Answering God’s Call

September 2017, Alice and I boarded a plane to Haiti and officially began an adventure only God could have started.  We spent several months raising support and packing up everything we might need for an extended stay in another country, and saying goodbye to family and friends.

The reason?  We were obeying the Lord’s call to follow Him wherever He goes and to do whatever He wants us to do.  That’s a call every follower of Jesus has received.  Actually, this journey began in 1996 and led us to Georgia, Missouri, Alaska, India, and now Haiti.   

Looking back on our lives, we are amazed at how God has equipped us, from skills to practical resources to ministry vision, for this call on our life.

Hebrews Chapter 11 is one of the great chapters in the Bible.  When we read about Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, David, Samuel, and the prophets, they all had one thing in common, they answered the call!  Common sense tells me that God had probably called others, but they refused to answer His call.  The Bible tells us that “For many are called, but few are chosen.” (Matthew 22:14)

We must be willing to answer God’s call when it comes.  Noah answered God’s call to build the ark. Abraham answered God’s call to leave Ur.  Moses answered God’s call to lead the children of Israel out of Egypt.  There are three basic elements in answering the call of God.  First, you must know God.  Second, you must respond by faith.  And last, you can’t turn back.

You must first know God in an intimate way.  When God has a special job to do, He calls someone that He has a relationship with.  He knows each one of His children intimately.  He knows our strong points, our weak points, and what we are capable of.  God knows better than you do what you can accomplish.

Never forget, God calls us for a specific purpose at different times in our lives based on His plan.  He will never ask you to do something that He hasn’t equipped you to accomplish.  Hebrews 11:1 says, “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”  Once God calls us, we must respond by faith.  Faith is not a blind leap in the dark, but a trust in God.  When God called Abraham, he left obediently, not even knowing where he was going.  He trusted God.  James 2:17 tells us that, “Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead.”

In talking of Abraham, James said that “You see that faith was working with his works, and as a result of the works, faith was perfected.” (James 2:22) But once you hear God call you, and you respond by faith, you cannot then turn back.  Jesus said, “No one, after putting his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God." (Luke 9:62) Once you answer the call of God, you will be attacked by Satan.

There are some sad examples in scripture of those who heard, responded by faith, and then turned back.  John Mark went with Paul and Barnabas on their first missionary journey, but turned back. Demas, a co-laborer with Paul, is said to have deserted Paul because of his love for the world. Answering the call of God is not easy, but God will make you acceptable to stand the attacks and follow through.

Hebrews 11:13-16a says, “All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own. And indeed if they had been thinking of that country from which they went out, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is a heavenly one.”

“Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He has prepared a city for them.” (Hebrews 11:16b)  These men and women of faith never turned back because they realized there was no place to turn back to!  Peter said it best when he said, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have words of eternal life.” (John 6:68b)

I pray that today you will be inspired by these words, inspired to develop that close, intimate relationship with God, so that you will be available for His use.  I pray that you will develop the faith to answer His call when it comes.

I pray that you will answer that call by faith.  For our purpose in this life is to serve and glorify Him. Take your mind off of your desires, your goals, and your will, and focus instead on His desires, His goals, and His will.

The big question is, “Are you willing to answer God's call?”

The Missionary Call

“Again Jesus said, "Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you." And with that he breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit.” (John 20:21-22)

Throughout the Old Testament God called many of His people to be missionaries.  We can think of Abraham, who was a witness to many of his pagan neighbors.  And also Joseph, who stood before Pharaoh and bluntly told him that the God of heaven was the only God.  And of course, there was Moses preaching to a later Pharaoh who chose not to listen.  And most significantly, God placed Israel at the crossroads of the known world to be a missionary to all who traveled through their land. 

God even sent missionaries to reform His own people.  In Isaiah 6, the prophet, in the very throne room of heaven, volunteered to go and preach the truth.  In Jeremiah 1, God told the prophet that He had called him before he was even born. These men preached to the nations, but to Israel first.

All these missionaries foretold the Great Missionary, Jesus the Messiah, who was sent from eternity into this world in order to save it.  Throughout His brief earthly ministry, Jesus insisted that He had come to do and to say only what the Father had sent Him to do and to say.  At His baptism, the Holy Spirit came upon Him and anointed Him for this task.  Jesus went primarily to the house of Israel, but ministered to Gentiles as well, often praising their faith.

