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God's Holy Call. How Gods Sovereignty and our free will work together.
God’s Sovereignty and our free will go hand and hand. Meaning they both work together in our lives.
I heard a man once say this: “Even though God called Abraham it was the faith of Abraham that justified him.”
That is so powerful! That is so Holy Spirit! This is an amazing revelation by The Spirit of God.
Praise be to God our Heavenly Father for I believe this is God revealing to us how His Sovereignty and how our free will responsibility to respond to him in faith believing go hand in hand. Let’s read it again here below:
“Even though God called Abraham it was the faith of Abraham that justified him.”
Do you truly see that now? God’s Sovereignty and our free will go together. God in his infinite wisdom makes them both work together! Wow!
So, this is how it is…
So God calls us all (This is His Sovereignty being displayed). Meaning God calls us first we do not call him first. His call in our lives whenever he’s choosing to use us for his service and purposes is a Sovereign decision made by Him and this decision (this choosing) is made apart from us. When God Called Abraham for example, he did not consult with Abraham first to see what he would think about the matter. When God called Moses, Moses gave God the excuse that I’m not an eloquent speaker, When God called Jonah, Jonah wanted nothing to do with that great city of Nineveh. However, God still called them. Why? Because when God calls an individual it is because He has a purpose and plan in mind, meaning he wants to accomplish something in the earth for his glory and for own his divine sovereign purposes and he wants to use you as his chosen vessel to do it! Yes, he wants to use us this is true of us all. God will use you if you humble yourself unto him, submit and truly surrender yourself to him.
He wants to empower you By His Spirit to carry out his divine purposes on the earth and in your world (Zechariah 4:6). So now we clearly see from scripture that yes God calls us. And He’s still calling us today. The truth of the matter is God calls us all. However, we must respond to his calling (John 7:37) (Matthew 11:28-30) (Revelation 3:20). And we must respond to his calling just like Abraham did and that is by faith (Romans 4:3-5). Yes, we must trust believing in Him that He will do what He says He will do. For nothing is impossible with God. Read (Matthew 19:26) (Romans 4) (Romans 5).
God has been and always is the initiator of our calling and of our salvation. When you truly read and study the Bible from Genesis to Revelation you will see that God is the one who calls everyone. God called Abraham, God called Job, Moses, Noah, Jonah, Joshua, David, Paul, God called all the disciples etc. The disciples of Jesus did not call him first, He first called them. In fact, Jesus said to his own disciples you did not choose me I chose you (John 15:16).
What’s the message? The message is He seeks us ought and He calls us not the other way around. The bible teaches us that we are the ones who were lost and Jesus Himself who is our salvation found us (Luke 19:9-10) (Luke 2:25-32) (Luke 3:6) (Acts 4:12) (1 John 5:11-13) (Hebrews 5:9) (Isaiah 12:2) (Exodus 15:2) (Titus 2:11) (Psalm 27:1) (Psalm 37:39) (Psalm 68:20).
Remember the Prodigal Son Parable about the lost son? God The Father is the father represented (that’s being portrayed) in the prodigal Son story. Meaning He is always looking for us, waiting for us, and seeking us out. He is always looking and waiting for us to come back home to Him. Read (Luke 15:11-32).
The Great Call of God
There is a call of God that is to salvation, service, discipleship, and appointedness. Here below I explain them all to you.
1st. God calls us all to salvation through the gospel.
There is a call to salvation and this call is to all and for all. Yes, this call of God is to the whole world. The Good News of Jesus Christ is God’s call and message to the whole world. I say unto you again people of the world through the gospel God is calling us all to himself.
Whenever the gospel is preached, read, or heard that is God By His Spirit revealing himself unto you in the person of Christ.
The bible teaches us that God was in the very person of Christ reconciling the whole world unto himself (2 Corinthians 5:18-20) (Colossians 1:19-22) (1 Timothy 2:4-6).
2ndly. There is a call to service.
This means God calls and appoints certain individuals for his own Sovereign and divine purposes. This too is true. We have been called to serve him (Ecclesiastes 12:13) (Matthew 22:37-40).
Examples of this call to service here below.
God chose Mary for service.
For example, God called and chose Mary to be his chosen vessel to give birth to The Savior Jesus. God called Mary; Mary did not call God. Mary didn’t know how this miraculous birth could possibly happen being that she was a virgin. However, Mary found favor with God and she responded gracefully and favorably. She said to the Angel of The Lord “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” (Luke 1:26-38). Now the point I’m making in all of this is that God chose to use Mary for his own Sovereign purposes, and he made this decision apart from her. God could have chosen another woman If He so desired but no he chose her. That was his Sovereign prerogative to use her and she is the one God chose. This decision by God had nothing to do with Mary. God did not consult with Mary before He chose and called her for his service. Notice how Mary responded? She said I am the Lord’s servant. We too ought to respond in the same way. We too ought to say I am the Lord’s servant. We must humble ourselves before our Holy God.
