.  Living Hope Fellowship Church....Sermons by the Pastor 

YOUR CALLING

by Pastor Kevin Badgley

            1 Peter 2:9 says, “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:”

             God has a plan for everyone’s life, and you will either be an upright witness for God or a deceiver for the devil.  Satan tempted the Lord Jesus Christ with, “If thou be the Son of God. . . .”  He will tell you, “IF you are really saved. . . .  He wants you to doubt God’s plan for your life!  This plan from God cannot be performed by a sinner.

            The Christian’s calling and life’s plan does not come from our own intellect or opinion, but from heaven.  Read the Word of God and pray.  Receive the baptism of the Holy Ghost.  Pray for the perfect will of God in your life.  Many turn away from the Lord and operate in their own plan.  The Bible declares that you are bought with a price, and you are not your own!  That means you must live according to the plan of God, which will never be contrary to the Word of God.  Many do not yield to the plan of God for ministry in their lives, yet the Bible declares that the gifts and the calling of God are without repentance.

            God never starts you out one way and finishes you contrary to that way.  God is not the author of confusion.  If you started out with the Lord and got off along the way, admit that you have erred from the truth, repent, and Jesus will redirect your steps.

            In the book of James, Abraham was called a friend of God.  Would you also like to be called a friend of God?  John 15:14 says, “Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.”  We start out as children of God and servants, but we can get to the place of friendship where we can know what our Lord does and have the ability to do it too.  We see in Verse 15 a graduation of walking with God:  Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.”

            Verse 16 says, “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.”

            I believe we are of the generations chosen to participate in the rapture of the church.  I believe that the mark of the beast is here.  Don’t let the devil take away your urgency in God, or you will be less serious about God. He will cause you to close your eyes, and sleep, and not stay up and pray for lost souls.

            God may take you in a direction that you don’t really want to go, and sometimes we are only sure that He is taking us, but we get comfort from Romans 8:28 that says, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”

            God has a direction for your life, so hold on to Him.  Don’t get discouraged; anything worth having is worth fighting for.  The Word of God says to fight the good fight of faith.  It might be difficult, but you can win if you put on the whole armour of God, submit yourself to God, and resist the devil!  The enemy will flee from you, and you can obtain the promises of God!

            One time I went through fever and affliction where it felt like every joint in my body was being stuck with a butcher knife.  I told the devil he was a defeated liar.  I was saying, Thank you, Jesus for my healing, but hurry up, please!  However, God does what He wants, when He wants, and the way that He wants to do it.  I was feeling rough, but as I sat there praying in the Holy Ghost some things came before me.  I saw tremendous multitudes of people, and it sounded like thunder rolling across the country side.  People were getting touched off of a platform at a revival service, and all things were possible to them that believed.  The shouts of victory got louder and louder.  I saw various areas of the world and a series of meetings were going on at the same time.  Hallelujah!  I was rejoicing in God my Saviour.  God can encourage your heart, and He wants to do it.

            I also saw what appeared to be a steel wall. Sections of steel were welded together.  I couldn’t tell how big it was, because I was only looking at a small portion of it.  Crawling up the sides of this wall (shield) were large spiders of various sizes!  They would get up so far on the side of it, and suddenly they drew up their legs and feet underneath their bodies, like when you smash them, and then they fell.  I saw five or six at a time get so far up and then draw up and die before they ever hit the ground!

            I believe that I have the interpretation to this vision.  The devil is going to try to climb the wall and go over the armor.  However, he is only going to get so far, and he is going to wish he had never seen it.  God is still on the throne!  By the way, God healed me.

            Hebrews 11:6 says, “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”

            When you believe that you have a purpose in the Kingdom of God, you will behave accordingly.  God has called you to believe for great things.  You will have to go through great things, but He will bring you out on the other side victorious!  Do you believe God can do anything?

            People give excuses, but God will show you what you need to know, and He will anoint you.  All things are possible to them that believe!  God has predestinated you to be conformed to the image of His Son (see Romans 8:29).   If you meet the conditions, He will send the anointing!  You will be tried and tested, but if you will stand, God can do all things through you through Christ.  Don’t limit God.  God has a higher calling for you than you ever thought possible.  Whosoever will may come.  Say YES to Jesus!