The Call | Paul White

thank you praise the Lord everyone amen this is a good day to magnify the Lord and bless his name he is worthy look at your neighbor if you would and say he is worthy amen thanks be to the Lord is this okay brother this sounds good okay thank you thank you this is a great time because we're in the presence of the Lord and because we are here and he is here anything is possible anything is possible can I just share a thought with you on how great he is for just a moment who is like unto the Lord among the gods glorious and Holiness fearful In Praise he is covered with light as a garment decked with majesty and array with glory and Beauty his hair is white like wool his eyes a flame of fire his feet like brass his voice is full of majesty and power and by his breath Frost is given he tells a number of stars and calls them by name he sends forth lightning and they say here we are he has gone up with a shout and the sound of a trumpet and at his rebuke Waters fled he stretches out the heavens like a curtain he walks on the wings of the Wind and the clouds are his chariots he appointed the moon for seasons and the sun knoweth her going down unto him the morning Stars sang and the sons of God shouted for Glory he's pretty good isn't he the heavens rejoice and the Earth is glad Seas Roar and the mountains skip like Rams his trees are full of sap and his Hills a refuge huge for the goats the Earth trembles at his glance and the hills smoke at his touch the Trees of the wind rejoice and the floods clap their hands the wind carries his song and the trees sway to the beat to Men He rained down mana and turned Seas into dry land and by his arm he redeemed his people he is the lion of Judah the Lamb of God of Royal lineage but made of himself no reputation he is our high priest and our sacrifice he is the master who serves the prince turned popper King crowned with thorns he was life who chose death he traded choirs of angels for jering crowds acceptance for rejection wholeness for Brokenness honor for humiliation a mother's hug for soldiers whips a kingly throne for a rugged Tre Regal robes for nakedness nobility for disgrace a royal title for a thorny crown he traded dignity for disain a scepter for nails and life for death that we might trade our fear for faith our sickness for healing our depression for deliverance our perplexity for peace our sin for salvation our desperation for hope our mourning for dancing our emptiness for fullness our addictions for acceptance our sorrows for Joy incompletion for Perfection death for life and hell for heaven what a mighty God we serve could you give him a hand clap of Praise he is worthy Hallelujah you are worthy oh god of your grace and mercy and kindness and thankfulness amen he indeed is worthy I'm glad he called my name I'm glad he called my name Mark chapter 10 if you would tonight join with me happy New Year it's great to be in the house of the Lord I give honor to this great church the great and fine people the First Apostolic church and namely the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ I give honor to pastor and sister sister Carpenter and the Pastoral family uh we appreciate this great honor and privilege which I am unworthy to be here but we honor our pastor family we thank God for them look forward to seeing them and hearing them soon behind this Podium Mark chapter 10 beginning at verse 46 familiar story about a name of a man who was blind verse 46 and they came to Jericho and as he went out of Jericho with his disciples and a great number of people blind barus the son of Tas Sat by the highway side begging and when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth he began to cry and say Jesus thou son of David have mercy on me and many charged him that he should hold his peace but he cried the more a great deal thou son of David have mercy on me and Jesus Stood Still and commanded him to be called and they call the blind man saying unto him be of of good Comfort he calleth thee tonight I would like to just simply bring this thought to you the call the call Lord Jesus we thank you for your spirit we thank you for your words tonight thank you God for your grace and mercy God this is your house this is your people bought by your blood we ask God that the power of the Holy Ghost we just visit this room tonight in word as you have with song in your presence God we give you thanks for it ask it the matchless resplendant name of Jesus could someone say Amen you may be seated thank you the Lord bless you tonight one night at home with my family many years ago an unusual phone call that brought some exciting if not shortlived hope of great gain when the phone rang and upon answering the phone a voice on the other end said I saw your phone number on a TV game show you need to call the show for your chance to win some money H although curious I dismissed it as a prank call until a second call came with this second call from another person stating the same thing I decided Ed it might be worth checking out so I wrote down the number from the person and I decided to give the show a call and when the call came through I was greeted by a recording of Casey casm anybody remember Casey casm yeah you're old too and I was greeted by a phone call recording of Casey casm announcing my phone call would enter me to a $50,000 