God Chose Moses for service.
Did you know Moses was a Murderer before God called him? And yet God still called him through the burning bush and chose to use him to deliver his people out of Egypt (Exodus 3) (Exodus 14). God is the One who first sought Moses out and called him to service. God called Moses; Moses did not call God.
God chose David for service.
Did you know God is the one who called, chose, anointed and appointed David to be a king? David did not choose himself to be king, David did not anoint himself to be King, David did not appoint himself to be King. God did this all. This was God’s doing, yes this was all God’s Sovereign plan. God is the One who called David for service. God is the one who sought David out. God is the One who called, chose, anointed and appointed David to be King of Israel (1 Samuel 16).
3rdly. There is a call to discipleship.
Jesus prayed to God his Father and chose each one of his disciples. The disciples did not choose Jesus first, Jesus chose them first. In fact, Jesus himself said to his disciples you did not choose me I chose you (John 15:16).
4thly. There is a call to Appointedness or kingship.
The bible teaches us that God (that is God The Father, God The Son Jesus, God The Holy Spirit) is The Supreme Ruler of the entire Universe and that He is The One in control, yes He is The One who has all authority over all. In the Bible (especially in The Old Testament) the Holy Scriptures are clear that God is the one who raises kings and removes them. The bible plainly teaches us that he sets kings in authority and that he allows them to rule on the earth for a time and season for his own Sovereign and Divine purposes. Did you know that God allowed Pharaoh to rule for a time and season? Even though Pharaoh was a wicked unbeliever God wanted to show Pharaoh that He is The True King yes that He is The God of Heaven. God wanted to show and reveal to Pharaoh and the rest of the unbelieving world his glory, power and Majesty (Exodus 14). This is because God is The True King The Supreme Rule of the Universe and no one can stop his hand. He is the One who setteth up kings and rulers and He is also the One who can remove them. Read (John 19:11) (Romans 13:1-5) (Psalm 75:5-7) (Daniel 2:20-21) (Daniel 4:17) (Jeremiah 27:5) (Proverbs 21:1) (1 Samuel 15:23-26) (Acts 12:21-23) (Jeremiah 18:1-9) (John 15:16).
Psalms 75:5-7, KJV
"Lift not up your horn on high: speak not with a stiff neck. For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south. But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another."
Daniel 2:20-21, KJV
"Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his: And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding:"
Daniel 4:17, NIV
‘The decision is announced by messengers, the holy ones declare the verdict, so that the living may know that the Most High is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes and sets over them the lowliest of people.’
Jeremiah 27:5, KJV
"I have made the earth, the man and the beast that are upon the ground, by my great power and by my outstretched arm, and have given it unto whom it seemed meet unto me."
1 Samuel 15:23-26, KJV
"For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king. And Saul said unto Samuel, I have sinned: for I have transgressed the commandment of the LORD, and thy words: because I feared the people, and obeyed their voice. Now therefore, I pray thee, pardon my sin, and turn again with me, that I may worship the LORD. And Samuel said unto Saul, I will not return with thee: for thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, and the LORD hath rejected thee from being king over Israel."
Acts 12:21-23, KJV
"And upon a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat upon his throne, and made an oration unto them. And the people gave a shout, saying, It is the voice of a god, and not of a man. And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost."
Proverbs 21:1, KJV
"The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will."
Do you see my point now? God is in control and has complete Authority over all. He himself sets up kings and removes them for his own Sovereign and Divine purposes.
God chose Saul who became the Apostle Paul.
Did you know that Saul was persecuting and killing Christians yes persecuting the church of God before He came to faith in Jesus Christ? The scriptures reveal to us that he did it in ignorance (Acts 7:58) (Acts 8:1-3) (Acts 9:1-9) (Acts 26:9-11) (Galatians 1:13) (1 Timothy 1:13). Did you know that because Paul did these things before, he came to Christ he called himself the chief of sinners (1 Timothy 1:15)? Paul truly believed there was no worst sinner than himself. This is coming from someone who wrote 2/3 of the whole new testament! This is coming from someone who literally dedicated his entire life to Jesus. This is someone who turned the world upside down for the gospel sake and for the glory of Jesus’ name (Acts 17:6). No one in my humble opinion had a love and hunger for the gospel more than Paul. And this man says he is the chief of sinners! So, what’s my point? The point is this: Regardless of what Paul did or didn’t do in his past God is the one who chose Paul to be his chosen instrument to preach the gospel to the gentiles (Acts 9). This was God’s call to Paul because God wanted to intervene and do something in Paul’s life and so he did. Paul’s conversion is The Holy Spirit revealing to us by revelation that Jesus and His gospel must be revealed to us (Galatians 1:15-16) (Matthew 16:13-17) (Titus 2:11) (Acts 8:26-40). You do not find Jesus, Jesus finds you! God must reveal himself to us first or else we will never believe in Him for who He truly is. And who is Jesus truly one may ask? Jesus is The Christ The Holy Messiah, yes, He is The Son of The Living God. And praises be to our God and Father for he has shown us His grace by revealing himself to us all through the gospel.
