Understanding The Call of God
Read Judges 5, especially 6-9
In the days of Shamgar, in the days of Jael, the roads were abandoned; travellers took to winding paths. Village life in Israel ceased, ceased until I, Deborah, arose, arose a mother in Israel. When they chose new gods, war came to the city gates, and not a shield or spear was seen among forty thousand in Israel.
Key issues for today: They chose new gods - war
was the consequence.
In a time of crisis the people of God did nothing to defend their nation (not a
shield) or to go on the offensive (not a spear). Nevertheless the Lord said,
"My heart is with Israel's princes, with the willing volunteers among the people."
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What is the call of God, how does
it come?
Hard to define but you know . . .
No two testimonies are the same . .
The Principles:
1. Stay where you are.
Each one should remain in the situation
which he was in when God called him. (1 Cor. 7.20)
But in view of the fact that the harvest is plentiful . . (Read Matthew 9.36-10.5)
2. Jesus calls all to pray.
3. It is Jesus who calls you to be with Him
4. It is Jesus who calls you to be a disciple.
There are not two different kinds of believers, one who is spiritual and obeys Jesus and another who feels he has permission to be worldly. Even the demons believe and they tremble. (James 2.19)
You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men. (1 Cor 7.20,23)
5. It is Jesus who calls you - by name.
6. It is Jesus who equips you - with spiritual power and authority.
7. It is Jesus who sends you with instructions - for an hour, a day, a year, a life - as He says. Some are asked to sell up, give to the poor and follow Christ (Matt.19.21) Leaders can only confirm the calling of God and should not initiate it.
All I can say is "I am going, come with me and we will see where we get to, together."
Who does God call ?
1. He calls the weak. (1 Cor. 1, 26-29) Here I am with my gift of being useless
2. He uses the weak. (2 Cor. 12, 7-10)
3. Changes the weak. (Is. 40, 29-31)
Struggling with the call
of God
When the call comes you will inevitably
find obstacles and resistance in your path, from:
1. The Holy Spirit – if you are off the path, or if your mind takes over, you will hear a voice behind you. (Isaiah 30.21, Acts 16.6) God cares for you so much that He does not want you going the wrong way and having negative experiences which will put you off when the real call comes.
2. Evil Spirit – (1 Thess. 2.18) because you are a threat to their dark kingdom.
3. Human Spirit
– Abram, (Gen 12,1-2)
Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I
will show you. Such insecurity, unfamiliarity and loss of control is daunting.
What happened . . .
When the Lord called for His people to rise in a time of crisis in the days
of Deborah:
(Back to Judges 5, 6-9)
Will that happen today if we don’t come ?
Probably not in this age of grace – it does not have to because some people do
curse themselves with a regret and an anger felt deeply in later life for not
having responded to the call of God in earlier years.
The questions for today . . .
Prayers to help you find the words to respond to the Lord
The prayer of Hild, 614-680, a great-niece of King Edwin of Northumbria, who was baptized at the age of 13. She became a nun 20 years later and later the Abbess of Hartlepool. Eventually she founded the great double monastery at Whitby, where she was sought out for her wise counsel by ordinary folk and rulers alike.
"Take me often from the tumult of things
into Thy presence.
There show me what I am, and what Thou hast purposed me to be.
Then hide me from Thy tears.
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Dr. Les Norman
DCI World Christians England
www.dci.org.uk
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