Responding to god’s callmay 31, 2015

RespondingtoGod’scall

Ephesians4:1-7,11-13

Introduction

LastweekStevepickedupthethemeofRunningLife’sRace.Heemphasizedthepointthatthe“fulllife”thatJesuspromisedisthelifethatislivedachievingthegooddeedsGodhaspurposedforeachofus.The“lifeinallitsfullness”thatJesusspokeofemergeswhenwearelivinginobediencetoGod’scalluponourlife!

TheApostlePaul,intoday’sreading,begstheJesus-followersinEphesustolivelivesworthyofthecallingthattheyhavereceived…

So,letmeposeaquestion,aquestionthathaspursuedmeovertheyears,adifficultquestion:DoyouhaveareasonablesenseofGod’scallingforyourlife?Doyouhaveasenseofwhatyourlifeisabout?Or,connectingbacktoSteve’ssermonlastSunday,areyoulivingforyourself,runningaimlessly,missingoutonthe“fullnessoflife”thatGodhasforthosewhorespondobedientlytoHiscallontheirlife?

  1. TheTwoCallings

Tobeginwithweneedtorecognizethattherearetwocallsuponourlives,insofarastheBibleisconcerned.

  • TheCalltorelationshipwithGod

TheBibleisclearaboutacallfromGodtoallpeople–thecalltoenterintorelationshipwithHim.ThebestknownverseinScriptureremindsusofthis:

ForGodlovedtheworldsomuchthatHegaveHisonlybegottenSonthatwhoeverbelievesinHim,shouldnotperishbuthavelifeeternal.John3:16

WeareinvitedtorespondtoGod’sinvitation,tosubmitourlivestoHisleadership,torespondtothisgrace-drivencall.

  • TheCalltoliveoutGod’sspecificpurposeinyourlife

ThissecondcallistheoneIwanttofocuson.HavingrespondedtoHiscalltomakeHimtheLordofourlife,wearecalledtosubmitourdesiresandlife-directiontoHisleading.InScripturethisisoftenreferredtoasa“Calling”,ratherthansimplyacall.

AllthroughtheBibleGodcalledmenandwomenwhoacknowledgedHisLordshiptorespondtothecallingHehadforthem.

WereadofGodcallingAbrahamtoleavehiscountryandgotoalandtheGodwouldshowhim.GodcalledMosesattheincidentoftheburningbush.HecalledSamuelandappointedhimaprophetforthenation.WelearnthatJesuscalledhisdisciples,instructingthemthattheywouldbecome“fishersofmen”.Paul,onmanyoccasions,writesofhimselfas“calledtobeanapostle…”

  1. WeareallcalledbyGodintoobedientservice.IntheBiblereadingEphesians4:1Paulissuesourcallingwhenhewrites:AsaprisonerfortheLord,then,Iurgeyoutolivealifeworthyofthecallingyouhavereceived.ScripturemakesitclearweareallcalledbyGod!

2.God’sGenericCalling

Itseemsobviousthat,asfollowersofJesus,weallhaveagenericcalling.ThereareelementsofGod’scallonyourlifeandminethatwillbesimilar.WeareallcalledtofollowJesus–toreadaboutHim,talktoHim,learnofHim–togrowinrelationshipwithHim.Obviously,therewillbeasetofqualitiesthatwillmarkthewayweliveourlives,ifwedothis.Ourspecificcallingmightdifferfromoneanother,buttherewillbecommoncharacteristicsthatwillmarkhowwelive.Forexample:

  • Wearecalledtoliveholylives.

2Timothy1:9Hehassavedusandcalledustoaholylife—notbecauseofanythingwehavedonebutbecauseofhisownpurposeandgrace.ThisgracewasgivenusinChristJesusbeforethebeginningoftime…

Wecoulddefine“holiness”aslivinglivesthatlineupwiththehighestvalues,livinglivesthatdemonstrate“thefruitoftheSpirit”.Wemightcallthisholinessintegrity.Thelackofintegrityisconstantlyinournewscycles.

Politiciansandthegovernmentseemtoregularlydisappoint,evenanger,usattheirlackofintegrity.Bigcorporationsjustifytheirtaxavoidance;priestsandministersabusechildren;corruptionaboundsinbusiness;husbandsandwivesthinkit’sOKtocheatononeanother.