Let’s read here below for proof of this bible truth.
Titus 2:11 (NLT)
11 For the grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people.
The Holy Spirit is also revealing to us by revelation that if God can save Paul who was once a murderer who calls himself the chief of sinners God can save anyone. Trust in The Savior Jesus dear reader no matter who you are and what you have done, because He is a complete and Sufficient Savior who completely saves to the uttermost (Hebrews 7:25). If God can save Paul through Christ Jesus and transform Him by The Power and Person of The Holy Spirit, then God too can save you and transform you by this same Holy Spirit.
Here below I give you an example of God calling Paul:
1st. God calls Paul to salvation.
2nd. God calls Paul to service.
That is to follow and proclaim this Jesus The Holy Son of God using the spiritual gifts he has given him (Romans 1:1-17) (Acts 9:20-22) (Acts 17:1-4) (Galatians 1:15).
3rd. God calls Paul to Apostleship and sends him to preach the gospel to the gentiles, to the people of Israel, and to kings.
This simply means God himself called Paul to be an Apostle, Paul did not do this for himself God is the one who called Paul to Apostleship. You cannot call yourself to Apostleship God and God alone is the One who chooses, calls, anoints and appoints Apostles.
When Jesus chose his Disciples/Apostles that was Jesus calling them to discipleship. Some of Jesus’ own disciples did not believe in Him right away. And some only believed after his bodily Resurrection (John 20:28).
Here’s a revelation revealed unto you: Jesus chose Judas to be a disciple this is true. However, Judas decided to betray Jesus and because of his guilt of betraying The Holy Son of God he ultimately committed suicide. From all biblical accounts Judas was not saved and we know this not because he committed suicide but because He did not believe On The Son. How do we know this one may ask? Because Jesus said that it would have been better for him if he had not been born (Matthew 26:24)! Jesus would have never said that if he was saved and going to heaven. The revelation The Spirit of God is revealing is this: Even though Jesus who is God knew in advance Judas would betray him he still chose to use him as a disciple! Why? and what does this reveal about God? This reveals God’s loving character. This reveals God is no respector of persons, this reveals that God shows no favoritism (Romans 2:11) (Acts 10:34), and that He God makes salvation available to all men (1 John 2:1-2) (1 Timothy 2:4-6). Even though he knew Judas would betray him before hand, God in Christ, yes God in his grace and mercy still gave Judas a time to repent and believe in Him. Wow! What a gracious and merciful God we have in the person of Christ Jesus.
4thly. God called and appointed Paul not only to be His Apostle but God also appointed Paul to be his chosen instrument.
This means God is the one who called, anointed, and appointed Paul to preach the gospel to the gentiles. God Sovereignly called Paul to do this task. This was Paul’s Holy Assignment from God. God did not consult with Paul before hand and ask him what do you think about me choosing you? Now even though it is true that God called and chose Paul to be his chosen instrument (Acts 9:15), Paul now must respond to this call of God appropriately by faith believing. God calls us all. However, we must respond to him biblically which is by faith. God doesn’t force anyone to be saved and God doesn’t force anyone to serve and follow Him. He makes the call its up to us whether we will answer and respond to him appropriately by faith.
Now I will address the believer for a moment. Believers in Christ I say unto you Our Abba Father still calls us the same way today.
Here below is an example of how God calls us believers:
1st. He calls us to salvation,
Now that we believe and trusted in Christ, He then….
2ndly. He calls us to service. Yes, He calls us to serve him.
