Called to Good News

July 16, 1989 AM

Romans 1:5 " ... we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles, for His name's sake"

Romans 16:25-27 Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which has been kept secret for long ages past, but now is manifested, and by the Scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the eternal God, has been made known to all the nations, leading to obedience of faith; to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, be the glory forever. Amen.

People want to KNOW God and they CAN know Him

[ People desperately want to make contact with God! AND THEY HATE RELIGIOUS FAKERY. Yet, when they think there is a chance that God will "materialize," or be visible; when they believe there has been an authentic miracle, people will spend money, take time, make pilgrimages. 'WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE SHROUD OF TURIN?' At best an aid; never can be a central "proof."

It is a cry of our heart! We want to know! ]

Paul says he KNOWS! He has been CALLED! And his call involves telling people God is calling THEM, too!

As we read the opening sentences of Romans, our attention is drawn to the word "called." Paul as he writes testifies that he is called. Paul has had contact with God! And he in the same breath says his call involves letting us know that we, too, are called of God. If we will LISTEN God is calling!

A KEY to KNOWING: Link of "obedience" and "faith:"

What does this mean? Is God literally "calling" every person?

What is faith? Is it believing what dad and mom told me? Is it saying "my church must be right"? Is it hearing the call? Is it answering a call that is already heard?

Is "obeying" faith? Or is "faith" obeying? Or is there any connection at all? Is the call simply a matter of informing us of the facts of God?

THERE IS CONTACT FOR YOU!

You can make contact with God! You can know that He is in your life. And you do not have to make a pilgrimage. But when a man or woman comes to know God in reality, he or she must come to God on HIS terms! And while you don't need to go on a pilgrimage*, you do have to desire God! You'll never know spiritual reality until it is important to you! ((*Let's go to the Holy Land again!!))

I. THE TESTIMONY OF PAUL TO BEING CALLED

Paul was a religious person before he was converted. He desperately wanted to "make contact with God." He wanted to "matter" in religious things; he wanted "reality." Later Paul's testimony was: "I was zealous, I thought I was doing a good thing in opposing what I saw as a "sect" that contradicted the old way of salvation by works of the Law.
God made contact with Paul. He "called" him. It was a forceful call; there was no doubt in Paul's mind that God wanted him. The details of this call are in Acts 9, and repeated in Acts 26:18.
But also there was the element of choice in that call: Once Paul knew it was God, Paul had to make a choice! And in the very next verse (Acts 26:19) Paul says (26:19): "I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision!" I said "Yes" to the heavenly call! ["Obedience" is linked with "faith." It is what validates the call, and releases the reality of God into our lives.]

II. PAUL'S CALL WAS TO BE A GOSPEL MESSENGER: TO CALL OTHER PEOPLE!

PAUL'S CALL IS YOUR CALL!

A PERSONAL CALL
Set apart to the "good news." The "gospel" is the truth about God's LOVE in Jesus Christ: [John 3:16 made personal!] God still makes the Gospel personal! (My own testimony; Bill Wagner & Charles Stanley on TV. etc.)
A RESPONSIBLE CALL
This message of "good news" demands a response, even as Paul had to choose, of whether or not to OBEY! "Faith" involves "the obedience that comes from faith" or, "The obedience that brings faith??"
A UNIVERSAL CALL
That "call" extends to you! To me! God wants US to know Him! That is what the New Testament is all about! That is what the true CHURCH exists for! God wants us to hear His call, and respond to HIM!
A CALL OF JESUS HIMSELF
(1:6 "The called of Jesus Christ") Paul says, "This call is not PAUL'S call— (I am just the messenger)— It is a call of Jesus Christ; it is a call to Jesus Christ:
1. Here is our call to spiritual reality. If we will heed the gospel- give God our attention— we do not need to go on a pilgrimage, or find a super-gifted leader. Jesus can make Himself known to each of us!
2. But it is both a call to Allegiance and, ultimately, to Ownership. One step beyond the "surrender" or even the "joining with" is the deliberate decision to "belong TO!"
A LOVING CALL
It is a call of LOVE! (Verse 7 "beloved of God in Rome") Be certain, God doesn't have any unwanted children! God loves you! And that is why He calls you!
AN AMAZING CALL TO SAINTHOOD!
It is a call to (are you ready for this?) sainthood! What is a saint? One who is super-spiritual? Isn't a saint who has 'one of those 'things' around his head? ...and where he walks things grow?
No— one who regularly walks and talks with God because he or she loves God! Saints are friends of God!

Conclusion:

People desperately want reality in their dealings with God! THEY'RE WILLING TO DO 'SPECTACULAR THINGS' TO FIND 'REALITY!'

But our ideas of reality runs to our five "senses" and God has ordained that we move into the realm of HIS reality, the realm of TRUTH and of LOVE and INTEGRITY. We all must live and walk by the FAITH that His grace enables.

[And faith is always linked to obedience; and obedience to faith. (see 1:5 again, and 16:25-27)] Remember this connection between "faith" and "obedience." We cannot wait to understand and explain everything before we begin to follow God. We do not need to obey if we are not convinced it is God that is speaking, calling to us. But when we DO know in our hearts "This is GOD!" then we obey unto faith, or we draw back into uncertainty and defeat.

Exhortation:

STAY IN TUNE PRAYER LIFE IS A KEY:
"Pray through" each day ... an admonition I took to mean "get blessed" (feel happy, religious.) But "pray through" means to get "in tune" ... has to do with obedience and trust: and with this confidence comes the assurance— "I'm where God wants me to be!"
TRY TO SERVE FROM LOVE
Seeking after "reality" may not satisfy as much as seeking after God's will and seeking to be of service. (Our team that went to Scotland went to serve, but they found God's LOVE!)
TRUST GOD'S WORD ... BUT THERE WILL BE DIFFERENT LEVELS OF ASSURANCE! TRUST YOUR HIGH MOMENTS!!
Reality comes on different "levels" as we walk by faith. But from time to time there comes great reinforcing assurance!

[Dr. Greathouse, after being elected General Superintendent, in his kitchen early the next morning; In "Canastota?" on my way to ENC (1949) I discovered Isaiah 41:10; in my study in Edison, unsolicited: I knew I was saved!]

You don't have to travel to France or the Holy Land! Somewhere along the pathway of obedience the assurance of faith will come! Along the pathway of obedience God gives His gift of the knowledge of His Presence!

Paul says: I've been CALLED! No question! I've been called to tell you that GOD IS CALLING YOU! He wants you to belong to Jesus! And He wants you to be a saint!

Prayer: O Jesus, Be Thyself to me a Living, Bright, REALITY!

#42 Close to Thee