- INTRODUCTION
Benefits of Serving God:
- No Training Necessary - He'll prepare you (on the job training)
- Great compensation - treasure in heaven, including crowns, mansions, and living in a very exclusive community
- Health Benefits - By His stripes, you are healed.
- Work Attire provided - Includes complete suit of armor
- Mandatory vacation time - at least Once-a-week
- Open Door Policy - You can come to the Him anytime you are concerned
- Advancement Opportunities - After being faithful in the little
- Great Retirement plan - Eternal life with Him
Isaiah 55:6-13
6 Seek the LORD while he may be found. Call on him while he is near. 7 Let wicked people abandon their ways. Let evil people abandon their thoughts. Let them return to the LORD, and he will show compassion to them. Let them return to our God, because he will freely forgive them. 8 "My thoughts are not your thoughts, and my ways are not your ways," declares the LORD. 9 "Just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways, and my thoughts are higher than your thoughts." 10 "Rain and snow come down from the sky. They do not go back again until they water the earth. They make it sprout and grow so that it produces seed for farmers and food for people to eat. 11 My word, which comes from my mouth, is like the rain and snow. It will not come back to me without results. It will accomplish whatever I want and achieve whatever I send it to do." 12 You will go out with joy and be led out in peace. The mountains and the hills will break into songs of joy in your presence, and all the trees will clap their hands. 13 Cypress trees will grow where thornbushes grew. Myrtle trees will grow where briars grew. This will be a reminder of the LORD's name and an everlasting sign that will never be destroyed.
[Prayer]
- ANSWERING THE CALL
- You are Chosen Before the foundation of the world (Eph 1:4)
According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
- You do not have to fight for this, you need to walk in it.
- You cannot earn it, you must simply accept it
- You cannot change it, you must embrace it
- You are separated for service (2 Th 2:13)
But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:
- Sanctified - separated for God's work
- Capable - or capable of being capable
- Anointed - ordained by God with authority and power (2 Tim 2:4)
- Hearing His Voice
- Many Do not hear (1 Or 14:21)
- It is written in the Scriptures: "With people who use strange words and foreign languages I will speak to these people. But even then they will not listen to me," says the Lord.
- We must hear and obey
6 But Christ is a faithful son in charge of God's household. We are his household if we continue to have courage and to be proud of the confidence we have. 7 As the Holy Spirit says, "If you hear God speak today, don't be stubborn. 8 Don't be stubborn like those who rebelled and tested me in the desert.
- Obedience Is honored
- God will make a way (Is 55:12-13)
- He is Faithful (1 Cor 1:7-9)
12 You will go out with joy and be led out in peace. The mountains and the hills will break into songs of joy in your presence, and all the trees will clap their hands. 13 Cypress trees will grow where thornbushes grew. Myrtle trees will grow where briars grew. This will be a reminder of the LORD's name and an everlasting sign that will never be destroyed.
7 Therefore, you don't lack any gift as you wait eagerly for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed. 8 He will continue to give you strength until the end so that no one can accuse you of anything on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God faithfully keeps his promises. He called you to be partners with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.
- Everything will be fulfilled
- Jesus' Purpose - John 10:36
- God's purpose for you
why do you say that I'm dishonoring God because I said, 'I'm the Son of God'? God set me apart for this holy purpose and has sent me into the world.
Unfortunately, there are not scriptures that clearly state what everyone in this room is called to do. What we do know is that we are called to one purpose, all playing a part of God's plan, for this community and this world.
Everyone that we touch with out lives, behaviors, and words becomes a part of a complex puzzle of moving pieces. How we move those pieces affect changes the entire puzzle and the path that we must take to finally find the right place and interconnecting pieces.
God's plan is not that we figure out the puzzle, just that we discover our own position and understand our relationships with the pieces around us. Once we understand our part, we must passionately function in that position, whatever that may be.
For some, finding their place takes a lifetime. Others find their place quickly, and spend their life trying to hold their positions.
But, purpose is not finding or holding your position - it is getting there and actually doing what God has called you to do.