prize drawing and I thought this is just like God while minding my own business he would send a game show to give me money man I'm going to be glad and I'm going to testify of how God blessed me with this great gain and I'm want to give him praise I'm excited about what's about to happen but a few days passed I heard nothing back and my faith began to wne so a few weeks later I found out what happened to all my winnings I asked someone about the show and I don't even remember the name of the show but I asked someone about the show that was holding my prize hostage and the guy simply said oh that show was cancelled and I thought thought how typical that I would win on a game show that would be cancelled before I got my money the hope that was brought by that unusual phone call was also cancell there are many calls in this life some bring joy others despair some are inviting While others are dreaded yet there is one call that has no hype or no false pretense only pure hope to those who accept its intreaty Mark chapter 10 where we read tells of barus and his Encounter With Jesus as the drama unfolds we see this blind man crying in the midst a crowd of people to a passing healer barus upon crying out disregards the chiding of those who cared not for him and as the more they requested him to be quiet the louder he grew and he began to seek an opportunity to face this man named Jesus whom he heard could heal the sick and yet even raise the dead so as the crowd mocked him he cried the more to the point the Bible said that Jesus stopped his walk and turned and he commanded the man be called this is so interesting this point of the scripture Jesus has been arrested by a man crying out for Mercy Jesus stops turns to where the cry comes from and commands that he be called the disciples or the men that came to barus simply said one line be of good Comfort rise he calleth thee these men declare to the blind man rejoice and be comforted simply from a call no healing had taken place no shouts of Deliverance had gone forth yet they had so much confidence in Jesus's ability and kindness they knew that if Jesus was calling the miracle was as good as done let me repeat that they had so much confidence in Jesus's ability and kindness they knew that if Jesus was calling the miracle was as good as done they understood that on the other side of the call waited deliverance and possibilities Beyond this man's wildest expectations before healing came before eyes were opened before blue skies and green grass were seen they told him to Rejoice the confidence of these disciples teaches us that the call of Jesus is worth rejoicing over we we need not wait until all our needs are met or our every will fulfilled to respond with joy Simply Having the call of God directed to our lives should be sufficient enough to Rouse within us confidence to praise him just as blind bmus did what I've simply come to tell you tonight is there is a call that goes forth every day and every hour there is a claring call that calls to us no matter where we are no matter the depths of sin we may be in no matter how dark our life and world may be there is a call from a man named Jesus it is without pretense there is no false hope there is no let down when he calls because he cannot lie and what he says he can and will do he is able to perform the disciples were so enamored by the fact that if Jesus calls you it matters not what condition you're in it matters not how far down you are it matters not how bad life has been if there is a call from the Savior you're as good as healed you're as good as saved you're as good as forgiven you might as well go ahead and rejoice before the miracle happens but there must be a response to the call the Bible says that when the disciples said rise up he calls thee be of good comfort you know the story the Bible says and bar blind barus casting away His Garment Rose and came to Jesus there are two parts of this tonight one is there is a call from Heaven There is a call from a gentle savior to each and every one of us but it is incumbent upon each of us to respond to the great and holy call of almighty God and Jesus seeing that he has casted away his garments and comes to him replies and says to Blind barus what will thou that I should do unto thee the blind man said unto him Lord that I might receive my sight and Jesus Jesus said unto him go thy way thy faith hath made thee whole and immediately he received his sight and follow Jesus in the way tonight what I've come to tell you and remind you is this the call of Jesus the call of the Gospel is very very powerful you can identify with me in your stages of Life some of us were called out of addiction some of us were called out of Abus of situations some of us were called out of alcoholism some of us may have been called out of prostitution whatever whatever place we were called of the calling of God was greater than your bondage it was greater than the chains that held you when the call of Jesus came if you responded you were made whole you were delivered because beyond the call there is power and victory why is that because his words are creative and he cannot lie so tonight if in your life you've ever heard the call of God I promise you there is no fatigue in that call he is not weary of calling your name there is no deception to that call he will call