How is your calling?

PAChurch•    Three weeks ago we started off a period of self-examination

o    A time were we could ask questions about different parts of our life
o    A time to stop and see what Jesus was doing around us

•    The first week was focused on our soul

o    How are we personally?
o    Are we actively pursuing an intimate relationship with Jesus?
o    Are there things slowing us down or stopping our relationship with God?

•    From there we asked how was our family?

o    Are we actively pursuing Jesus as a family unit?
o    Are we helping each family member to grow closer to Jesus?
o    Are we hindering this process in any way?

•    The third question was how is our work?

o    Are we doing everything for Jesus?
o    Have we separated our walk with Jesus from our daily work?
o    What is Jesus doing at our works? Around and through us?

•    All simple questions with powerful answers

o    They all lead from one to another
o    You cannot see God in our family if your soul is not right with God
o    You cannot see Jesus move in our work if your family and soul are in chaos

•    Today we are building upon all of the questions

o    We are asking, “how is our calling?”

(audio file of sermon can be found on the PRV website)

“Calling” Defined

•    A lot of times in our Christian circles we use the term “calling” to refer to folks who have joined the ranks of full time ministry

o    Missionaries and pastors receive a “calling
o    Most other folks do not

•    Other times we use the term when trying to figure out what unique thing we are to do in our lives

o    What is my calling?
o    How am I different than everyone else?

•    I’m not convinced that either one of these usages are correct….

Jesus is Calling

•    Calling….

o    Jesus is calling all of us to follow Him
o    Jesus called out to the Twelve

*    Follow me

o    St. John in Revelation 3:20 tell us that he is calling out to everyone

Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.

o    Jesus is inviting us to join with Him on His mission!

•    The question then becomes, what is Jesus calling us to do?

o    I’m glad you asked!
o    Turn your Bible’s to Matthew 28:19-20

19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

•    You want a calling? Now you have one!!!
•    Jesus told each of us to go, tell people about him, baptize them in his name, and teach them to body what he commanded

o    What did he command?
o    Read the Gospels!!!
o    There is a reason why we are studying the gospel of Luke!

•    If you read Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, this is what you will find:

o    Jesus is calling each one of us to love the unlovable
o    Serve our enemies, care for the poor
o    Strengthen the weak, heal the sick
o    Equip the saints
o    Peach the gospel of the Kingdom of God

•    Yes, it really is that simple

o    Yet we humans tend to make it hard
o    We want an unique ‘calling’ or word from Jesus
o    We want to be different

•    Let me tell you something:

o    Old orders are good orders!!!
o    The world has yet to fully know God, so why do we want new orders?
o    Let us keep on keeping on!!

•    Jesus is KING!!!

o    This is the order that we have been given to proclaim to the world
o    This is our calling!

Same Calling Throughout History

•    This was the order God gave to Adam and Eve

o    Know me and fill the earth with children who know me
o    God blessed them and said to them:

“Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”– Genesis 1:28

•    This was the order God gave Abraham

o    Follow me and I will bless the world through you

I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”– Genesis 12:3

•    This was the order God gave the people of Israel when they came out of Egypt

o    You are my treasured possession, a nation of priest to the world to show them me

5 Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, 6 you[a] will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.” – Exodus 19:5-6

•    This was the order God gave to the kings of Israel

o    Solomon when he build the temple said

41 “As for the foreigner who does not belong to your people Israel but has come from a distant land because of your name— 42 for they will hear of your great name and your mighty hand and your outstretched arm—when they come and pray toward this temple, 43 then hear from heaven, your dwelling place. Do whatever the foreigner asks of you, so that all the peoples of the earth may know your name and fear you, as do your own people Israel, and may know that this house I have built bears your Name. – 1 Kings 8:41-43

•    This was the order God gave to each of the prophets

o    The nations will come to me as their king
o    Many nations will come and say,

“Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,     to the temple of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways,  so that we may walk in his paths.” The law will go out from Zion, the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. – Micah 4:2

•    This was the order that Jesus demonstrated
•    This was the order that St. Paul lived

16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. 17 For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.” – Romans 1:16-17

•    Old orders are good orders!!

Today is the day we say “yes” to our calling and start impacting the world around us for Jesus!