Greetings again my Brethren. Over the last two months we have been looking at the need for the call of God in the world and in our lives personally. How can we prosper (Biblical definition: to push forward in God) in God if we are not doing what God wants us to do? In the natural realm when growing up as a child if we did not do what our parents instructed us to do we would be considered disobedient and shiftless. Well . . . guess what this is no different in the spiritual realm. But as important as the need is more important is the called person must be qualified. Not did they go to Bible school or get a degree from the accepted seminary, but have they met the qualifications of God to be called to minister the life of God to the people. Saul (later became Paul) was called out of religious training (Bible School) by God. I think today we place too much importance on going to the right denominational Bible school or seminary and neglect the spiritual qualifications God is looking for in His ministers, but I know I am stepping on sacred cows here so I will move along. There is a necessity that comes with the call of God in our lives, a necessity not for us alone, but for those who will listen to what we have to say and find God’s voice in our words. In Romans Paul shares this critical thought with us.
“For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. 13For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. 14How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? 15And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! 16But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?” (Romans 10:12-16) Please notice the run of words that have to do with the “call” here in these verses. The necessity for salvation was not dependent on the lost alone, but also dependent on the one who heard the call to go. How shall they hear if no one speaks? And how shall they speak unless they go? The necessity of being sent to a lost and dying world is the first step of sharing the good news of the gospel of peace and those glad tiding of good things from God. But sadly verse 16 says, “not all obeyed the gospel” what sad words indeed, but even sadder what if the called never paid the price to be qualified to go and preach? The logical conclusion then would be less people would respond to the gospel message. Without the necessity of the sending there would not be any hearing by the people and without hearing the will of God is not known and without hearing there would be no faith to believe unto salvation. In verse 17 now Paul ties it all together, “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.;” (Romans 10:17 (KJV)) “So then” summarized the previous verses, “faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Now this hearing is not Sunday sermons because millions of Christians and non-believer’s hear Sunday sermons every week and still have no faith. In the Greek we get a better revelation of what God was speaking to us through Paul, “So then faith cometh by hearing a word from God.;” (Romans 10:17 (Greek)) Do you see the difference? In the Greek text one is hearing a direct, specific word from God: His will, His intentions, His desires, His plans, maybe our call and in the hearing is contained everything (the spoken word is alive and powerful) we will need to accomplish whatsoever God has called us to do. In the hearing is the faith, power, anointing, perserveance, whatsoever we will need to endure and come to victory.
What has God called you to do? Have you qualified for His call? Next month we will look at what it means to be a qualification witness. Do you hear Him now?