you without repentance he will call how powerful is his call I'll tell you how powerful it is we're in his call right now we are in church right now and in the New Testament the word church is Ecclesia and you know what Ecclesia means Ecclesia means those who are called out how powerful is the call it is so powerful that in this room tonight we have gathered from whatever sinful life we came back and we are part of the Ecclesia the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ we are the called out ones that is how powerful the call of Jesus Christ is First Peter puts it this way but you are a chosen generation a royal priesthood a holy nation A peculiar people that you should show forth the praise of him who hath called you out of Darkness Into His Marvelous Light which in time pass were not a people but now are the people of God his call is so powerful and wonderful and awesome that any and all of us it matters not where we came from have been called to a great place such as this 1 Corinthians 6:9 says know ye not that the unrighteousness shall not inherit the kingdom of God be not deceived now here comes quite a list neither fornicators idolators adulterous effeminate abusers of themselves with mankind nor thieves Covetous drunkards revilers extortioners shall inherit the kingdom of God it's a pretty good list and we could add our own I'm sure to it he said none of these are going to inherit the kingdom of God and then he says this and such were some of you but you are washed Sanctified justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the spirit of our God the claran call does not matter if we're white black rich or poor male or female it doesn't matter if we're gay or straight doesn't matter if we've been good or bad doesn't matter what our last names are the claring call of Jesus is able to save and deliver and reach us because of him and our response to his word why is that call so real and so important the reason is not that we are worthy but that he is worthy 2 Timothy 1:9 says he who has saved us and called us with a 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 it is because of his own purpose aren't you glad that when we were in living in sin he did not judge us Unworthy of his Mercy he did not judge us Unworthy of his grace he did not retract his calling to our lives because of where we were but he called us not according to our works but according to his purpose in other words he said my call and my purpose is greater than your dysfunction my call and my purpose is greater than your mistakes and your failures and though you are not perfect and though and though you may not know who I am or whence I come I will call to you because I have a purpose for your life we carry his calling in our lives Liv we carry as the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ his call which is very powerful very wondrous and very able to deliver that's why when Pastor preaches that's why when the Sunday school teacher teaches the gospel of the good news they teach it with joy and with gladness that's why when we say if you'll pray in jesus' name he's able to save and deliver and heal that's why we declare boldly the word and counsel of Almighty God because we have no worries that his word is true we have no worries that what we teach will ever fail because at the name of Jesus and his promises they cannot fail I'm just simply telling you that there's power behind your calling we carry his calling with us and Satan despises us for it we are where he can never be and that is in the presence of a merciful and gracious God we are a part of what he will never be a part of again and that is in the fellowship of a living wondrous Savior and so Satan hates your calling therefore we must be careful about this calling that we have received second Peter 1:10 says wherefore rather Brethren giving diligence to make your calling and election sure for if you do these things things you shall never fall that's pretty strong words there I didn't say that second Peter 1 and 10 wherefore rather Brethren give diligence to make your calling and election sure for if you do these things you shall never fall Satan is fighting your calling not only did he fight your calling for salvation not only only did he fight you tooth and nail to keep you from repentance of your sins being baptized and filled the Holy Ghost he fought you for your calling of Salvation because he knew on the other side of that calling there was wholeness there was peace there was mercy and Grace because he knew that Jesus did not lie so he fought that but he does not give up even though you're born again even though you're sitting in these pews tonight Satan still fall fights the calling of God on our lives Galatians 1 and6 the writer said this I Marvel that you are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel which is not another but there be some that trouble you and would pervert the gospel of Christ but though we or an angel from heaven preach any other gospel unto you than what we have preach let him be a cursed the writing of G Galatians said look I Marvel at why people leave their calling for something lesser because there is no other gospel like the Gospel of Jesus Christ he marveled that people would give up what God has called them from to go back to where they came from because he said if there's