"Calling out the called," is an expression that is becoming a more familiar phrase in Baptist life. It is one born of necessity. It comes from recognizing that God calls people to serve Him and spiritually gifts them to fulfill that call. Though that is in the sovereignty of God, and He does not need us, God has chosen to use us. Think of the call to salvation. God alone saves us, but He does so through those who share the Gospel. Consider this text:
13 For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
14 How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? (Rom. 10:13-14 NKJV)
This is likewise true of the call to service. God used the voices of preachers to call me to preach. He spoke through them as they confronted me with the need for those to devote themselves to serving the church.
We must pray earnestly for laborers in the Lord's harvest. Jesus said, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.” (Matt. 9:37-38)
We must preach expectantly--that God's Spirit will move in men of God who are sensitive to His voice. Churches need preachers! There is a decreasing number of men willing to fill the pulpit. Is it not time to call out the called? If you are a pastor, when was the last time you preached a sermon about this? If you are a church member, have you considered if God might be calling you?
Yours in Discipleship,
Dennis Thurman, AMS
