Text:
2Peter 1:10:
“Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:”
Theme:
(Rev.) Making The Call Sure
Introduction:
Second Peter was written to warn the believers of dangers and struggles with unbelievers within the church
- As it says in Matthew 10:36, “And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household.”
You will never fail if you:
- Be sure of your position in Christ
“make your calling and election sure”
- PLACE and POSITION are critical to the Called Preacher
- PLACE is where you are in your life
- Where the Call makes its mandate on the life…God calls the Preacher
- Philippians 4:8 explains the PLACE
- “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”
- POSITION is where you are in Christ
- The choice of the Called Preacher which dictates the “effectiveness” of his Calling
- As Matthew 5:48 explains,
- “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.”
- PLACE is where you are in your life
Make LIVING your position in Christ as your #1 priority à “give diligence”
- Matthew 6:33,
“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”
- Matthew 10:37,
“He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.”
The calling is made “sure” through suffering for His name’s sake:
- Acts 9:16, “For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake.”
- Paul was strengthened in His calling through his suffering for the sake of the Gospel…in His name’s sake.
Body:
- Throughout the Bible, men of God had to go through things to make their Calling “sure”!
- Noah
- Noah did as the Lord commanded in spite of the ridicule and lack of understanding
- Genesis 6:22, “Thus did Noah; according to all that God commanded him, so did he.”
- Abraham
- Abraham was presented with a standard and a covenant to live by.
- Genesis 17:1, “And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.”
- Genesis 17:4, “As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations.”
- Abraham was presented with a standard and a covenant to live by.
- Moses
- Moses responded to the Calling of God from within the burning bush.
- Exodus 3:4, “…God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I.”
- Moses responded to the Calling of God from within the burning bush.
- Elijah
- Elijah was faced with standing for God in the opposition of an entire government and its ruler.
- 1Kings 18:21, “And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word.”
- Elijah was faced with standing for God in the opposition of an entire government and its ruler.
- Elisha
- Elisha sought to be well-equipped for the Work.
- 2Kings 2:9, “And it came to pass, when they were gone over, that Elijah said unto Elisha, Ask what I shall do for thee, before I be taken away from thee. And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me.”
- Elisha sought to be well-equipped for the Work.
- David
- David consistently sought to be in the right place and position through repentance
- Psalms 51:4, “Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.”
- David consistently sought to be in the right place and position through repentance
- Solomon
- Solomon accepted the task of building the temple as God had prophesied and ordained!
- 1Kings 5:5, “And, behold, I purpose to build an house unto the name of the LORD my God, as the LORD spake unto David my father, saying, Thy son, whom I will set upon thy throne in thy room, he shall build an house unto my name.”
- Solomon accepted the task of building the temple as God had prophesied and ordained!
- Isaiah
- Isaiah had to have God first…there could be nothing or no one else in the way!
- Isaiah 6:1, “In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the LORD sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple.”
- Isaiah had to have God first…there could be nothing or no one else in the way!
- Jeremiah
- Jeremiah was faced with many struggles that God challenged him to overcome.
- Jeremiah 1:17, 19, “Thou therefore gird up thy loins, and arise, and speak unto them all that I command thee: be not dismayed at their faces, lest I confound thee before them.…And they shall fight against thee; but they shall not prevail against thee; for I am with thee, saith the LORD, to deliver thee.”
- Jeremiah was faced with many struggles that God challenged him to overcome.
- Ezekiel
- Ezekiel was called and lived his calling even through the death of his wife.
- Ezekiel 8:1, “And it came to pass in the sixth year, in the sixth month, in the fifth day of the month, as I sat in mine house, and the elders of Judah sat before me, that the hand of the Lord GOD fell there upon me.”
- Ezekiel 24:18, “So I spake unto the people in the morning: and at even my wife died; and I did in the morning as I was commanded.”
- Ezekiel was called and lived his calling even through the death of his wife.
- Daniel
- Daniel realized his relationship with God by PRAYER!
- Daniel 6:10, “Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.”
- Daniel realized his relationship with God by PRAYER!
- Hosea
- Hosea endured the sufferings of troubles at home, even with his wife.
- Hosea 1:2, “The beginning of the word of the LORD by Hosea. And the LORD said to Hosea, Go, take unto thee a wife of whoredoms and children of whoredoms: for the land hath committed great whoredom, departing from the LORD.”
- Hosea endured the sufferings of troubles at home, even with his wife.
- Jonah
- Jonah endured the consequences of his disobedience, denied himself, and turned around to do God’s will.
- Jonah 3:3, “So Jonah arose, and went unto Nineveh, according to the word of the LORD.”
- Jonah endured the consequences of his disobedience, denied himself, and turned around to do God’s will.
- John the Baptist
- John the Baptist preached in the wilderness and, despite his own thoughts, baptized our Savior.
- Matthew 3:1-2, “In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
- Matthew 3:14-15, “But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.
- John the Baptist preached in the wilderness and, despite his own thoughts, baptized our Savior.
- The Disciples
- The Disciples forsook all to follow Jesus.
- Matthew 19:27, “Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee….”
- The Disciples forsook all to follow Jesus.
- Peter
- Peter kept coming back to Jesus, seeking the Master, and doing His will in spite of his own shortcomings of bluntness, impetuosity, headiness, and simplicity.
- Mark 14:70-71, “And he denied it again. And a little after, they that stood by said again to Peter, Surely thou art one of them: for thou art a Galilaean, and thy speech agreeth thereto. But he began to curse and to swear, saying, I know not this man of whom ye speak.
- Peter kept coming back to Jesus, seeking the Master, and doing His will in spite of his own shortcomings of bluntness, impetuosity, headiness, and simplicity.
- Paul
- Paul had to constantly endure or overcome skepticism based on his past.
- Acts 9:13, “Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem:”
- Acts 9:21, “But all that heard him were amazed, and said; Is not this he that destroyed them which called on this name in Jerusalem, and came hither for that intent, that he might bring them bound unto the chief priests?”
- Paul had to constantly endure or overcome skepticism based on his past.
- Stephen
- Stephen, the first Christian martyr, preached the Gospel with power and vigor even to put his life in danger and then to be stoned.
- Acts 6:8, “And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.”
- Acts 6:10, “And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake.”
- Stephen, the first Christian martyr, preached the Gospel with power and vigor even to put his life in danger and then to be stoned.
- Timothy
- Timothy was proved by his faith in God, following leadership in Paul, and study of the Word.
- 2Timothy 1:5, “When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also.”
- 2Timothy 1:13, “Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.”
- 2Timothy 2:15, “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”
- Timothy was proved by his faith in God, following leadership in Paul, and study of the Word.
- Noah did as the Lord commanded in spite of the ridicule and lack of understanding
- Noah
Conclusion:
- When the Calling is NOT “SURE”:
- God leaves us alone à A house left alone will decay.
- We are out of position à We are not available for God to use us.
- We are ineffective à God cannot be glorified through us
- We want our Calling to be “SURE”!!
- We want to Feel it
- Acts 17:27, “That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:”
- We want to See it
- Psalms 106:5, “That I may see the good of thy chosen, that I may rejoice in the gladness of thy nation, that I may glory with thine inheritance.”
- We want to Know it
- Ephesians 1:18, “The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,”
- We want to Feel it
- Then God requires us to Live the Surety of our Calling!
- Matthew 5:15-16, “Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”
- 1Timothy 3:7, “Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.”
- “lest he fall” à If you don’t…
BUT, as our text says
- “if ye do these things, ye shall never fall”
#155
