ST. PAUL SCHOOL OF LEADERSHIP

“Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ” (I Corinthians 11:1)

(With Frank Eiklor, Walter Contreras and Christopher Lucey)

WHEN GOD CALLS YOUR NAME

INTRODUCTION

Do not ever grow careless or foolishly familiar with the Almighty God, the resurrected Jesus Christ and the all-powerful Holy Spirit. Like the song says, “Our God is an awesome God!”

Speak these truths out loud and with reverence, and the Holy Spirit will witness to your own spirit the power of these facts: “God loves me! Jesus died for me just as much as He died for every one. God is my Father and speaks personally to me. The Holy Spirit wants to make the Father's voice and will real to me. I will learn to listen with my heart to what God will speak to me.”

It is wonderful—incredible—to know that our Lord speaks to us each day of His love for us and others. In the Scriptures, we find God called different people by their names. He knows your name also, my friend, and He calls to you in love throughout your day.

In Part 1, we learned how God called to 1)Adam, 2)Abraham, 3)Moses and 4)Samuel in different circumstances. Part 2 will cover the final four men who were called by their names. You will see how we can apply each of their situations to our own lives.

5) God called Zacchaeus when he was “up a tree” and living a life of unsatisfying priorities. (After all, how much satisfaction could he get from collecting taxes and cheating, whenever possible, the unlearned innocent, the gullible, or the careless?!) Now Zacchaeus hears that Jesus is heading in his direction. His heart is searching for peace and real life. Small of stature, Zacchaeus climbs a tree for a better view and is overjoyed when Jesus calls him by name: “And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for today I must abide at thy house” (Luke 19:5).

Are you unsatisfied with your life? Do you feel like you are “up a tree” and the branch you are sitting on is about to break? Come on down and run to your Savior's open arms. Tell him you want only one thing—His forgiveness for any sins committed and His plan for your life. Like Zacchaeus, you will know a peace and a purpose that you have never experienced before.

6) Lazarus was dead. Then Jesus stood at the open tomb and called his name: “And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth” (John 11:43). A dead man came back to life and the Son of God was glorified.

Do you feel “dead” inside because of what life has become? Jesus is calling your name. Roll away the stone of unbelief and you will hear His voice of authority and tender love calling you out of your negative and dead life into one with new meaning and joy.

7) Jesus called Peter's name when Peter was being severely tested. “So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep” John 21:15-17.

You and I will also face tests, trials and temptations. That's because the Lord wants to purify our faith (see 1 Peter 1:7) so that our lives will bring greater praise, honor and glory to our Father. He will lovingly call your name in each trial you face with His promise, “I will never leave thee or forsake thee” (Hebrews 13:5).

8) The Lord called Saul's name when he was sinning: “And he fell to the earth, and heard a

voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?” (Acts 9:4). This terrorist was immediately transformed—and Paul became such an example of total surrender to Jesus Christ that he could say to all of us, “Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1).

Aren't you thankful that you heard God call your name when you were born again into His forever family? He still calls our names when we grieve the Holy Spirit through sinning (Ephesians 4:30). Never harden your heart when you know the Lord is telling you to “stop that sin”! Confess it immediately, trust the Lord for His cleansing and ask Him to help you hate that particular sin like He hates it. As you grow in purity of heart and life, you will also experience more of His incredible love, joy and peace.

1) Where is your life leaving you unsatisfied? Will your establish a quiet time each day to read God's Word and seek His priorities and plan for you?

2) Where in your Christian life do you experience a deadness? Will you ask God to invade that dead area with His life-giving Spirit?

3) What is the greatest test, trial or temptation that you are facing at this time? Will you ask the Lord Jesus to help you face that test and come out a winner?

4) Is there a particular sin in your life that you often confess but then commit that sin again? Will you ask the Lord to let you see that sin in the light of eternity and help you to hate it like He does?