Chapter 9

GOD'S CALL

Part II - God's Call to Service

(Matthew 4:18-22)

 

          Before we begin our study for this portion of God's call upon our life, let us pray.

 

          Dear Heavenly Father,

                    We come to You in the name of Your only begotten Son, Jesus Christ. Holy Father we ask that You would please grant us the ability to see, hear and accept Your desire for our lives. Father, please lead us and guide us to the tasks and activities that You want to accomplish through us. For Your Name's sake we ask.

Amen

 

          Let us begin our study by reading the following Scriptures where we find how Jesus called Peter, Andrew, James and John to follow Him.

 

Matthew 4:18-22

"[18] As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. [19] "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." [20] At once they left their nets and followed him. [21] Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them, [22] and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him."

 

Let us notice the following verses,

          19(a) … Jesus first called Peter and Andrew to follow Him.

 

          19(b) … Next Jesus called Peter and Andrew into service for Him.

 

          21-22 … Jesus also called James and John.

 

          The above Scriptures illustrate that God has two calls upon our life: (1) His call to Him and (2) His call to service.

 

          Thus, this subject has been partitioned into the following two chapters.

          Chapter 8 … God’s call to Him

          Chapter 9 … God’s call to service

          In our previous study, that is chapter 8, we explored God's first call upon our life, which is our call to Him. In our study of this portion of God's call upon our life we discovered that Jesus beautifully summarized it in His response to the scribe's, that is an expert in the Law's, question of: "Which one of God's commandments is the greatest?" To refresh our memories, we go to,

 

Matthew 22:35-40

"[35] One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: [36] "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" [37] Jesus replied: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' [38] This is the first and greatest commandment. [39] And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' [40] All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.""

 

          Lord willing in this study we will explore God's second call upon our life, which is to serve Him. To do this we will,

1. Read how God the Holy Spirit called each and every born again believer to perform good works.

2. Review some excuses of why one might think that they can not comply with God's call to serve.

Then,

 

 3. In light of the above excuses and God's response to them, we will review once again our call to serve.

 

With this brief introduction, let us now begin by exploring,

 

GOD'S CALL TO SERVE

God's call to serve Him by performing good works is clearly taught to us in,

 

Ephesians 2:8-10

"[8] For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-- [9] not by works, so that no one can boast. [10] For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."

 

Let us notice the following verses,

          8-9 … We have been saved through God's Grace. Thus, we did not earn it or work for it. It is God's free gift to you and me.

 

          10 … Consequently,

"We are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."

 

          As one reflects upon verse 10, one might think that this verse can not possibly be addressed to them. In other words, they may have some reasons or excuses of why they can not enter into God's service. However, as we read the Scriptures we discover that there are really no excuses for why we can not serve God. To see this let us explore,

 

SOME EXCUSES OF WHY WE MAY THINK WE CAN NOT SERVE HIM

One of our excuses might be,

 

BUT LORD I AM A SINNER

          In reading the Old Testament we find that the prophet Isaiah, in the Presence of God, also recognized that he was a sinner. To see this we go to,

 

Isaiah 6:1-8

"[1] In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple. [2] Above him were seraphs, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. [3] And they were calling to one another: "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory." [4] At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke. [5] "Woe to me!" I cried. "I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty." [6] Then one of the seraphs flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. [7] With it he touched my mouth and said, "See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for. [8] Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" And I said, "Here am I. Send me!""

 

Let us notice the following verses,

          1-4 … The Lord Almighty had given Isaiah the privilege to see Him sitting upon His throne in Heaven.

 

          5 … Upon seeing the Lord Almighty, Isaiah recognized he was a sinner and felt he was not worthy to be in God's Presence.

 

          6-7 … Using one of the seraphs God cleansed Isaiah from his sin and iniquity.

 

          8 … After God cleansed Isaiah He called him to be a prophet. Knowing that his guilt was taken away and his sin atoned for Isaiah accepted God's call.

 

          What about us? Before we entertain this type of excuse let us recall that God has already cleansed us. Let us consider,

 

Hebrews 10:14-17

"[14] because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy. [15] The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this. First he says: [16] "This is the covenant I will make with them after that time, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds." [17] Then he adds: "Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more.""

 

          Thus, just as God justified Isaiah He also justified the born again believer in Jesus Christ. In other words, as God gave Isaiah right standing with Him, so it is with us. Hence, we too have been justified by God to serve Him. Consequently, as Isaiah, we too should be willing and delighted to accept God's call to serve Him and perform good works.