any other gospel preached other than what we've preached acts 238 let that be a curse he continued in Galatians chapter 5 he puts it pretty succinctly when he says you did run well who did hinder you that you should not obey the truth this persuasion or influence cometh not of him that called you Galatians he's talking to those who are called of God he says I have somewhat to bring to you he says you did good you ran well you lived good you were you were on the the March you were living for God you did well he said but I have a question who hindered you that you would not obey the truth he says what happened in your calling as you were living your calling as you were walking in your calling as you were going towards the great Celestial city as you were abounding in God's grace and mercy he says what happened to you what and who hindered you from obeying the truth he says this influence doesn't come from him that called you I'm here to Simply tell you tonight that in the end of 24 and the beginning of 25 there is a battle for your calling there is a persuasion that is going on for your soul Satan is after your calling and Heaven is after your calling Satan is wanting to to persuade you this year that your calling for God is Not That valuable your calling from God is not worth much there's more out there in the world there's more things going on that are better for you than what there's going on in here there is a call in your life that Satan is trying to persuade you from to D to damage your soul Satan is after your calling he will love nothing more than the end of 2025 to say ha I got him family's divorced children are out of church he's back out living like he was what happened well I persuaded him his calling wasn't that important I persuaded him that what God promised him really wasn't going to happen I persuaded her that what God promised her would never come to pass and therefore my persuasion influence allowed them to give up on what God had promised them I'm simply reminding us tonight that our calling is precious our calling is valuable not only is the calling of Salvation thanks be to God that he called us to salvation but not only is it the call of Salvation that is valuable it's your call to everyday living it's your call to your family dads to bring your kids to church moms to be faithful to God it's calling young people to be faithful even when your parents aren't faithful why because there might be a mom or dad that'll watch you go to church when they make fun of you when they ridicule you and they may say you know what there's something about that church son daughter I think I'll go with you this week what it's the power of our calling so the devil will fight our calling in he will declare to us this year when troubles happen when problems come he will say well God won't come through he must have told you a lie he said he was going to heal you and bless you and you're still sick you're still broke it's been three days after all since God promised it to you it's been six weeks after all it's been six months after all maybe God just isn't telling the truth but I believe that God's calling is without repentance his call to us is without repentance so what do we say to this enemy that tries to persuade us to give up our calling whatever it might be whatever your calling is whatever your relationship is whatever that plan or desire that God has given to you is what is our response when Satan tries to persuade us to give in to another calling our response is found Romans chapter 8 beginning at verse 35 the writer said who shall separate us from the love of Christ shall tribulation or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or Peril or sword and is as it is written for thy sake we are killed all the day long we are counted for sheep as the for the slaughter nay in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us three very powerful words follow this next one he says for I am persuaded that neither death nor life nor angels nor principalities nor powers nor things present nor things to come nor height depth any other creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus how do I fight the persuasion of the enemy when troubles come and when darkness surrounds me and when my prayer doesn't get answered and when Pastor doesn't shake my hand and when troubles hit my family what do I do when my calling is questioned what I've got to do is I've got to stand up and say I am persuaded that his word is true he's powerful he's Mighty he doesn't lie he doesn't give up he doesn't quit God is on my side God is faithful I don't feel him I don't hear him I don't him but I believe his word is true I am persuaded and when you get someone who is persuaded they will not be defeated do you know why I quit and give up when I do I'm not persuaded that he's going to help me do you know why I get cold and indifferent at times in my life or why we turn around and walk out because we're not persuaded that God is able to finish what he started but if we can ever get persuaded The Persuasions of the enemy cannot counteract and overcome a saint of God who is persuaded we've got to make up our mind we've got to know that our calling is very very valuable and important we've got to be persuaded that our calling is worth fighting for in 20125 there's a calling he's going to call us I