KNOWING YOUR CALLING: Text: Acts 26:14-18

Intro: Whether we admit it or not, whether we like it or not, we came hear to work or earn money. There is nothing wrong with that but that is our own purpose or plans. On the other hand God has called for a purpose. The question is whose purpose are we living for? Aim: For us to know our calling and thus living for God’s purpose. Life’s fulfilment is not based on what you’ve achieved in life but on doing God’s purpose in your life.

Unbeliever Called to be Saved Called to Minister and Witness Live with God’s Purpose To Open their Eyes Turn them from darkness to light Turn from power of Satan to God Receive Forgiveness and Inheritance

I. CALLING FOR THE UNBELIEVER/PERSECUTORS Their calling is just simply to be saved To know Christ the Lord and Saviour I Kings 18: 37 1Ki 18:37 "Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that You are the LORD God, and that You have turned their hearts back to You again." This would happen with an encounter with God, a miracle, extraordinary sign, hearing His word, etc. For Paul it was a light from heaven and Jesus spoke to him.

II. CALLED TO MINISTER AND WITNESS Minister- one who is authorized to perform religious function in a Christian church. Witness for Jesus Witness both of the things which you have seen The things yet to be revealed The things He has done to you Ex. Healing Mark 5:18-19 Things that happened to you (How did He changed your life) For Paul, He was with authority and commission from the chief priest to imprison and kill the believers-v 12-13

III. LIVE WITH GOD’S PURPOSE IN YOUR LIFE 1.To open their eyes- v18 2Ti 2:24 And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, 2Ti 2:25 in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, 2Ti 2:26 and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will. Luke 24:16 But their eyes were restrained, so that they did not know Him. Even the priest who asked Jesus to make His disciples silent (as they were praying during that time), their eyes were not open. They were still praying for the Messiah to come.

2. Turn them from darkness to light-v 18 If a person is still in darkness, we haven’t done our job or we haven’t fulfilled God’s purpose. Col 1:13 He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love Gal 4:8 But then, indeed, when you did not know God, you served those which by nature are not gods. John 3:19 "And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. John 3:20 "For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. John 3:21 "But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God."

Sin blinds us in the first place, put us into bondage and make us work for them. Jdg 16:21 Then the Philistines took him and put out his eyes, and brought him down to Gaza. They bound him with bronze fetters, and he became a grinder in the prison. In other words working for Satan 3. Turn them from the power of Satan to God Eph 2:1 And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, Eph 2:2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience,

Eph 2:3 among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. 1Thess 5:9 For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, Most of us might have believed in God and may have known Him but we have not turn over ourselves into the power of God. Satan’s tactic is if he will fail to make us live for him at least we are just living for ourselves and not for God. 4. That they may receive forgiveness of sins This is just a possibility or not guaranteed 5. They may receive an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Jesus

IV. HINTS/TIPS IN LIVING FOR GOD’S PURPOSE God’s move is affected by the measure we use. God is not please by those who play safe. The greater risk we take the greater the move of God. When we answer to His calling and live for His purpose, He will sustain us. V. APPLICATION-V Do not disobey your calling or God’s purpose Repent Turn to God Show works befitting repentance

CHALLENGE: Whose purpose are you living for? Satan and yourself or God? CONCLUSION: ACTS 20:22-24 Act 20:22 "And see, now I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me there, Act 20:23 "except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me. Act 20:24 "But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.

You're all I want, You're all I need, oh Jesus Take more of me So I can be more like You Jesus And I'll hold onto You Whatever I'll go through Chorus: You're here with me My saviour, my King My everything, Oh Jesus You are The reason I live, forever I'll give My all to You

Open my eyes so I can see who You really are Open my ears so I can hear Your tender voice And I'll trust in You, whatever I'll go through Bridge: You guide my path, each step that I take You lead me Lord, in Your arms I'll stay