(This is a post I shared last year, but thought it was worthy of sharing again.) One of our pastors, Taylor Stewart, gave us some great meat to chew on yesterday. I know I can’t do his message justice, but here are a few points that stood out to me.
EACH CHRISTIAN IS CALLED BY GOD.
2 Timothy 1:6-9
For this reason I remind you to kindle afresh the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands.For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline. Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord or of me His prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God, who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity …
Have you ever noticed this in verse 9? God has CALLED US with a HOLY calling — according to His own purpose and grace.
Pastor Taylor pointed out: IF YOU ARE SAVED — YOU ARE CALLED!
Think about it! Your calling is holy unto the Lord!
God calls us to intimacy/communion with Him, but also with others. This is key for those who call themselves Christians.
I have a dear friend who was so wounded by a church split that she and her family have refused to find a new church home. “Christians are hypocrites,” so she isn’t going back. Well, non-Christians are hypocrites too (we are all human). It makes me so sad for her because SHE IS SO GIFTED. The Body needs her!
Pastor Taylor said we can’t just walk around with Jesus and not the Body (the Church). Can you imagine someone just walking around with a head under his arm? “I’ll just walk with the Head” (Jesus), some may say. But God created us to have relationship with each other as well.
Mark 1:17
And Jesus said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men.”
Follow Me shows the VERTICAL relationship with the Father. Fishers of men shows the HORIZONTAL relationship with others.
Mark 3:13-15
And He went up on the mountain and summoned those whom He Himself wanted, and they came to Him. And He appointed twelve, so that they would be with Him and that He could send them out to preach, and to have authority to cast out the demons.
Jesus appointed them to BE WITH HIM (vertical) so that HE COULD SEND THEM (horizontal).
We are called BY God. We are called TO God. We are called to minister to PEOPLE.
Have you ever noticed that in the story of Lazarus that Jesus involved the people?
John 11:42-44
I knew that You always hear Me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that You sent Me.”When He had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.”
Jesus did the miracle, but he asked the people to TAKE OFF THE GRAVE CLOTHES.
Are you involved?
Are you like my friend who has given up on people and church because of wounds?
Maybe you’re like me. You were once heavily involved in ministry, but now are hesitant in stepping off of the sidelines.
This message really convicted me.
WE ARE CALLED.
Don’t wait for someone to commission you. God has commissioned you!
Thank you for the reminder-I am called!!! I love how 2 Timothy states He has given us a spirit of power and love and discipline! How the enemy attacks me here-I will remember this today!!
Thank you!
sharon
http://www.breakformom.com
I love that – "have you helped take off the grave clothes." That is a theme that has been on my heart for awhile – but you said it so visually!
Thanks for the sweet words at JDaniel4's Moms place! I haven't been visiting much 'cause I've been unpacking from The Big Move! I have a few more boxes and still some rearranging – but today I am visiting! I am so glad I did!