Notes by Charles Stanley:
2 Timothy 1:8-11 “WHAT is a CALL from GOD? It is a moment in time when God gets our attention about a specific personal message that fits His Will for our life.
“ASPECTS of GOD’s CALL:
a) There is nothing more serious.
b) It is always specific.
c) It is always personal.
d) It gives commands and summons.
“THE NATURE of GOD’s CALL is THREEFOLD:
1. CALL to SALVATION (Matt 11:28, Luke 5:32, 1 Tim 6:12) God has Called every single one of us. The basis of the Call to Salvation is His death on the cross, paying our sin debt in full. God takes the initiative.
2. “CALL to SANCTIFICATION is the Will of God.
~a) It means to be set apart by God for God.
~b) It means walking with God, does not mean sinless.
~c) It Calls us into fellowship with God to a life of peace.
~d) It Calls us to walk worthy of His sacrifice for us.
~e) It means to lay down every hesitation, every reservation, to surrender your life, your body, your soul and your spirit to Christ. Satan will do whatever he can to distract us from this Call from the Father. But the church is the body of Christ. His work is completed through us. God wants all of us, not just part of us. Sanctification is a heart that is bent toward Him, desires Him, and desires to serve Him.
3. “CALL to SERVICE (Ephe 2:8-10) God wants to make you a fruitful vessel that will touch the lives of others. (Heb 9:14) God gives spiritual gifts for the common good so that we can serve each other.
“The Holy Spirit decides who gets what gifts. He prepares us for each of His works. No one is more important than anyone else. That is mans way of thinking. All of us have fallen short. Each of us have sinned. (2 Tim 1:9) We are to be walking expressions of God’s love. Our lifestyle should be in service to the living God. Believers should constantly live in an attitude of, how am I spending and investing my life? If I live my life not using my spiritual gifts, then I am selfish.
“YOU INVEST YOUR LIFE OR WASTE IT. God’s Call is serious, a Holy Calling, a Divine Calling. The most important Call in life is from God. It is a Call with a purpose. He chose you with a purpose. He has the best for you. He is wanting to make your life count. It effects our rewards in Heaven and on earth. God’s Calls are irreversible. He doesn’t take them back.
“HOW DOES GOD CALL?
a) through His Word,
b) testimony from someone,
c) His Holy Spirit living on the inside of you interpreting God’s Will to your heart.
d) God has ways of shouting in your spirit. His Call penetrates to your inner most being.
e) He always Calls us in LOVE and FORGIVENESS.
“FINAL CALL:
Every single day we live outside the Will of God, it is costing us blessings now and rewards later in Heaven. ACCOUNTABILITY: We will stand before the Lord and give an account of our life
(1 Corinthians 3:12-16). “After SALVATION, SANCTIFICATION, and SERVICE, there is ACCOUNTABILITY:
a) actions,
b) motives,
c) sacrifices,
d) neglegence to mention a few.
“We will enjoy Heaven on this basis:
a) how much truth we heard,
b) how much we responded to opportunities we were given,
c) what we did with the Call we heard inside our heart, inside our being.”
His Call penetrates to your inner most being.