WHY PREACH CALLING OR COMMAND

PREACHING: WHAT IS IT ? PRAISE EVERYTHING GOOD CONDEMN EVERYTHING THAT IS WRONG

OUR MOTIVATION THE LOVE OF GOD CONSTRAINS US

PRODIGAL SONS: ONE SON WASTED LIFE – WITH PRODIGAL LIVING THE OTHER – WITH PURPOSELESS LIVING

MATTHEW 4:21 JESUS 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,

LUKE 14:18-20 “But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said, ‘I have just bought a field, and I must go and see it. Please excuse me.’ “Another said, ‘I have just bought five yoke of oxen, and I’m on my way to try them out. Please excuse me.’ “Still another said, ‘I just got married, so I can’t come.’

MARK 10:17-22 As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, you shall not defraud, honor your father and mother.’ “Teacher,” he declared, “all these I have kept since I was a boy.”

CALLING HAD DEMANDS Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.

A “CALL” GIVES US… AN OPPORTUNITY

THE “CALL” IS TO PROVIDE US AN OPPORTUNITY WE ARE CALLED TO HIM – FIRST Jesus called his twelve disciples to HIM and gave them authority to drive out impure spirits and to heal every disease and sickness. MATTHEW 10:1

MATTHEW 11:28 CALLED TO HIM: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

NEXT HE CALLS US… TO HIS WORK: While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” ACTS 13:2

EPHESIANS 2:10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

CALLING MAY VARY PAUL, CALLED TO BE AN APOSTLE OF JESUS CHRIST THROUGH THE WILL OF GOD… 1 CORINTHIANS 1:1

EPHESIANS 4:11-12 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up

BUT BEYOND A CALL… HE GAVE US A COMMAND

CALL VS. COMMAND HE CALLS US TO HIMSELF HE COMMANDS US TO GO TO OTHERS

OUR MINISTRY IS TO BELIEVERS OUR MISSION IS TO UNBELIEVERS

WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE ? WE ARE NOT CALLED TO: TELL OUR FRIENDS ABOUT JESUS TELL OTHERS THE GOSPEL FOCUS ON THE LOST

NOR ARE WE CALLED: TO LOVE ONE ANOTHER LOVE OUR WIVES FORGIVE ONE ANOTHER WE ARE COMMANDED TO DO SO

JOHN 15:14 AND 17 You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you... This is my command: Love each other.

FIRST, WE ARE CALLED: TO COME TO HIM THEN, WE ARE COMMANDED TO GO TO OTHERS

“DO YOU LOVE ME?” HOW DO WE KNOW HE LOVES US ?