Consider the lilies of the field…. - Matthew 6:28

UpcomingFeb 3-10 Jennifer and Scott celebrating 25 years…in

Cancun, Mexico!

Feb 8 – Barry Potter, Vice-President in Jennifer’s OMF office, to speak.

Feb 14 (Sat) – Burgers, Bowling, and Bingo – at the Louviers clubhouse.

March 29 – God’s Work in SE Asia – Barry Potter

April 5 – Easter!

Called…to Himself Acts 2:36-41

…with many other words…vs. 40

Sharing earnestly

3,000 believedvs. 41

Power of the Gospel

Called…to HimselfActs 2:38

Acts 2:39

“…all whom the Lord our God will call.”

“pros-caleo-mai” - to call to (a person), or to summon to (a person).

“…as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself.” - NASB

He called his twelve disciples to Him and gave them authority.... Matthew 10:1

Jesus called the crowd to Him and said, “Listen and understand...” Matthew 15:10

And Jesus called a little child to Him... Matthew 18:2

Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to Him those He wanted, and they came to Him. He appointed twelve - designating them apostles- that they might be with Him…

Mark 3:13-14

“Effectual (effective) call”

A call solely out of God's pleasure and purpose, that has its desired effect.

“Effectual (effective) call”

A call solely out of God's pleasure and purpose, that has its desired effect.

A humbling thought…

“Effectual (effective) call”

A call solely out of God's pleasure and purpose, that has its desired effect.

A humbling thought…Incredible encouragement…

"I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as

the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore." Gen 22:17

If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed,

and heirs according to the promise. Galatians 3:29

After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language,

standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. Revelation 7:9

Objection: “It isn’t fair that God would effectively call one person, and not

another.”

Two possible responses:1. God is simply fulfilling His promises –

abundantly! (And we’re not given to know the secret purposes of God for any one individual.)

Objection: “It isn’t fair that God would effectively call one person, and not

another.”

Two possible responses:1. God is simply fulfilling His promises –

abundantly! (And we’re not given to know the secret purposes of God for any one individual.)

2. No one has any claim to God’s forgiveness in Christ.

"There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God.

"All have turned away, They have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one." Romans 3:10-12

General (outward) Call of the Gospel

Repent and believeon Christ,

and you will be saved.

Behind the scenes: God’s effective call(inward call)

When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and honored the word of the Lord; and all who were appointed for eternal life believed. Acts 13:48

One of those listening was a woman named Lydia, dealer in purple cloth from the city of Thyatira, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul's message. Acts 16:14

Without this special call, no one would believe. Why?

There is no one righteous... there is no one who understands... no one who seeks God. Romans 3:10-12

God has calledme to Himself

God has calledme to Himself

We should begreatly encouraged

as we share the Good News

•

• "Young man, sit down; when God pleases to convert the heathen, he will do it without your aid and mine."

John Bunyan - “Pilgrim's Progress” Jonathan Edwards - Revivals of 1730’s - 1740's John Newton - “Amazing Grace”

George Whitfield - Great Awakening - 1740's Matthew Henry - Commentary Augustus Toplady - “Rock of Ages”

Adoniram Judson - Missionary to Burma - 1800's Charles Spurgeon - Pastor - 19th century Martin-Lloyd Jones - Pastor - 20th century

When we don’t see eye-to-eye…

Keep our fellowship in the great common core of beliefs: God the Father, faith in Christ alone for salvation, God the Holy Spirit, the Bible

When we don’t see eye-to-eye…

Keep our fellowship in the great common core of beliefs: God the Father, faith in Christ alone for salvation, God the Holy Spirit, the Bible

When we are on our knees… “Lord, open their heart.”

Oh, nowI see…

Consider the lilies of the field…. - Matthew 6:28