Church That Equips and Understands Our Calling

The Church That Equips must be built on an understanding of the Calling we who follow Jesus have.

Becoming an Equipped and Passionate Disciple and the Call of God in Your Life

Introduction:
Have you ever wondered what the call of God is, who are called of God and what that has to do with you and your life as a follower of Jesus?

I. Who are the called of God?

Is it only the giants of the faith?

Is it only a select few?

Is it only those who are called to the five offices listed in Eph. 4:11-14?

Is it only those who operate in the more visible gifts listed in I Corinthians 12, Romans 12 and elsewhere in the Bible?

"We can discover who the called of the Lord are if we will look into our Bibles with an open mind and heart."

1. The Call of God is for whom so ever … John 3:16-17 16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

2. The Call is to those he has qualified Col 1:12-14 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. 13 For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. NIV

3. The Call is to those who have said yes to the Gospel 2 Thess 2:13-15 4 He called you to this through our gospel that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 15 So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter. NIV

4. The Call is to those that he predestined Rom 8:28-30 28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. 29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified. NIV

Informative note:

This predestination is based on the advanced knowledge of God. (This is the God who knows the beginning from the end and who sees all things. It is He knows the fact that on a certain day and at a certain time certain place we will accept the Lord Jesus as our savior and Lord.)

5. The Call of God is spoken of throughout the New Testament
Eph 1:17-23 18 I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, NIV

Eph 4:1-13 4:1 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.

2 Peter 1:10-11 10 Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. NIV

2 Thess 1:11-12 11 With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may count you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith. NIV

Heb 2:17 3:1 Therefore, holy brothers, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we confess NIV

Informative Note

The Doctrine of the Nicolaitans which is briefly mentioned in Rev. 2:6. Jesus says the believers in Ephesus are to be commended because they hate the doctrine of this group. This group believed there were two groups of people in the Kingdom of God. Those who were more favored or anointed and therefore had special knowledge of the things of God and those who did not and were therefore not as called by God. This false doctrine is today seen in the separation between professional clergy and lay people in many churches. Although there are specific offices in the church to equip God's people; Ephesians 4:10 to 14, The people called to fill these offices have not been put in their office to lord it over God's people or deny the people of God a clear revelation of all that God has for them and the blessings which come from Him to all who call on His name.

II. What is the Call of God?

a. Is it to become a minister, missionary, evangelist, teacher or prophet?

b. Is it to do some weird thing like putting your underwear in the mud of a river bank and then bring them out and wave them around and tell everyone that this (these soiled underwear) represent how they and their sin appear before God as Ezekiel was called to do?

Answer

It is to recieve, become and particpate in all that God has for us in Him.

Ephesians 1-3 Read and be amazed. Below are more verses that give us insight.

1. To become fellow inheritors of God's mercy and power.
Rom 8:17, Eph 3:6

2. To be grafted in to the vine (Israel)

Jn 15
3. It is to become new creations in Jesus christ

2 Cor 5:17

As a Result of who and what we have become in Christ:

It is to do the things that Jesus began to do and teach,

Acts 1:1

1. Jesus came to seek and save that which was lost,

Lk 19:10

2. Jesus came to set the captives free,

Lk 4:18

3. The Call is for us to be witnesses by the power of the Holy Spirit

Acts 1:8

4. We are to make disciples of all people groups and nations,

Matt 28:19-20
5. We are to be living letters or epistles to those around us concerning the Good news of Jesus.
6. We are to be Christ's Ambassadors or representatives, Ephesians 6:19-20.

It is to do what Jesus instructed us to do through the Apostles.

7. We are to go and make disciples of nations and people groups, teaching them to do all that I have commanded. Matthew 28:20

8. We are to do the work of the ministry, build up one another, and work on becoming mature in Christ Ephesians 4:10-14

Conclusion

1. Today as in Jesus’ day God is calling each of us to follow Jesus, to answer His call and do the things that Jesus began to do and teach. We are to be His disciples as He empowers our lives by His Spirit.

2. We need to give ourselves to Him completely, we also need to seek to build a relationship with Him and be available to be a living witness of His work in and through us.

3. We also need to continually seek to be equipped so that we will become mature in Him and then we can do more to help others walk out their calling!

Call to Action
Jesus wants to raise up a new generation of passionate disciples who will say yes to Him and be His voice and hands extended in this day and to this generation.

WILL YOUR SAY YES TO HIM TODAY?

I would like to ask you to check out what the Bible says for yourself and be Acts 17:11-12 Christians 11 And the people of Berea were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, and they listened eagerly to Paul's message. They searched the Scriptures day after day to check up on Paul and Silas, to see if they were really teaching the truth. NLT
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Artwork by Graham Braddock http://www.grahambraddock.co.nz/