Hasourmoralcompasseverbeensetlower?Whendidthe“landofthefairgo”becomethe“landofthefairgone”?

JesuscallsHisfollowerstodobetter!Hiscalltoyouandmeisunequivocal.Ifwearetruetoourcalling,followingJesus,wearecalledtobeholy,tohonourourword,tonotabuseourpower,tolivegodlylives.

  • Wearecalledtocareforothers.

RightthroughtheScripturewereadofGod’sheartforthelost,theleastandthelast.Jesus’storyofTheGoodSamaritan(Luke10:25-37)isajudgmentonournationatthistime.

Howisitthatparents,ScriptureteachersandethicsteachersspendtimeteachingchildrentheimportanceoftheGoldenRule-“Dotootherswhatyouwouldwantthemtodotowardsyou” – whileourpoliticiansblatantlymodeltheopposite – respondingwithshallow“Nope,nope,nope”responsestothecalltohelpwithanestimatedtwoandahalfthousandsufferingwomenandchildrenadriftontheseaswithoutacountry.Jesusfinishesthatparablewiththequestion:Whowastheneighbourtothemanintrouble?Thescribeanswers:Theonewhohadmercy.AndJesusissuesHiscalltouswiththewords:Go,anddolikewise.Partofourcallingistobepeopleofmercy!!

Whereisthewilltotackleournation’sbudgetproblemswithouthittingthemostvulnerableinoursociety?Wearetocareforthevulnerable,notexploitthem.It’spartofourcallingasfollowersofJesus!!

WereadofJesusgoingoutofhiswaytomeetatroubledwomanbyawellinSamaria.WehearHimtalkaboutashepherdwhoseeksonelostsheep.WehearHimtalkofaGodwhoseesasparrowfallandwhoknowsthenumberofhairsonourhead.IfwearegoingtofollowJesusitinvolvesbeingconcernedforourneighbours-thestrugglingperson,theabusedwoman,thebulliedchild,therefugee,thedisplacedperson,thebattler.Wearecalledtobeinvolvedinworksofcompassionwhereverwecan.It’snotan“optionalextra”.It’sourcalling!!

  • Wearecalledtolivesimply.

WecannotgetawayfromthefactthatwefollowaJesuswhohadnoplacetolayhishead,someonewhodidnotaccumulatepossessions,whohadnosuperannuation,noshareportfolio.IsometimesthinkthatinourWesternizedversionofwhatitmeanstofollowJesus,thereisadangerthatwewillrespondbyhiringaPan-technicontohelpcarryourpossessionsaswefollow!Iamconstantlychallengedbytheunexaminedaccumulationofpossessionsthatgoesoninmylife.It’shardtolivesimplyinourculture.Itrequiresdeliberatechoicestodowithout,to“notupdate”,to“notkeepup”,to“notfollowthecrowd”.TheScripturaltruthhasnotchanged:Wearesupposedtobepilgrimslookingforacitytocome,notputtingourrootsdowninthisworld!Wearecalledtobedifferent!Wearecalledtolivesimply.

3.God’sSpecificCalling

ButScripturealsoopensthepossibilitythat,beyondagenericcalling,Godmayhaveaspecificcallingforyou.Paulwasveryclearthathewas“commissionedbyGod”tobeanApostle(Colossians1:24-25).SowhenJesuscallsyoutofollowHim,doesHehaveaspecificcallingforyou–somethingthatisuniquelyforyou?DoIhaveaspecialcalling?

Well,Scripturesuggeststhattheansweris“Yes.InEphesians2:10Paulwrites:ForweareGod’sworkmanship,createdinChristJesustodogoodworks,whichGodpreparedinadvanceforustodo.ScriptureissuggestingthattherearespecificworksforyouandmetodoasweseektofollowJesus!!Thatmuchisclear.

Gettingtheideaof“specificcalling”intoperspective

Itisimportanttoseethattheideaof“specificcalling”isnotreservedforcertainrolessuchasapostle,ormissionary,orminister,orsuchroles.SometimesIthinkwegetcaughtinthinkingthatonlythosekindsofrolesaretheonesinvolvedintheideaofa“specialcalling”.Scriptureisclear.“YouareGod’sworkmanship,createdinChristJesustodogoodworks,whichGodpreparedinadvanceforyoutodo.”

