Deeper Calling
“ 6 And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. 7 Let your roots go down deep in him, and let your lives be built upon him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.” —Colossians 2:6-7
“ 12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” —Colossians 3:12-17
“ 1 One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, with the people crowding around him and listening to the word of God, 2 he saw at the water’s edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. 3 He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat.” —Luke 5:1-3
“ 40 When the sun was setting, the people brought to Jesus all who had various kinds of sickness, and laying his hands on each one, he healed them. 41 Moreover, demons came out of many people, shouting, ‘You are the Son of God!’ But he rebuked them and would not allow them to speak, because they knew he was the Christ.
42 At daybreak Jesus went out to a solitary place. The people were looking for him and they tried to keep him from leaving them. 43 But he said, ‘I must preach the good news of the Kingdom of God to other towns also, because that is why I was sent.’ 44 And he kept on preaching in the synagogues of Judea.” —Luke 4:40-44
(1.) Our calling begins as we welcome the power and presence of Jesus into our lives
(2.) Our calling grows as we learn to discern God’s voice in our lives
“ 4 When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, ‘Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.’ 5 Simon answered, ‘Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.’” —Luke 5:4-5
Ways God speaks into our lives…
(a.) Through His Word
(b.) Through the church
(c.) Through trusted people
(d.) Through prayer
“ 5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.” —Proverbs 3:5-6
(3.) Our calling deepens as we’re awakened to God’s amazing love
“ 6 When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. 7 So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.
8 When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, ‘Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!’ 9 For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, 10 and so were James and John, the Sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners.
Then Jesus said to Simon, ‘Don’t be afraid: from now on you will catch men.’” —Luke 5:6-10
“ 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any power, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus.” —Romans 8:38-39
(4.) Our calling comes alive when we align ourselves to God’s mission
“ 11 So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.” —Luke 5:11