Download... June 13, 2010. Sunday Morning Service. Bro. Richard Lehman.
A vocation is too often thought of as only a career, or a calling in an "earthly" sense of the meaning. Spiritually it is not always just our "own choices", but a calling,.. whether we answer it or not. Are you of that spiritual calling? Are you,..The Church of God", which is not an earthly organization? It consist only of a calling of the redeemed souls out of sin and this "world,"(or of going "our own chosen" way.)
TEXT: MATTHEW 22:1-14
1 And Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables, and said,
2 The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son,
3 And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come.
4 Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage.
5 But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise:
6 And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them.
7 But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city.
8 Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy.
9 Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage.
10 So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests.
11 And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment:
12 And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.
13 Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
14 For many are called, but few are chosen.
We need to know what God's calling,.. is really all about.
Verse 3 He called them. Verse 4 He expounded those called for His purpose. He had immediately made the wedding feast ready. Verse 5 They made "light" of it. Verse 8 Those that had been bidden were not worthy. Verse 12 One who attempted to come to the feast without God's pure wedding garment, was rendered speechless. Verse 14 Many that are called,.. but few are chosen.
Why is it that they are not chosen? One, some "made light," some showed hatred and treachery. Many do not believe or fail to see "themselves" in this scripture, although they are a part of it. The Lord will always reveal His truth to all. For those many who do not answer His call,..''there are spiritual consequences." This includes all those who continue on in their own way and business, instead of God's calling and purpose. Bro Richard gave his testimony of how he was called to be saved from out of sin. Then God's calling and purpose made more "sense." He was then able to more and more to be freed from some of his past concerns and "strife" of this life. Yet there was some things Br Richard had to do to answer God's calling. A work effort and labor of spiritual things, studying, schedules to meet, and difficulties to overcome, just as our graduates of our temporal schools do,.. to receive their diplomas. Required so they can fulfill their requisites for different job goals. Many job applicants think they are "ready," (arriving at the interview), and then find out they were not "chosen."
Jesus fed 5,000 people, the loaves and the fishes according to their physical needs. But there still was the need to be more than the receptor of those benefits. There also needs to be a fulfilling of the call for Christ's mission. Yes there are great benefits of the initial work of Salvation, in all aspects of our life. But there remains a "mission" to fulfill,.. to answer the call. Too many become too "comfortable" to really answer Christ call. Each soul gets, and must answer, their call individually to repent, and serve God in Holiness. Verse 2, 3 The king was not too busy to give each "subject" an invitation (or call.) Likewise each and all of us also receives a call from the "King of Kings." (not a casual thing) to examine how we are "doing." Verse 11, 12 The king confronted one that "attempted" to come without a wedding garment. Our call or "offer" is for every soul to be saved from sin, so we can wear His pure wedding garment to live holy. We cannot "try" to bring something else not of His choice, or that "something else" will bind our soul up, away from God's call. Others may not "notice" where you stand before the King, amid the fleshly distractions you may have subjected yourselves. Verse 13 The king directed "them" to be bound in outer darkness because of their disobedience. There is no excuse for not meeting God's call to us. He has given us His example in this text here, of many being called, but many not answering that call.
Revelations 19: 7- 9, 11 7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. 8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. 9 And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God. 11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.
Because this one made herself ready, through her complete obedience, she as Christ wife the Church,.. was chosen.
Marriage is not just a contractual agreement, but truly a vow to devotion. It is a proposal or vow which is calling them to a joining together. That calling is from Jesus Christ and what He has shown in the way of His will. When you are married to Christ, you are married to His calling, and not just to be the receptor of His benefits. The calling or commission is first to Jesus Christ,.. to reach the lost for Salvation. It is not for just the benefits of His garments of Salvation pure and white,.. but to win lost souls to His body. Verse 11 Married to a warrior for righteousness.
We see again in these scriptures (Rev 19:7-9,11),all those called that came ready to the marriage supper of the Lamb, ...were depicted as His wife.
II Peter 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: Many are called, but not everyone answers that call with diligence. Our everyday "world" and needs are ever changing, making a need for a diligence to "work" harder at our mission and calling from Christ. To do less to sustain our call, is to eventually die spiritually. There must be that realization and dedication to continue to apply our self in the midst of our changing circumstances. That constant effort and work, is always adding "something," to keep up with those changing needs of this life. A calling from the Lord really meant something in bible times, and still must today! Not just an "exploration," "excitement," or infatuation, but a serious and true dedication.
Matthew 9:10-13 10 And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples.
11 And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners?
12 But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.
13 But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous but the sinner to repentance. Jesus emphasized He came for them who know they have a need. A critical need to be preventing the loss of our soul, by answering His call, His way, and His choices for us. To reach those who do not think, dress, or speak.. like those that are already redeemed. To reach them and even the lowest of sinners, we must get out of our "comfort zone." Jesus came just for that purpose. There are many that go to church, but are predominately "self" righteous. To be justified by Christ, you must forsake all the "distractions" of the flesh. He came to call sinners, not the self righteous who cannot "hear" God because of their self deception. Their self righteousness is a wall that "blinds", "deafens," and prevents them from truly answering Christ's call.
Luke 18:10-13 10 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. 11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. 12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. 13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.
Although we thank God for being redeemed, we must never lose sight of our neediness or dependence, in addition to those lost souls that still need to be reached, for Salvation.
Revelations 3:15-17 15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. 16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. 17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: This is a picture of all those self righteous, that render themselves spiritually blind.
Have you answered God's call for you? Each soul has had an individual "call", spiritually. Whatever you have done and are doing,.. is your spiritual preparation. Have your deeds been to fulfill Christs call? Christ never quit laboring for the lost, to call them to salvation from sin. Many have answered the "initial" call, but failed to continue. Many have "pulled back." How many can we find (by exploring God's word,) that did initially answer God's call yet did not continue to endure to the end? We are accountable for our continued choices now, and "throughout our end." Pray for God to "direct you,".. in your calling.
Considering our example as with a student in college, God may change you from your "major", and often not to what you thought best, but to benefit an increase spiritually. Many biblically that did not continue with God's call,.. would be lost such as King Saul, and Judas Iscariot who lost all their initial spiritual inheritance. Too many seem to initially "hear" Christ's call, but not really fulfilling the calling,.. which is the greater part of the "marriage" to Him. Apostle Peter showed his temporal backsliding, by denying Christ in his calling, to endure in the midst of Christ's trial. For spiritual victory, nothing of the "flesh" must be allowed to distract or interfere with our calling to endure with Christ. Again our calling with Christ, is a spiritual marriage of vows to Him.
Our diligence must be only for our own accountability, and not to be focusing on another one's fulfillment of their calling. We need to examine what we as individuals are being called to do. Need more "education" from Christ? Get it! II Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. Apply yourself to your needs, and be not busy about watching someone else. Each soul has an individual responsibility. Too many have neglected their call, as the enemy is busy with distracting them. The choices within our spiritual callings God will make known to us,.. if we are diligent to seek it. His calling must be the "utmost" to us, above all else. God help us not to be distracted from Christ's call,.. who we are spiritually married to.
Revelations 17:14 These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.
Again the "called" are all those that are "married" to Christ.
We have an encouraging example of a missionary to Cuba, named Faith Stewart. She took many years after her initial call,.. to fulfill her calling.
Have you answered the call? Are you positioning yourself to be "chosen" by a diligence to His calling? Are you faithful to it?
