The Call of God
Acts 13:1-4
As Saul and Barnabas was busy serving the Lord, God called them out to a work for them to do.
What the Call is Not
It is not geographical
We are lead to a place, we are called to a work
What a Call Is
Mark 3:13-14 The Call is to be with Him
Everyone is to be with Jesus and as they are with Him, He sent them out
If you are with Jesus Christ you will always know where you are supposed to be
Your greatest ability is your availability
The call to preach is a very specific call.
The Call of God
According to Spurgeon –
“The first sign of the heavenly call is an intense, all-absorbing desire for the work. In order for there to be a true call to the ministry there must be an irresistible overwhelming craving and raging thirst for telling to others what God has done for our own souls”
“Combined with the earnest desire to become a pastor, there must be aptness to teach and some measure of the other qualities needful for the office of a public instructor. In order for a man to prove his call, he must make a successful trail of these.”
“In order to further prove a man’s call, after a little exercise of his gifts, such I have already spoken of, he must see a measure of conversion-work going on under his efforts, or may conclude that he has made a mistake, and therefore, may go back by the best way he can.”
“A step beyond all this is needful in our inquiry. The will of the Lord concerning pastors is made known through the prayerful judgment of His church. It is needful as a proof of your vocation that your preaching should be acceptable to the people of God.”
John Newton’s Requirements
A desire to serve God above all else
A demonstration of preparedness and equipping
A display of the providential working of God in his life and ministry
“the man called of God is not called to the ministry as a fall back position due to his inability in some secular profession.”
Be A Holy Man of God – II Kings 4:8-10
Be with Jesus – Mark 3:13-14
He is to give the people what has been given to him – John 15:15-16
The difference between a servant and a friend is the servant doesn’t know what his master is doing
He is set apart – Acts 13:1-3
The first ministry was to the Lord, then to the people
Must succeed in your home – I Timothy 3:1-7
We don’t rear children by what we say, we rear them by what we do
Preach the Word with Holy Boldness – Titus 1:5-11
How Do I Hear The Call
Psalm 37:4
God will give us desires into my heart
God will place in your heart the desire He wants you to have
When God give you the desire, He will give you the ability to do it.
The specific call to a work is a result of fellowship with Christ on a daily basis
Romans 12:1-2
You can not know what Christ wants for you if you re not yielded to Christ
Be actively involved in your local church
The progression of a specific call:
- Intellect – What we know and understand
- Emotion – heart is affected by our intellect
- Will – seals the decision