Vision
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Vision: Who God Calls pt. 2
If you’ve been in the church for a while, you’ve heard the term calling - that God calls certain people to do certain things. And really what that means is that God invites us into His plans for redeeming the world. Sometimes it’s visible like pastoral ministry or missions. Sometimes it’s behind the scenes in more of a support role.
But here’s the thing - we believe that God calls everyone - there is no one “uncalled.” If you are a follower of Jesus Christ, God has an invitation for you to be a part of something bigger and better. Not everyone is called to be pastor or a missionary - but everyone is called.
The problem is that many Christians do not believe this - they don’t God and His Word. For various reasons, they don’t believe God has called them to serve and minister. For some, it’s pure laziness. For others, it’s disobedience. For others, it’s self-pity (God could never use me).
We saw last week and we’ll see today, no excuse you throw at God is valid - because God is bigger than your excuses, and He’s bigger than what He’s calling you to do.
So why don’t more Christians feel or sense or obey God’s calling? Let’s look again at Moses and a typical process of Gods’ calling.
Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian, and he led the flock to the far side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush. Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up. So Moses thought, “I will go over and see this strange sight—why the bush does not burn up.”
When the Lord saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, “Moses! Moses!”
And Moses said, “Here I am.”
Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian, and he led the flock to the far side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. There the angel of the Yahweh appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush. Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up. So Moses thought, “I will go over and see this strange sight - why the bush does not burn up.” When the Yahweh saw that he had gone over to look, Elohim (pl) called to him from within the bush, “Moses! Moses!” And Moses said, “Here I am.”
For Moses, this day was business as usual herding sheep, and suddenly there are flames within a bush - which would not necessarily be unusual in the desert except this one doesn’t burn up.
For Moses, this day was business as usual herding sheep, and suddenly there are flames within a bush - which would not necessarily be unusual in the desert except this one doesn’t burn up.
Now, this is where a lot of people miss the call of God. They’re going about life, business as usual and God does something out of the ordinary to get their attention but they miss it because they’re too busy, in a hurry, too frantic, too overwhelmed or too self-preoccupied.
So, God wants to speak to us, but we must first give Him our attention. So, let me ask, are you giving God your attention or are you just in the same room with Him? Kind of praying, kind of reading, kind of going to church - but you’re not really giving Jesus your undivided attention.
Here’s a good way to know the difference - When God called to Moses, how did Moses respond? He stopped what he was doing, went over to the bush, and said, “Here I am.” When you say to the Lord, here I am, He knows He has your attention. And that’s when He begins to call.
1. God Calls People & Churches Who Respond
We know God calls everyone - but the invitation is expressly given to those who respond. When we slow down long enough to allow God to speak, He will.
When was the last time you said to the Lord, “Here I am?”
“Do not come any closer,” God said. “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.” Then he said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.” At this, Moses hid his face, because he was afraid to look at God.
Once we take time for God, notice that He reveals more of Himself to us. “I am the God …” and then Moses further responded by hiding His face. He was both fearful and in awe of Elohim. And then he removed his sandals in honor and worship.
Once we take time for God, notice that He reveals more of Himself to us. “I am the God …” and then Moses further responded by hiding His face. He was both fearful and in awe of Elohim. And then he removed his sandals in honor and worship.
2. God Calls People and Churches Who Honor Him
I believe this may be one of the most important qualities to God. God will use a person who desires to honor Him. It doesn’t matter how much or little a person can do, God delights to call and use those who desire to honor Him - to bring glory to His name.
So let me ask, are you concerned about honoring Jesus Christ?
Are you concerned about what other people will think of Jesus because of how you live, and how you work, and what you say? God wants to call you, but He will expressly call those who want to honor Him.
Yahweh said, “I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering. So I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey - the home of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites. And now the cry of the Israelites has reached me, and I have seen the way the Egyptians are oppressing them. 10 So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt.”
The Lord said, “I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering. So I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey—the home of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites. And now the cry of the Israelites has reached me, and I have seen the way the Egyptians are oppressing them. So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt.”
Who is concerned about Israel? God. Who has seen their misery? God. Who’s going to rescue them? God. So what’s this stuff about sending Moses to Pharaoh!
