Walking in God's Calling

Trevor S. Ferguson

February 22, 2012

INTRODUCTION

A call to serve God in ministry is one of the greatest ‘occupations’ for us as humans. Such a call however  is often received with great trepidation as the individual comes face to face with his/her own limitations and the need for total reliance on God.

It is however very important that human beings avail themselves to serve God in the various forms of ministry as this is the means through which God has chosen to bring salvation to man.

EXPOSITION

1.    Recognizing the Call

Before we walk in the call we must recognize the call.

Let’s look at how the call of God came to some biblical characters:

Moses:  (Exodus 3:1-10) - Voice from the burning bush 

Samuel: (1^st Samuel 3:1-4) - Voice while sleeping. Note instructions of Eli. This illustrates the role pastors, ministers, senior/seasoned members can help to us to recognize the voice of God

Elisha: (1^st Kings 19:19-21) - Elijah cast his mantle upon Elisha

Peter, Andrew, James, John: (Matt 4:18-22; Luke 5:1-11) - Follow me and I will make you fishers of men

Paul: (Acts 9) - Struck down by a bright light

There are many different areas of ministry to which we may be called

Service gifts – Romans 12:4-8; Ministerial Office Gifts – Ephesians 4:11

Areas to which we may be called: singing (choir, praise team etc); music (drums, keyboard, guitar, etc); evangelism (personal witnessing; tract distribution; door knocking); helps (peer counseling, encouragement [Barnabas], serving others [sick, elderly, young children, children’s home, home for the elderly etc]); maintenance (upkeep of the sanctuary and its equipment – recall the Levites and the tabernacle); ministry of the word (preaching, teaching, exhortation)

2.    Responding to the Call

Many persons are initially reluctant – Moses, Jeremiah

Initial reluctance does not disqualify us from ministry. This is illustrated in the lives of Moses and Jeremiah. Look also at parable in Matt 21:28-32

Desired response is that of Isaiah: Here am I, Send me.

3.    Walking in the Call

Having heard the voice of God and responded to the call we must continue to listen to the voice of God so that we will have ‘fresh bread’ to minister

How does God speak to us: The audible voice (e.g. the still small voice); gentle nudges or impressions on the mind; through the word; through nature or every day events; through life situations; through other persons (saints, ministers, ‘ordinary’ people)

We need to maintain our personal consecration and personal devotion and so keep close to God

We can’t expect to live off yesterday’s anointing

We must walk the talk

Practice what you preach; live what you sing; live in holiness;

Transmit the vision

Seek to reproduce your ministry in others.

Look at Paul’s charge to Timothy in 2^nd Timothy 2:2 And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.

4.    Completing the Call

Philippians 1:6 (KJV)

Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

See 1^st Corinthians 9:24-27; Hebrews 12:1-2

Remember Demas – described as fellow labourer in Philemon 1:24 but in 2^nd Tim 4:10 Paul reports that Demas had forsaken him having loved this present world

We can recover even if we stumble

John Mark – 2^nd Timothy 4:11

5.    Rewards of the Call

Mark 10:28-30 (KJV) ²⁸ Then Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee. ²⁹ And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's, ³⁰ But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.

2 Timothy 4:7-8 (KJV) ⁷ I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: ⁸ Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.