But the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?” He answered, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.” Gen 3:9-10

When God calls, how do we respond? Adam's response was to hide. Many people often hide in response to God calling for them. Now, I want you to think about this, are you called? We know there is this thing referred to as the 'call of God'. Jesus in the New Testament would call people to follow him. Is this something that applies to us? Did you know if you search for the word 'called' in the New Testament it's mentioned more times than the word 'saved'. I presume you’d consider yourself saved, what about called?

Who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began. 2 Tim 1:9 KJV

These two things, salvation and calling, are linked. We tend to think of salvation as necessary but fulfilling our calling as optional. Adam hid from his call. We like being saved because Jesus does all the work, but our calling requires us to do something, and we tend not to like that. I have children in my house and when I call their name, sometimes, they pretend they haven't heard me. Presumably, they assume I'm calling them, in order to get them to do something. They pretend not to have heard, so they can avoid their chores. My children still want to stay in the house, they just want to limit how much they do. Many of God's children are this same way in church. Going back to the verse we just read, we see that the ‘calling’ and ‘salvation’ are intrinsically linked, we cannot separate one from another.

Let's think of some things that we are called to. Jesus called his disciples to pray. And the only time it is recorded that he called then to do this they went to sleep. So presumably they thought it was optional.

Scripture tells us that we are called to do the works God has prepared in advance for us to do. We haven't simply come to God; we have been called to participate with Him. Do we know that when God called us, He has called us to Himself. Now, today in modern Christianity we tend to emphasise our personal relationship with God, but the Bible primarily emphasises the community. We are called to God, to be a part of His body and to fulfil a role within it.

When people are told to participate often they will say something like, ‘I'm not called to that’, or, ‘it's not my calling’. Consider Samuel:

A third time the Lord called, “Samuel!” And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.” Then Eli realized that the Lord was calling the boy. So Eli told Samuel, “Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place. The Lord came and stood there, calling as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” 1 Sam. 3:8-10

Samuels name, in Hebrew, means God has heard. Three times God calls Samuel but its Eli who realises that it's God. Only after this does Samuel responded to God's call. So we see that often we need others to clarify God’s call to us, the chapter goes onto say:

The Lord continued to appear at Shiloh, and there he revealed himself to Samuel through his word. 1 Sam. 3:21

It’s important to note that God isn't just speaking to Samuel through some supernatural process, He is speaking through His word. If you don't understand God's word you won't fully realise God's call. Thought the word of God He is calling you! Teaching should be a confirmation and clarification of what someone should already be reading or have already received from God. You will know God as well as you know His word. Sometimes people will say to me that I have a gift for understanding God's word. I think some people assume I have some supernatural gift of assimilating God’s word. This annoys me a little bit because I have spent hours a day reading it for 35 years. Samuel did not rely on his supernatural ability to hear Gods voice; he also studied God's word. General booth of the salvation army said that he met a man who said, he wanted to serve but was never asked. He replied to this man saying, that he was called but he never listened.

Many Christians claim that they are not called to anything but is that true? Let's look at Paul as another example. Paul was called to speak to the gentiles, the Hebrew understanding of this word means every non-Jew, so nearly everyone on the planet. Where should he start? Where would you start?

Paul and his companions travelled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia. Acts 16:6

Paul started by heading towards Asia but as he starts out God stops him. What would we do at this moment? Would we stop here and go home?

When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to. Acts 16:7

Even though the door is closed, even though he is prevented for serving Jesus twice, he remains committed to the call. Many people volunteer, they do the bit but after trying a few times and failing they quit.

So they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas Acts 16:8

So now Paul has gone to a third place and has no more clarity on what to do. He is trying to fulfil God’s call for his life but seems to be journeying aimlessly.

Imagine if you speak to Paul now, imagine having a pastoral chat with him. He tells you he is called but he has tried twice and failed. Perhaps some of us would advise him that he must have misunderstood his calling. He has tried and failed, twice. Logically, he must have been wrong in thinking he was called to these places. Actually, in later mission trips he would visit these places and plant churches in them. Surely later in his life Paul could have said he didn't feel called to these places and this kind of logic has become something of a Christian formula. We don't define our calling by logic or circumstances. We mustn't let ourselves stop following God because it isn't working at first.

