Call: a : to speak in a loud distinct voice so as to be heard at a distance
b : to make a request or demand
c: : to give the order for : bring into action
My Interpretation: A "Call" has two aspects the first is of the one calling/summoning or making the demand and the second aspects the one who is called/summoned for a certain task. Specifically God (Caller) and us(the called) "Christians".
Throughout the Holy Writ we see that God has called several people to several tasks. The people whom He called we as diverse as the tasks He summoned them to do. God called humanity to Himself in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 1:27-28). God formed mankind and then called them or summoned and commanded them to be "fruitful and multiply" which means to increase and grow the earth which can only be established by the Creator's order which is man and woman. God called many to prophetic, priestly, judicial and civil leadership. As well as people to be mere servants and willing vessels to His master plan. God is not discriminate in whom He calls both male and female, wealthy or poor, diverse races and all are called and where called by Him (Galatians 3:28). God's call in all this instances though as some solid and consistent characteristics. HE does the calling and man does the obeying (1 Samuel 15:22). Many desire to be called and some who are genuinely called have sought for God's call yet in ignorant error. Why because 1. God has already called everyone to repentance, salvation, then ministry, 2. God's call is not based only on willingness and human work(ambition or strength) but on His power and Sovereignty (Romans 9:15), 3. God's call in brought about through OBEDIENCE!(2 John 1:6). God's call is great ad grand and bears much fruit in the end but the working and the producing of that fruit is brought about through planting and getting in the dirt!.
1. God has called everyone! ""For many are called, but few are chosen."(Matthew 22:14). God has called all people. His will is that all men should repent (2 Peter 3:9) and not perish. God calls every person to repentance (Luke 5:32). Therefore the first call is to REPENTANCE! God can not and will not break His own laws it is through Christ Jesus that God saves and thus all men must repent of their wicked ways and turn from them to Jesus for salvation (John 14:6). God can not and will not call men to salvation or ministry which is His service unless they repent. Repent is not asking for forgiveness and telling God we are sorry it is a turning from old ways (sin & self) and a changing of the mindset. Next God calls those who do repent to salvation. Salvation is found in Jesus only (Acts 4:12 & John 3:16). Salvation is not a state or destination or event it is a verb for it is a constant working Jesus paid the price (laid the seed) and the Holy Spirit nurtures and grows that seed. Salvation is made up of atonement (Jesus' death), justification (God's grace and our faith in Jesus (God's grace)) and sanctification (Holy Spirit's work). (2 Timothy 2:10 & Ephesians 2:5, Hebrews 12:14 & Philippians 2:12). Once we repented and received salvation God begins to call us into service aka ministry (Ephesians 4:7). God's ministry for us is what HE wants us to do not only wants but COMMANDS us to do not what we want to or maybe even what we think (Isaiah 43:1 & Ephesians 3:20). In simplicity we are ALL called and we must all obey that call!
2. Sovereignty of God's call (because I AM says so!). "But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine"(Isaiah 43:1). God's call is literally His call. We have no say so or power in the matter for it is of God's choosing. When God gave the Law and gave the commandments of the Law to Israel He did not give a reason why He just proclaimed "FOR I AM THE LORD THY GOD". When must and need to understand that God does what He wants to because He can for He is Sovereign (Ezekiel 10:5). God's ways are not our ways (Job 37:5 & Isaiah 55:8). We are left like Job in Job 11:7 ""Can you fathom the mysteries of God? Can you probe the limits of the Almighty?" yet by God's Spirit we can receive insight to His works and mysteries (1 Corinthians 2:10). In summation God calls whom He wills for what He wills and we must respect and will respect that! (2 Timothy 2:20).
3. God commands we must OBEY! "But Samuel replied: "Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the LORD? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams."(1 Samuel 15:22). God's call is not a vocation nor a vacation. Its not a job nor a hobby. Its not a right nor a privilege. God's call is a command and we must obey. When God calls us we may not like the timing or the reason or the task but we must obey because it is His will. Jesus epitimizes blind obedience in that in the Garden of Gethesemenae He says "not my will but thine will be done" (Luke 22:42). And in that submission we must proclaim as Job did in Job 13:15 "Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him". WOW what a show of submission and dependence on God! God's call in our lives can only be brought about in obedience to Him! Obedience distinguishes the called from the chosen. The weak from the strong. The wheat from the weeds/tare. The wolves in sheep's clothing from the real sheep. The hype from the holy! The familiar spirit from the authentic anointing. The gifted from the anointed. When we submit to God's order and plan all other things will fall into place and our calling revealed and birthed. When He speaks we listen, when He moves we watch then move when He says to move, when He is quiet we are quiet, when He rejoices we rejoice, when He rests we rest. We are slaves to righteousness which is Him (Romans 6:18). We are the wise servants that does the work and calling His way and not our won and He will reward us (Matthew 25:21) and not those foolish workers who used His name but not His power which will only come in obedience (Matthew 7:22-23). Thus if God has called you get to work in obedience as Paul exhorts in Romans 12:6-8 "We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; f it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully." Simply put OBEY!