 

Unfortunately, another excuse one might have could be,

 

BUT LORD I AM WEAK

          For those who feel this way let us consider what God once said to the Apostle Paul with respect to his weaknesses. It is provided to us in,

 

2 Corinthians 12:7-10

"[7] To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. [8] Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. [9] But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. [10] That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong."

 

Let us notice the following verses,

          7 … To keep him spiritually humble, Paul was given a thorn in the flesh.

         

          8-9 … After Paul pleaded for the thorn to be removed, God told him that:

"His Grace is sufficient and His strength is perfected through weakness."

         

          What about us? Before we yield to an excuse of this nature, that is but I am weak, let us not forget that the born again believer is a temple of God the Holy Spirit. This is clearly revealed to us in,

1 Corinthians 3:16

"[16] Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you?"

 

          In other words, God the Holy Spirit lives and dwells within the born again believer. Thus, the power, strength and wisdom we are to walk and serve in is not ours but that of the Holy Spirit. Another way of looking at this truth is to note that the more we decrease; the more He increases through us. Consequently, the weaker we are the more qualified we are to serve Him.

          To see this let us return to Paul’s letter and read how Paul responded to God’s encouragement. To do this we go to,

 

2 Corinthians 12:9-10

[9] And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. [10] Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

 

Another excuse that often arises is,

 

BUT LORD WHO AM I?

          In reading the Old Testament we find that when God called Moses to return to Egypt and lead the nation of Israel out of their slavery, he presented to God this very same excuse. To see this let us read from,

 

Exodus 3:11-12(a)

"[11] But Moses said to God, "Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?" [12] And God said, "I will be with you...""

 

Let us notice the following verse,

          12 … After Moses told the Lord that he was not the right person for this task, God told him that He will be with him.

          As we read the New Testament we find that God has given us this very same promise. Consider what Jesus said to His disciples when He asked them to go forth and preach the Gospel. It is recorded for us in,

 

Matthew 28:20(b)

"… And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.""

 

          In addition, since the born again believers are filled with God the Holy Spirit we can also trust Him to provide us what we should say and lead us to what we should do. This promise is revealed to us in,

 

Luke 12:11-12

""[11] When you are brought before synagogues, rulers and authorities, do not worry about how you will defend yourselves or what you will say, [12] for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say.""

 

          Thus, we can not rightly come before God and say to Him: "Who am I that You would call me to serve You?"

 

          Now for those who feel that they are not mature enough in their walk with Christ, the following excuse might arise,

 

BUT LORD I AM TOO YOUNG

          In the Old Testament we discover that the prophet Jeremiah had a similar concern. To see this let us read the Scriptures that reveal how God called Jeremiah into His service. The passages of interest are in,

 

Jeremiah 1:4-9

"[4] The word of the LORD came to me, saying, [5] "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations." [6] "Ah, Sovereign LORD," I said, "I do not know how to speak; I am only a child." [7] But the LORD said to me, "Do not say, 'I am only a child.' You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. [8] Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you," declares the LORD. [9] Then the LORD reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, "Now, I have put my words in your mouth."

 

Let us notice the following verses,

          5 … God told Jeremiah that he was ordained to be a prophet.

 

          6 … Jeremiah responded to God's call by stating that he was too young for such a task.

 

          7-8 … The Lord promised Jeremiah that He would tell him what to speak and He will watch over him.

 

          9 … As we prayerfully read God's Word, that is the Bible, we too have His Word within us.

 

          Earlier in this study we discovered that our Lord Jesus Christ has also promised us that God the Holy Spirit, Who lives inside the born again believer, will give us what we are to say or do. To refresh our memories let us read again this promise. However, this time let us read it as recorded in,

 

Matthew 10:19-20

"[19] But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, [20] for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you."

 

          In addition, our Lord Jesus Christ also tells us to not fear when we serve Him. To see this let us now read from,

 

Matthew 10:27-33

"[27] What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs. [28] Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. [29] Are not two sparrows sold for a penny ? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. [30] And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. [31] So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. [32] "Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. [33] But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven."

 

Let us notice the following verses,

          28 … Our Lord tells us to not be afraid of another human being. The reason He says this is because a human being, no matter how much authority he or she may have, at worse can only put us to death. However, it is God who controls and determines our eternal destiny, that is what will happen to us after we die.

 

          29-31 … God knows and cares about everything that happens to us. In fact nothing can happen to us unless it passes by God the Father. Because of this knowledge of God's authority, we should not be afraid of what another human being can or cannot do to us. This also applies to the evil one. Remember Job (Job 1:6-22) and Peter (Luke 22:31-35).

