I want to speak a message this morning about "Your Call". 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12 says, "Therefore we also pray always for you that our God would count you worthy of this calling and fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness and the work of faith with power, that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ".
Father, thank you this morning for what you've done already. Lord, we thank you for your work in our life and through our life. Spirit of God, let this word have its way, may we decrease and may you increase, in Jesus name, amen.
Everyone of us is created for a purpose and there's a call and a calling in each and everyone of our lives. Every one of us is called to be a Christian. There's not one person in this world that the call of God has not gone out to; His voice drawing them in to be His children, to be His, and for Him to be theirs. Some answer that call and some people don't but everyone who answers the call of God has a wonderful opportunity to live and fulfill the purpose that God has for their life.
Paul, when he came to this point in 2nd Thessalonians, had already talked to the church in Thessalonica, and said, "Listen, I thank God for your life. I thank God that you're a Christian and that you are faithful in all that you have done for Him". His prayer was that they would know the joy of living and the purpose that God has for their life. Those who have answered the call to be a Christian have that opportunity to serve God in a way that is uniquely them, in a way that is uniquely their's, that God has planned for their life, for my life and for your life. The truth is that those who will answer the call of God will advance the Kingdom of God and they will also have the opportunity to live a life that is satisfied and filled with purpose. Paul said, "I pray that you would find yourself faithful in your calling. I pray that you would fulfill all the good pleasure and the goodness that God has through faith, that you would know the power of God in your life and that the name of Jesus Christ would be glorified in you". He's saying that he wants you to know what it means to live in the fulness of life that God has for you.
All of us were created for a reason. You weren't created just to take up space and to help deplete the oxygen in the atmosphere. There's a reason that you're here; God has a purpose for you. Children dream of what they can become. I love to get around kids because they just know that there is something waiting for them. They dream of outrageous things, like being President, even though only 47 others have actually done that and they think they will be next. They dream of being an astronaut, a policeman, or a missionary that will change the world for God. Something happens though sometimes as we grow up, we lose the ability to realize we can make a difference, to dream big and to know that God has a purpose for our life. The good news is that God has something for each of us that is bigger than we are, something that will make a difference in the people around us and in this world that God has called us to live in.
Let me ask you, what is your call? What is your purpose? What is your unique gift? What is that unique reason that God has put you here in this world to help bring Him glory so when you begin to enter His presence, whether you pass away from old age or whether you're taken up in the rapture, where you know your life was fulfilled and made a difference for Him? I believe there shouldn't be one Christian in this world wondering, "Why am I here? What have I really done that's made a difference?" Everyone of us can know that we've made a difference by understanding the unique call that God has put in our life.
The first thing to understand about His call on your life is that He intends to use you right where you are. 1st Corinthians 7:20-24 says, "Let each one remain in the same calling in which he was called". Have you ever noticed that some people think if they're ever to be used by God they have to be doing something else? Paul said, "Let each one remain in the same calling in which he was called. Were you called while a slave? Do not be concerned about it; but if you can be made free, rather use it. For he who is called in the Lord while a slave is the Lord's freed man. Likewise, he who is called while free is Christ's slave. You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men. Brethren, let each one remain with God in that state in which he was called". Remain right where you are.
God does not define our life by our situation or by our station in life. We are free to live the fulness of His anointing right where we are. No matter what your job is, no matter what country you live in, no matter who you have as a wife or as a husband, no matter what your kids are like, no matter what your finances are like; God has called you and will use you right where you are and you are free to live right where you are. Many people think that the best way to be used by God is to have every situation line up. Listen to me again, live for Him right where you are. God placed you there for a reason. He put you around the people that you are around for a reason. It's not a mistake that you live here in Jupiter, Florida. God didn't just bring you here to enjoy the ocean although that's a nice benefit. God didn't just place you here because this is the only thing you're going to do with your life and your job is the end all, get all of what you're going to do. He put you there because there are people who you can touch in this community that will bring glory to God and you'll know you're making a difference.
Some of you read this verse about slavery and thought slavery is approved by God; it is not. How many ever feel trapped right where you are anyway? Some of you feel like a slave on your job or in your marriage or just where you're at. What God is saying is this, regardless of where you are or what's going on in you, if Christ is your savior, it doesn't matter what man has done to you. When I talk to some of the men that have gone to jail, I tell them that something in your past put you right here and you're behind these bars, but if you belong to Jesus and you've given Him your life, then you are free in Jesus name. You may not be able to walk outside of this jail cell but you can make a difference right here for God, right where you are. Some of you feel like you're bound up wherever you are but you are free in Jesus name. God is letting people know that it doesn't matter what's happening to you; you are God's and He is yours and if that is the case, nothing will hold you back no matter what men will do to you. God is saying that even if you are a slave, you can be free. God is not limited by any condition put on us and if we understand that, we won't be held back by any condition.