In conclusion; God's call is consuming and engulfs the whole individual. If you can quit your call or turn away from it than nine times out of ten you were not called by God (Luke 9:62). God's call in our lives is parallel in many ways to the burning bush in Genesis. The bush was on fire yet not consumed (Exodus 3:2). This sight of fire and the preservation of the bush in the midst of the fire drew Moses to it and when he arrived he acknowledged that the ground he was standing on was holy ground literally in the presence of God! When we are consumed with God's call it will burn bright in us and show outside of us and this light will draw men and women out of the darkness into the light and thus their bushes will catch on fire for God and not burn out! And the glory and holiness of God will be exalted, reflected and spread for a fire is consuming and contagious it burns and burns and with God will not burn out! Jeremiah says it like this "Whenever I speak, I cry out proclaiming violence and destruction. So the word of the LORD has brought me insult and reproach all day long; But if I say, "I will not mention his word or speak anymore in his name," his word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot." (Jeremiah 20:8-9). The prophet Jeremiah is called the weeping prophet and had a heavy mantle and call to perform and at times would get discouraged and say in himself that he would literally quit ministry (God's call) and not speak or prophesy for or of God. Yet God's word (His call) was like a fire shut up in the soul and spirit of Jeremiah! He couldn't help but tell of God's works, miracles and power! We should and will be like that when we submit to God's call for us. For God said in Jeremiah 23:29 "Does not my word burn like fire?" says the LORD. "Is it not like a mighty hammer that smashes a rock to pieces?". And thus we should be as Jeremiah was in Jeremiah 23:9 "I am like a drunken man, and like a man whom wine has overcome, because of the LORD, and because of the words of his holiness.". God's call in and on our lives should consume us to the point where we must obey and yield to Him! Where we love the work not because it exalts our strengths and its what we want but because it is what He wants and has commanded us to do and it uplifts Him! "And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me." (John 12:32). As the infamous Nike phrase states "Just do it!" When God calls you just do what He has called you to do!
Humbly Submitted,
UHCAlan
b : to make a request or demand
c: : to give the order for : bring into action
My Interpretation: A "Call" has two aspects the first is of the one calling/summoning or making the demand and the second aspects the one who is called/summoned for a certain task. Specifically God (Caller) and us(the called) "Christians".
Throughout the Holy Writ we see that God has called several people to several tasks. The people whom He called we as diverse as the tasks He summoned them to do. God called humanity to Himself in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 1:27-28). God formed mankind and then called them or summoned and commanded them to be "fruitful and multiply" which means to increase and grow the earth which can only be established by the Creator's order which is man and woman. God called many to prophetic, priestly, judicial and civil leadership. As well as people to be mere servants and willing vessels to His master plan. God is not discriminate in whom He calls both male and female, wealthy or poor, diverse races and all are called and where called by Him (Galatians 3:28). God's call in all this instances though as some solid and consistent characteristics. HE does the calling and man does the obeying (1 Samuel 15:22). Many desire to be called and some who are genuinely called have sought for God's call yet in ignorant error. Why because 1. God has already called everyone to repentance, salvation, then ministry, 2. God's call is not based only on willingness and human work(ambition or strength) but on His power and Sovereignty (Romans 9:15), 3. God's call in brought about through OBEDIENCE!(2 John 1:6). God's call is great ad grand and bears much fruit in the end but the working and the producing of that fruit is brought about through planting and getting in the dirt!.
1. God has called everyone! ""For many are called, but few are chosen."(Matthew 22:14). God has called all people. His will is that all men should repent (2 Peter 3:9) and not perish. God calls every person to repentance (Luke 5:32). Therefore the first call is to REPENTANCE! God can not and will not break His own laws it is through Christ Jesus that God saves and thus all men must repent of their wicked ways and turn from them to Jesus for salvation (John 14:6). God can not and will not call men to salvation or ministry which is His service unless they repent. Repent is not asking for forgiveness and telling God we are sorry it is a turning from old ways (sin & self) and a changing of the mindset. Next God calls those who do repent to salvation. Salvation is found in Jesus only (Acts 4:12 & John 3:16). Salvation is not a state or destination or event it is a verb for it is a constant working Jesus paid the price (laid the seed) and the Holy Spirit nurtures and grows that seed. Salvation is made up of atonement (Jesus' death), justification (God's grace and our faith in Jesus (God's grace)) and sanctification (Holy Spirit's work). (2 Timothy 2:10 & Ephesians 2:5, Hebrews 12:14 & Philippians 2:12). Once we repented and received salvation God begins to call us into service aka ministry (Ephesians 4:7). God's ministry for us is what HE wants us to do not only wants but COMMANDS us to do not what we want to or maybe even what we think (Isaiah 43:1 & Ephesians 3:20). In simplicity we are ALL called and we must all obey that call!
