The Bible Reading for this morning is Jonah

The Bible Reading for this morning is: Jonah 1: 1 -3

1 Corinthians 11: 23 -26 (NKJV) 23 For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; 24 and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, "Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me. " 25 In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me. " 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death till He comes.

Main Theme for March and April of 2016! Moving Northside church of Christ Forward

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed

u. God has always sent men to do His work here on earth. Jer. 7: 25 (13); Ezek. 2: 3; Matt. 10: 16; 28: 19 -20. u. God called three men & sent them on missions to accomplish His will. u. Their reactions to God’s call to go can Matthew 10: 16 Jeremiah 7: 25 Ezekiel 2: 3 And He said to “Behold, I send you Since the of day man, that I your me: “Son am fathers came out of the land sending you to the children of out as sheep in the of Egypt until this day, I have Israel, to a rebellious nation midst of wolves. even sent to you all My that has rebelled against Me; Therefore be wise as servants prophets, daily they and their fathers have rising up early and sending transgressed against Me to serpents and harmless them. as doves. this very day.

THREE MEN CALLED BY GOD. Ø Jonah: “Here am I, I’m not going” – Jonah 1: 1 -3. Ø God called him to a work - Preach against Nineveh. Ø His reaction showed lack of faith (in God) & love (for souls), cf. Jonah 4: 1 -5. Ø Today: Fear we are often like Jonah Ø Running from spiritual obligations, believing we have Jonah 4: 1 -5 But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he became angry. 2 So he prayed to the Lord, Jonah 1: 1 -3 Now the word of the and said, “Ah, Lord, was not this Lord came to Jonah the son of what I said when I was still in my Amittai, saying, 2 “Arise, go to country? Therefore I fled previously Nineveh, that great city, and cry to Tarshish; for I know that You are a gracious and merciful God, slow out against it; for their wickedness to anger and abundant in has come up before Me. ” 3 But lovingkindness, One who relents Jonah arose to flee to Tarshish from doing harm. 3 Therefore now, from the presence of the Lord. He O Lord, please take my life from went down to Joppa, and found a me, for it is better for me to die than ship going to Tarshish; so he paid to live!” 4 Then the Lord said, “Is it the fare, and went down into it, to right for you to be angry? ” 5 So go with them to Tarshish from the Jonah went out of the city and sat presence of the Lord. on the east side of the city. There

THREE MEN CALLED BY GOD. ü Moses: “Here am I, send Aaron” – Exo. 3: 10. ü Moses knew the need which existed, he just couldn’t see himself being used by God to meet the need. ü He offered multiple excuses aimed at removing himself from God’s consideration as deliverer of Israel (3: 11 -4: 17). ü Today: Do we not often rationalize why we are not best suited for some Exodus 3: 10 Come now, therefore, and I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring My people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt. ”

THREE MEN CALLED BY GOD. u Isaiah: “Here am I, send me” – Isa. 6: 8. u Motives which prompted Isaiah’s response: u Majesty / glory of God, 6: 1 -4. u Sinfulness of man, 6: 5. u Forgiveness from God, 6: 6 -7. u Ready eagerness, cf. 2 Cor. 8: 3 -5, 1112. u This should be the consistent attitude & action of God’s people today! Isaiah 6: 6 -7 Then Isaiah 6: 1 -3 In the year Isiah 6: 5 So I that King Uzziah died, I one of the seraphim said: saw the Lord sitting on a flew to me, having in “Woe is me, for I throne, high and lifted his hand a live coal up, and the train of His am undone! which he had taken robe filled the temple. Because I am a with the tongs from 2 Above it stood seraphim; each one had the altar. 7 And he man of unclean six wings: with two he touched my mouth lips, covered his face, with it, and said: And I dwell in the two he covered his feet, “Behold, this has and with two he flew. midst of a people touched your lips; 3 And one cried to of unclean lips; another and said: Your iniquity is “Holy, holy is the For my eyes taken away, Lord of hosts;

§ The Call to be Saints , 1 Cor. 1: 2 (9). § God calls us with a holy calling (gospel), 2 Tim. 1: 9. § God called us in sanctification, 1 Ths. 4: 7 (Jno. 17: 17). § Be holy because God is holy, 1 Pet. 1: 15 -16. § Some Christians refuse to be sent as saints into the world of sin – Compromise with, participate in,

o “Hear am I, send me…” o To be the salt of the earth, Matt. 5: 13 -15. o To be a light in the world, Matt. 5: 14 -16; Phil. 2: 1415. o To be a sojourner, 1 Pet. 2: 11 -12. o Or will we say: “I’m not

v The Call to Service in the Church, Rom. 12: 3 -5. v Some still view themselves as spectators rather than participants in the work of the church. v Spectators: Speculate, criticize & seek personal pleasure. v Participant: Working, improving, growing. Romans 12: 3 -8 (NKJV) 3 For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. 4 For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, 5 so

“Here am I, send me…” § To teach classes, worship services; bldg. Upkeep… § To visit & help those in need; to edify, to restore… § Use your gifts to serve the church, 1 Pet. 4: 7 -11. 1 Peter 4: 7 -11 (NKJV) 7 But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers. 8 serious and watchful And above all things have fervent love for one another, for "love will cover a multitude of sins. " 9 Be hospitable to Be hospitable one another without grumbling. 10 As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of it to one another the manifold grace of God. 11 If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be

q The Call of Evangelism, Mk. 16: 15; Acts 16: 9 -10. q People will not be saved unless we go and preach the gospel to them, Rom. 10: 12 -15 q Ability + Opportunity = Responsibility: Matt. 25: 15, 19. q -True of the individual & true of the church. q Evangelism goes beyond the

40 One of 28 John 1: 40 -42 (NKJV) Acts 17: 6 (NKJV) Acts 5: 28 (NKJV) ² “Here am I, send me…” Romans 1: 15 the two who heard John speak, But when they did not ² To teach my family, friends & 6 and followed Him, was Andrew, saying, "Did we not (NKJV) 41 He first Simon Peter's brother. neighbors, Jno. 1: 40 -42. find them, they dragged strictly command you 15 found his own brother Simon, and So, as much as is ² To teach our community, Jason and some not to teach in this said to him, "We have found the Acts 5: 28. Messiah" (which is translated, the brethren to the rulers of name? And look, you in me, I am ready 42 Christ). And he brought him to ² To teach the world, Acts the city, crying out, have filled Jerusalem to preach the Jesus. Now when Jesus looked at 17: 6; cf. Rom. 1: 15. "These who have turned with your doctrine, and him, He said, "You are Simon the gospel to you who son of Jonah. You shall be called ² Or will we say: I’m not the world upside down intend to bring this Cephas" (which is translated, A are in Rome also. have come here too. going. . . send someone Stone). Man's blood on us!"

Ø How do we react knowing that God has called us to action? Ø -Eph. 4: 1: Ø Worthily, or do we disappoint our God? Ephesians 4: 1 (NKJV) 1 I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called,

THREE MEN CALLED BY GOD. Which one describe you the