Our Calling

Romans 1:5-6 Through Him we have received grace and apostleship for obedience to the

faith among all nations for His name, (6) among whom you also are the CALLED OF

JESUS CHRIST; Romans 8:28-30 (28) And we know that all things work together for good to

those who love God, to those who are the CALLED ACCORDING TO HIS PURPOSE. (29) For whom He foreknew, He also predestined

to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many

brethren. (30) Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom HE CALLED, these He also justified; and whom

He justified, these He also glorified.

OUR CALLINGA. We are called to be Christians.B. We are called by the gospel - 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14 But

we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth, (14) to which He CALLED YOU BY OUR GOSPEL, for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

C. We must walk worthy of the call - Ephesians 4:1-3 I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to WALK WORTHY OF THE CALLING WITH WHICH YOU WERE CALLED, (2) with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, (3) endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

I. A HEAVENLY CALLING A. Hebrews 3:1 Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of the

HEAVENLY CALLING, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Christ Jesus,

B. We are called to do the will of God on Earth as it is in Heaven - Matthew 6:9-10 In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. (10) Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven.

C. We work here while our citizenship is in Heaven - Philippians 3:20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,

D. We are as ambassadors here - 2 Corinthians 5:20 Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God.

II. A HIGH CALLING A. We have an upward call - Philippians 3:12-14 Not that I

have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. (13) Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, (14) I press toward the goal for the prize of the UPWARD CALL of God in Christ Jesus.

B. We are called to eternal life - 1 Timothy 6:12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on ETERNAL LIFE, TO WHICH YOU WERE ALSO CALLED and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

C. We can’t be called by men or call ourselvesD. We must answer the vertical call before we engage

horizontal ministry.

III. A HOLY CALLING A. Our call is holy and our conduct is to be holyB. We have a holy calling - 2 Timothy 1:8-9 Therefore

do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God, (9) who has saved us and called us with a HOLY CALLING, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began,

C. 1 Thessalonians 4:7 For God did not CALL US to uncleanness, but in holiness.

D. We have a sacred purpose not a secular purposeE. Grace and Holiness are connected together not in

competition with each other.

III. A HOLY CALLING F. We are called to be saints

1.1 Corinthians 1:2 To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, CALLED TO BE SAINTS, with all who in every place call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:

2.Romans 1:7 To all who are in Rome, beloved of God, CALLED TO BE SAINTS: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

3.Jude 1:1 Jude, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, To those who are CALLED, SANCTIFIED BY GOD the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ:

IV. A HUMBLE CALLINGA. 1 Corinthians 1:23-29 but we preach Christ crucified, to the

Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, (24) but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. (25) Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. (26) For you see YOUR CALLING, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. (27) But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; (28) and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, (29) that no flesh should glory in His presence.

B. It is not a prideful thing to be called by God but a humbling experience.

V. A HOPEFUL CALLING

A. Ephesians 1:15-18 Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, (16) do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: (17) that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, (18) the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the HOPE OF HIS CALLING, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,

V. A HOPEFUL CALLING

B.Ephesians 4:4-6 There is one body and one Spirit, just as YOU WERE CALLED IN ONE HOPE OF YOUR CALLING; (5) one Lord, one faith, one baptism; (6) one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

C.1 Peter 5:10 But may the God of all grace, who CALLED US TO HIS ETERNAL GLORY by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.

YOUR CALLING

A.1 Thessalonians 5:24 “Faithful is HE WHO HAS CALLED YOU, Who also will do it.”

B.Whatever God calls you to do, He will equip you to do.

C.He will prove faithful in your life as you obey the heavenly calling.

D.Have you answered your call?

HAVE A RESPONSIVE

WEEK