on March 31, 2008
My life?
Are you an insurance salesman? Cause if you are, I’m not interested. I don’t need life insurance.
Oh, you’re not an insurance salesman – okay – what about my life did you call about?
My heart? Are you a doctor?
Well, if you’re not a doctor, why do you want to talk about my heart?
Oh, I see, you want to talk about what is really important to me.
Uh, could you hold just a minute? I’ve got another call coming in.
Hello!
Oh, hi dear! What’s up?
You just called to remind me about an important call I’m supposed to get?
You told me about it this morning?
I don’t remember that.
Who’d you say it was?
You don’t know, but it’s supposed to be somebody really high up?
No, I don’t remember you saying that.
Oh, it was while I was eating breakfast in front of the TV… and, and you probably thought it went in one ear and ….. that’s why you called to remind me…
Well, okay, thanks for the reminder.
What’s that?
It could be a life changing call?
All right. I’ll try to keep the line open and free.
Okay dear.
I love you too.
Bye
Oh, hi sir, I’m back. I apologize for the interruption – it was my wife. You know wives…
What’s that?
You think maybe I should pay more attention to her?
Well she called to tell me about an important call I’m supposed to be getting, so I may have to cut you short.
You said you wanted to talk about something important to me?
What did you say your name was?
Oh, you didn’t say?
I’m sorry! I have another call coming in. It could be the one my wife was telling me about.
Hello!
Hey, what’s happening (Merl)?
You got the tickets to the Final Four? Great! What do I owe you?
Man, I can’t wait! It’s going to be awesome!
Okay, I’ll drop you a check when I see you later.
All right! Take care.
Good bye.
O.k. I’m back. Where’d we leave off?
Oh, that’s right, your name. Who are you and where are you calling from?
Uh, is this a joke?
You’re really…? Calling me…? From … all the way up there? You’re kidding right?
You’re not kidding?
How can I know that for sure?
I should check the caller I.D. number on my phone?
And then read Jeremiah 33:3?
Let’s see, 843-567-3463.
Okay, so I’ve got your number…
What’s that?
I should try calling once in awhile? And, then I’d know for sure who you are?
Okay, if it’s really you, what do you want that’s so important?
Me? What do you want with me?
My life? My heart? All of me? My plans, hopes and dreams?
Oh no! I have another call coming in! My wife told me to expect a really important call and this might be it. Sorry to put you off again, but don’t go away. I’m really curious about what you have to say!
Hello!
Hi Buddy! I haven’t heard from you in forever! What brings you my way?
You have a great business proposition huh? Tell me more!
Wow! You’re not kidding! That’s right down my alley!
Really? Six figures and benefits!
So I’d have to move out of state?
How soon?
Two weeks?!
Oh, No, that’s great! I was afraid you’d say tomorrow!
Uh huh, so the company will move us and settle us in administrative housing?
And I’d start work as soon as I arrive?
You need to know right away?
You know me pal. This is the call I’ve been waiting for! I’ll be there and ready to start in two weeks!
Thanks! Bye!
Wow! My wife was right on that one!
Hello! I’m back! Sorry for the interruption again.
Hello! Hello!
Oh, he must be gone. That’s too bad, I’d love to tell him my good news.
I wonder who that really was anyway?
Let me look at that number again:
843 – 567 – 3463
THE LORD GOD
Hmm, I wonder what he meant by Jeremiah 33:3?
Let me look it up here…
Wow! Maybe that was really the important call!
I wonder how He got my number?
That’s kind of a dumb question. If He’s who He says, I’m sure He’s got a lot of people’s numbers!
Introduction:
Our goal at Good News is to see every believer become a fruitful participant in God’s purposes for the church.
We want to grow in God’s favor in 2008 and we believe that every follower of Christ is called to service and has a vital part in fulfilling the Great Commission.
#1 – Examine Your Faith
Last week we took a test! Step#1 is to make certain that you are in the faith.
Any other steps are of little value if you have not first put your faith in Christ.
2 Corinthians 13:5 – Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you–unless, of course, you fail the test?
Have you welcomed Christ Jesus into your life as Savior and Lord?
Are you trusting in Jesus for eternal life and the forgiveness of your sins?
Have you publicly acknowledged that Jesus is Lord (baptism and/or testimony)?
Do you believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead?
Romans 10:8-10 – "The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart," that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming: That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.
Step #2 – Make Sure of Your Calling
What has God called you to do and be?
It is the believer’s responsibility and privilege to discover and make certain he/she knows what God has called him/her to do and be.
2 Peter 1:10 – Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure.
Genesis 12:1-7
The LORD had said to Abram, "Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you. "I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you."
So Abram left, as the LORD had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he set out from Haran. He took his wife Sarai, his nephew Lot, all the possessions they had accumulated and the people they had acquired in Haran, and they set out for the land of Canaan, and they arrived there.
Abram traveled through the land as far as the site of the great tree of Moreh at Shechem. At that time the Canaanites were in the land. The LORD appeared to Abram and said, "To your offspring I will give this land." So he built an altar there to the LORD, who had appeared to him.
God’s call to Abram meant:
LEAVE THE PAST BEHIND!
Leave your country!
Leave your people!
Leave your father’s household!
LEAVE THE HOMELAND, THE FAMILIAR, & THE COMFORTABLE!
LEAVE YOUR IDENTITY!
God’s call to Abram meant:
PROCEED IN THE DIRECTION OF GOD’S LEADING!
Go to the land that I will show you!
Sometimes the hardest part about leaving the past behind is getting “going!”
I don’t know where He’s leading!
Well have you packed yet?
START BECOMING GOD’S MAN!
God’s call to Abram meant:
EMBRACE GOD’S WILL!
Go to the land that I will show you!
I will make you a great nation!
I will bless you!
I will make your name great, you will be a blessing!
NOT MY WILL YOUR’S BE DONE!
EMBRACE YOUR NEW IDENTITY!
God’s call to Abram meant:
TRUSTING GOD’S PROMISES!
I will show you!
I will make you a great nation!
I will bless you!
I will make your name great!
I will bless those who bless you…
…all the peoples on earth will be blessed through you!
What has God called you to do & be?
It is the believer’s responsibility and privilege to discover and make certain he/she knows what God has called him/her to do and be.
Are you aware of the call of God on your life?
What is He calling you to leave?
Where is He calling you to go?
What is He calling you to do?
God Calls Us to Addition!
2 Peter 1:3-11 – His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
God Calls Us to Addition!
For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
God Calls Us to Addition!
But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins. Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Has God called you to live out your faith by adding these qualities?
God Calls Us To Holiness!
1 Peter 1:13-16 – Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy."
Has God called you to be holy?
God Calls Us To Eternal Life!
1 Timothy 6:11,12 – But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
Has God called you to eternal life?
God Calls Us to Unity With Believers
Ephesians 4:1-6 – I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit– just as you were called to one hope when you were called– one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
Has He called you to loving unity and life with other believers?
God Calls Us to Freedom!
Galatians 5:13 – You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love.
Has God called you to be freed to serve the Church in love?
God Calls Us To Be Like Christ!
Romans 8:28-30 – And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.
Has God called you for His PURPOSE to be like Christ – to be CHRISTIAN?
God Calls You, Are You Listening?
Romans 6:1 – And you also are among those who are called to belong to Jesus Christ.
Has God left you out of His calling?
What are you certain that God has called you to/for?
Conclusion
What has God called you to do and be?
Do you accept the responsibility and privilege of discovering and making certain you know what God has called you to do and be?
2 Peter 1:10 – Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure
What’s the most important thing you heard today?