When God Calls
080803 When God Calls
Pastor Tim Franklin
1 Samuel 3:1-ff
Introduction:
- Several years ago did a series of messages entitled, Summoned by God.
- The series is answers question: How do I know I am called? How does God Confirm His call? What are the challenges of Answering the Call? How do I help others discern the Call of God? Help, I think my child is called!
- I believe God continues to call people into the ministry. I believe He often starts calling us at a very young age. Some of you children sitting in here today are being called by God.
- I want to equip you this morning to begin recognizing that call of God on your life.
- Read 1 Sam. 3:1-ff
- Why Does God Call?
- Calling makes a distinction between you and others. It marks a man. Ro. 11:29 “the gifts and calling are irrevocable.” You cant get rid of it and God won’t take it away.
i. God does that for himself and for others to see.
ii. God intends the called vessels to be sanctified or set apart for God’s purpose.
1. My life is not my own. Tattoo
2. It is to be different so that others note the difference.
iii. When you are called by God you are chosen!
1. Saul – Acts 9:15 “Go for he is a chosen vessel of mine.”
- Because he works through men.
i. Started with Adam
ii. Joseph-saves two nations
iii. Moses – saves Gods people
iv. Prophets
1. Jeremiah 1:5 before you were formed in your mothers womb I ordained you a prophet to the nations.
2. Is. 6:1-ff
- He has a specific assignment to be carried out.
- It is how He builds his church
i. Eph 4:11-13 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; NKJV
- How Does God Call?
- Desire – subtle or intense craving.
i. You find you have a passion for things related to God. To preach, teach, pastor, worship.
ii. It is that thing in you that wont let you be fulfilled or happy in life until you are doing it. Desire – for food, water, etc. Desire can only be fulfilled by doing.
1. Jer 20:9 But His word was in my heart like a burning fire Shut up in my bones ; I was weary of holding it back, And I could not. NKJV
- Burden – differs from desire in that you start to feel the pain of particular people group, or sub-group and your desire is to help them out of the place they are in.
i. Burdens
1. Hab 1:1 The burden which the prophet Habakkuk saw. NKJV
2. Pregnancy resources
3. Haitians
4. Pastors
5. Divorcees
6. Children of Divorced parents
7. Youth
8. Souls of men
9. Helps ministry
ii. The initial burden may not be the call but the beginning of the process of finding the call. The initial burden may be just serving as a training ground for the call. God uses that time to work some things in you to get you to the place of effectiveness.
- Prophetic words
i. My dad – the night I got saved. I know God has called you to great things like a John Wesley or Martin Luther.
ii. Willie Hinn, Benny Hinn, both had words for me.
iii. Christian International – called you to be a prophet to the nations.
iv. David with Samuel the prophet.
1. 1 Sam 16:11-13 And Samuel said to Jesse, "Send and bring him. For we will not sit down till he comes here." 12 So he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, with bright eyes, and good-looking. And the LORD said, "Arise, anoint him; for this is the one!" 13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel arose and went to Ramah. NKJV
v. Acts 13:1-3 Barnabas and Saul
- God encounters
i. Moses encounter a burning bush that talked. Ex. 3:2
ii. Saul on the way to Damascus Act 9:1-ff. Heard directly from God.
iii. Follow me and I will make you fishers of men. Mt. 4:19
iv. The Demoniac – Luke 8:38,39. Jesus sent him back to his home town to tell all that he had done for him.
v. Voice of God
1. As a strong impression
2. As an audible voice.
- How People hear.
- Desire
- Burden
i. Not to be mistake with an emotional touch.
ii. A burden endures an emotion of compassion will pass. A burden will be awakened again and again.
- Voice of God
i. An internal knowing
ii. An audible voice
- Prophetic words
- Through experiences
i. A healing
ii. A tragedy
iii. A series of door closures
iv. A series of door openings
v. A fleece Judges 6:37-40
- God encounter
i. Angels
ii. Dream
iii. Vision
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