During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” Acts 16:9

So, Paul gets a new calling. A man calling for him to come. Does Paul answer this call? Yes, but who is calling him? It's a man in a vision. Could Paul have argued that this isn't God? Put aside that it’s a vision for a moment, it's only another man asking for help.

Recently I have been on mission to Ghana, primarily I have been called to Ghana by people there who want me to go and visit them. Now, has God called me to Ghana? I've never had God tell me I must go. It’s no secret that I don't like travelling; I don't like the heat and sometimes I just don't want to do more. Ghana was not my first choice; it wasn’t even on my list of places I wanted to visit. How many Christians today don't do things for God because they were not allowed to do something they wanted to do. So has God called me, Yes! The call of God is not some formula we can apply, we have to submit to the needs of others who are calling out to us for help, this is how we fulfil the work of God. Paul follows this vision and visits Macedonia, when he arrives, we read:

When she and the members of her household were baptized, she invited us to her home. “If you consider me a believer in the Lord,” she said, “come and stay at my house.” And she persuaded us. Acts 16:15

When Paul arrives at Macedonia, who does he meet? A woman. But the vision was a man? He has what could be another legitimate excuse, surely this isn't what God wants? The fulfilment of the vision and what's happening before Paul don't match up. Yet he is fulfilling God's call. Paul stopped and planted a church because he answered the call of a woman who wanted help. We can be super-spiritual sometimes and reject the needs that are before us. We are all specifically called to something by God, and often what determines if we will fulfil ‘that call’ is how we act while we wait for God to open the door. The call of God is something that we must walk in, we don't get to define what it is. While we wait for something specific, we shouldn’t say to God that other things are ‘not my calling’. Often when we turn up and refuse to do anything because we excuse ourselves saying it's not our call, we miss amazing opportunities that God has put before us.

Was Jesus called by God? Well yes obviously… but where was Jesus called to?

Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. Matt. 15:21

During Jesus ministry Jesus only left Israel once, to tyre and Sidon. Was Jesus called to this place? In the Old Testament this place is synonymous with devil worship.

A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is demon-possessed and suffering terribly.” Matt. 15:22

Was Jesus called to the Canaanites? No, because in the Old Testament God wanted his people to drive them out.

Jesus did not answer a word. So, his disciples came to him and urged him, “Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us.” Matt. 15:23

The disciple’s response is accurate to this Old Testament understanding.

He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.” Matt. 15:24

Jesus answered her by saying, 'I’m not called to you'. Despite this, does Jesus meet her need? Yes! But, who called Jesus to help her? The woman! There is no prophetic word here from God to change Jesus' calling to meet her need. This is not how calling works. We have to respond to the call that is around us. Consider the prophet Isaiah:

And they were calling to one another: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.” Isa. 6:3

Isaiah sees God and he sees angelic beings surrounding Him. Be careful to note that the seraphim were calling to one another, not to Isaiah. We go onto read:

Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me!” Isa. 6:8

God isn't talking to Isaiah; the angels and seraphim are not talking to him. Isaiah overhears this and decides 'I’ll do it'. This isn't how calling is supposed to work… or is it? Isn’t God is supposed to come to us, in a flash of light and put his finger on us? Yet, Isaiah overheard the call and realised there was a need. It wasn't directed at him, yet he decided ‘he’ would fulfil it! The calling is not a feeling, and it might not be a supernatural moment, but it is a response to the need around us. We are all called to pray, read scripture and be part of the church. We have to answer the general call if we are going to follow God's specific call. We are each called with a specific purpose and a destiny. Each of us need to fulfil this call and not hide like Adam. While we should desire to fulfil the specific call, we also need to keep the general call that is always before us in mind.

God is calling us, will we answer?!

• Pastor Dave Jones