Speaker: Pastor Pacer Tan
Church: Lighthouse Evangelism
Date: 20 March 2016
Introduction
God's calling is muted nowaday due to many life distractions. When we come to faith in Christ, we have many terms to define our born again experience like child of God, new creation, newness of life and many others. However we are not saved to have a right relationship with God only, but saved for a purpose which is to fulfill the call of God in our lives.
1. Fundamentally, the call of God comes to our lives to fulfill a need.
A. For example, God's calling upon the life of Abraham is to be the father of many nations, Noah's call is to start a new generation of human race and Moses is called to be the deliverer to God's chosen people, the Israelites. Women are also called. The life of Esther reveals God 's calling for her to deliver a people that is to be extinct.
B. God's call to a person or a group of people is always about fulfilling a need. Have you been called to fulfill a particular need?
C. It is more than a calling to be s a Christian, housewife, mother, worker, engineer, parent, etc. We need to umderstand the nature of God's call before we fall into the trap of apathy or even lose our direction and passion as God's people. Christians are not called to sink our roots by enjoying life in this world or become self-centered.
2. In Judges 6, the Midianites have taken everything from Israel and oppressed them resulting a desperate cry to God for help. Then God brings a deliverer to remind them of God's deliverance in Eygpt. There is a need and God raises up a man to fulfill the need.
Reflection: The call for you may be to deliver someone, a company, a famliy, or a friend from demonic influence.
3. In Judges 6:11ff, it is written that though Gideon knows the history of God's deliverance of Israelites from the bondage in Eygpt, he still questions God why is Israel still suffering? God replied him by telling him he is the answer to overcome the suffering of His people.
4. Gideon needs a sign to be sure he is called. God shows him a sign of fire to convince him. However faith is believing what God says about you before it happens.
A. In Paul's writings, he clearly affirms the readers of who they are in God's sight.
B. Similarly, in God's sight Gideon is a mighty man of valor despite what he says of himself as the least in his household and his clan being the weakest.
5. Faith is NOT what you receive. It is what you become.
A. In Ephesians 3:20, Paul says that the power WITHIN US enables us to become what God wants us to be.
B. There is nothing coincidental in the life of a Christian. There is no place for luck for our destiny is planned by God.
C. It is important to know that God's call is not for self-improvement or self-aggrandization.
D. You don't have to think that you should be rich now. You are already rich in God's eternal kingdom now and throughout eternity. To the contrary, our motivation should be like Jesus who says that He has come to seek that which was lost.
6. God can use the 'weakest' person to do His Will.
A. Man sees only human frailty. The emphasis is about God's strength upon us.
B. If anyone wants to be rich and wealthy, the cross is not for him.
C. The wisdom of God is foolishness to the world. Our worldly mindset contradicts the ways of God.
Reflection: What is it right now that you dont believe you have a call from God?
7. Ministry is not frightening if we have the right biblical perspective in that it is God who empowers us. He empowers us to pray, teach, help, serve and minister.
8. God always calls His people to peace. In Judges 6:23, Gideon says the Lord is peace.
A. In order to have lasting peace, we need to "war" on the things that are destroying our peace.
B. What are the things that are destroying your peace? Is it unforgiveness, bitterness, greed, or fear?
C. In 2 Thessalonians 3:16, God wants to give us peace all the times. Therefore we should ask for peace not only when we are at war but also when we are in good times.
9. God is faithful even when we are not for God changes not.
A. God does not change His calling for us. Many times we change our call because we cannot take the heat.
B. In Judges 6:38-40, Gideon receives a third sign to be assured of his calling. Once he is affirmed, Gideon fulfills his calling.
C. God is faithful even though we can be faithless for He is committed to love us with His mercy and grace. He changes not!
Application: God has a call for you. Do you say like Isaiah "Here am I. Send me".
Take a moment to talk with God on His calling for you personally amd uniquely.
Is there anything that is taking away your peace and paralyses you from fulfilling God's call for your life?
Remember: God is faithful and He is able to destroy every barrier that hinders you from fulfilling your divine call from above.
Note: This is a personal sermon note-taking. To have a complete sermon, you may want to purchase the DVD at the church counter.
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