FIVE (5) CALLS OF GOD

SERMON: BY PASTOR ABRAHAM AGYEMANG

THEME:  THE FIVE (5) CALLS OF GOD

TEXTS: LUKE 19:10, PHILIPPIANS 2:12, HEBREWS 12:14, ACTS 9:16,

MATTHEW 20:28 & JEREMIAH 29:13

INTRODUCTION

Christianity is a calling. If you are not called you cannot come. It was God who called you not man or yourself.  Therefore do not look to any man but look to Christ alone who loves you and has called you to inherit eternal life. God has called us into a holy calling and we need to see it as such. When we see our worship as a call we will do it with joy and reverence.  There are five main calls that a believer must answer to, these are the call to Salvation, Sainthood, Suffering, Service and Seeking (God).

SALVATION (Luke 19:10, Philippians 2:12, Acts 4:12, 2 Corinthians 7:10)

The first call of God is for salvation. We have been called to be saved. As  believers, our God has  called  us  for  salvation and  our  gathering  at the feet of  God  periodically  is all  about  salvation. Salvation is found in no one else than Jesus Christ. There  is  only  way  to  heaven  and  it  is  through  Jesus  Christ  according  to John  14: 6. Coupled  with  this, as  believers  we  should  note  that, the  Lord  cannot  be  deceived  because  whatever  one sows the same shall  he reap. Thus of late, the  cross  of  Christ  Jesus  has  turned  to  be  the  bleeding  grounds  for  fornication, theft and  other  likes which need not  to be so and as true believers  we  should  refrained  from  these  acts  of  this  world. We should  seek first  the  kingdom  of  God  and  its  righteousness  and  that  the  physical  blessings or  material  things  that we  yearn  for  will follow  suite according  to  Matthew  6: 33.

Again, believers  should understand   we are  a  holy  vessels  of  the  lord  and  the  scripture  emphatically  states  that,  without  holiness  no  one  can  see  God  and  haven  this  mind  should  guide  us  in  our  walk  with  the  Lord. Beloved, our  God  is  alive and  so  let  us  recognised  this  as  such.  If  God  saves  you,  it  is  forever  and  as  soon  as  you  received  Jesus  Christ  as  your  Lord  and  personal  saviour,  your  spirit  is  saved, but we must continually submit to the Word of God to renew our mind as stated by Romans 12:1-2.

In  furtherance  of  this, the  Word  of  God  has  the  tendency  of  purifying  our  spirits. The  more  revealing  thing  is  that, the  last  thing  that  God  will saved  is  our  body. When we get to heaven we will receive glorious bodies.  Brethren-in- the Lord  should  note  that, Christianity  is  not  an  easy  task  and as  such  we  as  believers  should  be  diligent  in the  studying  of the  Word  of  God.  The  word  of  God  should  foremost,  take  hold  of  your  soul (the mind, the intellect, the will and the emotions). Moreover, on  daily  basis, one  ought  to  examined  him or herself  to  ascertained  whether  one  is  in  the  faith.

SAINTHOOD (Hebrew 12:14, Philippians 1:1, Ephesians 1:1, 1 Corinthians 1:2)

Another  aspect  of  the  five  calls of  God  is  the call to  be a  saint or living  a  holy  live  according  to  Hebrews  12: 14.  There  should  be  the  desire  to live  a  pure  life  on  daily  basis. Let us  be  holy  because  the  one  that  we are  following  is  holy.  Our lifestyle must exhibit that of Christ Jesus in all aspects. The  Bible says, without  holiness , it  is  impossible  to  see  God and  as a  matter  of  fact, it is  imperative  for  us  as  believers  to  do  all that  we  can  to leave  a  more  consecrated  lives  at  all cost.

SUFFERING (Luke 9:22, Acts 9:6, Romans 8:18, 1 Peter 4:13)

Suffering is an aspect of the five calls of God. The Bible states categorically that, many  are the  afflictions  of  the  righteous, but  the  Lord  delivers  them  from  them all. As believers, we should know that  suffering  is  part  of  our  call  and  for  that  matter  part  of  the  Christian race.  There  is  an  adage that  states  that “ suffer to  gain”  as  a  believer  and  there  is  always  similes  at  the  end  of  the  storm  and  this  was  what  the  early disciples  went  through. If one has not suffered, he or she does not respect people or sympathise with people who are also suffering. Sometimes ,God  test  us  in  preparing  us  for  a  greater  glory  at  the  end  of  the  turbulent period.

SERVICE (Matthew 20:28, Luke 4:8, Luke 22:27, Acts 13:36)

Also, we  have  been  called  by  God  to  served which  forms  part  of  the  five  calls  of  God. Jesus  Christ  is a perfect  example  for  us  believers  and  this  is  seen where  the  chief  servant , Jesus  Christ dramatised by washing  the  feet  of  his  disciples  which  clearly  shows  humility  and  service. Because  of  this  as  followers  of  Christ  Jesus,   should  be  of  a  great  service  to  humanity  and  the  things  in  the  house  of  the  Lord.

SEEKING GOD (Matthew 6:33, Jeremiah 29:13, Acts 15:17, Hebrew 11:6)

Seeking God and His Kingdom is a very great aspect of the five calls of God. Jeremiah  29: 13  gives a clear  picture  of  how  Jeremiah sought  for  his  maker  which  bestows  on  us  as  true  believers  to do likewise.  And it is  very refreshing each and every  time  when  the  name  of  the  Lord  is  been called  upon.  God want us to seek Him with all our might.  Those who seek after God are those He also seeks (John 4:23). Today many people comes to seek after wives, material things and worldly possessions but the true worshipers seek after God and His Kingdom and all other things are added to it for them. When you pursue God, He will be found by you and you will be found by Him. Your aim in the church should be Christ. Seek Him alone and He will also seek you to worship Him and reign with Him.

CONCLUSION

Christians must as a matter of urgency surrender themselves to the Holy Spirit to empower and enable them to fulfil the five calls of God. There must be complete study, meditation and obedience to the Word of God as the supreme authority guiding our actions.  It is the word that washes and feed our soul/mind to grow for us to become new creatures. Those who are filled with the Word of God are those who can overcome attacks against their ability to fulfil their call. Finally there must be repentance and returning to our first love for the God who has called us. God has called you to Himself so faithfully answer all the calls in Jesus name.  Amen.