1: God Calls people (Exodus 3:16)

• 16 Go and gather the elders of Israel together, and say to them, ‘The Lord God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, appeared to me, saying, “I have surely visited you and seen what is done to you in Egypt;
• God had called Moses as the leader- God always calls the leader first. He gives them the vision and tells them what to do. When God moves on this earth, he moves through people’s obedience. (Young people- better be listening- 20s are where its at- Be seeking God or lost)
• What is interesting in this story, is that Moses doesn’t act unilaterally, but submits himself to those who were the elders of Israel. To their wisdom and experience. He didn’t just go out and start leading. He went to God first, talked to God and then went to men
• Same as paul- Galatians 1:15-16 – “But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace, to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately confer with flesh and blood.”
• His first step after submitting to God was to submit to the leadership around him. 
• This is what God does. God calls individuals to specific tasks and missions.
• Isaiah 6:8 – “Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: ‘Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?’ Then I said, ‘Here am I! Send me.'”
• Matthew 4:19 – “Then He said to them, ‘Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.'”
• Acts 9:15 But the Lord said to him, ‘Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel.
• He 5:4 And no man takes this honor to himself, but he who is called by God, just as Aaron was.”
• What is important here- and we covered this a few weeks ago- is that God calls. He speaks. 
• If you are willing to listen, God will speak to you what you are to do and how you are to do it

• What it means to you
• Are you listening to what God may be calling you to do? Yes, you’re not Moses and you’re not leading anyone outside the wilderness but maybe there’s a gifting and calling in you
• If you will listen. You will know. It will be specific and you will know its from him. 
• It may not even be a public organized entity. Roger the Poet- He’s obedient! (LIVE ready y)
• But once you’ve heard from God, you should bring it before known leaders in the Church. 
• In this instance- the elders didn’t push back- but he still submitted. 
• Paul Submitted to Peter for 2 weeks before going out. 

• Commission always follows calling. In the NT its by the laying on hands. 
• Acts 13:2-3 – “As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, ‘Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.’ Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away.”
• God’s calling is intentional and purposeful. Jer 1:5 – God knew Jeremiah before he was formed in the womb. Isaiah 6:8 – Isaiah responds to God’s call to be a prophet. Mt 4:19 – Jesus calls His disciples to follow Him. Acts 9:3-6 – Saul’s encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus. John on the isle of Patmos. 

• Another part of this is that if you’re not the one that God called to work, submit to the person that God did call, and therefore submit to God. God does not call people to overtake another

• Faith and Victory is my work. But there are sub works. Things people do that God called them to. I don’t get in the weeds on it. Meeple, Spot, live ready, Youth, Kids, Worship, Q, Young Wives, Women, Men etc. I just come alongside what God is doing. I know my role. I support. 
• Don’t be the unspiritual undisciplined person who wont listen that wants to hijack someone elses vision. Hear from God and obey, or submit to those who are walking it out. God needs those too.