Whateverworkyoudo,God’sspecificcallinginvolvesfindinginthatrolethe“workspreparedinadvanceforustodo”.

WHATyoudoinlifeisimportantbutitisnotthebiggestdeal.WHOyouaredoingitfor,andfindingandcarryingoutthe“goodworkspreparedinadvanceforyoutodo”inthatrole–THATiscentral!!Thatisyour“specificcalling”anditisthepathto“lifeinallitsfullness”.

ThiswholeareaofGod’scallingisnotaneasyareaforus,inthatwedon’tusuallyreceiveanemailfromGodtellinguswhatHisspecificpurposeisforourlife.Iwouldsimplysay:Prayaboutitand,ifyouareunsureofyourspecialcalling,keepaskingGod!

Beforegoingfurther,hereareacoupleofotherthoughts:

  • Itisimportanttorealizethatthe“goodworkspreparedinadvanceforyoutodo”maysometimesseemtobeveryordinary,notveryspiritualorimpressive.Forexample,therearetimeswhenourprimarycallingmaysimplybetobethemostgodlyparentwecanbeforourchildren,carryingoutthe“goodworksthatGodhaspreparedforustodo”inthatcontexttothebestofourability.
  • Forsomepeoplethe“goodworkspreparedinadvanceforthemtodo”doesinvolvealifetimerole.Theyfeelacalltoministryorchaplaincy,ormissionaryservice.But,forothers,lifebringschangesofwork.Thecrucialissuethenis“Whatarethegoodworkspreparedinadvanceformeinthisnewrole?”BecausetheywillexistandtheywillrepresentGod’sspecificcalltomeatthattime.

YoumayhaveaspecificcallingtoalifelongrolefollowingJesus,oryoumayhavespecificworksinyourpresentrole,andthesewillchangewithjobchanges,orwiththepassageoftime.

Yourcallingatthistimemaybetoserveinaspecificministryareainthechurch.Clearly,youmayalsobecalledtoapurposebeyondthischurchanditsareaofoutreach.Andwhateveryoursecularemployment,youarecalledtodiscoverandcarryoutthe“goodworkspreparedinadvanceforyoutodo.”

Inthemeantime,someteachingsaboutyourcalling,whateveritis.

  • Itmaynotbesomethingyouwant.
    ClearlyJonahdidnotwanthiscalling.NordidMosesmostofthetime.JeremiahstruggledwithhiscallingalthoughitdidcomefromapassiontoserveGodthatstirredwithinhim(Jeremiah20:9).ButifIsay,"Iwillnotmentionhimorspeakanymoreinhisname,"hiswordisinmyheartlikeafire,afireshutupinmybones.Iamwearyofholdingitin;indeed,Icannot.”
  • Itwillchangeyou.
    WhenJohnWesleywaschallengedbyGeorgeWhitfieldtoleavethechurchbuildingandpreachintheopenairtominers,hestruggled,commentingthathefearedbeingvile,fearedthathewoulddishonourGod.ButwhenhesawhowpowerfullyGodmovedinbringingpeopletorepentance,heisreputedtohavesaidtoWhitfield:“Imustbecomemorevile.”FollowingJesuswillchangeyou.
  • Itwillnotalwaysbeeasy.
    WhereverdidwegettheideathatfollowingJesusshouldbeeasy?Certainlywedon’tgetthatpicturefromtheBible.IfyoufollowJesus,youwillalmostcertainlytakeafewbulletholesorshrapnelwoundssoonerorlater.TheBiblemakesitclearthatfollowersofJesuswillneedatheologyofgroaningaswellasatheologyofgrace!
  • Itwill,attimes,bewonderfulbeyondyourimagining.
    ThisweekasIhavebeenpreparingthismessage,GodhasbeenremindingmeofsomeoftheamazingexperiencesIhavehadovertheyearsasIhavesoughttofollowHiscalling.Therehavebeenhealings–bothofmeandthroughme,protectionfrombeingkilled,therehavebeenphonecallsandmomentsofinspirationjustattheneededtime,therewasameetingwithsomeoneIbelievetohavebeenanangel,faithfulprovisionsintimesofneed,comfortintimesoftragedy,extraordinarymomentsofseeingGodatworkinpeople’slives,andmore.WhenwearefaithfullylivinginGod’scalling,weexperiencewonderfulthingswewouldotherwisemiss.

