2 THE CALLING

LESSON

TEACHING OBJECTIVE
 The student must understand the importance of the calling of God for his life.
 The student must be able to explain the biblical foundation for the calling.
 The student must be able to explain what the calling is.

STUDENT OBJECTIVE
 The student must be able to explain the characteristics of the calling.

BIBLICAL FOUNDATIONAL REFERENCE

CORRESPONDING BIBLICAL FOUNDATION

KEY VERSE
“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a
prophet to the nations.” (Jeremiah 1:5)

PURPOSE
The student must understand the importance of the vision of the government of 12 because it is integrated
into the calling. We must understand that whenever God gives a vision, we should join efforts in order to
make it grow because each one of us was chosen before the foundation of the world.

The purpose of this lesson is that you may recognize God’s calling on your life and how to respond
effectively to it, so that you may be moulded and used by the Lord.

In order to carry out His purpose here on earth, God always chooses to use a man or a woman. When He
wanted to free his people from the oppression they were suffering in Egypt, He chose Moses; He formed
him and then sent him to his people, so that he would take them out of Egypt. Then, God surrounded
Moses with people who believed in his calling and were willing to support him in every decision he had to
make.

When the Lord Jesus was here on earth, He chose twelve men, whom he called apostles. Jesus invested
most of his ministerial life in these men, and then sent them on to continue with the redeeming mission He
had begun.
I. WHAT IS THE CALLING?
Even though Jesus could have poured his life out to the multitudes, He didn’t. He preferred to work skilfully,
shaping the character of twelve persons who were completely different from each other. Like the potter
with the clay, for three and a half years Jesus moulded the character of each one of them, and then, He
breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit” (John 20:2-22)

“Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him, HE appointed
twelve – designating them apostles – that they might be with Him and That He might send them out to
preach and to have authority to drive out demons.” (Mark 3”13-16)

How could Jesus have taken twelve persons without any culture, education, riches or social position,
encourage and develop them so, that they ultimately became the pillars of Christianity? The answer is
simple. These people responded to the calling of God, and were willing to be moulded by Him, so that, they
would be sent out.

“And we know that all things work together for the good of those who love Him, who have been called
according to Hi purpose” (Romans 8:28)

In the vision God gave us through the government of the twelve, we can see that all the people in our
communities are potential leaders. Once they go through the process of information, in a short time, they
will be able to see fruit in their life. Jesus had to leave his disciples a model for their lives, in which they
were able to project themselves. Paul said, “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ”
(Corinthians 11:1). “And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of
Hades will not overcome it” (Matthew 16:18)

The Church the Lord was referring to was the one made up of people from every culture, race, and social
class. Simply because they believe in Him, they are part of His body. Those are the ones the Lord calls,
‘My church’, because they are part of Him.

People are the church. Therefore our task is to win and to work! Just as Jesus did with His apostles, we must
work with each one very carefully and win them over. “You also, like living stones, are being built into a
spiritual house to be a holy priesthood” 1 Peter 2:5. In order to build, one must first dig deeply. Even though
the Lord did not have a temple, multitudes followed Him because they knew He had the answers to their
needs. This moved him to put together a group of twelve, so that all the people could be shepherded in a
personal way.

The government of twelve has always been in God’s heart. What is the secret of the twelve? God made it
clear to me years ago. I could hear, in the bottom of my heart, the voice of the Holy Spirit saying, “if you
train twelve people and succeed in reproducing in them the character of Christ that is already in you, and if
every one of them does the same with another twelve, and if they do the same with yet another twelve,
getting them to have the same conviction, you and your church will experience an unprecedented growth.”
In my mind, I immediately began to see the projected growth of my ministry, and I knew that it would not
take long.
II. RECOGNIZE THE CALLING
Sensitivity to the Holy Spirit is one of the conditions that are essential in order to hear God’s calling and
understand it. We are aware of the fact that we are not in the ministry because of our gifts, talents, or skills,
but by God’s grace toward each one of us.