believe this year to do do things and go places maybe we haven't seen or been to before but when he calls us be of good Comfort he won't let you hang if he calls you Peter Jesus is that you on the water yeah that's me uh would you bid me come you sure yeah I bid me come Peter come on he steps out in that water and what does he do like most of us he's dancing the first step maybe the Second Step woo look at here but then he looks at the waves and water say wait a minute I learned something in school called gravity and I'm defying it right now but uh I feel like I'm going under and as Peter went under he cried out and Jesus who called him was faithful to lift him back up if we make mistakes if we stumble and fall that does not mean God retracts his calling his grace and his mercy upon Our Lives lives if we make mistakes that does not mean he says well I knew you wouldn't make it well I knew they didn't have it in him he is full of grace and mercy and with his convicting power he will help us get back up because he who calls us is faithful to complete it there's a call to repentance he's calling us to repentance to Restoration 2 Chronicles If my people which are called by my name shall humble themselves and pray seek my face turn from the Wicked Ways then will I hear from Heaven forgive their sins and will heal their land he's talking to people who are called by his name first John if we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins he's calling us to repentance to repent of things maybe that have held us back and held us down because he said if we repent he is faithful and just to forgive us he's calling us to a new relationship as he spoke to Israel and Romans he said to Israel all day long have I stretched forth my hand unto a disobedient gain saying people to Jerusalem he said how often would I've gathered you in like a hind death or brood but you would not let me he's calling to people for a new relationship to a new freshness he's calling us to holiness 1 Peter 1:5 he calls us to Holiness but as he which hath called you is Holy be ye holy in all manner of conversation because it is written be ye holy for I am Holy why does he call us to repentance why does he call us to relationship why does he call us to Holiness because on the other side of the call there is restoration there is fulfillness there is anointing and every church that lives with the repentant attitude with a fresh relationship with him and with Holiness upon them there is a power that cannot be discouraged nor disway that's why people walk in this church Dead As Nails so it seems still with the breath of alcohol on them they can walk in this building and by the time the second song is two-thirds of the way through tears begin to run down their eyes they begin to shake and quiver I've seen it I've watched people just begin to weep under the power of the Holy Ghost why it's because there was that call and when there's that call that is obeyed by his people there is an anointing there is power God's grace and mercy is upon this place he always abides where his name is and where his presence is honored this is called the house of God we are called his church because we are the Ecclesia the called out ones not because we are worthy or deserving but because he has a purpose for our lives in this new year I remind us that he's still calling he's not only calling us for a fresh relationship he may be calling the backsliders for a new opportunity to come back home he may be calling to your children your sons and daughters he may be calling to backsliding spouses husbands and wives we no idea what he may be saying in these next few weeks and months of 202 but I want to Simply say this if we hear his voice know of assurity that he he will accomplish that which he has set out to do he still is calling he called Moses from the burning bush and he delivered a great people he called Abraham from the land of ER and he became a great nation he called Saul on the road to Damascus and he wrote most of the New Testament Bible he called Lazarus from the grave and the dead man came out leaping bound hand and foot and Jesus said loose him and let him go whatever kind of situation you're in tonight he is calling Acts chapter 2 as the musicians would come please Acts chapter 2 verse 38 and 39 then Peter said unto them repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Jesus Christ for the remission of your sins and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost for This Promise is unto you and to your children and to all them that are far off as many as the Lord Our God shall call that is the Clarion call in this hour that is the call that Satan cannot win over he cannot defeat and if you will respond to that call you will a be answered by his power his presence and a new relationship with him there is power on the other side of the call Abra Abraham referenced in Romans chapter 4 as it is written I have made thee a father of many nations before him whom he believed even God who quickened the dead and calleth those things which be not as though they are tonight you may be looking at those things that are not in your life and my life we may be looking at those things that are not not peace not Grace not financially blessed not hope not love not Joy but he can speak to those things that are not and they can become what