Shareware Overload Trio 2/Shareware Overload Trio Volume 2 (Chestnut CD-ROM).ISO/dir32/alphon_5.zip/8301/CALLED

Text File | 1993-10-02 | 14KB | 355 lines

                   CALLED.
                   The Call of God.

      During our Christian Walk we often ask, or are asked by others.

          'How do we know what God wants us to do?'
                     OR
         'What should we be doing while we are trying to find
               out what He wants us to do?'

                   It is a problem!

                  Some say.
           'Involve yourself in some Christian service'.

                   Others.
        'If you feel inclined to Mission Work join one of the many
       organisations and see where it leads you.'

                     OR
    'Wait and ask God to open the right door for you in His time.'

               ***********************

        But it turns out to be more difficult than that because our
       own ideas keep creeping back inclining us first to one urgent cause
       and then to another.

        We certainly can be involved as soon as we are committed but
       it seems neither wise, nor economical, to waste all our energies in
       several different directions at the same time, urgent though the
       reality of our conversion may seem to be.

        We need to be specific, not just, 'Jack of all trades and
       master of none', and it is useless trying to be a guide in areas we
       are unfamiliar with as yet.

            The most sensible advice seems to be.

            'Wait for God to open he right door.'

        But, while that is essential, it falls short of reality because
       God is never going to open a 'large' door to a 'novice.'

        We need to learn and there are many examples in Scripture
       showing that the need to study His Word is of paramount importance.

        Even Paul, who was brought up 'at the feet of Gamaliel,'
       needed to study the Scriptures and his letters to Timothy speak to
       us today.

        'Continue.' He writes in 2 Timothy 3:14-17. 'In the things you
       have learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast
       learned them. And that from a child thou hast known the holy
       Scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through
       faith in Jesus Christ. All Scripture is given by the inspiration of
       God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction,
       for instruction in righteousness.   That the man of God may be
       perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.'

      And he exhorts Timothy, 1 Timothy 4:13-16, 'Give attendance to
       reading. Neglect not the gift which was given thee, meditate upon
       these things. Give yourself wholly to them that thy profiting may
       appear to all. Take heed to yourself and the doctrine.  Continue in
       them.  For in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them
       that hear thee.'

        Josiah read and believed and acted upon the word to the
       blessing of all his people.

        'And the king went up into the house of the LORD, and all the
       men of Judah, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and the priests,
       and the Levites, and all the people, great and small: and he read
       in their ears all the words of the book of the covenant that was
       found in the house of the LORD.  And the king stood in his place,
       and made a covenant before the LORD, to walk after the LORD, and to
       keep his commandments, and his testimonies, and his statutes, with
       all his heart, and with all his soul, to perform the words of the
       covenant which are written in this book.  And he caused all that
       were present in Jerusalem and Benjamin to stand to it. And the
       inhabitants of Jerusalem did according to the covenant of God, the
       God of their fathers. And Josiah took away all the abominations out
       of all the countries that pertained to the children of Israel, and
       made all that were present in Israel to serve, even to serve the
       LORD their God. And all his days they departed not from following
       the LORD, the God of their fathers.' (2 Chronicles 34:30-33)

               Daniel trusted his life to it.

      John the Baptist spent years in the wilderness before he
     began to call others to repentance.

      Ezra turned the people from their ways and back to the Lord
     when he 'read in the book of the law of God distinctly, and gave
     the sense', causing them to understand the reading.
                   Nehemiah 8:5-8.

        The same thing happened when Priscilla and Aquilla took
       Apollos, 'an eloquent man and mighty in the Scriptures', and
       expounded the way of God more perfectly to him', for afterwards,
       he went out and, 'mightily convinced the Jews, and that publickly,
       shewing by the Scriptures that Jesus was the Christ.'
                Acts 18:24-28.

          It is the place above all places to begin.

        'Study the Scriptures for they are able to make one wise unto
       salvation', and then it is not only we who profit, but all who hear
       the Word of God.

        It is well to keep in mind our Lord's reply to those who asked
       a similar question.