Many people think that God's call on a life means that you must pastor a church or be a missionary. How many are glad that you're not called to pastor people? How many are glad that you are not a missionary sitting in a jungle somewhere with mosquitos biting you and no McDonalds to get a meal? But God called you here to be a light and a witness in Jupiter and Palm Beach because there are many people who need Jesus right here, right now. They need a touch from God, the hope of God and the power of God in their life. Your purpose is right here, right now and God won't hold you back.
1st Corinthians 7:17 says, "But as God has distributed each one, as the Lord has called each one, so let Him walk, and so I ordain in all the churches". Paul is saying this, you don't have to be anybody else but you. You don't have to have anyone else's gift or talent; you don't have to play the guitar like Tim or Carlos; you don't have to be able to shout loud like I do; you don't have to be the best business person in the world. You just have to be you because God put inside of you exactly what He wanted so that you could do exactly what he planned for you, and it wasn't only for the benefit of others but so you would be blessed in your own life. We can make a difference where we are so when we are no longer there, people will notice the difference that we made. The truth is if we're not making a difference right here and now, how can we expect God to take us somewhere else and do something else through us? God said to be faithful right where you are. Some people say, "God, if you will just do this in me or put me over here, I can do anything for you". God is saying, "I put you right where you are right now, do what I called you to do right where you are".
The Bible says that he who is faithful in the little things will be faithful in the big things. Sometimes we think we're doing little things but they're actually really big things; you just didn't know it while you were in the process of doing it. When Jesus healed the demon possessed man, that man wanted to follow and travel with Jesus. When God set him free he said, "I want to go with you and be by your side and tell everybody what you did for me, that I was filled with demons and you set me free". Jesus said, "No, go back to your home town and let them know". Jesus wasn't interested in having a carnival side show. I believe in the power of testimony. I believe in the power of what God has done in us but it is never more powerful than when we go back to the people that we work with, the people we live with, our familes and friends and we let them know what God has done. It's always nice when evangelists come and we see healings in the church and people give their testimony but charismatic churches can turn that into a carnival sideshow sometimes. Jesus doesn't need a carnival sideshow because His power is good enough. That witness of what He has done will make all the difference in the world.
If you weren't where you were, if you weren't to show up at work tomorrow, if you weren't to show up in your home, would people notice? A story is told of a husband who came home from work and found his house a complete mess. The baby was crying, dishes were piled up in the sink and dirty laundry on the floor, the tv was blaring, beds weren't made, carpets weren't vacuumed, dinner wasn't ready, and when he demanded to know what was up, his wife said, "You know how you asked what I've been doing all day long yesterday when you came home? Well I didn't do it today". When you're not there, do people notice you're gone? It's alright to go on vacation and to take a break because you need time off but when you go away people should notice the hole that's left, the joy that you bring, the wisdom that you impart, the love that you give, the intensity of your life that is faithful in the little things.
When God calls us to do a work, He isn't asking us to be something that we're not. The call of God causes us to live beyond ourself both in the capacity of what we are used to doing and in relationship to others. God has given things to us that are uniquely us and if we will do our part then God will do the miracle part in our life so that we can do greater things. Many people struggle thinking it's a complicated thing to figure out God's will and call for their life. They pray, they fast and they struggle asking God, "Why am I here?" Kids that used to have purpose become middle aged adults and all of a sudden they have middle age crisis. How many have wondered by middle age if they've made a difference? Everyone of us wants to know that we're doing something. You can do that in a fleshly way by having lots of riches or owning a big company but you can look at yourself in the mirror and know all that means nothing, because what matters is what we do for Jesus; that's lasting and eternal. All those other things are great accomplishments and they're good but they don't make the lasting impact that Jesus does.