Who is concerned about Israel? God. Who has seen their misery? God. Who’s going to rescue them? God. So what’s this stuff about sending Moses to Pharaoh!
Now we know God can pull-off this rescue mission on His own. HOWEVER, God rarely does anything alone. Even in the beginning when God was creating the universe - the Triune God was working together.
So God is the one who wants to rescue Israel - so what does He do?
3. God Calls People and Churches Who Can Be Partners
Again, God wanted to rescue Israel - but so did Moses. In chapter 2, Moses had a rescue plan - but he did it his way and in his time and it was a failure. He tried to fulfill God’s vision without God.
But God’s not interested in Lone Rangers - He’s interested in partners. God is interested in walking with you - doing the job of redemption together.
So let me ask this - how are you and God partners? What are you doing together to rescue those in bondage?
So God calls people who respond, who want to honor Him and partner with Him. But it’s not unusual that when the rubber meets the road, when God’s call becomes clear, we give Him our excuse card. “I responded! I want to Honor Him! I want to partner with God! Oh - but that’s not what I had in mind, Lord.”
That’s what Moses did. From 3:11 to 4:17 Moses tried to escape God’s call.
3:11 Moses says, “Who am I to lead people out of Egypt? I’m a little peon compared to Pharaoh. I already tried this once and I blew it. And I’m just a shepherd.”
3:13 Moses says, “I don’t even know your name. I mean, I know you’re God, but I really don’t know that much about you. I’m not as spiritual as I should be.”
4:1 Moses says, “What if they don’t believe me? What if nobody follows me?”
4:10 Moses says, “Look, I don’t speak well. I don’t speak in front of others. I don’t remember how to speak and walk like an Egyptian. Let’s be honest - I don’t qualify. Besides, I’ve never done this before. I’m sure there’s someone better than me.”
4:13 Moses says, “Please send someone else. I really don’t want to do this.”
Those are our normal excuses, right. So Moses is telling God why he can’t do what God is asking him to do. But God is trying to get through his thick skull that none of this is about Moses! It’s not about what Moses can and can’t do - it’s all about what God can do through Moses!! That’s why in verse 3:12, God says don’t worry about any of this because “I will be with you ….”
Remember the ten plagues in this story? How did those? It wasn’t Moses. Think Moses had that kind of power? It was God’s power working through Moses. And the same is true today!
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us ….
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
So Moses was trying to convince God that he was the wrong person - and we can do the same thing, but here’s the truth:
So Moses was trying to convince God that he was the wrong person - and we can do the same thing, but here’s the truth:
4. God Calls the Right Person and Church for the Right Job at the Right Time
He’s never too early and never too late and God never picks the wrong person. At 80-years-old, it was the right time and Moses was the right man. God could have called someone younger, could have called someone closer, could have called someone with more money and with more political clout - but He didn’t! God called Moses to deliver Israel.
God called the man he wanted - when He wanted. And God has called you to do whatever it is that He has called you to do because you are the person He wants for that job. Not everyone is called to be a Moses, but everyone is called to a good work, to be like Jesus, to be holy, to love and to make Jesus known.
Some of you are still doubting. You don’t see how God could use you, you don’t see how it’s possible to do what God is asking. Look,
If nothing is impossible for God, then everything is possible with God.
Meaning, that whatever God is calling you to do is possible. There is no limit to what you can do when God is the One behind it. Your past doesn’t limit what God can do. Your situation doesn’t limit what God can do. You know what’s interesting about Moses’ past - it’s actually what made him the right man for the job.
Moses could have missed the opportunity of a lifetime - but he didn’t. He responded to God, he wanted to honor God, he was willing to partner with God, and he was the right person - but overall, Moses obeyed.
So Moses took his wife and sons, put them on a donkey and started back to Egypt. And he took the staff of God in his hand.
So Moses took his wife and sons, put them on a donkey and started back to Egypt. And he took the staff of God in his hand.
5. God Calls People & Churches Who Obey.
5. God Calls People and Churches Who Obey.
Are you responding to the Lord, are you honoring Him, are you in partnership with Him, are you obeying Him - do you believe that you are the right person for job?
It all starts with saying, “Here I am.”
I would encourage you this week, to get alone with Jesus and tell Him, “here I am.” Some of you, perhaps have never really said that before - to Jesus Christ