3. How do we know it’s from God?
God’s call –
How do we hear?
How do we know it’s from God?
How does it develop?
Can it change?
Can it go wrong?

4. Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall Corinthians

5. We all share
a common calling

6. “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: “Love your neighbour as yourself.” All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments Matthew

7. God calls unlikely people in unlikely ways to do unlikely things
and so become extraordinary people

8. God calls unlikely people in unlikely ways to do unlikely things
and so become extraordinary people

11. ‘But am I not a Benjaminite, from the smallest tribe of Israel, and is not my clan the least of all the clans of the tribe of Benjamin? Why do you say such a thing to me?’ Samuel 9.21

12. God calls unlikely people in unlikely ways to do unlikely things
and so become extraordinary people

13. his timing is totally different to ours
When God calls us
his timing is totally different to ours

14. "Suppose one of you wants to build a tower
"Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won't you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it?” Luke 14.28

15. Before God calls us to bigger things he often calls us to serve him in smaller things first

16. "Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.” Luke 16.10

17. Saul’s career path Farmer’s son Anointed by Samuel
Acclaimed by the people
Military leader
Affirmed as king by the nation

18. David’s career path Shepherd Worshipper and poet
Learned courage defending the sheep
Anointed by Samuel – then back to being a shepherd
Kills Goliath

19. David’s career path Joins the army Military commander
Exile and becomes a guerilla leader
King over Judah
King over all of Israel

20. We can’t speed up God’s timing – but we can slow him down
Watchman Nee

21. "Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.” Luke 16.10

22. The Lord calls those who are obedient

23. ”You are my friends if you do what I command you.” John 15.14

24. The Lord can do extraordinary things through people who recognise their own weakness

25. ” The Lord who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine.”
1 Samuel 17.37

26. Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called
Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things - and the things that are not -to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him.
1 Corinthians

27. God’s call can change

29. Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.
Exodus

31. What has God said to you?
What has God given you?

32. What has God said to you?
What has God given you?

33. What has God said to you?
What has God given you?

34. Raising up a new generation of leaders
Prophecy
Speaking in tongues
Interpretation
Raising up a new generation of leaders
Evangelism

35. God calls unlikely people in unlikely ways to do unlikely things
and so become extraordinary people