Yes, he calls us to serve him, not to be saved but serve him because we are saved. The moment you believed in Jesus you were given a gift of The Holy Spirit of God. God wants you to use the gift or gifts that he gave you for his glory (Romans 12:6-8) (1 Corinthians 12:6-10, 27-31) (1 Corinthians 7:7) (1 Peter 4:11) (Ephesians 4:11) (Galatians 5:22-23). This is the reason why He gave it to you. You are to use your spiritual gift or gifts for his glory to advance the gospel here on the earth. So, don’t bury your gifts and or talents (Matthew 25:14-30). Submit yourself unto the Lord and let him use you as an instrument of righteousness (Romans 6:13). Remember God our Father is the potter and we are his clay (Isaiah 64:8). Let him mold and use you as He sees fit. So, remember not only were you called to salvation you were called to serve him. Jesus didn’t just save you just so that you can go to heaven, if that were the case, he would have taken you to heaven the moment you got saved and believed. No, after God saves you through the gospel, he then wants you to share this same gospel to others. Why? This is because there is a lost and dying world who does not yet know Jesus. God is calling all believers in Him who are his ambassadors to share Christ with a lost and dying world. This is because the One who calls us also is the One who sends us.
3rdly. He calls us to be discipled. Yes, there is a call of God that is a call to discipleship.
This means God is calling us to take up our cross daily and follow him. Again, we do this not to be saved but because we are saved. Jesus is calling us to deny ourselves, take up our cross daily and follow Him (Luke 9:23).
Luke 9:23 (KJV)
And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.
If you are a believer in Christ, Jesus is calling you to go on a journey with him right here and now while you are here on the earth. Luke 9:23 is all about discipleship. Believer in Christ God is calling you to discipleship.
As a believer in Christ we are to follow the Leading of The Holy Spirit. Just as Jesus walked, talked, and dined with his disciples. We too are to walk, talk, and dine with He The Holy Spirit. He is here to lead us into all truth. The bible says that He The Holy Spirit, is the believers Comforter, Counselor, and Guide (John 14:16, 26) (John 15:26) (John 16:7, 13) (Revelation 7:16-17).
So, what has God Appointed the believer in Christ?
4thly. The believer in Christ is Appointed to sonship, kingship, and a holy priesthood.
You have been called to be a son or daughter of the most high God. Because you believe in Jesus God himself has called you and brought you near to him and now has brought you into his very own presence. Because you are a son of God who believes in The Only Begotten Son of God you are now royalty. This means you are royalty because you believe in The King of All kings and The Lord of all lords. The bible goes on to say because of your faith in Christ you are seated in heavenly places because you are one in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2:6). The bible goes on to say that because you believe in the finished work of Christ on that cross you are now an heir of God and joint heir with Jesus Christ (Romans 8:17). You child of God are a royal priesthood a holy nation a people belonging to God (1 Peter 2:9). You child of God have been called to salvation and because of your faith in The Son you have been justified by your God (Romans 4:3-5). What’s the result of your faith and salvation? You who were once far off from God have now been brought near to Him by the shed blood of Christ and brought into the very presence of God (Colossians 1:19-22) (Ephesians 2:13). Yes, brought into His presence where you can serve and worship him the way He truly desires to be worshipped which is in spirit and in truth (John 4:24). You have been called child of God to glorify him. How do we bring glory to God one may ask? We bring glory to God by believing On The Son. Yes, by trusting in Him. Whenever one believes On The Son this brings great glory to God (Philippians 2:11). You have been called and have been privileged to glorify him both now and forevermore (Romans 5:1-2). You child of God have been called to serve The King, yes to serve The King of all kings and The Lord of all lords (Revelation 19:16). You child of God have been called to discipleship you are to take up your cross daily and follow him (Luke 9:23). You child of God have been anointed and appointed to be a king and priest unto your God (Revelation 1:6).
God’s Sovereignty and our free will responsibility summarized
The bible declares Now God commands everyone everywhere to repent and believe the gospel (Acts 17:30) (Mark 1:15).
1st. Now since Gods call of salvation through the gospel message has already been given and pronounced to the whole world ()…….
2nd. Now then it’s up to us to respond to his call, yes then it’s up to us to respond in faith believing to the Very One who called us.
God’s Sovereignty is true people of the world but so is free will and our own responsibility. For the bible teaches both, and the bible teaches us that our responsibility is answering His call, leaning not unto our own understanding (Proverbs 3:5-6) and thus trusting in Him yes believing in Him by faith. Read (John 3:16, 36) (Romans 3:19-31) (Romans 4:3-5) (Romans 10:9-13) (John 20:31).
I say unto you God is calling us all in so that one day we will all say unto Him
“Lord Jesus You are The Very Son of God The Holy Messiah and Lord Jesus you are the one in whom I believe.” Read (Matthew 16:13-17) (John 6:68) (John 7:37) (John 9:35-38) (John 20:28, 31).
God is calling you dear reader and He is calling you unto himself in the person of Christ Jesus. Will you respond to his call-in faith believing? Yes, will you respond by believing On The Son? Read (2 Corinthians 5:18-20) (Colossians 1:19-22) (1 Timothy 2:4-6) (John 3:16, 36) (Acts 16:30-31).
Revelation 3:20 (KJV) says
20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
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