NIGERIAN PRESBYTERIAN FELLOWSHIP
HOUSTON TEXAS
BIBLE STUDY OUTLINE. 11/21/04
TOPIC: THE CALLING OF GOD
INTRODUCTION: SOME DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHAT IT’S TO BE CALLED; CONFUSE ‘CALL’ WITH ‘CHOOSE’.PEOPLE ARE CALLED IN DIFFERENT WAYS. CALL IS AN INTERESTING WORD. IT COULD MEAN TO BE INVITED OR APPOINTED. GOD INVITES US AND THOSE WHO RESPOND ON THE CONDITION OF FAITH AND BELIEVE, HE DESIGNATES AS HIS CHOSEN ONES [MATT 22:14].
ANY ONE CAN COME, IF HE /SHE WILL, BUT ALL WILL NOT COME. FAITH IN JESUS IS WHAT SEPARATES THE CALLED AND CHOSEN. EVERYONE HAS THE CHOICE OF WHETHER OR NOT TO RESPOND TO THE CALL OF GOD.
THE SRIPTURE CONTAIN SEVERAL CALLS:
1. UNIVERSAL/GENERAL CALL: FROM NATURE:[Ps.19:1]. THE SOUND AND VOICE ARE EVERYWHERE IN THE WORLD AND EVERYONE HEARS IT –THE WORLD, SPACE, AND ALL VISIBLE COMPONENTS ANNOUNCE GOD’S PRESENCE AND DEMONTRATE GOD’S POWER [ROM:1:20;3:19].
2. THE CALL OF THE HOLY SPIRIT-CONVICTION. HE CONVICTS THE WORLD OF SIN, WHAT’S WRONG, TESTIFIES TO RIGHTEOUSNESS, WHAT IS RIGHT AND WARNS OF JUDGEMENT AND THE INEVITABLE CONSEQUENCES [JOHN 16:8].
3. CALL OF THE GOSPEL [OR JESUS CALL]: THE PURPOSE OF THE GOSPEL IS TO SUMMON US; CALL US TO ORDER, INVITES US TO GOD’S GRACE AND MERCIES. ISAIAH1:18; 55:1; MATT.11:28]. JESUS SAYS “I HAVE COME TO SEEK AND TO SAVE , SO YOU ARE INVITED.
4. CALL OF CONVERSION: THOSE WHO HEED THE CALL ENJOY ETERNAL SALVATION. JOHN6:37;ROM 10:13; JOHN3:36; 2THESS 2:13-14; 1COR 6:11; TITUS 3:5].
CHRISTIAN LIFE SYMBOLISES GOD’S CALLONUS TO SAVE, PRESERVE, REDEEEM, PROTECT AND PROSPER. HE CONSTANTLY CALLS US WHEN WE HEAR THIS CALL. HOW DO WE RESPOND? DO WE HARDEN OUR HEARTS, MAKE FUN OF IT AND REPRESS IT IN OUR MINDS OR ANSWER? GOD’S MESSAGE IS TO THOSE WHO ARE CALLED [JUDE 1-2].
[PREPARED BY ELDER OGBONNAYA]