2. Sovereignty of God's call (because I AM says so!). "But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine"(Isaiah 43:1). God's call is literally His call. We have no say so or power in the matter for it is of God's choosing. When God gave the Law and gave the commandments of the Law to Israel He did not give a reason why He just proclaimed "FOR I AM THE LORD THY GOD". When must and need to understand that God does what He wants to because He can for He is Sovereign (Ezekiel 10:5). God's ways are not our ways (Job 37:5 & Isaiah 55:8). We are left like Job in Job 11:7 ""Can you fathom the mysteries of God? Can you probe the limits of the Almighty?" yet by God's Spirit we can receive insight to His works and mysteries (1 Corinthians 2:10). In summation God calls whom He wills for what He wills and we must respect and will respect that! (2 Timothy 2:20).
3. God commands we must OBEY! "But Samuel replied: "Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the LORD? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams."(1 Samuel 15:22). God's call is not a vocation nor a vacation. Its not a job nor a hobby. Its not a right nor a privilege. God's call is a command and we must obey. When God calls us we may not like the timing or the reason or the task but we must obey because it is His will. Jesus epitimizes blind obedience in that in the Garden of Gethesemenae He says "not my will but thine will be done" (Luke 22:42). And in that submission we must proclaim as Job did in Job 13:15 "Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him". WOW what a show of submission and dependence on God! God's call in our lives can only be brought about in obedience to Him! Obedience distinguishes the called from the chosen. The weak from the strong. The wheat from the weeds/tare. The wolves in sheep's clothing from the real sheep. The hype from the holy! The familiar spirit from the authentic anointing. The gifted from the anointed. When we submit to God's order and plan all other things will fall into place and our calling revealed and birthed. When He speaks we listen, when He moves we watch then move when He says to move, when He is quiet we are quiet, when He rejoices we rejoice, when He rests we rest. We are slaves to righteousness which is Him (Romans 6:18). We are the wise servants that does the work and calling His way and not our won and He will reward us (Matthew 25:21) and not those foolish workers who used His name but not His power which will only come in obedience (Matthew 7:22-23). Thus if God has called you get to work in obedience as Paul exhorts in Romans 12:6-8 "We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; f it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully." Simply put OBEY!
In conclusion; God's call is consuming and engulfs the whole individual. If you can quit your call or turn away from it than nine times out of ten you were not called by God (Luke 9:62). God's call in our lives is parallel in many ways to the burning bush in Genesis. The bush was on fire yet not consumed (Exodus 3:2). This sight of fire and the preservation of the bush in the midst of the fire drew Moses to it and when he arrived he acknowledged that the ground he was standing on was holy ground literally in the presence of God! When we are consumed with God's call it will burn bright in us and show outside of us and this light will draw men and women out of the darkness into the light and thus their bushes will catch on fire for God and not burn out! And the glory and holiness of God will be exalted, reflected and spread for a fire is consuming and contagious it burns and burns and with God will not burn out! Jeremiah says it like this "Whenever I speak, I cry out proclaiming violence and destruction. So the word of the LORD has brought me insult and reproach all day long; But if I say, "I will not mention his word or speak anymore in his name," his word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot." (Jeremiah 20:8-9). The prophet Jeremiah is called the weeping prophet and had a heavy mantle and call to perform and at times would get discouraged and say in himself that he would literally quit ministry (God's call) and not speak or prophesy for or of God. Yet God's word (His call) was like a fire shut up in the soul and spirit of Jeremiah! He couldn't help but tell of God's works, miracles and power! We should and will be like that when we submit to God's call for us. For God said in Jeremiah 23:29 "Does not my word burn like fire?" says the LORD. "Is it not like a mighty hammer that smashes a rock to pieces?". And thus we should be as Jeremiah was in Jeremiah 23:9 "I am like a drunken man, and like a man whom wine has overcome, because of the LORD, and because of the words of his holiness.". God's call in and on our lives should consume us to the point where we must obey and yield to Him! Where we love the work not because it exalts our strengths and its what we want but because it is what He wants and has commanded us to do and it uplifts Him! "And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me." (John 12:32). As the infamous Nike phrase states "Just do it!" When God calls you just do what He has called you to do!
Humbly Submitted,
UHCAlan
