How can we Determine a Divine Call today?
Read Romans 8:1-9
Romans 8:5-8
"For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh;
but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
For to be carnally minded is death: but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God,
neither indeed can be. So then they that ore in the flesh cannot please God."
Flesh = to be carnal Carnal = human thinking, not of the spirit
It seems that way too many decisions in the Church have been made by human thinking.
This is why there are so many 'bad' stories about the ministry circulating.
Look what Jesus says to Peter after his declaration of who Jesus was:
Matthew 16:17
"And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood
hath not revealed it unto thee, buy my Father which is in Heaven."
The Holy Ghost does the signifying – not us
Hebrews 9:8, 10:15a
"The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made
manifest, while as the first tabernacle was jet standing:
Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us:"
All through the New Testament we find this to be true. Here are some examples:
Read Acts 6:1-6
What were the three requirements to be chosen for this ministry?
What did the apostles do to install these seven in the ministry?
What were the apostles doing by laying their hands on the men?
How do we know it is the Spirit speaking and not our fleshly wisdom?
Read I Kings 19:9-13
A Still Small Voice
Still = silence, calm Small = lean, thin Voice = voice, sound
God is not in any hurry and certainly not in a panic. He speaks calmly and peacefully. If you don't have
the peace that passes understanding then you probably haven't heard from God about your situation or calling.
God wasn't in the tempest, earthquake or fire, 'Be still and know that I am God' is very profound. How
can we hear him if we're always the ones doing the talking?
Romans 8:14
"For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God."
Read II Timothy 1:1-14
"Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee
by the putting on of my hands. Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not
according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ
Jesus before the world began. That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the
Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us."
According to the above Scripture, how does Timothy's ministry meet the requirements for a 'divine call'?
If God has called you to some ministry, describe how you met the requirements of that call.
We are all called to be witnesses, but what is the proof that we are called?
'After that you have received the Holy Ghost'.
How? By the laying on of the hands of the Ministry.
Peter and the apostles chose two men to take Judas' place and drew lots.
God himself chose Saul of Tarsus to be a minister to the Gentiles.