THE BELIEVER'S CALL

 Reverend G. S. Adeyemo

everyone on earth has a call of God upon his or her life.

Introduction 
Reading through thee Scripture and from experience as minister of the Word of God, it is evidently clear that everyone on earth has a call of God upon his or her life. This call will be seen in three dimensions. These are
1. A Call to Salvation
2. A Call to Sanctification
3. A Call to Service
Since the fall of the first family, it has been the purpose of God for all people to experience these calls making the kingdoms of this world becomes the Kingdom of our Lord. We shall consider each of the calls in subsequent paragraphs.

1. A Call to Salvation: - This is fundamental to our faith and activities in the kingdom of our Lord here on earth. It is commonly referred to as general call. We are all called to live in accordance to the principles of God’s law and we are also called to a life committed to the service of God and our fellow man.
This call was necessitated by the fall of the first family. Adam and Eve were created in the image of God. Gen. 1: 27; 1 Cor. 11: 7. However, the man lost sovereignty over the earth when he rebelled against the original purpose of God for man. Gen. 3: 8-9;
God has been calling us to salvation since then till now. 2 Pet. 3:9; Joel 2:12, 13; Luk 3:1-4; Matth. 3: 2 “The entire story of God’s people—beginning with Abraham and Sarah, and now extending to all nations through the reconciling power of the Cross—is a vast, world-historical rescue mission to restore the capacity for true image bearing” Answering the call brings back the original image of God that was lost in the Garden of Eden.
The call to salvation brings us to God in repentance feeling sorry for our miserable life and be ready to turn away from sinfulness. Matth 9: 13; Luk 5: 32; Mark 2: 17; Col. 3: 15; Eph 4: 4; 1 Pet 2: 20-21; 2 Tim. 1: 9
2. A Call to Sanctification: - this call to a practical life of a Christian touches our dedication to doing the will of God. It is a call to ‘discipling’ which is more intense in our walk with God in the footsteps of our Lord Jesus Christ.  It is a call to potter’s hands for making into the life pleasing unto God. The Bible says, “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12: 1, 2; Heb. 12: 14; 1 Thess. 4: 7; 2 Cor. 6: 14-17; It is a call to dedication, separation and transformation. Joh 17: 19; 1 Thess 5: 23;


3. A Call to Service: - when your life is consecrated and dedicated to God, He equips you for service. Jesus told the Apostles “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." Believers are to be baptized by the Holy Spirit that they may fulfill the great commission.
Note: - baptism of the Holy Spirit is not just to pray in tongue but to affect lives within and outside the Church. 1 Cor. 12-14; Rom. 12: 4, 5, 6-8; Eph. 4: 11-14   says  It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers,  to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up  until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.