Has God Called You To Serve Him?

I. Yes. If you are a Christian and a disciple of Jesus Christ, there is no doubt He has called you to be His servant.

A. You are called to take up your cross and follow Him (Matt. 16:24).

B. You are called to bear fruit (John 15:16).

C. You are called to the ministry of reconciling others to Christ (2 Cor. 5:17-20).

D. You are part of a royal priesthood called to proclaim the praises of Him who has called you out of darkness (1 Pet. 2:9).

E. You each have received a gift from God to enable you to minister to one another (1 Pet. 4:10).

F. You each have been given the manifestation of the Holy Spirit to profit others (1 Cor. 12:7).

II. Excuses Given for Refusing the Call

A. I'm a nobody (Ex. 3:11,12).

B. I can't speak very well (Ex. 4:10-12).

C. How could I do this (Judges 6:15,16)?

D. I'm too young (Jer. 1:6-8).

E. I can't because of my business, job or family (Luke 14:16-20).

III. How Are You Enabled to Fulfill the Call

A. God enables you to do all that He requires of you. Notice, in most of the above examples, God answers the excuse with the promise, "I will be with you." Paul asked the question, "Who is sufficient for these things?" He answered his own question in a few verses when he says, "our sufficiency is of God, who also made us sufficient as ministers of the New Covenant..." (2 Cor. 2:16) (2 Cor. 3:5,6).

Peter tells us the same thing. He says, "If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified..." (1 Pet. 4:11). Peter's counsel is to speak always according to His Word and minister only what by His ability which He supplies. God is your enabler.

B. Also, you must abide in Him if you want to experience His divine supply. This includes loving Him, trusting Him, coming to Him, obeying Him, seeking Him, praying to Him, and yielding to Him (Matt. 22:37) (John 14:12) (Matt. 11:28) (John 14:15) (Matt. 6:33) (John 16:23) (Rom. 6:13). By abiding in Him you are keeping yourself in the love of God (Jude 21). When you pray and seek God in His Holy Word you build yourself up in your most holy faith (Jude 20) (Rom 10:17).

Here is the secret of how to find God's divine supply for your calling. A simple analogy will make it clear. God has a bank account with endless divine supply. "For with God nothing shall be impossible" (Luke 1:37). "He is able to make all grace abound toward you that you will always have all sufficiency in all things, and may abound to every good work" (2 Cor.9:8). " He is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think..." (Eph 3:20). Yet, the only way to draw on this bank account is to ask, and keep on asking and you will receive. The only way you will find His divine supply is by seeking. (Matt. 7:8).

This is the reason many of God's people never really take a place of service in the Body of Christ. It is also the reason why many of God's servants dry up in the midst of thriving ministries. They don't abide in Him where they may continue to receive His abundance and power.

Respond to His call. There are no excuses He will accept! He is your enabler. He will make you qualified for wherever he calls you to.

IV. What Kind of People Does God Call

A. Ordinary people

This is so important to be convinced of in your own mind. Lest you think, I could never be one of those 'special people', that you see God using. Yes God gives them special abilities. Yet, remember it is God who supplies the ability. He uses ordinary people in an extra ordinary way! Paul said, "Not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the things that are mighty;...that no flesh should glory in His presence."

(1 Cor.1:26,27,29) God has chosen ordinary people to use, just so none of us would glory in His presence. God is so wise knowing the sinful heart of man. Now see some examples:

1. The Disciples - each of these men were very ordinary. They were men who had jobs, families, and most important, not one had any Bible college or seminary training. They were just fishermen and tax collectors (Acts 4:13) (Mark 1:16) (Matt. 9:9).

2. Amos the prophet - He was a herdsman when the Lord called him. (Amos 1:1)

3. Abraham - He was the son of idolaters dwelling in a foreign land (Josh. 24:2,3). Yet God called him to be the Father of Faith to all generations.

4. Moses - He was the son of slaves in the land of Egypt (Exodus 2:1-10). Yet God called him to deliver the Children of Israel from their bondage.

B. Available people

God is not concerned with your ability but your availability. Are you willing to be used by Him? Have you made yourself available to Him?

Will you take opportunities to serve when you see needs before you?

Notice these examples:

1. Isaiah - When God asked "who will go for us", referring to who would go and speak to the rebellious nation of Israel. Isaiah made himself totally available to be used when he said, Here am I! Send me!" and God said,'go and tell this people..."(Isa. 6:8,9).

2. The Apostles - They willingly offered themselves to follow the Lord when He called them. Then they willingly gave themselves to prayer and the ministry of the Word (Matt.4:19,20) (Acts 6:4).

3. The Corinthian church - After seeing the commitment and willingness of Paul to give not only the Word of God, but His own soul, they did likewise. "They gave themselves first to the Lord." (2 Cor. 8:5) (1 Thess. 2:8)

Won't you make yourself available to Him today? Give Him the opportunity to show Himself strong in you. Let Him use you for His purpose. Say to Him, "here I am, use me."