Accepting Your Calling
Rom 11:13
INTRO: A. Paul’s Hebrew background
1. Native Hebrew Ro 11:1 I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, [of] the tribe of Benjamin.
2Co 11:22 Are they Hebrews? so [am] I. Are they Israelites? so [am] I. Are they the seed of Abraham? so [am] I.
2. Trained in all Hebrew, Judaism Torah-Law OT
Philip 3:5 Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, [of] the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee;
3. Customs, traditions, family, friends, home all leads to serve
the Jewish people
B. His Love for the Jewish nation/people
1. His Desire: To Win Jews
a. Wanted is nation to come to Christ
Ro 9:2-3 That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart. For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh:
b. Heart ached for the souls of his own nationality
Ro 10:1 Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.
c. Patriot, loyal, loved His people
2. His Effort in Acts to reach Jews
a. Ac 9:19-24 After salvation, @ Damascus, tried to convert the
local Jews They conspired to kill him
b. Ac 9:25-29 Let down by basket at Damascus, to Jerusalem
1. Went to Jerusalem, remained their trying to convince people to
believe, then the Greek speaking Jews wanted him dead
c. Missionary Journeys:
1. New town effort first at the local synagogue
d. Yet continued every chance got to go back to Jerusalem to
try to reach Jews
1. Even his last time in Jerusalem, when he was arrested by the Romans and eventually taken to Rome He had been trying to preach to the Jews
3. His Calling
Ac 9:15 But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:
a. The church recognized first & sent Him out as a
missionary with Barnabas
b. It is even after 3 missionary Journeys, in jail, God’s call
becomes clear as he rehearsed it to Jews in Jerusalem
Ac 22:17-21
1. Writing letter to Gal. he acknowledges this
2. Finally he concludes, “You know what? This is what I am suppose to be doing. I am the apostle to the Gentiles”
Ga 1:16 To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:
1. Writes Timothy of His calling 2Ti 1:11 Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.
c. Letter to Roman Church Ro 15:16 That I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost.
4. The great Apostle Paul was either slow or stubborn
a. But it reminds you & I that it is easy to let our personal
agenda get in the way of God’s will for our life
b. It is important to listen to His Spirit’s voice
1. Less stress, troubles and heartache
5. Some things we need to recognize, about God’s call on our
life
I. Recognize Who is in charge
A. Who does the Calling
1. God is the one who is in charge:
2. We don’t choose our vocation, our Creator & Redeemer
does
B. His Right Ro 9:21 Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?
1. God’s Authority, Sovereignty in our life dictates our call
2. He created us not to allow us to perish no to wonder
aimlessly through life 2Tim 2:19-21
a. He has a call, mission a purpose for Our life
1. Our life is equipped with talents, gifts abilities, experiences to equip
us for the Work he chooses for us
C. His Wisdom 1Co 1:24-26 But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men. For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, [are called]:
1. God doesn’t call or use according to our earthly abilities
a. But His heavenly wisdom, grace & power
b. God has a plan a purpose larger than our personal
preferences Paul became a slave (forced to minister to
Gentiles) Philip 3:1-12
II. Recognize there is another Ministry
A. It may seem(appear) to you, natural, for your ministry
1. But are their ulterior motives?: selfish
(missions - church in another location city or state)
a. Jonah loved Israel too much, Not the heathen Assyrians
enough
1. He was unwilling to be a part of God’s plan
2. Our reasons for wanting to do something may not be all that
pure or spiritual
a. Some wants what they can get out of it: Comfort here
1. Some wants to be a singer or for the fame & notoriety
2. Some want to be a deacon or SS teacher for the power
b. Others are trying to get out of something
**Bro Ward wouldn’t yield to God’s call to ministry because of some scars, hypocritical church members
c. I ran because of fear, fear of failure, fear of people
B. BUT There are other ministries than …our present or our will
Ro 9:24 Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?
1. Needs of people
a. Remember God’s desire is to save, redeem, to transforms
lives, ANY ALL
b. God’s kingdom isn’t limited to our little world
1. We are pretty small people & think too small
2. We must expand to “God’s Big Kingdom’
2. Kingdom is larger than me
a. When we think we have the right to choose our ministry,
that it is about me myself & I
1. Then our ministry is too small & weak
3. Fit better
a. God makes no mistakes, RIGHT?
1. Then why are we afraid that He will with us?
2. If He calls us to do something bigger, farther, different,
a. Will He make His first ever mistake?
III. Recognize God’s Leadership v33
A. God closes doors
1. Remember on Paul’s #2 missionary Journey
a. Ac 16:6-10 Macedonian call
1. God’s will is His Will, not ours
b. He closes doors that are not part of it
2. But then God Open doors
a. When we are sensitive to His Spirit & are constant
communion we will recognize what is of God
1. yes we might bump into walls blindly
2. But the Spirit will take us by the hand & lead us to the open door
3. God has a Purpose, a calling for you.
