In this study we discuss ways to determine God's calling on your life.
Series: Sharpening Your Sword
- Equipping you and preparing you to do God’s work.
Scriptures:
- Acts 6:1-4
- Ephesians 2:10
- Exodus 35:4-19
- Exodus 35:30-35
- Matthew 9:35-38
- 1 Peter 4:10-11
- James 1:5-8
- 2 Timothy 3:16-17
- Hebrews 13:7
- Acts 13:1-3
- Matthew 4:2
- Ezra 8:23
- Mark 10:29-30
Review of “What’s Important Now (WIN)”
- You need to identify what season you are in, and factor that into all the decisions you make
- We need to intentionally focus on things that are best aligned with our current season and our future goals
- Warren Buffet example
- You can have anything you want what in life, but you can't have everything you want
- you need to prioritize what’s important now
- Our greatest fear shouldn't be that we don't succeed, but that we do succeed in something that doesn't matter
- Focus on the future not the past; make today count
- You're going to work hard whether you achieve anything or not, so why not make it matter
- It’s more important to make a difference for God than to achieve the world’s definition of success
- We need to make God’s work a priority in our lives.
- We need to make our relationship with God a priority in our lives.
Not necessarily that you spend all of your time helping the church, but that your focus should be centered around God’s calling on your life
Acts 6:1-4
Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists [ Greek Jews] arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. 2 And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. 3 Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. 4 But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”
- Why did the twelve say “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables”?
- Was serving tables helping the kingdom?
- Yes
- So why did they stop?
- to focus on their main calling
We need to focus on our calling. We should make it a priority in our lives. Even service to God’s work can be a distraction from what God is calling us to do.
Ephesians 2:10
10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
- When did God prepare the work He wants us to do.
God has a calling that He has prepared for us.
Exodus 35:4-19
4 Moses said to the whole Israelite community, “This is what the Lord has commanded: 5 From what you have, take an offering for the Lord. Everyone who is willing is to bring to the Lord an offering of gold, silver and bronze; 6 blue, purple and scarlet yarn and fine linen; goat hair; 7 ram skins dyed red and another type of durable leather[a]; acacia wood; 8 olive oil for the light; spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense; 9 and onyx stones and other gems to be mounted on the ephod and breastpiece.
10 “All who are skilled among you are to come and make everything the Lord has commanded: 11 the tabernacle with its tent and its covering, clasps, frames, crossbars, posts and bases; 12 the ark with its poles and the atonement cover and the curtain that shields it; 13 the table with its poles and all its articles and the bread of the Presence; 14 the lampstand that is for light with its accessories, lamps and oil for the light; 15 the altar of incense with its poles, the anointing oil and the fragrant incense; the curtain for the doorway at the entrance to the tabernacle; 16 the altar of burnt offering with its bronze grating, its poles and all its utensils; the bronze basin with its stand; 17 the curtains of the courtyard with its posts and bases, and the curtain for the entrance to the courtyard; 18 the tent pegs for the tabernacle and for the courtyard, and their ropes; 19 the woven garments worn for ministering in the sanctuary—both the sacred garments for Aaron the priest and the garments for his sons when they serve as priests.”
- What was Aaron and his son’s calling?
- They were priests
- How did they know?
- God told Moses
- Who did they Lord say should make everything in tabernacle
- All who are skilled v10
- Who did God say should bring an offering of the materials
- whoever is willing v5
God can work with those who are skilled, but he’ll also work with all who are willing.
Exodus 35:30-35
30 Then Moses said to the Israelites, “See, the Lord has chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, 31 and he has filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skills— 32 to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, 33 to cut and set stones, to work in wood and to engage in all kinds of artistic crafts. 34 And he has given both him and Oholiab son of Ahisamak, of the tribe of Dan, the ability to teach others. 35 He has filled them with skill to do all kinds of work as engravers, designers, embroiderers in blue, purple and scarlet yarn and fine linen, and weavers—all of them skilled workers and designers.
- What are some of the skills God filled the people with
- engravers, designers, embroiderers, weavers v35
- Did these people have these skills all their lives?
