THE CALLED AND THE COMPULSION OF THE CALL PART 1

THE CALLED AND THE COMPULSION OF THE CALL

                                PART 1

Over the years, Christians have attempted to make a distinction between the call to salvation, and the call to service. Ignorance on the call has rendered majority of Christians in many churches redundant in the service of God. In a typical church of “so called” Christians one will discover that not more than ten percent are in the service of the called. There is service for every of the called; it is a calling into service. 

“And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.”

                                                                                                                                                          Acts 9:6

Saul at the point of his salvation had a question for the Lord, “what wilt thou have me to do?” Every believer is called into service the very moment he is called to discipleship. The church must wake up to the knowledge of this truth, the truth that every call to salvation is at the same time a call to service. The church of Jesus Christ is simply a congregating venue, how is that any different from the humongous stadiums owed by the richest football clubs of this world? They also have thousands, and thousands of attendants that congregate weekly, to watch one percent of people like themselves entertain them in the same way members of churches come Sunday after Sunday to be entertained by pastors who are less than one percent. 

Paul the apostle was called graciously that he might become a preacher of Jesus Christ among the unbelieving. In this wise, he was to become an exhibit of Christ among the Gentiles. Paul was dispatched to bring others the good news. What we know is that the man God uses is not the respectable, selfish, nothing but average religionist. Today many in Christendom are nothing but spectating religionists. Christians today prefer to be safe standing on the touchlines, a product of selfishness unknown to many. True Christians are those who are ready to spend and be spent for the cause of Jesus Christ.

“And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved.”

                                                                                                                                         2 Corinthians 12:15

Truth is, the believer who is unequipped by the spirit of self-sacrifice will soon find the rugged labour of studying, instructing, correcting, disciplining, and visitation an exasperating task from which to escape. Christians must not only be prepared to preach but must be ready to suffer also. 

THREE MANNERS IN WHICH PAUL SERVED GOD WE MUST COPY

1. PAUL SERVED THE LORD WITH ALL HUMILITY

“And when they were come to him, he said unto them, Ye know, from the first day that I came into Asia, after what manner I have been with you at all seasons, 

Serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews:” 

                                                                                                                                                   Acts 20:18-19

We must copy the manner in which Paul served the Lord. He served the Lord with all humility. The word “humility” is the Greek word meaning lowliness of mind, and deportment and modesty. Serving the Lord with this disposition of mind made it possible for him to serve the people also with humility of mind. No one can serve the people of God with humility of mind who does not serve the Lord with humility of mind. Many pastors, shepherds assume air of superiority as a result of tiles and position. 

2. PAUL SERVED THE LORD WITH TEARS

“And when they were come to him, he said unto them, Ye know, from the first day that I came into Asia, after what manner I have been with you at all seasons, 

Serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews:” 

                                                                                                                                                  Acts 20:18-19

The church must copy Paul’s manner of service. His service was with many tears. True manliness is tender as well as firm. While doing the unpleasant things of the ministry, we must be formidable but at the same time tender. We must always tend to service with tenderness even if it is hidden. Jesus wept in the Garden of Gethsemane, and yet again wept at the tomb of Lazarus. Have you ever wept because of a God-given burden? Have you ever wept because of the foolish things that God’s people believe and practice? Have you ever wept for the burden of souls?

3. PAUL SERVED THE LORD WITH TRIALS

“And when they were come to him, he said unto them, Ye know, from the first day that I came into Asia, after what manner I have been with you at all seasons, 

Serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews:” 

                                                                                                                                                   Acts 20:18-19

We are admonished by Paul’s manner of service to serve God in spite of our trials. The word “temptations” is the Greek word for trials. The account of Paul’s ministerial journey showed a man who was tried in diverse ways but was unrelenting in following of Jesus and of His service. The apostle never gave in! glory to God! Those who give up in the service of God are of the category with whom God is totally displeased.

“Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.”

                                                                                                    

                                                                                                                                                Hebrews 10:38

Whenever a man is called to preach for God, he is also shown what he must suffer in the course of this service. The apostle Paul was firm in his mind, his ministry life was one undertaken with faithful determination.

“But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.”

                                                                                                                                                       Acts 20:24 

He declared, “none of these things move me” how many Christians can genuinely say that? It is the gift of God to think deliberately, speak distinctively, and to act wisely. When Paul declared “none of these things move me” he was transcended, transcended above the situations and conditions that were staring at him. The true shepherd’s life in the ministry must be marked by self-sacrifice. Oh Yes! Today few can say, “neither count I my life dear unto myself”. If life is not dear to one, all circumstances of life cannot be very great to him. Dear called pastor, and shepherd, your life must supersede physical life. It is the having of this spiritual life that empowers a truly called man to look down on circumstances and say none of these things move me, and I count not my life dear unto myself. This beloved is the life of self-sacrifice.

Apostle Raymond Tamakloe

Lovesprings International Church.