
He will ever help us, if we shine,
You in your small corner, and I in mine.
(Edwin O Excell / Ruth I Johnson)
So much truth for us even in later years to follow God’s calling whether it be small and apparently insignificant, or more public and seemingly important.
Each of us are in our small corner making a difference to bring God’s love and salvation in some way to others locally or even right around the world.
The practical aspect of God’s call is our obedience and perseverance in the strength of the Lord.
Paul writing to the Ephesians in 4v1 encouraging their unity: “As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.” NIV
God’s call is personal, it’s practical and
God’s Call is Perpetual
1 Thess 5v23-4 May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. THE ONE WHO CALLS YOU IS FAITHFUL, AND HE WILL DO IT. (NIV)
That scripture leads us into the perpetual nature of God’s calling.
Paul reminded the Roman Christians and also for us, that God’s gifts and His call are irrevocable. (11v29)
God’s call to salvation never ceases until that last day, when Jesus comes again; but the day we depart this earth is too late to hear and respond to that call.
God’s call to obedience and holiness is an ongoing call. It’s a calling for every Christian in every age and country. It’s a perpetual call, not just for a season but for eternity. The call of the Kingdom is for now, for the remainder of our lives until we find ourselves knelt before God’s throne in worship and adoration.
Let’s realise there’s the call to repentance and salvation that’s constant and perpetual.
There’s the call to follow God’s word and His guidance which is part of Christian growth and maturity. The core principles of this are the scriptures which are unchanging.
There’s also God’s call for certain times, various commitments and activities.
These will possibly change as circumstances change and God’s work progresses. But the underlying principles always endure to bring God’s will to completion.
As one part of our Christian work reaches fulfillment, another may open, or there may be a period of rest. Either way we follow the call to separation from evil and spiritual union with our loving God.
We can then be sure we are led step by step along God’s pathway for our individual lives.
Called to separation
With the crucified;
Temples of the Spirit,
Saved and sanctified,
Set apart for service,
By God’s hand ordained,
We the cross have taken,
By His love constrained
Step by step with Jesus,
All along life’s way,
Now the cross and conflict,
Then the perfect day.
Pressing onward, upward,
Life grows pure and strong,
‘Tis the vision splendid
Saves from all that’s wrong;
In the steps of Jesus,
We would plant our own,
Blessed path of triumph,
Leading to the throne.
(E C W Boulton)
God has called you. It’s personal, it’s practical and it’s perpetual.