 

          32-33 … Hence, our decision: "If we acknowledge Jesus before men, He in turn will acknowledge us before God the Father; however, if we disown Him, He in turn will disown us."

 

Finally one might think,

 

BUT LORD I HAVE NOTHING TO OFFER, I HAVE NO GIFTS

          For those who may feel this way, let us examine the following portion of Paul's letter to the Corinthians. In this portion of his letter he explains to us the working of the Holy Spirit and how He distributes His gifts. The passage of interest is in,

 

1 Corinthians 12:4-11

"[4] There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. [5] There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. [6] There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men. [7] Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. [8] To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, [9] to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, [10] to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. [11] All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines."

 

Let us notice the following verses,

          4, 5 & 6 … God has given to His body, which is the collective assembly of born again believers, various gifts, functions (ministries or works of service) and effects (degrees or different kinds of workings). It is also noted that the gifts identified above are only a sample of the spiritual gifts that the Holy Spirit imparts. A few more examples are the spiritual gifts of: charity, leadership (Romans 12:8), apostleship and evangelists (Ephesians 4:11).

 

          7 … Each born again believer is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.

 

          11 … All born again believers have the same Holy Spirit. Also note that it is He who determines what gift we are to have. Another significant point to make is that these are spiritual gifts from the Holy Spirit, not natural talents.

 

          Consequently, no born again believer can come to God and say they have nothing to offer. Instead, we should ask Him to reveal to us the spiritual gift He gave us. In addition, we should also pray and ask Him to lead us to where and how He wishes to utilize the gift He graciously placed within us.

 

          With all the above excuses and God's response to them in mind, let us summarize God's call for us to serve. First of all we find that each and every born again believer is to,

 

SERVE WITHIN THE BODY OF CHRIST, THE CHURCH

          Even though we touched upon this in reading Paul's first letter to the Corinthians, let us now read this call again as it is written in,

 

Ephesians 4:1-16

"[1] As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. [2] Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. [3] Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. [4] There is one body and one Spirit-- just as you were called to one hope when you were called-- [5] one Lord, one faith, one baptism; [6] one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. [7] But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. [8] This is why it says: "When he ascended on high, he led captives in his train and gave gifts to men." [9] (What does "he ascended" mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions ? [10] He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.) [11] It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, [12] to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up [13] until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. [14] Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. [15] Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. [16] From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work."

 

Let us notice the following verses,

          1-2 … First of all we are asked to live a life worthy of our calling. Specifically, we are to love one another.

 

          3-6 … Since we are all members of one body, that is the body of Christ, our Lord asks us to lay aside our differences and be in harmony and in peace with each and every true born again believer.

 

          7-11 … As we read earlier, we all have been given gifts.

 

          12-13 … The gifts of the Holy Spirit's are to be used to build up the body of Christ. In other words, we are called by God to serve and help one another to grow and mature into the fullness of Christ.

 

          14 … We are to grow and mature into the fullness of Christ so when we are confronted with non Biblical teachings, traditions or beliefs we will not be tossed around and shaken in our faith. With the above in mind let us reread,

 

Ephesians 4:15-16

[15] Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. [16] From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work."

 

The second aspect of God's call for the born again believer is to,

 

SERVE IN THE WORLD

          We are to do this by helping others in their time of need. As we help others we become a lamp for God's light to shine for them to see (chapter 7).

To read this command let us go to,

 

Matthew 5:14-16

""[14] You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. [15] Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. [16] In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven."

 

THE MESSAGE

          What is the whole point of this study? What is the message of it all? Perhaps it is best summarized for us by reading the following parable,

 

Matthew 25:14-30

""[14] Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them. [15] To one he gave five talents of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. [16] The man who had received the five talents went at once and put his money to work and gained five more. [17] So also, the one with the two talents gained two more. [18] But the man who had received the one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's money. [19] "After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. [20] The man who had received the five talents brought the other five. 'Master,' he said, 'you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.' [21] "His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!' [22] "The man with the two talents also came. 'Master,' he said, 'you entrusted me with two talents; see, I have gained two more.' [23] "His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!' [24] "Then the man who had received the one talent came. 'Master,' he said, 'I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. [25] So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.' [26] "His master replied, 'You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? [27] Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest. [28] "'Take the talent from him and give it  to the one who has the ten talents. [29] For everyone who has will be given more and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. [30] And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'"

 

Let us close our study by reading from,

 

1 Thessalonians 5:23-24

[23] Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. [24] He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.

Blessed be the Lord forever,

Amen and Amen