        'Ye have not His Word abiding in you.' He said. 'Search the
     Scriptures, for in them ye think ye have eternal life, and they
     are they which tell of me.'  John 5:38-39.

        Let us apply our hearts and minds to searching His Word and,
       as with prayer, we look for guidance from that Word and from mature
       Christians, our lives will gradually be moulded to a place where,
       obscure though it may be, God can use us. Not we Him!

       We will learn too that pre-eminence counts for little.

          It is each doing their part that counts.

        And, although to us obscurity seems to lie in the wrong
       direction, the Word of God will always accomplish that for which He
       sends it.

        Paul makes it clear that as each did the part God had assigned
       to them 'God gave the increase!'

        'God gave the increase. So then!  Neither is he that planteth
     anything, neither he that watereth. But God that giveth the
     increase....We are all one .... .For we are labourers together
     with God.' 1 Corinthians 3:6-9.

        Wherever the Word is given then, in a seemingly hidden place,
       or in an open one, the only Word that can move people towards Him,
       and the only power to accomplish it, comes from God.

        2 Chronicles is a delightful place to see this, and verses
       10-11 in Chapter 29 give us great encouragement.

        Hezekiah, realising the depths to which he and his people had
       fallen, called the Levites to him and spoke to them as follows.

        'Now it is mine heart to make a covenant with the LORD God of
     Israel, that His wrath may turn away from us. My sons. Be not now
     negligent. For the LORD has chosen you to stand before Him, to
     serve Him, and that ye should minister unto Him.'

           This is where our own commitment begins!

        We could easily remain in captivity as verse 9 says they had
       been.  But as God called Hezekiah so, in some way or another, or
       through someone, God calls us and as we hear the New Covenant, and
       enter into it with Him, (Mark 14:24), we see clearly that a most
       wonderful gift has been given unto us.  He has led 'captivity
       captive!' Ephesians 4:8 and we now belong to Him.

        'We are a chosen generation. A royal priesthood.  A peculiar
     people, that ye should shew forth the praises of Him who hath
     called you out of darkness into His marvellous light.'
                 1 Peter 2:9,

        When we do that first part, hide the Word of God in our heart
       and commit ourselves to Him in faith. He in turn does His part.

       We see we have not only been called and chosen but we are trusted!

              1 Thessalonians 2:4 spells it out.

        'We are approved of God to be put in trust with the Gospel.
     Not as doing it to please men, but to please God, who has tried
     our hearts.'

        It requires a response from us too, for although we are
       'Washed, sanctified, and justified in the Name of the Lord Jesus,
       and by the Spirit of our God,' something is also required on our
       part.

            We need to sanctify ourselves!

              2 Chronicles 29:15 further reads.
        'Now they began to sanctify themselves, and they came to the
     house of the LORD,' and in verse 17, 'They sanctified the House
     of the LORD.'

          When we read that we can almost hear Paul saying.
         'Know ye not that ye are the temple of God?'
                 1 Corinthians 3:16

       It calls for something more from us, more than just acceptance!

             More than just to serve Him!

       It calls for love, and sanctification, and thanksgiving.

        The kind of thanksgiving Paul praised God for when the people
       came giving not only of their substance, but giving themselves
       also. 2 Corinthians 8:3-5.

        Hezekiah seeing this said, verse 31, 'Now ye have consecrated
       yourselves unto the LORD, come near and bring sacrifices and thank
       offerings, and as many of a free heart.' did so.

         If we could summarise 2 Chronicles 29 it says to us.

        'Now that it is in your heart to make a covenant with God be
       not negligent to do so, seeing He has chosen you to stand before
       Him, and minister for Him.

        First.  Knowing He has sanctified you, cleanse the Holy temple
       He has chosen to dwell in, your body, and thus consecrated come
       boldly before His throne, ready for that service, bringing your
       free will offering with a glad heart and with thanksgiving.  For
       now, your house being in order and prepared, you may wait ready for
       His call, for He will call, AND like Hezekiah, as verse 36 reads,
       you will rejoice that God did call you to prepare because the end of
       it all, 'will be done suddenly'!

                 IT IS A  COVENANT.
                 2 Chronicles 29:10.

