THE CALL OF GOD

Jonelle Maxwell

The call of God? This is a question asked by many as they process in life, seeking the Father concerning what have they been called to do. We all as believers ask this question quite frequently when we accept the Lord as our personal savior.

BUT DID IT REALLY START THERE?

In reality, the desire to know why we are on this earth started long before we accepted the Lord into our lives. From the very beginning, there was always a search in us. This search is called purpose.We see this in our behavior as children. We seek to find our way into things our parents have instructed us not to touch. You know, when mom or dad says no when going towards the very thing that we are curious in. Our curiosity as young children is an indication of searching to find purpose.

Let’s look at a Prophet in the scriptures that revealed the call of God and how many of us respond today.

Let’s look at the call of Jeremiah. God was assuring the call upon Jeremiah’s life at an early age. God began to tell him that He called Him and knew him long before He was in His mother’s womb. In this, we see Jeremiah trying to get out of the call of God by mentioning his area of weakness. The inability to talk. Also, we see how God gave instructions and His promise that He will protect Him.

[Jeremiah 1:4] Then the word of the Lord came unto me, saying,

[Jeremiah 1:5] Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.

[Jeremiah1:6] Then said I, Ah, Lord God! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child.

[Jeremiah1:7] But the Lord said unto me, Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak.

[Jeremiah 1:8] Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the Lord.

[Jeremiah 1:9] Then the Lord put forth his hand, and touched my mouth. And the Lord said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth.

[Jeremiah 1:10] See, I have this day set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down, to build, and to plant.

[Jeremiah 1:11] Moreover the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, Jeremiah, what seest thou? And I said, I see a rod of an almond tree.

[Jeremiah 1:12] Then said the Lord unto me, Thou hast well seen: for I will hasten my word to perform it.

[Jeremiah 1:13] And the word of the Lord came unto me the second time, saying, What seest thou? And I said, I see a seething pot; and the face thereof is toward the north.

[Jeremiah 1:14] Then the Lord said unto me, Out of the north an evil shall break forth upon all the inhabitants of the land.

[Jeremiah 1:15] For, lo, I will call all the families of the kingdoms of the north, saith the Lord; and they shall come, and they shall set every one his throne at the entering of the gates of Jerusalem, and against all the walls thereof round about, and against all the cities of Judah.

[Jeremiah 1:16] And I will utter my judgments against them touching all their wickedness, who have forsaken me, and have burned incense unto other gods, and worshipped the works of their own hands.

[Jeremiah 1:17]Thou therefore gird up thy loins, and arise, and speak unto them all that I command thee: be not dismayed at their faces, lest I confound thee before them.

[Jeremiah 1:18]For, behold, I have made thee this day a defenced city, and an iron pillar, and brasen walls against the whole land, against the kings of Judah, against the princes thereof, against the priests thereof, and against the people of the land.

[Jeremiah 1:19] And they shall fight against thee; but they shall not prevail against thee; for I am with thee, saith the Lord, to deliver thee.

How many times have we tried to get out of being obedience to answering the call of God by bringing up areas that we feel inadequate?

In my own life, I remember God calling me into ministry. It wasn’t spoken specifically. I knew by how the Lord was leading me. This is not the same for everyone. I was being drawn to study the scriptures very strongly. Day and night, my desire was to get to know Jesus through His word. Also, the Lord placed a bible mentor in my life at my home church that did absolutely nothing but drilled me in the Word of God. I also had others around me that taught me the ways of the Lord that was totally seasoned with grace. Within, three years after accepting the Lord and going through beginning stages of training, I was called into the ministry.

This is the area many have struggled in over the years. Not receiving time of preparation before ministry. Although, there will be ongoing training and discipleship throughout our years of ministry because have arrived nor will we ever be. There still should be foundational preparation for all born again believers. The scripture teaches this and Jesus demonstrated it in His own earthly ministry.

[MATTHEW 28:18-20] And Jesus came and said to them,

All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you.

God want us to not only answer the call He has for us but to feel assured that we have nothing to fear.Which lead us to the next question.

IS FEAR STOPPING YOU FROM ANSWERING THE CALL?

DON’T!!!

Allow God to give you the peace and grace you need to do what He has called you to do. There is no fear in Him.

*As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. [Ephesians 4:1]

*To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power. [2 Thessalonians 1:11]