he declares them to be that's why when he found you when he found me he did not wait nor need for us to be perfect he called us while we were yet sinners the Bible said Christ died for us he can save the worst of us in here or he can save none of us in here Romans 8:28 if you would stand with me tonight Romans 828 and we know that all things work together for good to them that love God who are the called according to his purpose I don't know what his purpose is but if I can just seek out his purpose if I can just strive to enter into his presence I know that my calling and election will be sure in our blinded state in our unhealed condition in our unanswered dilemma Rejoice for he who calls is able and willing to perform what is needed in our lives Philippians 1:6 States being confident of this very thing that he which hath began a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ sometimes all we have is a call I don't see the answer I don't know how it's going to get done I don't know how it's going to get paid I don't know how they're going to get healed I don't know how this relationship is going to work I don't understand a lot of things but I do know there's a call and there's a call from a mighty savior that says come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest first Thessalonians no great miracle in blind Bam's life no pardoning of the Red Sea no motionless son to prove God's word only the Genesis of a work promised by the disciples but that was enough to Rejoice over 1 Thessalonians 5 and 24 reads thus Faithful Is He that calleth you who also will do it Romans 9:25 declares I will call them my people which were not my people and her beloved which was not beloved and it shall come to pass that in the place where it is said unto them you are not my people there shall be there shall they be called the children of the Living God God calls to them who may not know that on the other side of the call he will make them what he promised them to be his call is still profound it transcends our shortcomings goes beyond our frailties and declares what is not as though it is it is up to us to make our calling and election sure let us know that on the other side of the call there is strength there is power and there is a God who's able to lift us up from our Surly Bonds to walk in newness of life with all the voices calling in this world today there are voices calling you to turn back there are voices calling you to throw in the towel there will be voices calling you to give up and to quit just short of your Victory but there is a Clarion call tonight that says if you have not yet repented if you repent I'll forgive you if you've not yet been baptized in Jesus name if you'll be baptized I'll wash away all your sins if you've not yet received the gift of the Holy Ghost if you'll ask before it I will give it freely to them who ask that is a promise that's why when you come up here to pray there's four or five people who pray with you why because they know that if you have received a call and you walk up to respond God will deliver when you come up for prayer and people pray with you and you're praying for God to save and God to heal and God to minister to you and there are people praying around you why do they do that because they know that there's a call from heaven for healing if you come and respond he is faithful to heal set free and deliver tonight I just simply simply remind us that there's a call on all of us your calling may not be pastor's calling your calling may not be your neighbor neighbor's calling but whatever he speaks to you whatever he says to you in whatever degree and measure if you will respond Rejoice because the master is calling would you lift your voice lift your praise tonight as they begin to sing get ready to sing Lord Jesus I thank you for your call thank you for calling me God thank you Lord for giving me words of Hope and encouragement when I could find none when I had no hope you were my hope when I was lost and undone you called when no one else could call my name you called and when I stumbled and fell I heard the voice of almighty God say he that was without sin Let Him cast the first stone and then I heard you say neither do I condemn thee get up and sin no more I'm thankful for the call tonight I'm thankful for your grace and mercy that found us that called us and because of your call there is an opp opportunity and a reason to Rejoice Hallelujah tonight just praise him thank him for his call and if you need repentance he'll forgive you if you want God to bless your heart touch your life he'll do it he promises he won't leave you he won't forsake you he's faithful if you call upon him he'll call back to you Hallelujah God I thank you Jesus I pray that this new year God you'll call us to higher Heights and deeper deeper depths I pray God that you call us to Revival I pray you call our families to repentance I pray you call Revival in our unsaved children husbands and wives I pray God you call to the backslider tell them there's hope give them a promise that if they come back you'll forgive them you'll give them Grace and help us to cheer them on help us to say he forgave me he'll forgive you help us to cheer him on to say he healed me he'll heal you help us to cheer him on to say rejoice he that call the is faithful to complete what he has said