Is God Calling You

What does it mean to be called by God?

God’s calling is an invitation for us to know Him, journey alongside Him, and participate in His work by utilizing our gifts talents and abilities to accomplish His will.

Calls of God in the Bible.

Abraham

Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee: And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:Genesis 12:1-2

Moses

Now therefore, behold, the cry of the children of Israel is come unto me: and I have also seen the oppression wherewith the Egyptians oppress them. Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth my people the children of Israel out of Egypt. And Moses said unto God, Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt?Exodus 3:9-11

Samuel

And the LORD came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth. And the LORD said to Samuel, Behold, I will do a thing in Israel, at which both the ears of every one that heareth it shall tingle. In that day I will perform against Eli all things which I have spoken concerning his house: when I begin, I will also make an end. For I have told him that I will judge his house for ever for the iniquity which he knoweth; because his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not.1 Samuel 3:10-13

Isaiah

Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me. And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not. Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed.Isaiah 6:8-10

Paul

And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.Acts 9:4-6

All Christians have received a two-part call:COME and GO.

Come to Jesus and sacrifice yourself for the sake of the kingdom.

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.Romans 12:1-2

And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.Luke 9:23

I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.Galatians 2:20

Go and preach the Gospel.

Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.Matthew 28:19-20

And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.Mark 16:15

And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And ye are witnesses of these things. And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.Luke 24:46-49

Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.John 20:21

But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judæa, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.Acts 1:8

Does God have a specific calling for every Christian?

Before God calls you to a position or a place, He always calls you to Himself.

And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.Acts 9:4-6

God has given you a place and a people to use your gifts, glorify His name and be sharpened for usefulness to Christ.It is the local church.

Zeal and wisdom are necessary to find and follow God’s calling.

God reveals His unique calling as we embrace our general, two-fold COME and GO calling.

Oftentimes, a call is a specific kingdom opportunity and a compelling burden to be used of God to meet the need.

Is my calling linked to my vocation?

God has called all of us to be full-time Christians. Our identity is found not in our vocation, but our calling.

Never overlook work as worship and work as mission.

Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God: And what soever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;Colossians 3:22-23

Calling to pastoral ministry is done by the Holy Spirit.

Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.Acts 20:28

Calling to vocational ministry is recognized and affirmed by church leaders.

Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.Acts 13:1-3

And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision.Galatians 2:9

Since God no longer speaks audibly, how should we discern His call?

Prayer. Fasting. The Word.

God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;Hebrews 1:1-2

Desire and aspiration.

This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.1 Timothy 3:1

Gifting and service. God will never call you to do full-time what you’re not doing part-time.

Wise godly counsel.

Wait on the Lord.

Beware of urgency without clarity. Closeness to Jesus brings clarity.

How to be useful to Christ.

Grow in knowledge and wisdom in the Word.

Grow in maturity in godliness.

Grow in service to others.

Grow in humility.

What has God put in your power to do in his service?