PersonalSharing

LetmefinishbysharingabitofmysenseofGod’scallinginmylife.ThefirstthingIwouldsayisthatIdon’tbelieveIplannedmuchofit.Inmanywaysitsortofemerged.AftertrainingasapsychologistintheUS,IcamebacktoAustraliain1983thinkingthatIwouldtakeupanacademiccareer.However,IwouldhavehadtomoveoutofSydneyand,almostbydefault,Iendedupopeningaprivatepractice,withMariondoingtheadministration.Iwasnotcutouttobeabusinessperson,soMarionandIhadtorelyonGodingettingthebusinessstarted.

Perhapseveryonefindsdifficultyintheirwork.Icertainlydid.Irememberinthe1990’slotsofprayertimeswhenIbelly-achedtoGodabouthowhardthiscallingwas,workingwithpeople’sproblemsallthetime.IspecificallyrecallonedayprayingoutloudasIdrove,tellingGodthatIcouldn’tcontinueon.Iwasprettydesperate,asIrecall.ThatdayGodgavemethreesignsthatIwaswhereIwassupposedtobe.AsIarrivedbackattheoffice,therewereflowersonthereceptionbench.Mariontoldmeaformerclienthaddroppedthemintosay‘Thankyou’.Iforgetthesecondsign.Butthethirdonewasattheendoftheday.Iwasprettywreckedandwasjustleavingwhenthehusbandofoneofmyclientsdroppedin.Hewasaratherobnoxiousguy,whoclaimedtobeanatheistandwhohadbeenworkinghardtoshowhisChristianwifehowfoolishitwastobelieveinGod.HesharedwithmethathehadboughtaBibletoshowhiswifehowmanyinconsistenciestherewereinit.

HetoldmethathewenttothemoviesonhisownandwasdeeplytouchedbythemovieaboutLindyChamberlain,starringMerylStreep.Hecamebacktohiscar,quiteemotionalandsatthereforabit.SuddenlyhenoticedtheBiblesittingonthepassengerseatandhethought“ifthereisaGod,I’lltestHimout.”HepickeduptheBibleand,withnoknowledgeofitatall,heopeneditandstabbedhisfingerdownonapassage.Whenhelookedatwhatitsaid,hefoundhimselfreadingfromtheendofRomans8:

WhocanseparateusfromtheloveofChrist?Willhardship,ordistress,orpersecution,offamine,ornakedness,orperil,orsword?…No,inallthesethingswearemorethanconquerorsthroughHimwholovedus.ForIampersuadedthatneitherlife,nordeath,norangels,norrulers,northingspresent,northingstocome,norpowers,norheight,nordepth,noranythinginallcreationwillbeabletoseparateusfromtheloveofGodwhichisinChristJesusourLord.

HesharedthathehadcometoseemetosharethathewasconvincedthattherewasaGod,andthathehadnowgivenhislifetoJesus.Well,I’mthick,butI’mnotthatthick.IcouldseethatGodwastellingmetostaywhereIwas–itwasHiscallingforme.

MinistryTime

LetmeinviteyoutorespondtoGod’scallingonyourlife.Don’tleaveit.Thisisserious.

  1. IsGodcallingyoutorenewedholiness?Haveyouletyourselfbecomecontaminated,andyouneedGod’scleansingandforgiveness?
  2. IsGodcallingyoutolivemorecompassionatelyandmoresimply–toputasidemoreofwhatyouearnsothatothersmightbeblessed,toreduceyourpossessions,togivemoresothatmissionariesmightbesupported,ortheneedyblessed,inJesus’name?
  3. IsGodcallingyoutoexpandyourvision,toopenyourhearttobiggerpurposes,todeeperwater,toallowingyourpassionforHimtoovercomeyourfears?
  4. Isthisamomentforyoutopraysincerely:Godshowmeyourspecialcallingformylifeatthistime?

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