ARE YOU ANSWERING YOUR CALLING?

1. ARE YOU ANSWERING YOUR CALLING?

2. “For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called” (1 Cor. 1:26).

3. “Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called” (1 Cor. 7:20). • 2 Tim. 1:9, “Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began.”

4. “Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall” (2 Pet. 1:10).

5. I. YOUR VOLUNTEER SERVICE

6. In the winter of 1966, I began my volunteer service for God!

7. Isa. 6:8, “Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, HereamI; send me.”

8. Acts 2:41, “Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.”

9. In the military, soldiers perspectives vary. One is dedicated, loyal, and trustworthy. Another may be a disgrace to the uniform. He or she may refuse to take their duties seriously. Thus they become a detriment to the safety of others.

10. Three Requirements For A Good Soldier • (1) Honor: Psa. 26:8, “Lord, I have loved the habitation of thy house, and the place where thine honourdwelleth.”

11. (2) Duty: Luke 17:10, “So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.”

12. (3) Country: Gen. 12:1, “Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee.” • Heb. 11:16, “But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.”

13. Two mottos from the U.S. Military: Semper Fortis (Forever strong), and Non SibiSedPatriae (Not for self, but for country).

14. II. YOUR ACTIVE SERVICE

15. We Serve • Rom. 12:11, “Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord.”

16. Eccl. 10:18, “By much slothfulness the building decayeth; and through idleness of the hands the house droppeth through.” • The Lord’s church is hurting today because of laziness!

17. 2) We Fight • Muhammad Ali, “If my mind can conceive it, and my heart can believe it - then I can achieve it.” • 1 Tim. 4:7, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.” • 1 Cor. 9:26, “I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air.”

18. 1 Tim. 6:12, “Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.”

19. III. YOUR MILITARY DISCHARGE

20. There are two honorable discharges given by the military: (1) Medical discharge, or (2) Honorable discharge. • There is one dishonorable discharge that is given to soldiers who have either disgraced the uniform, or have not served their country well.

21. Dishonorable Discharges • Alexander and Hymaneus were dishonoring God! • 1 Tim. 1:20, “Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme.”

22. Ananias & Sapphira (Acts 5) received their dishonorable discharges! • Judas Iscariot received his when Satan entered him (Lk. 22:3).

23. Rev. 22:12, “And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.”

24. IV. YOUR MILITARY ASSESSMENT

25. 1) Are You In the Trenches or on the Field? • Matt. 9:37, “Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few.”

26. 2) Is Your Head in the Game? • Matt. 6:21, “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”

27. 3) Is Your Heart Submissive? • James 4:7, “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”