Text:
Rev. 17:14
Matthew 5:1-12; Isaiah 53:7
Introduction:
God calls each of us to live a life of faith. You may be religious: you may have obeyed everything that your religion or denomination has commanded you to do, but you have never felt the power of God in you. This time however , you feel the call of God come into your life.
I. How do we recognize God’s calling in our lives?
Our souls crave to drink the spiritual water. (John 4:13-14) This is the water of salvation. This water springs up from the Word of God. Jesus Christ said: "Come unto me and I will give you the river of eternal life ..."
We have a hunger to know the truth. (John 8:32) This is the secret of freedom from sin, sickness, and all the curses of this life that Christ died to set men free.
We seek to feel God’s power and Spirit. (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:8) As believers we have received the Spirit of God and have been endowed by His power. God is now present in each of us guiding and directing us.
II. To whom is this call directed? (2 Pet. 3:9)
This call is for everyone. It is God’s will for all to be saved.
III. What is the purpose of this calling? (2 Tim. 1:9)
We are called for a purpose. The purpose of which is salvation.
IV. What happens when you heed the call? (John 3:5)
You are baptized in water after repentance. However, the call is not yet completed- -it continues to another step.
V. What is the second step to salvation? (John 3:5)
You must become chosen. After your calling, you must be chosen to enter into the Kingdom of God.
VI. What does it mean to become chosen? (Matt. 3:11)
To become chosen means to go through another baptism-the baptism of fire.
VII. Why did God choose us and made us go through the baptism of fire?
We are chosen to sacrifice. (Matt. 16:24) Sacrifice is self-denial. When you give yourself to God as sacrifice, you no longer have the rights of your own. An illustration of this is the Old Testament animal sacrifice in the temple.
We are chosen to suffer. (1 Peter 2:21; 2 Tim. 3:12) Sufferings come in the form of problems, trials and persecutions. Going through them will make us ready to receive God’s blessings in our lives.
We are chosen for separation. (1 John 2:15) Separation here doesn’t mean isolation; but separation from things that are not the will of God.
We are chosen for service. Mark 16:15 This is a command for all believers-that we should go into all the world and preach the gospel. All God’s people are called to service and not to remain just an ordinary church goer. We are engaged in a spiritual battle.
IX. What is the highest rank God bestows upon His chosen people? Rev. 17:14
Faithfulness is the highest rank God bestows upon His people. It is the spirit that remains constant; that does not change no matter how hard things may get, whatever difficulties there may be that one encounters in course of serving God-still your faith remains the same.
Conclusion:
God has called us into His salvation. Yet that call is not yet complete or else God’s chariot would have come and snatched us right away to heaven on the day of our baptism. We must also be chosen and receive the highest rank of faithfulness.
The God we are serving is a God of faithfulness. He sends rain every season. He lets the sun rise every morning and lets it set every afternoon. He never fails this even once. We should adopt the same attitude in our service to God.
We are called, we are chosen, and we are faithful and will never be tempted by the things of this world. We will always be victorious!
By: PASTOR APOLLO C QUIBOLOY