What is it that you are? What has God placed inside of you? When God called Moses to lead the children of Israel, it sent him into a panic. He said, "God, I am not a good speaker, I stutter, I'm 80 years old and I've been here 40 years tending sheep; all I know is sheep. I used to sit in Pharoah's house and I was in charge of things; I was a leader and a warrior. How could you even use me?" Exodus 4 says, "Then Moses answered and said, "Suppose they won't believe me or listen to my voice? Suppose they say, "The Lord has not appeared to you?" So the Lord said to him, "What is that in your hand? He said, "A rod". God said, "Cast it on the ground'. So he cast it on the ground and it became a serpent and Moses fled from it. Then the Lord said to Moses, "Reach out your hand and take it by the tail" (So he reached out his hand and caught it and it became a rod in his hand) "that they may believe that the Lord God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, has appeared to you". God looked at Moses and said, "I want you to lead". Moses asked, "How am I going to do that?" So God asked him one simple question, "What's in your hand?" All I've got is a stick, this is all I know. Forty years ago I tried to stand up for you and I made a mess of things on my own, I killed someone and now they want to kill me". We have a good way of messing up things when we do it on our own. God said, "What's in your hand?". All that God wanted from Moses is for him to know that God would use whatever he has.
God has given everyone of us strengths, abilities, and experiences that have equipped us for a work. Everyone of us have gifts, talents and abilities, attitudes and temperaments that God prepared in you to do His work for Him. Moses' rod represented everything that he ever knew. For years he led sheep and God said, "Now you're going to lead people and all you have to do is let me use what you've already got". That rod had been with Moses all of his adult life and that rod that turned into a serpent is the same rod that after he had talked to Pharoah, touched the river and it turned to blood. That rod is the same rod that when Moses came to a rock in the wilderness, struck that rock and water poured out of it. He didn't have to do anything else but use what was in his hand. When they came to the Red Sea, all he did was lift up his rod and the waters parted, and the people of God walked through on dry ground.
I want to ask you, what's in your hand? What do you already have that God can use? What has God already done in you? Where have you been? What have you seen? What are you good at? What is it that you already know? Those are the things that God wants to use for His glory. God used what Moses already had and experienced and that rod that was in Moses' hand became a sceptor. What's in your hand? It's your call, it's your turn, it's God's voice saying to you, "Go and do what I've called you to do. Go into all the world and preach the gospel in my name. Raise up the sick, heal them, preach the good news, cast out demons in my name; this is my will for you. Let me ask you, what is in your hand?
The truth is, many times our call is related to what we're passionate about.
Tom Monagan started a Pizza shop in 1971 and it failed, but all he knew was pizza. So he opened up another pizza shop and a couple years later he was 1.5 million dollars in debt. By 2007, he owned 6,100 pizza shops across the country. This man who started Dominoes pizza now gives ¾ of his income to charity. He said, "All I know is pizza and I want to be used by God. All I wanted to do was have a little business and I really wasn't all that good at it when I started, but God, if you'll use me and do something through me then I'll start to use the good things that you've blessed me with for good in the world".
Mark Montaine was passionate about the poor and sick in India and now this country is in revival. Mark led one man, David Mohan, to Jesus Christ and this pastor is now building the largest church in all the world. It will seat 50,000 people all because one man said, "Yes God, I'll go to India". There is a hospital there where thousand are treated everyday and about 100,000 people are fed daily the only meal they will ever get in that city of Calcutta.
Martin Luther King Jr. started by having a dream and it changed the course of a nation. The Frazier family was touched because someone dropped off 2 kids at the door because they didn't want them anymore. So they started "Real Life Children's Ranch" and there have been hundreds and hundreds of children that have been brought to Jesus and are doing better today, or have at least heard the word of God, because of one family that cared.
Sharon Brewer was passionate about what abortion was doing to America. She started "First Care", which now operates six centers throughout Palm Beach County. It is one of the largest and best known pregnancy centers throughout the United States of America. Their motto is "Giving babies a chance to live and ladies a chance to heal". They aren't just touching those so they can tell the world that abortion is bad. They are helping ladies know that there is an option, and letting those know who have had an abortion that Jesus still loves them and God will forgive them, and heal the pain that they're going through.
What is your passion? What are you passionate about? What do you love? What is the call that God has put into your heart? What is that one thing that you know you can make a difference in? Ephesians 4:1-7 says, "I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. But to each one of us, grace was given according to the measure of Christ's gift". What Paul is saying is "We're one body but we all aren't called to do the same thing. All of you have a call and everyone of us, working together, doing our part can change the world for Jesus Christ".
What is your passion? What is your heart? Maybe God didn't call you to go to India; Maybe He didn't ask you to open an abortion center; maybe He didn't ask you to feed the homeless? But maybe He asked you to work in the nursery. Maybe He called you to touch the lives of children. Maybe He called you because your temperament is such, that you could go to those who are old who don't know Christ and can't even care for themselves. Maybe like Paul, you could go to a hospital and visit those who are sick and dying, letting them know that God wants you to be ready for heaven but he can also heal you and make a difference. What are you called to do? Maybe you can make pizza and feed your preacher, that would be ok too. What is in your hand? What is it that you've got?
