Accepting His Call
HHM Pastor Jim Parisi April 6, 2003
We all at one time or another in our walks want to be used of God.
We cry out in our hearts and prayers.
Lord call me. Lord use me. Lord I’m ready. Lord I’m willing Lord I’m able.
Willing Ready and Able are some of the most dangerous words a Godly man can utter from his lips.
Accepting the call of God can cause great pain as well as pleasure and satisfaction in your life.
Accepting Gods call to minister is going to put you in a place where the things you have done in your youth are no longer acceptable before God
You will now become a witness of His power and an ambassador to His people.
There will no longer be places to hide because the call of God is greater on your life then the needs and wants of your flesh.
People will know you differently …and you will become a public figure.
You will become a testimony of Christ and a witness of the faith.
Some will be drawn to you because there is hope in the Gospel you carry in your heart.
You’re like a baker with bread to a starving world.
Then there will be others that lie in wait to try to destroy you.. and your reputation, because they hate the light that is within you.
Many have been inquired to His holy call, not all make it.
In the long haul of things most tire and fade out into oblivion…. never reaching their full potential in the Spirit.
The world holds a grasp on some of us that is so strong we fight ourselves to the point of exhaustion. To the point sometimes even death.
But I’m here to tell you if you accept his call ….even if you stumble or fall,
He will raise you up and make you the man or women of God you have been called to be.
God is in the people development business. Let’s thank Him for that.
We need an up ward vision. Looking to the Father for our needs and supply.
The two prerequisites to successful Christian living are vision and passion.
Both which are born in and maintained by prayer.
Not all the souls that have been call and have fulfilled His mandate were written in the pages of the bible.
Some are the unsung heroes of history only the Father knows about their acts.
But the Lord is faithful and we have many men and women in the bible to help us guide and build our lives around.
First is Abraham
Genesis 12: 1- 3 1 Then the LORD told Abram, "Leave your country, your relatives, and your father’s house, and go to the land that I will show you. 2 I will cause you to become the father of a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and I will make you a blessing to others. 3 I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you. All the families of the earth will be blessed through you."
Here in this scripture Abraham is being called first ….then protected by God for himself and his family.
If God calls you He will protect you.
The fear we carry is only the devils ploy to distract us from our appointment in God
We are to forge forward in our blessing without the fear of enemies’ lies.
MOSES called to lead the Israelites
NLT Exodus 3:2 Suddenly, the angel of the LORD appeared to him as a blazing fire in a bush. Moses was amazed because the bush was engulfed in flames, but it didn’t burn up.
He was on the mountain and First God had to get His attention
Exodus 3:10 Now go, for I am sending you to Pharaoh. You will lead my people, the Israelites, out of Egypt."
The Lord was calling Moses to lead His people and we know most of the story from here.
Gideon has the same testimony…
Judges 6:12 -14 12 The angel of the LORD appeared to him and said, "Mighty hero, the LORD is with you!" 13 "Sir," Gideon replied, "if the LORD is with us, why has all this happened to us? And where are all the miracles our ancestors told us about? Didn’t they say, ’The LORD brought us up out of Egypt’? But now the LORD has abandoned us and handed us over to the Midianites." 14 Then the LORD turned to him and said, "Go with the strength you have and rescue Israel from the Midianites. I am sending you!"
The Lord say’s to Gideon “I am sending you!"
What better authority to have when caled to the battle then when the Lord sends you.
What better call to minister from then when the Lord sends you.
We are all called as AMBASSADORS FOR CHRIST
2 Corinthians 5:20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ; certain that God is appealing through us, we plead on Christ’s behalf, "Be reconciled to God."
To represent Him in this earth and We are all called Fishers of men
Mat 4:19 "Follow Me," He told them, "and I will make you fishers of men!"
We are all called as Defenders of the faith and LABORERS IN THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST
1 Thessalonians 3:2 and sent Timothy, our brother and minister of God, and our fellow laborer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you and encourage you concerning your faith,
We are all called LIGHTS to this world.
John 5:35 He (JOHN) was the burning and shining lamp, and you were willing for a time to rejoice in his light.
Some are called to full time ministry.
Ephesians 4:11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers,
We are all called to be Men of God
Deuteronomy 33:1 This is the blessing that Moses, the man of God, gave to the people of Israel before his death:
We are all called to be Ministers and servants of this Gospel
Ephesians 3 : 7 I was made a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace that was given to me by the working of His power.
We are all called to one body.
Eph 4:4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling;
Walk with creditability in your life to fulfill your calling what ever it may be.
Eph 4:1 - I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called,
Press on for the High calling a greater responsibility in the Spirit.
Philippians 3:14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Press to be worthy of His death.
2 Thessalonians 1:11 – 12 11 Therefore we also pray always for you that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness and the work of faith with power, 12 that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Walk like Paul did… for no mater what he did before he met the Lord….
God called and separated Him from the worlds he came from then used him for His Holy purpose.
Ro 1:1 - Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of God.
Separate me Lord, so I can be used for your Gospel and its glory.
Be faithful to your call in Christ and enter into His fellowship.
1Co 1:9 God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Communion Sunday
Pray for our Troops Amen
