Is God Calling you?

Is God calling you? Is God asking you to go?

One of the ways to study God’s word is to look at how God used other people. I want to show you 2 examples of how God called people to action.

First lets look at Isaiah.

Isaiah 6:8 ESV - [8] And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?" Then I said, "Here I am! Send me."

God needed a prophet to go to His people and proclaim God’s words to them. How did He call the prophet Isaiah? He sent out a general call for help? He stated a need.

Isaiah responded with “Here I am, send me”. This seems almost too simple but this is how God works. He showed Isaiah there was a need for someone and Isaiah was that someone.

Second lets look at Nehemiah.

Nehemiah 1:2-11 ESV - [2] that Hanani, one of my brothers, came with certain men from Judah. And I asked them concerning the Jews who escaped, who had survived the exile, and concerning Jerusalem. [3] And they said to me, "The remnant there in the province who had survived the exile is in great trouble and shame. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates are destroyed by fire." [4] As soon as I heard these words I sat down and wept and mourned for days, and I continued fasting and praying before the God of heaven. [5] And I said, "O LORD God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, [6] let your ear be attentive and your eyes open, to hear the prayer of your servant that I now pray before you day and night for the people of Israel your servants, confessing the sins of the people of Israel, which we have sinned against you. Even I and my father's house have sinned. [7] We have acted very corruptly against you and have not kept the commandments, the statutes, and the rules that you commanded your servant Moses. [8] Remember the word that you commanded your servant Moses, saying, 'If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the peoples, [9] but if you return to me and keep my commandments and do them, though your outcasts are in the uttermost parts of heaven, from there I will gather them and bring them to the place that I have chosen, to make my name dwell there.' [10] They are your servants and your people, whom you have redeemed by your great power and by your strong hand. [11] O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of your servant, and to the prayer of your servants who delight to fear your name, and give success to your servant today, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man." Now I was cupbearer to the king.

Nehemiah asked for an update on his home country. The update was not good at all. This update broke Nehemiah’s heart. In this case God showed Nehemiah they need through someone else. Nehemiah was not specifically asked to go but decided himself that something had to be done by someone. Nehemiah knew that he was a someone. Nehemiah prayed that God would help him and be with him and give him success as he returned to restore his fellow countrymen.

I think there is a couple of questions that we all need to be asking ourselves.

1. Has God shown me a need that exists that I just cannot shake?

2. Does God need to send someone to meet this need?

3. Am I a someone?

The only requirements for being sent is someone who is obedient and who love those to whom they have been called to go to.

Nehemiah had no great qualifications as a builder or leaders.

Isaiah had no great qualifications as a speaker.

What they did have was a love for God and His people and willingness to be used.

If you think God is calling you then do what Nehemiah did - begin to pray and ask others join your cause.