Then, having completed His work, Jesus sent His apostles into the world.  John 20:21 shows us that we are sent out on a mission, not in order to earn peace with God, but because peace has already been made with God.  Jesus said, “Again Jesus said, Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.”  We are sent out by Jesus just as Jesus was sent out by the Father.

Now, people can offer God plenty of reasons why they don’t feel called to spread the gospel.  But His call is not issued for our consideration; He expects a response of obedience and surrender.  A believer is accountable only to say yes to God’s call.  It is the Lord’s responsibility to equip the chosen for the work He’s assigned.  

Unfortunately, there's a lot of confusing and sometimes contradictory talk going out about the missionary call.  Beware of the extremes!  Some require you to have had your own mystical call or voice from God.  I don't deny this happens, but don't let others over-spiritualize the process and force it on you as normal.  Other Christians approach it from an overly rational, dry, mathematical model that gathers the facts, prays, and then makes a logical decision.

God makes His call with wisdom and discernment.  He knows why He created you and what you're capable of accomplishing in His strength. (See Ephesians 2:10)  Rejecting the invitation to serve Him is foolish.  It would be like telling almighty God that He made a mistake.  A personal plan has been mapped for each believer’s life, and God provides the suitable personality and temperament.  Then He adds skills that can be developed, and the spiritual gifts necessary, to fulfill His mission.   

Although missionaries cannot be stereotyped, they each have a call.  God calls them to set aside personal ambitions in order to be witnesses of the Gospel.  Like Isaiah, a missionary joyfully responds, "Here am I. Send me!" (Isaiah 6:8b)

A Christian missionary is an ambassador of Christ.  Each one must be yielded to the Lord, loving Him with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength. (See Mark 12:30)  Specifically, a missionary is one whom God sends through the support of the Church to the unreached.  All Christians, however, are called to be missionaries of the Gospel.  The Lord works through them to rescue the lost.  What greater call can one answer?  And surrender opens the door to a lifetime of service, blessing, and joy.

The great mission program Jesus established is nothing less than the disciplining of every nation on earth. Not only individuals, but nations are to recognize Jesus as King. (See Matthew 28:18–20)  Mission work can occur near or far.  You could serve at home by writing to prisoners, down the street by dishing out meals at a shelter, across the nation by providing flood relief, or in another country by translating the gospel.

In short, the missionary calling is whatever God tells you to do.   Each of us is unique.  That means that no two people ever have exactly the same mission from God.  Since mission involves disciplining the nations, it can be as broad as all of life.

Simply put, a great mission still lies before us!

A Community of Witnesses

Let me ask you, if you or your church ceased to exist today, what evangelistic impact would be lost? 

Effective evangelism should be measured not by individual responses, but by the clarity and accuracy of the message proclaimed.  Whether in a large gathering or from one individual to another, a church functioning at maximum evangelistic capacity will saturate its areas of influence with the gospel of Jesus Christ. Evangelism should be instinctive to the church, a reflexive activity that weaves its way in and through everything else it does together.  Encouraging the church to evangelize should be as necessary as urging a newborn to cry; it should take effort to silence.

Paul calls believers ambassadors of Christ, “We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God.” (2 Corinthians 5:20)  An ambassador speaks the message they were given with the authority and conviction of the one who sends them.

As the church, the bride of Christ, we must be bold in our proclamation of the gospel. We look for points of intersection with the unbelieving world, not points of unification. As the church of Jesus Christ, our role is to carry the gospel so that salt and light collide with decay and darkness.

If the church is to function as the gospel witness to the nations, it must be vocal on an individual level.  The church that is most effective in spreading the light of the gospel will be most active through its members, faithfully and boldly proclaiming the gospel to every unbeliever they know. When believers are faithful to evangelize in the routine of life, they more naturally gather together in evangelistic efforts that go beyond their immediate context and into the world.

The measure of a church’s evangelistic effectiveness is obedience on an individual level. And the gospel commission is a call for individual disciples to engage individual sinners.  The response of sinners is the work of the Spirit, not the result of our actions. Instead of determining effectiveness by the response, measure it by the accuracy of the message.

