Planting Churches Among the City's Poor - Volume 2

104 • P LANTING C HURCHES AMONG THE C ITY ’ S P OOR : V OLUME 2

c. The call may be communicated through another God-called individual, cf. Ananias and Paul, Acts 9.10-12 (ESV) – Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.” And the Lord said to him, “Rise and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying, and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.” d. Not based on personal aptitude of the one so-called, Amos 7.14-16a (ESV) – Then Amos answered and said to Amaziah, “I was no prophet, nor a prophet’s son, but I was a herdsman and a dresser of sycamore figs. But the Lord took me from following the flock, and the Lord said to me, ‘Go, prophesy to my people Israel.’ Now therefore hear the word of the Lord. f. Includes all the power, opportunities, resources, and gifts necessary to accomplish the task, Jer. 1.17-19 (ESV) – But you, dress yourself for work; arise, and say to them everything that I command you. Do not be dismayed by them, lest I dismay you before them. And I, behold, I make you this day a fortified city, an iron pillar, and bronze walls, against the whole land, against the kings of Judah, its officials, its priests, and the people of the land. They will fight against you, but they shall not prevail against you, for I am with you, declares the Lord, to deliver you. e. Irrevocable, Rom. 11.29 (ESV) – For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.

2. Examples of direct calls from the Lord

a. The call of Moses, Exod. 3.1-22

b. The call of Isaiah, Isa. 6.1-8

Note: The case of Jonah reveals that the call of God, although clearly given and personally received, can be withstood or rejected (but never without consequence!)

c. The call of Samuel, 1 Sam. 3.1-14

d. The call of Jeremiah, Jer. 1.4-19

e. The call of Jonah, Jon. 1.1-3