The Personal Call Of Jesus

THE PERSONAL CALL!

THE TWELVE WHO HEARD THEIR NAMES!

Listen to me today, beloved! I want to tell you about the most powerful thing in all of Scripture - more powerful than healing! More powerful than deliverance! More powerful than provision!

THE PERSONAL CALL OF JESUS!

Look at the original twelve disciples with me! Every single one of them followed Jesus because HE CALLED THEM OUT BY NAME!

"Simon!" "Andrew!" "Come, follow me!" (Matthew 4:18-19) "James!" "John!" - Sons of Zebedee! (Matthew 4:21) "Philip!" "Follow me!" (John 1:43) "Matthew!" - Come follow me! (Matthew 9:9)

One by one! By name! Personally! Individually!

THEY WEREN'T DELIVERED FIRST - THEY WERE CALLED FIRST!

Now here's what's amazing, church! I can find NO RECORD that Jesus initially delivered these twelve from anything!

• Peter wasn't delivered from demons - he was called from his fishing nets!

• Matthew wasn't healed from disease - he was called from his tax booth!

• John wasn't fed from hunger - he was called from mending nets with his father!

• James wasn't delivered from poverty - he was called to leave his family business!

They didn't follow Jesus because they NEEDED something - they followed because they were CHOSEN for something, AND THEY CHOSE JESUS!

Think about that! These weren't the sick, the demon-possessed, the hungry, the desperate! These were working men! Fishermen with boats! A tax collector with income! Men with families and businesses!

But when Jesus called their names - they LEFT EVERYTHING!

WHAT MADE THEM SPECIAL?

What set these twelve apart from the multitudes? Three things, beloved:

1. THEY CONFESSED JESUS AS MESSIAH!

Matthew 16:16 - Peter declared: "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God!"

Not just a healer! Not just a provider! Not just a deliverer! THE MESSIAH! The Christ! The Anointed One of God!

2. THEY LOVED JESUS!

John 21:15-17 - Three times Jesus asked Peter: "Do you love me?"

This wasn't about what they could get FROM Jesus - this was about their love FOR Jesus! They didn't follow for the miracles - they followed for the MASTER!

3. THEY HEARD THEIR NAMES CALLED!

Luke 6:13-16 lists them by name - each one personally chosen! Individually selected! Called out from among all humanity!

Even Judas was called by name - and for a time, he too followed! The power of that personal call!

THE PERSONAL CALL TRUMPS THE FOUR D'S!

Now listen carefully, church! This is the heart of the Gospel!

A PERSONAL CALL FROM JESUS IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN DELIVERANCE FROM THE FOUR D'S:

DEPRIVATION!

Jesus can feed 5,000! He can turn water to wine! He can multiply loaves and fish! But beloved, being personally called by Jesus is greater than being fed by Jesus!

Those 5,000 ate and went home! But the twelve who were called stayed and changed the world!

DESTITUTION!

Jesus can provide! He can meet every need! But being personally called by Jesus is greater than being provided for by Jesus!

The multitudes received provision and returned to their poverty! But the twelve who were called became apostles!

DISEASE!

Jesus can heal every sickness! Every infirmity! Every disease! But being personally called by Jesus is greater than being healed by Jesus!

The lepers were cleansed and disappeared! But the twelve who were called became the foundation of the Church!

DEMONS!

Jesus can cast out every devil! Break every chain! Set every captive free! But being personally called by Jesus is greater than being delivered by Jesus!

The Gadarene demoniac was delivered and sent home! But the twelve who were called became world-changers!

HE'S CALLING YOUR NAME TODAY!

But beloved! BELOVED! The same Jesus who called Peter and John and Matthew by name - HE'S CALLING YOUR NAME TODAY!

Not because you're sick - but because you're CHOSEN! Not because you're poor - but because you're SELECTED! Not because you're bound - but because you're CALLED! Not because you need deliverance - but because you're DESTINED!

Isaiah 43:1: "I have called you by name; you are mine!"

Romans 1:7: "To all... who are called to be saints!"

Do you hear it? Can you hear Him calling your name right now?

"Sarah! I'm not calling you because you're sick - I'm calling you because you're chosen!"

"Michael! I'm not calling you because you're poor - I'm calling you because you're selected!"

"Jennifer! I'm not calling you because you need deliverance - I'm calling you because you're destined for greatness!"

THE QUESTION THAT MATTERS MOST!

The multitudes came for the miracles and left satisfied. The crowds came for deliverance and went home delivered. But the twelve came because they were CALLED and they stayed to change the world!

So here's the question, beloved:

HAVE YOU HEARD JESUS CALL YOUR NAME?

Not for healing - FOR CALLING! Not for deliverance - FOR DESTINY! Not for provision - FOR PURPOSE!