One of the things that we often say around this church is, "If there's a need, fill it". But here's the truth, finding a need and filling it will only work for a little while. Christians all over the world know what I'm talking about. You can go and do something that is not you for a little while but when it gets inconvenient or boring, you'll step out of it. But if you've got a passion for something, if God has put a burning desire in you, you will give your life, your blood, your sweat and your tears for it. You will deal with being uncomfortable, endure hardship, even ridicule, to make a difference. What are you passionate about? What is in your hand? What would you spend your life for? What would you give your everything for in the Kingdom of God? Jesus said if we're going to live for Him we must die to ourself. We must take up our cross and follow Him. That doesn't only mean I'm going to die to my sin and to everything that there is but I also know you've got a purpose for me and I'm going to spend my life doing that.
God may not call you out of your job; your job may be your passion and that would be cool. That's like having your cake and eating it too. But for most of us, our job is our living but it may not be our passion. The truth is you can have both; God will give you something that will provide for your family but He will also let you have that thing that will make you fulfilled in your life. When you leave that job there will be something that you're going to that will make a difference in people's lives. The truth is where you work or where you are, God has probably already got people in that same area of passion that you can touch and change.
What are you passionate about? What are you willing to give your everything for and sacrifice for? In the old days people used to call this the burden of the Lord. But Jesus said, "My yoke is easy and my burden is light". If you've got that burden of the Lord for something, that passion or drive to do it then God will give you the energy for it. When you're tired He will speak to you; when you're discouraged about it He will encourage you and you will begin to see what God is doing in you. Those things will just stretch you and you will have no problem giving your life because you know it makes a difference. Paul said, "Sometimes I feel like my life is being poured out like a drink offering". God says, I am the Spirit of God and while you're pouring out I'm coming right behind you filling you up so that you can keep on giving. You're not only going to know that you're fulfilled inside and not empty but you're going to watch the difference that you're making. Make a difference, that's what God wants.
God's call also comes with an understanding of who He is and all he can do. Many today struggle knowing God's higher pupose for them. But I have found this, when I step out to do what God has called, I find out who He is more and more. If I'm just sitting at home doing my own thing, kind of bored, sometimes I'll feel God, but most of the time I'm wondering why I'm just taking up space. But when I'm serving the Lord there's nothing like it. You get to know who God is because you're seeing Him change lives. You will get around some people who are discouraged and hurting but you will watch the power of God transform a situation. Paul says, "I want you to know what that's like". You will know what its like to go to bed tired and exhausted, but you will know what it is to have a spirit that knows you've been obedient to God and you've been satisfied and filled with the difference and the purpose that you're making. It's your call.
The apostle Paul said, "If you don't know what you're doing, I've got a solution. If you're struggling with knowing your purpose I know how to fix that. I'm going to pray for you". Pastor, is it that easy? It better be because a lot of other people have been struggling with many things and have tried everything else and it hasn't worked; running here and there trying to figure it out. God's word is pretty easy and it all starts with one place, go to Him. Paul said, "The eyes of your understanding being enlightened that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glorious inheritance of the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe according the working of His mighty power". When you are serving God, you will know the power of God in your life. I'm not saying that you're always going to live on cloud nine in that peak capacity, running at full speed all your life. No one was ever created to live that way unless you want to die. But you will know what it means to serve God; you will experience His power, you will experience His confidence, and you will experience His purpose and fulfillment. Paul said, "I'm praying that you will know that exact same thing". That's what we're doing here today. I pray that we will be stirred to ministry beyond ourself and that you would know God's call for your life and I challenge you to step out today because it's your call.
God has a call for you. The call on my life is not the call on your life but what you're going to do with that call, that's your call. You can sit around and do nothing with it or you can go out and be all that God has planned for you and watch yourself make a difference in the world. I've prayed this prayer many times, "God, when I die, if you were still writing the Bible, I want my name to be in it. I want you to use my life as an example just like you did with everybody else. I want you to show people my failures and then I want you to show them my successes. I want to know that I made a difference". How many know He still is writing that word? He may not be making a whole new Bible because this is enough but the truth is your testimony and your life makes a difference in the world. The people that you've been around will talk about it and share it and there will be a "you" sized hole when you go that only Jesus can fill. He'll raise someone up with your call to take your place. Aren't you glad that when you go, it doesn't mean that what you've done stops? Mark Montaine passed away but David Mohan is doing a pretty good job. Because of them, Calcutta is experiencing revival like that country has never seen.
What's your call?
