ANSWER THE CALL-God Will Provide A Way

THE COST OF BEING CALLED (2 Timothy 1:6-14, Acts 16; 21; 25-28, 2 Corinthians 12:2-12) “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." Matthew 5:14-16 "God doesn't call the equipped,He equips the called" (Not quit a true statement) I believe God calls both, the equipped and the unequipped. But in the face of an equipped person not being present, God equps. So,God calls and equips the unequipped, to get the job done. Many who are equipped are also called to use their education in the field they are educated in, to use on the mission field. As in a nurse can be called to us what she has been equipped to do. And so on, with most other trade jobs, like machanic, electritian, plumber, ect. Also when something needs done on the mission field, and there is no one there equipped to do the job, God has the power to equip those who have answered the call to go, and thus the job gets done. God has called all believers, equipped or unequipped to actively share His love, using thier learned or even unlearned gifts to see other come to know Christ. Through compassion, kindness, and service in their daily lives in both word and deed,reflect Christ in thier walk. In oder to do this in a righteous and Holy manor, we must follow the calling of the Great Commission to make disciples in and where ever we are. Beyond these door lays a mission field. In this mission field we are too live through acts of service, kindness, and sharing the gospel. We are commanded, to let our little light shine.. If you have never been at a large gathering or even a small gathering for a candle light service, and they light one candle, as they turn off the lights.. It is very, very dark As that one candle lights the candle next to it, and that continues on all down one side of the room, and then as each row/country/community, lights the candle nect to them in that row, the light spreads accross the whole room, it is amazing how light and bright it gets in the room. If you have never experienced it, you need to. It is no wonder God wants us to shine the light of Christ all around the world. The whole meaning behind the little course, This Little Light Of Mine, had a new meaning. This Little Light Of Mine This little light of mine I’m going to let it shine Oh, this little light of mine I’m going to let it shine This little light of mine I’m going to let it shine Let it shine, all the time, let it shine All around the neighborhood I’m going to let it shine All around the neighborhood I’m going to let it shine All around the neighborhood I’m going to let it shine Let it shine, all the time, let it shine. Hide it under a bushel? No! I’m going to let it shine Hide it under a bushel? No! I’m going to let it shine Hide it under a bushel? No! I’m going to let it shine Let it shine, all the time, let it shine. Don’t let Satan [blow] it out! I’m going to let it shine Don’t let Satan [blow] it out! I’m going to let it shine Don’t let Satan [blow] it out! I’m going to let it shine Let it shine, all the time, let it shine This is the one I remember, its easy to add more words as it applies to our situation or place of service, but what matters is we let it shine, because of the gifts Jesus had given us Believe me as we put into practice what God has called us to do, HE WILL EQUP US. AMEN What it comes down to is the commitment, Are we committed to sharing the gospel not matter what may come. Paul, after His changed life on the road to demascus, spent a great deal of time in Roman incarceration (see Acts 16; 21; 25-28). Was He called to be there? As a result, some churches struggled to see him as someone they could claim as their founding apostle (see 2 Corinthians 12:2-12). From that full knowledge of the shame associated with his chains, the apostle writes to Timothy, challenging him to endure all things out of love for God and in the grace that’s been offered through Jesus. Inspite of where Paiul wa, He was committed to the Gospel, and committed to carry out His calling. Nothing should stop us from carrying out what we have been called to do. Nothing is benieth us, if God has called us. We are to shine our little light that God has accomplished in us and our behalf through Christ. He says to all, as a calling, Go Ye into all the world and preach the gospel. I know, that many believers around the world are persecuted for their faith in Christ, feel inadiquit to do the job God has called them to do. As many are severely persicutedmore so than others. often in the face of being threatened, we cower when the stakes of living for Christ are high. Please don't cower, because I know we have the Holy Spirit who enables us, and will equip us, to use our "GOD-GIVEN gifts and talents with “power, He has put within us. He has given us love and self-discipline” (2 Timothy 1:7). God will help us share the gospel with boldness in carrying out the call placed on our lives. We can do it with with boldness and compassion, wherever He leadsus and in what ever He leads us to do, to see the job done. Because of all He did for us (vv. 9-10), we can embrace the sacrificial cost of commitment to Christ and preserve “sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus” (v. 13). This my friends is our calling, if we believe and follow Jesus Christ. Father God, thank you for calling me. In your name I pray AMEN