Tips for answering the Call of God

All Christians are called by Jesus. Not only are they called to salvation by grace, but once saved, they are called to serve Him and His people also. All Christians have a function in the Body of local believers, the church. (See 1 Corinthians chapters 12-14).

Here are a few pointers for believers answering the Call of God, the call to serve Him:

1)  Be stable in your local church. Faithfulness is the ground in which your calling can grow, like a seed. Remember that the Apostle Paul said for each person to walk as God calls them, and He ordains this as a rule in all the churches. (Read 1 Cor. 7:17) That means the local church is the starting place, the ground for building foundations in your call. The roots are important!

2) God will never call you to do something that you can't do. He always enables those He calls by His Holy Spirit. If anything, the issue is more likely: Do you want to answer?

3) The call is both for now and later. The Lord always has something for you to do today. And He will build on it tomorrow. Don't put it off and assume that you will get around to the call in a few days, weeks or years. Answer now, for we do not know how long we have left on earth.

4) Everyone is called to something, often through the voice of the pastor. When the pastor asks for volunteers, respond cheerfully! Expect your call to be unique and compatible to the needs of the church. But if you see a need in the church (like clean up etc) and no one is doing it, just jump in and answer the Call! You don't necessarily have to wait to be asked to help... Just go to the pastor yourself and say, "I'd like to help with ________ if you don't mind." Then go from there.

5) Don't compare your call to others or get envious. Remember that it is no longer about you: you were bought with the Blood of Christ and are now His. All assignments are from the same Lord and Spirit, and all assignments work together to benefit the whole congregation. Your part is just as important, even if it is different, or less noticeable. God notices.

6) God calls you no matter what your circumstances look like. Moses was a murderer, Gideon was timid, Matthew was a hated tax collector, and Peter knew he was not worthy when Jesus called him. Yet in God's wisdom, mercy, and grace, He calls us anyway. Don't use your circumstance as a reason not to answer God. Remember God gives the ability to  those who respond, such as when Jesus called Peter to walk on water with Him. God's grace and sacrifice through the blood of Christ is what washes away your sins. So agree with Him, and walk in your call!

7) When you do begin to walk in your unique call to serve the Lord, be prepared for resistance from the devil. Be prepared for resistance from your own flesh as well. You will have to overcome several distractions, and put aside some tasks, even if those tasks look reasonable. If you don't put your call at the top of your list of Priorities in Christ, you will not walk in that call. Here in North America, there is plenty to keep people distracted from God. People are less inclined to even attend a church regularly now, much less answer the call to serve. They act as though they have 1000 years to answer the call... and all the temporary stuff gets in the way. Years pass, and some believers still haven't responded. They are saved, but not functioning in the Body. Press through all the clever distractions of the world, the flesh, and the devil! Overcome.

8) The good news is, if you are still alive, then it isn't too late! You can still start! Age is just another circumstance, and no reason to reject God's call. Abraham was 75 when called, Moses was 80 when he was ready to start leading. Also, Jeremiah and Samuel were very young when called... But these ages were no barrier to these obedient believers. So get into the Spirit of God, and ask Him to pave the way... Walk in your call! One little faithful step at a time, day by day.
Be encouraged,
~Pastor Curtis