2. Week 36 God’s Calling on Your Life (Ezekiel 2-3)

3. God’s calling
2 Timothy 1:8-11 (NASB) 8 Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord or of me His prisoner, but join with me in suffering 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 granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity,
Calling comes from two Greek words:
Klesis- a calling, invitation; in the NT, always of a divine call
Vocare- to name or call- where we get our term vocation

4. God’s calling
2 Timothy 1:8-11 (NASB) 10 but now has been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, 11 for which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle and a teacher.

5. He saved us for His purpose not ours!
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's.

6. He saved us for His purpose not ours!
The biggest block from hearing God’s specific plan for our lives is when we are living for us instead of living for Him

7. Our General Calling He has called us to Salvation
He has called us to a personal relationship with Him
He has called us to follow Him and be His disciples
He has called us to live Godly holy lives before Him and before others

8. Our General Calling
He has called us to love our neighbors as ourselves
He has called us to go out and preach the Gospel to everyone and make disciples

9. Our Specific Calling We are His vehicle Abraham Moses Saul/Paul
Martin Luther
Billy Graham Me

10. Common Denominators God issued the call
It was because of His irresistible grace
His Spirit bore witness with our spirit (just as in salvation). There was an internal consciousness of the call. (Romans 8:16)

11. Common Denominators There was and continues to be confirmation
God orchestrated events in the life of the one called -equipping process
Usually desire was present
Great intimacy with God preceded the call

12. Philippians 3:12-14
12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

13. John 17:4 Jesus prayed: “I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do.”

14. Will I be able to claim what Jesus prayed?