So, what are the hallmarks of a church functioning at maximum evangelistic capacity? How can church members be involved in Christ-exalting, gospel-proclaiming evangelism in their local community?

If you’re saved, you already know enough of the gospel to present it to someone else.  However, it takes work to be clear and understandable.  Every believer should commit to memory the basic components of the gospel.  With those fundamentals memorized, we should work daily to recite it to ourselves and even in role play with other believers.  Seldom will you have a Bible in hand when an evangelistic opportunity appears.  While a memorized gospel presentation is not a requirement for evangelism, it will allow you to present the gospel with clarity and conviction.

Every believer should have the gospel message to present at any given moment.  A church that spreads the gospel message, is one that takes deliberate steps to keep the message on the forefront of each believer’s mind.

First and foremost, the hard work of evangelism begins on our knees, pleading God to go before us in the hearts of those we engage with the gospel.  No amount of human effort can save someone.  So, in humility and dependency, we approach the throne of God with our prayers of intercession.  This follows the pattern of Paul, who prays earnestly for his mission field when he says, “Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved.” (Romans 10:1)  When we pray for specific unbelievers, as individuals and as groups, we grow increasingly aware of the opportunities Christ is giving to proclaim his name.

I’m sure most of you have heard the old saying, “Your life may be the only bible some people read!”  The most clear and accurate gospel presentation is ignored if unbelievers see only a life of sin (anger, lust, gossip, laziness) instead of a life righteousness (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control).  In humility, repent when you sin, and use even your failures to magnify God’s mercy.  Let your holiness and repentance distinguish you from the world.  The consistent example of a changed life is compelling proof of salvation.

As you read this today, who are the unbelievers you’re engaging with the gospel?  It’s not enough to talk about them, you must talk with them, using the natural points of connection in your life to advance the gospel conversation.  God, in His sovereign grace, chose to place you in contact with those particular unbelievers.  Don’t throw away the opportunity to proclaim His saving message. This is your mission field.

You may find yourself in a time or place where you’re isolated from the unbelieving world (living at a Christian college, isolated by a pandemic, or at home with a believing family).  Or, perhaps you have drifted toward the relationships of least resistance, surrounding yourself with like-minded Christians.  If this is true for you, remember the example of Christ, who was always interacting with unbelievers (See Matthew 9:9-11), and then take the first step in the right direction.

Challenge yourself and other believers to identify those to pursue with the gospel.  At the same time, constantly work to create new networks that open up new mission fields for gospel ministry.

The hard work of evangelism is carried out most vividly when believers speak and act with Christ-exalting love for one another.  Jesus says, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:34-35)

Christian love is vital to evangelism because it makes the love of Christ visible for the world to see. The world is watching and must see the transforming power of the gospel on display in our lives. This was at the heart of Paul’s challenge to Philemon in extending forgiveness to Onesimus. (See Philemon 1:8-10)

The unbelieving world must see the Holy Spirit enabling Christians to serve one another, encourage one another, endure hardship, refuse gossip, speak the truth in love and embrace suffering.  Does your love for other believers give credibility to your gospel presentation?

No matter your age, level of responsibility or visibility within the church, you can lead by example. The heart of Paul’s encouragement to Timothy is to lead by example despite his youth. (See 1 Timothy 4:12)  Some of the greatest evangelists are those whose names we won’t remember, but were relentlessly faithful to tell others about Jesus.  Don’t wait for someone else to lead by example, take initiative and others will follow.

Never lose sight of the miracle that happens in new birth.  If heaven rejoices in celebration in response to the new birth, so should we. (See Luke 15:10)  One way to do this is to share testimonies often.  We can never hear enough of the work Christ has done in drawing someone to salvation.  In your church, incorporate the recounting of salvation wherever possible.  Doing so reminds us of the many ways the gospel penetrates hearts and how God chooses to use saved sinners in that process.

Evangelism isn’t just something we do, it is a part of who we are.  It’s not a question of ability or adequacy, it’s a question of obedience to Christ.  A church that loves Christ is a church that will not be stopped in its proclamation of the gospel and its demonstration of love for Christ.  

As ambassadors of Christ and the gospel, we can engage this world boldly and look forward to the work Christ will do in and through us, for His glory.