The Furnace- The Fire of Calling
GOD’S CALLING
1. God calls us in: Relationship
John 6:44 (NIV) No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him.
Draws: (gk. Helkyo) To drag literally and figuratively
You can respond or resist but the tension of that process is up to you.
John 16:8 (NLT) When he comes, he will convict the world of its sin, and of God’s righteousness, and of the coming judgment.
Mark 3:14 (NKJV) Then He appointed twelve, that they might be with Him and that He might send them out to preach.
2. God calls us up. Consecration
“The old covenant says you can’t come closer because of your sin, the new covenant says you must come closer because of Christ’s love.”
1 Peter 1:13-16 (NIV) 13 Prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. 14 As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. 15 But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; 16 for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy.”
3. God calls us to. Assignment.
4 ways to recognizing your calling.
Often times we don't find a calling the calling finds us.
1. What do you think that is?
2. What is in your heart?
3. What is your motivation?
4. Is it bigger than you?
Just like us, Moses Argues with God
1. We make it about us.(Exodus 3:11-12)
We say “Who am I? God says who do you say “I AM.”
2. We make it about the opinions of others.(Exodus 4:1)
3. We make it about our skills.(Exodus 4:10)
Our calling has nothing to do with ability but our availability.
God simply wants our yes.
Romans 11:29 (NIV) God's gifts and his call are irrevocable
2 Corinthians 3:4-6 (NLT) 4 We are confident of all this because of our great trust in God through Christ. 5 It is not that we think we are qualified to do anything on our own. Our qualification comes from God. 6 He has enabled us to be ministers of his new covenant.
The Furnace- Baptism of Fire
Matthew 3:11 (NIV) "I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.
Acts 1:4-8 (NIV) 4 "Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit." 6 So when they met together, they asked him, "Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?" 7 He said to them: "It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
Acts 2:1-4 (NIV) 1 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
Acts 2:14 (NIV) Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd.
Pentecost speaks of a second experience in the journey of God’s people.
Acts 19:2 (NIV) "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" They answered, "No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.”
MORE
1. More tangibles
2. More fervency & passion
3. More courage & boldness
Acts 4:31 They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness. (See also Acts 4:12)
4. More Power
“The baptism of fire is not to simply enhance our experience to but to maximize our effectiveness.”
1. Exouisia- Authority-rights
John 1:12 (NIV) Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.
2. Dynamis: Ability: demonstration.
Acts 1:8 You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you.
1 Corinthians 2:4 My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power
-Power to BE A witness.
-Power to overcome.
-Power to function like Jesus.
John 14:12 (NIV) I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.
Acts 10:38 (NIV) God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.
How to receive the Baptism in the Holy Spirit
1- Open your heart
2- Ask, Seek & Knock!
Luke 11:13 Your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!
3- Receive
Psalms 81:10 Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it…
Close:
Acts 19:2 (NIV) "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?
The Furnace- Incubators
1 Samuel 1:7-20 7 Year after year it was the same—Peninnah would taunt Hannah as they went to the Tabernacle. Each time, Hannah would be reduced to tears and would not even eat. 8 “Why are you crying, Hannah?” Elkanah would ask. “Why aren’t you eating? Why be downhearted just because you have no children? You have me—isn’t that better than having ten sons?” 9 Once after a sacrificial meal at Shiloh, Hannah got up and went to pray. Eli the priest was sitting at his customary place beside the entrance of the Tabernacle. 10 Hannah was in deep anguish, crying bitterly as she prayed to the LORD. 11 And she made this vow: “O LORD of Heaven’s Armies, if you will look upon my sorrow and answer my prayer and give me a son, then I will give him back to you. He will be yours for his entire lifetime, and as a sign that he has been dedicated to the LORD, his hair will never be cut.” 12 As she was praying to the LORD, Eli watched her. 13 Seeing her lips moving but hearing no sound, he thought she had been drinking. 14 “Must you come here drunk?” he demanded. “Throw away your wine!” 15 “Oh no, sir!” she replied. “I haven’t been drinking wine or anything stronger. But I am very discouraged, and I was pouring out my heart to the LORD. 16 Don’t think I am a wicked woman! For I have been praying out of great anguish and sorrow.” 17 “In that case,” Eli said, “go in peace! May the God of Israel grant the request you have asked of him.” 18 “Oh, thank you, sir!” she exclaimed. Then she went back and began to eat again, and she was no longer sad. 19 The entire family got up early the next morning and went to worship the LORD once more. Then they returned home to Ramah. When Elkanah slept with Hannah, the LORD remembered her plea, 20 and in due time she gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, for she said, “I asked the LORD for him.”
1 Samuel 3:1 The boy Samuel ministered before the LORD under Eli. In those days the word of the LORD was rare; there were not many visions.
There is always “Mother” in the midst OF Gods plan.
Mothering/Nurturing God’s Desires
John 3:3-6 Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God.” “What do you mean?” exclaimed Nicodemus. “How can an old man go back into his mother’s womb and be born again?” Jesus replied, “I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit. Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life.
1. Fertilization
Despise not small moments.
Matthew 13:31-32 “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches.”
2. Cultivation
“Our job is not to produce the seed . Our Job is to stay in & incubate the process.”
A. Maturity
B. Flexibility
You can bend or you can bust.
He is not just growing his desire, he is growing you!
C. Expectantly & actively getting ready!
3. Fruition
Galatians 6:9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
The Furnace- Zeal For The House
“God is a consuming fire. The Holy Spirit is a Spirit of fire. Jesus said, "I've come to bring fire on earth." There is no escaping fire” -Leonard Ravenhill
John 2:13-17 (NIV) 13 When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14 In the temple courts he found men selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money. 15 So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple area, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. 16 To those who sold doves he said, "Get these out of here! How dare you turn my Father's house into a market!" 17 His disciples remembered that it is written: "Zeal for your house will consume me.”
Matthew 21:13 (NLT) “My Temple/House will be called a house of prayer,’ but you have turned it into a den of thieves!”
Zeal FOR the House
John 2:17 (NIV) His disciples remembered that it is written: "Zeal for your house will consume me.”
Zeal: gk: zhlo" (zelos): excitement of mind | fervor of spirit.
“God burns with deep desire for what is his!”
Zechariah 8:2 (NIV)This is what the Lord Almighty says: "I am very jealous for Zion; I am burning with jealousy for her."
1 Corinthians 3:16 (NIV) Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you?
He wants us to reflect his desires.
Matthew 22:37 (NLT)“‘You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’
Proverbs 20:27(NIV) The human spirit is the lamp of the LORD.
Leviticus 6:12-13 (NIV) 12 The fire on the altar must be kept burning; it must not go out. Every morning the priest is to add firewood and arrange the burnt offering on the fire and burn the fat of the fellowship offerings on it. 13 The fire must be kept burning on the altar continuously; it must not go out.
Keep the fire burning
1. Obedience: Serving the Lord
Romans 12:11 (NIV) Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.
2. Fellowship: Spending time with Him.
Fellowship with God ministers to God.
“Our heart is fueled when we fuel his.”
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