Its Your Call Work and Gods Calling

1
Its Your Call!Work and Gods Calling

• Forest Hills Bible Chapel
• 3 February 2008

2
A Couple of Common Misunderstandings

• Misunderstanding 1 Work was made necessary
  because of the Fall of humanity the sin of Adam
  and Eve in the Garden of Eden.
• Scripture says, The Lord God took the man and
  put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take
  care of it. Genesis 215

3
A Couple of Common Misunderstandings

• Misunderstanding 2 There is a strong
  distinction between sacred and secular.
• Scripture says, So whether you eat or drink or
  whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.
  1 Co 1031

4
In the Weeks to Come.

• What about my 9 to 5 job (or whatever hours you
  work)?
• What is the relationship between my 9 to 5 job,
  and my calling as a follower of Christ?
• What if I hate my job?
• How can I make a connection between my Sunday
  life and my Monday through Saturday life in a
  way that pleases God?
• What if Im retired, or simply cant work?

5
Gods Word and Work

• He who works his land will have abundant food,
  but he who chases fantasies lacks judgment.
  Proverbs 1211
• From the fruit of his lips a man is filled with
  good things as surely as the work of his hands
  rewards him. Proverbs 1214
• All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk
  leads only to poverty. Proverbs 1423
• The laborers appetite works for him his hunger
  drives him on. Proverbs 1626

6
Gods Word and Work

• One who is slack in his work is brother to one
  who destroys. Proverbs 189
• The sluggards craving will be the death of him,
  because his hands refuse to work. 26 All day long
  he craves for more, but the righteous give
  without sparing. Proverbs 2125-26
• He who works his land will have abundant food,
  but the one who chases fantasies will have his
  fill of poverty. Proverbs 2819

7
Gods Word and Gods Call

• Ministry serves two basic purposes
• The ministry of the word of God teaches believers
  that there is a new day coming, that one day all
  of our suffering will be over, in the New Heaven
  and the New Earth.
• The ministry of the word of God teaches believers
  how to live in this present age, or this present
  time. God does not take us to be with Himself
  immediately upon our conversion to Christ.

8
Gods Word and Gods Call

• And you also are among those who are called to
  belong to Jesus Christ. To all in Rome who are
  loved by God and called to be saints Grace and
  peace to you from God our Father and from the
  Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 16-7
• Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus
  by the will of God 1 Corinthians 11
• God, who has called you into fellowship with
  his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful. 1
  Corinthians 19

9
Gods Word and Gods Call

• 15 But if the unbeliever leaves, let him do so. A
  believing man or woman is not bound in such
  circumstances God has called us to live in
  peace. - 1 Corinthians 715
• 13 You, my brothers, were called to be free. But
  do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh
  rather, serve one another in love. - Galatians
  513
• 7 For God did not call us to be impure, but to
  live a holy life. 1 Thessalonians 46-7

10
Gods Word and Gods Call

• Gods Call extends to all areas of our life.
• This is where, for the Christian, there is no
  distinction between the sacred and the secular
  all of life is to be lived to the glory of God,
  and all of life is a gift of God.
• To say there is no distinction between sacred and
  secular is not the same as saying there is no
  distinction between the sacred and the profane.

11
Gods Word and Gods Call

• 17 Nevertheless, each one should retain the place
  in life that the Lord assigned to him and to
  which God has called him. This is the rule I lay
  down in all the churches. 18 Was a man already
  circumcised when he was called? He should not
  become uncircumcised. Was a man uncircumcised
  when he was called? He should not be circumcised.
  19 Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is
  nothing. Keeping Gods commands is what counts.
  20 Each one should remain in the situation which
  he was in when God called him.

12
Gods Word and Gods Call

• 21 Were you a slave when you were called? Dont
  let it trouble youalthough if you can gain your
  freedom, do so. 22 For he who was a slave when he
  was called by the Lord is the Lords freedman
  similarly, he who was a free man when he was
  called is Christs slave. 23 You were bought at a
  price do not become slaves of men. 24 Brothers,
  each man, as responsible to God, should remain in
  the situation God called him to. 1 Corinthians
  717-24

13
Gods Word and Gods Call

• We each have a place in life which God has
  assigned to us. 717
• Keeping Gods commandments is central to life,
  regardless of what place in life one occupies
  719b
• As a general rule, one should keep the place in
  life that God has assigned to them 720
• We were bought with a price by God, as Gods
  servants ultimately, our goal should be to
  find, and stay in, that place God has called us
  to 723-24.