        Ezekiel 36:25-26.  'A new heart will I give you, and a new
       spirit will I put within you. And I will take away the stony heart
       out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.'

        Mark 14:24 & Luke 22:20. 'And He said unto them. This is my
       blood of the new testament, which is shed for many.'

    1 Corinthians 11:25. 'This is the new testament in my blood.'

        Hebrews 9:15-20. 'A mediator for redemption through His blood,
       the sprinkling of blood, and the resurrection.'

        Ephesians 4:8.  'When He ascended up on high, He led captivity
       captive, and gave gifts to men.'

             WE ARE DELIVERED FROM WRATH.
                 2 Chronicles 29:10.

        'Who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?'
                 Matthew 3:7.

        1 Thessalonians 5:9. 'For God hath not appointed us to wrath,
     but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ.'

                WE ARE CHOSEN.
                 2 Chronicles 29:11.

        Ephesians 1:4. 'He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation
     of the world...'

        'Ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy
     nation, a people of his own.....' 1 Peter 2:9.

        1 Thessalonians 2:4. 'As we were allowed of God to be put in
     trust with the Gospel, so we speak...'

            WE ARE TO MINISTER AND SERVE.
                 2 Chronicles 29:11.

        Revelation 1:5-6.  & 5:10. 'Jesus Christ...Hath made us kings
     and priests unto God and His Father...'

        Acts 16:17. 'The maid cried out saying. 'These men are the
     servants of the Most High God, who show unto us the way of
     salvation.'

        Ephesians 6:6. 'As servants of God, do the will of God from
     the heart.'

          Luke 16:13. 'No servant can serve two masters....'

            WE ARE TO SANCTIFY OURSELVES.
                 2 Chronicles 29:15.

        2 Corinthians 6:16.  'What agreement hath the temple of God
     with idols?'

        1 Corinthians 3:16. 'Know ye not that ye are the temple of
     God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?'

        1 Corinthians 6:9-11. We were unrighteous....but 'we are
     washed, sanctified, and justified in the name of the Lord Jesus,
     and by the Spirit of our God.'

                  BRING FORTH FRUIT.
                2 Chronicles 29:18-29.

       Matthew 3:8. 'Bring forth fruits worthy of repentance.'

        Galatians 5:22-23.  'The fruit of the spirit is love, joy,
     peace, long  suffering,  gentleness,  goodness,  faith, meekness,
     temperance...'

        1 Corinthians 6:20.  'Ye are bought with a price.  Therefore
     glorify God in your body, and in your Spirit, which are God's...'

                GIVE OURSELVES FREELY.
                 2 Chronicles 29:31.

        2 Corinthians 8:5. 'They first gave themselves to the Lord,
     and unto us by the will of God.'

                   BEHAVE ORDERLY.
                 2 Chronicles 29:35.

        1 Corinthians 14:40.  'Let all things be done decently, and in
     order.'

        1 Corinthians 15:23. 'Every man in his own order.  Christ the
     first fruits. Afterward they that are Christ's at His coming.'

        Colossians 2:5-6.  'I joy in the spirit seeing your order and
     the steadfastness of your faith in Christ.'

                   ANSWER HIS CALL.
                 2 Chronicles 29:36.

        John 10:2-3. '..He calleth His own sheep by name and leadeth
     them out.'

        Romans 8:30. 'Whom He did foreknow he also did predestinate to
     be conformed to the image of His Son....'

        1 Thessalonians 5:24. 'Faithful is He that calleth you, who
     will also do it.'

        1 Peter 2:9.   'Ye are a chosen generation, to show forth the
     praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His
     marvellous light.'

        Remembering Romans 10:14-17! 'How, then, shall they call on
     Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in
     Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without
     a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? How
     beautiful are the feet of them that preach the Gospel of peace,
     and bring glad tidings of good things! So then!  Faith cometh by
     hearing, and hearing by the Word of God!'

        Luke 18:31.  'All things that are written of the Son of man
     shall be accomplished!'

        Isaiah 55:11. 'So shall my Word be that goeth forth out of my
     mouth.  It shall not return unto Me void, but it shall accomplish
     that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I
     sent it.'

                   Praise the Lord!