- no they were given the skills when God needed them to work
Just because you aren’t fully equipped to do something now doesn’t mean that it’s not your calling. God will prepare you when you need it.
So how do you know what your calling is?
10 Ways To Find Your Calling
1. Who’s Pain Do You Feel?
Matthew 9:35-38
35 Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. 38 Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”
- Why did Jesus feel compassion on the crowds?
- Because they were harassed and helpless
Your destiny is tied to a particular person or group of people.
You know by:
- Who’s pain do you feel?
- What needs in the world concern you?
- Who’s tears affect you?
- Who’s enemy are you willing to protect them from?
The Christian heart of love is drawn by perceived needs, whether near or far. Therefore God uses what we know to awaken the measure of our desire that pushes us over the edge of commitment.
Kayla Mueller
"I find God in the suffering eyes reflected in mine. If this is how you are revealed to me, this is how I will forever seek you.
"I will always seek God. Some people find God in church. Some people find God in nature. Some people find God in love; I find God in suffering. I've known for some time what my life's work is, using my hands as tools to relieve suffering."
2. How Does God Speaks To You?
The way God speaks to you is an indication of your calling
Examples:
- most teachers hear from God through the word or from writing
- God speaks through workshop
How does God speak to you?
3. What Are Your Gifts?
1 Peter 4:10-11
10 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. 11 If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.
What you pay attention to ties into your gifting
- I became critical of singers and preachers right before I had a season of singing in the choir and speaking
- If you’re critical about everything you may have the gift of discernment
- Or you might just be a hater lol
Don’t let the lack of a gift deter you because God may give you a gift at the time it is needed.
- example: this bible study
- meditating on scriptures to understand
- finding relevant scriptures
- he gives great preachers recent stories
- organization - relating
James 1:5-8
5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. 6 But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7 That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8 Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.
4. Read The Bible
2 Timothy 3:16-17
16All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; 17so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.
Listen for God’s direction as you read.
5. Try to Understand How Other People Chose Their Callings
Hebrews 13:7
7 Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.
Examples include:
- asking others what motivated them to their calling
- read missionary biographies and journals
6. Look at Your Experiences and Circumstances
You may be able to help those struggling with things that you’ve overcome.
7. Prayer and Fasting For God to Tell You Your Calling
Ezra 8:23
23 So we fasted and petitioned our God about this, and he answered our prayer.
Matthew 4:2*
And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.
8. Worshipping
Acts 13:1-3
13 1 Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul. 2 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” 3 So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.
9. Listen to Those Who Hear From God
They can confirm your gifts and even open your eyes to giftings or a calling you hadn’t considered.
- Shai’Yah’s example of choir
10. Come into a State of Surrendering to God’s Will
Mark 10:29-30
29 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel 30 will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age: homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—along with persecutions—and in the age to come eternal life. 31 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”
When you decide that you are willing to put aside everything else to follow God’s will is probably the most expedient way to find your calling.
Your Calling and Your Soul Mate
Many people are of the opinion that there is one person who God has picked out for you before you were born, but they neglect to realize that there is one calling that God has picked out for them before they were born.
One of the signs that you have found the right mate is that they will align with God’s calling on your life.
Confirmation About Your Calling
Parents, health, houses, lands, children, age, etc. All of them matter in our calling, but none of them is decisive. They can all be overridden. God's calling to missions is not authoritative the way the Scriptures are. Your calling is never beyond question. You can't claim it to others the way you quote Scripture to them. Nevertheless our calling can be profoundly and durably sure in our own heart. It is the work of God to bring our heart to a point of conviction that, all things considered-including Scripture-this path is the path of obedience. The conviction is not infallible. But when it is of God, it brings peace.
Summary:
- We need to make finding and acting in our calling the priority in our lives.
- Some of the ways to find our calling are by considering:
- Who's Pain Do You Feel?
- How does God speak to you?
- What are your gifts?
- Read the bible
- Trying to understand how other people chose their callings
- Look at your experiences and circumstances
- Pray for God to guide you into your calling
- Worshipping
- Fasting
- Listening to those who hear from God
- Come into a state of surrender to God's will
- God chose your calling before you were born.
- You will have peace and fulfillment when you're working within your calling.
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