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In this issue...
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FOLLOWING THE
CALL OF GOD
By Mark Hiehle
Are you following the call of God in your life and realizing the potential of the purpose for which you were created? These are questions in almost everyone's mind because we want to be part of something bigger than ourselves, something that really matters. Rick Warren's book, The Purpose Driven Life, testifies to this fact. You are unique and created for a purpose, and the Lord desires to make a dramatic difference in the world through you. As Mordecai said in Esther 4:14, "And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?" Our Heavenly Father is calling individuals to do a special task and fulfill a special mission. Is that your desire—to be used in a powerful way for His purposes?
While God's call is unique for each person, there are consistently true benchmarks that are scriptural and practical. As you seek to know God's call upon your life, consider the principles found in the calling of King Saul and how they relate to your life too. With your Bible in hand, study the process of following God's call in your life.
The account of the calling of Israel's first king begins in 1 Samuel 9:1-7. Saul's father sent him to recover donkeys that had wandered away from home. While Saul was looking for the lost donkeys, the Lord intervened in Saul's everyday, mundane life to call him to something extraordinary.
God uses ordinary people, and He calls them in the midst of the ordinary duties of life.
It was during the non-glamorous task of donkey duty that God invaded Saul's life and set him on a path of divine design. The same may be true for you. It may be during the regular everyday of living that you will be called to undertake a God-ordained mission. Therefore, don't become discouraged if you are in the midst of what you might consider donkey duty, but seek the Lord in the middle of your present tasks for His direction and leading.
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IT MAY BE DURING REGULAR
EVERYDAY LIVING THAT YOU
WILL BE CALLED TO UNDERTAKE
A GOD-ORDAINED MISSION.
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In verse 5, Saul was ready to give up the search and return home. It was then that his servant suggested that before they quit, they ask for God's direction. I encourage you to do the same. Ministry can be draining and exhausting as you deal with the daily grind of problems and pressures. It is easy to begin working in your own strength and become discouraged. When you feel like quitting, step back and recommit your way to the Lord. Remember, He is your strength, provider and defense. He will not only make your path straight, but He will take you to new places where you will experience Him in ways you have never dreamed possible.
God moves ahead of us, preparing the way.
In 1 Samuel 9:15, we read that the day before Saul met the prophet Samuel, the Lord spoke to Samuel and revealed His plan concerning Saul. In the same way, the Lord is working even now with you in mind. Perhaps an answer to prayer has not arrived because the time is not right, or the divine puzzle pieces have not yet been fully assembled. God's timing is always perfect—never early and never late. Our real need is to walk by faith and trust the Lord for the details. Since God's desire is to use you and to bless your faith, resist the temptation to run ahead of Him. Rely upon His ability to set the stage for your role in His great plan.
God starts with a vision.
I am intrigued at the statement Samuel made to Saul in verse 19. Samuel told Saul, before allowing him to return home, "I will tell you all that is in your heart." From this Scripture and my own experience, it is fascinating that as God is preparing us to take part in His plan, He first plants a dream in our hearts and minds. Before God harvests, He plants a seed. Has God given you a dream? When God's call is heard, it is the fulfillment of a desire He planted in the heart. The question for us is, "Will we embrace the call—or recoil from it?" The typical response is the same as Saul expressed in verse 21. Because God's call is always more than we can fulfill on our own, we believe that we are unworthy and unable. The truth, however, is that God is working before us—for such a time as this. This truth is seen in verses 22-24. God knows what He is doing, and it is by grace that we are chosen. Rick Warren says: "Grace is God, knowing every stupid thing I've ever done, and every stupid thing I will ever do, but He chose me anyway."
God will speak personally to you.
In 1 Samuel 9:27, Samuel told Saul that he had a message from God for him. The Lord does not want you to miss hearing Him or knowing Him personally. Therefore, He will do whatever is necessary to communicate to you. It is also important to understand that
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BEFORE GOD HARVESTS,
HE PLANTS A SEED.
WHEN GOD'S CALL IS HEARD,
IT IS THE FULFILLMENT OF A DESIRE
HE PLANTED IN THE HEART.
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when the Lord wants something accomplished or pursued, He never first calls a committee or group—He begins by speaking to one person. The Lord will place His vision into the heart of one person who will then cast that vision before others. As others hear from the Lord as well, the vision becomes like a fire burning in the soul. The fire spreads to those nearby, and they catch the fire. The spark that ignited the blaze, however, started in one person's heart and mind. Is God speaking to you, giving you a vision—a call to follow? He desires that you will embrace His call, follow His lead and share His dream.
God will confirm the call.
When the Lord gives a call, He confirms that call in order for you to be encouraged. Think of all those in Scripture whom the Lord called and then continued to encourage. Examples would include Moses, Jeremiah, David, Mary, the Disciples, and Paul. The Lord reaffirmed the call and brought others along beside them to stand with them and encourage them. With Saul too, the Lord confirmed His call (1 Samuel 10:1-5) so that Saul knew the calling was real.
Others will oppose the call.
Despite the working of God in Saul's life, there was opposition to the call on his life, just as there will be for us. As the Spirit swept Saul along, scoffers ridiculed his transformation (1 Samuel 10:11-12). There will be those who listen to your dream and seek to kill that vision. They will be skeptical and try to get you to give up. When this happens, do not do what Saul did in verses 14-16. He did not take ownership of God's call. You need to speak of your God-given dream, and share your passion to follow it. If you do not, you will allow the opposition to intimidate you. Feelings of inadequacy and unworthiness will overwhelm you, and you may run from your call. When it was time for Saul to answer God's call publicly, he was found hiding among the baggage.
God wants you to follow the call.
As you desire to experience and obey God's call, follow these principles of Scripture and go "A.L.L." out:
- Allow God's call to empower and change you. Wait for God's timing just as the disciples waited for the Day of Pentecost. Once the Holy Spirit came, God's power was evident and unstoppable.
- Let the Lord lead you. When you are following His call, God promises that He will lead you. Following His lead enables you to be creative, bold and aggressive—taking risks and steps of faith. You will be amazed at the doors the Lord will open and the opportunities that He gives.
- Leave the baggage.The baggage of your past may weigh you down. It is a new day—the old you is gone. You are where you are for such a time as this, so learn from your past and move ahead with confidence in God's forgiveness, power, and provision.
Go all out in following God's call, for no one can answer that call but you.
| Mark Hiehle is the executive Director of the Sarasota Medical Pregnancy Center in Sarasota, FL. You can reach him at mark@sarasotapregnancy.com or by phone at 941-330-CARE. |
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