“But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it.” (Ephesians 4:7)
When we are sensitive to the Holy Spirit, the gifts begin to be effective in our lives. “It was he who gave
some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastor’s and teacher’s,
to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up”
(Ephesians 4:11-12). These five ministries are the extension of the character of Christ in us.

Acknowledging God’s call involves the following:

A. Conviction
It is essential to have absolute certainty that God has called us into ministry, coupled with the correct
motivation, in order to go into ministry. Why? It would be impossible to develop a supernatural work with a
natural attitude and motivation. Besides, we know that whom God calls He will also equip in all things.

The word of the Lord came to me, saying, Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you
were born I set you apart, I appointed you as prophet to the nations. ( Jeremiah 1:4-5)

B. Commitment
The fact is God chose you from among the millions of humans dwelling here on planet earth. You were
selected by him to continue His work. “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I.
Send me!” (Isaiah 6:8). God could have chosen someone else, but He preferred to choose you. Now, go and
do God’s work without fear.

Some people have conviction, but they do not have commitment. And so, they end up frustrated. Some
people wait for further confirmation of their call into ministry, but they do nothing. They do not involve
themselves. Then, they wonder why nothing is happening and they ask if they are really called into ministry.
Remember, the moment we commit ourselves into God’s call, God has no other choice but to back you up.
And His favour that goes with you will confirm that you are indeed called by God.

C. Brokenness
“I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains inly a single seed. But if
it dies, it produces many seeds” (John 12:24). The apostle Paul was a person who has experienced
brokenness, and he did not consider his life precious. He just wanted to finish his assignment successfully.
Brokenness is the most powerful protection mechanism a believer can have while facing the adversities of
life.
Ah, Sovereign Lord, “I said, “I do not know how to speak; I am only a child. “But the Lord said to me,
“Do not say, ‘I am only a child’. You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you.
(Jeremiah 1:6-7)
Brokenness is usually associated with humility and self-denial.
D. Anointing
This is when you experience the presence of God in your life continuously. It is reflected in the way you
speak, in what you teach, in what you pray, in what you understand and in the people you lead.

“Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you, “declares the Lord. Then the Lord
reached out His hand and touched my mouth and said to me, ‘Now I have put My words in your
mouth. See, today I appoint you over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and
overthrow, to build and to plant” (Jeremiah 1:8-10)

You may seem to be like anybody else, the difference actually is that you have God’s anointing. Others can
do it…but you can do it with anointing. Anointing is about having the touch of God in everything that you
do, say, teach, etc.

E. Submission
Those who are in spiritual authority must understand that our authority over others is not an imposition
but a posture of managing others as we present ourselves as examples in everything
“Do not let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in
speech, in life, in love, in faith, and in purity. “(1 Timothy 4:11)

F. Fruitfulness
One of the great advantages this vision has is that everybody can develop all the potential he has inside
because it is reflected in fruitfulness. I know that there is no greater joy for a person than feeling useful in
the work of the Lord.

CONCLUSION
The lord has assigned a mission to you. “I looked for a man among them who would build up the wall and
stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found none”
(Ezekiel 22:30). Be faithful to God’s calling, He has His eyes fixed on you. God assigns us specific tasks in His
work. This calling is in line with God’s purpose for every believer. The accomplishment of the call depends
on the fulfilment of the requirements established in the Scriptures, such as the ones stated in Exodus 18:21
“But select capable men from all the people – men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate
dishonest gain and appoint them as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens.”

APPLICATION
1. Have absolute certainty of your calling.
2. Share your faith in Christ with others. God’s anointing is in your life.
3. Intensify your daily prayer level until you feel the fire of the Spirit burning you.
4. Pray for your team of twelve.
5. Dream of the multitudes being born from your heart and believe that God will bring them to you.
6. Discover what gifting or talents you possess and consecrate them to serve the Lord.

STUDENTS ASSIGNMENT
NO assignment