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WOMEN'S EMPHASIS SUNDAY Called by God, Followers of Jesus Scripture: 1 Cor. 1:1-2 Guest Speaker, Rev. Matu Taylor

Sunday, November 20, 2022

Good morning Second Baptist. “Grace be unto you and peace from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ”. I praise God and am most thankful Dr. Epps for this opportunity. To the Second Baptist Church family I count it a distinct honor to participate on your Women’s Day program.   I will be speaking on your theme, “Called by God, Followers of Jesus” from 1 Corinthians 1:1, 2.   1 Corinthians 1:1-2 (KJV) Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother.  Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours: Special thanks to Sis. Judy Jones for thinking of me for this occasion. I want you to know I have been profoundly impacted by this opportunity.   It was Sunday, January 1,1967, my boyfriend and I decided to attend Sunday night service rather than go on a date. We were 17 years old, seniors in high school, anticipating our last semester before college, and madly in love. However, never in our wildest dreams could we have imagined what would transpire that night. We arrived at church for the 7:00 p.m. service and sat near the back on the left side. I was sitting nearest the center isle and he on the other side of me. Everything was going as expected until the Pastor announced the subject of his sermon, “God Needs a Prophet”. Immediately the young man on the other side of me started crying, quietly at first, but as the sermon progressed, people began to look our way as the crying intensified. This crying continued for the entire sermon. I was sitting there thinking, what is wrong with him? At some point I scooted down a little from him to distance myself from an embarrassing moment. When the doors of the church were opened, he somehow jumped over me and another couple sitting nearest the center aisle, he entered the center aisle and ran towards our Pastor. A senior usher tried to restrain him, but Frank escaped his grip. Once up front, our Pastor asked him, “Frank what do you want”? Frank’s response, “I gotta preach”! In the era and environment that I grew up there were certain special and unique words used by the church that seemingly applied only to the preacher and men. Words like minister and called. I vividly remember a lady who periodically would respond to the invitation and when asked why she came, she would say, “I’m called to preach”. Our Pastor’s response was always the same, “the Lord hasn’t told me that”. It was his way of saying I don’t believe women are called to preach. I would hear ministers talk about their call or how they ran from their calling before finally surrendering to God. It was something about that word “call” that seemed to be ethereal. It seemed to be sacred. I never heard anyone refer to a Sunday School teacher, a YWA director, a youth director, Choir director, etc. as being called. It might be said they were saved, anointed, dedicated, or gifted but never called.   What does it mean to be called by God? After Sis. Jones called me I was suddenly inundated with thoughts. As I was pondering the meaning of “what does it mean to be “called” by God” this response came in my spirit, “to be chosen by God for an assignment.” In its most general sense God selects individuals and sets them aside for a specific purpose. God calls but it’s up to the person to answer that call and surrender to His will.   Consider what it means to be called by God.

Monday, November 21, 2022

When Robert Moffat, Scottish missionary to South Africa, came back to recruit helpers in his homeland, he was greeted by the fury of a cold British winter. Arriving at the church where he was to speak, he noted that only a small group had braved the elements to hear his appeal. What disturbed him even more was that there were only ladies in attendance that night, for he had chosen as his text Proverbs 8:4, “Unto you, O men, I call.”   To his consternation, he almost failed to notice one small boy in the loft who had come to work the bellows of the organ. Dr. Moffat felt hopeless as he gave the message, realizing that few women could be expected to undergo the rigorous experiences they would face in the undeveloped jungles of the continent where he labored.   But God works in mysterious ways to carry out His wise purposes. Although no one volunteered, the young fellow assisting the organist was thrilled by the challenge. Deciding that he would follow in the footsteps of this pioneer missionary, he went on to school, obtained a degree in medicine, and then spent the rest of his life ministering to the unreached tribes of Africa. His name is David Livingstone. (Our Daily Bread)   Consider what it is you are called to do as a believer in Christ.

Tuesday, November 22, 2022

God has chosen people for His unique purpose throughout history. He chose Abraham to leave his country and his family to go to a land that God would show him. He chose him to be the father of many nations and through him all the families of the earth would be blessed. And the Bible says Abraham was seventy-five years old when he departed (Genesis 12:1-4; Is 51:2; Heb. 11:8). He chose Moses to bring the people of Israel out of Egypt (Ex. 3:2, 4, 10; Ps. 105:26). Remember how reluctant Moses was to accept his call. He chose Deborah as a prophetess and judge of Israel, (Judges 4:4-11). He chose Isaiah as a prophet to the nation of Judah (Isaiah 6: 1-10). He chose Jonah to cry out against Nineveh for its wickedness (Jonah 1:1,2). Jonah fled from his call. But God has a way of getting our attention. He chose Cyrus, king of Persia to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem (II Samuel 36:22, 23; Ezra 1:1, 2; Is. 44:28). He chose Elizabeth and Zacharias to be the parents of John the Baptist, the forerunner of Christ (Luke 1:11-13). He chose Mary to be the mother of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (Luke 1:26-38). Jesus chose the twelve disciples whom He also named apostles. Among whom was Judas who betrayed Him (Luke 6:12, 13). God may even choose and use your enemy to bring about His purpose for your life. When Jesus called His disciples, He said to them “Follow Me". In the Gospels the word “call” or “called” is mostly used to convey the concept of an invitation that could be accepted or rejected.   Consider what it means you have acknowledged when you accept Jesus as your Lord, Redeemer and Savior.

Wednesday, November 23, 2022

On Thursday, May 23, 1991, Queen Elizabeth II, Queen of England, made a historic stop in Houston as part of a 12-day tour across the U.S. and Texas. This was the first time any British royal, Queen or King had ever come to Texas. One of her stops was at the historic Antioch Missionary Baptist Church in downtown Houston. Weeks prior invitations were sent from Kathy Whitmire, Mayor of Houston, to local Pastors inviting them to participate in a delegation to meet the Queen. Pastor Terry Anderson said he received a gold embossed invitation from the mayor inviting him to meet Queen Elizabeth II, Queen of England on Thursday, May 23, 1991, at twelve noon. This was a distinct honor and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity -- an invitation to meet the Queen of England! However, when he checked his calendar, he was scheduled to teach Bible Study for his seasoned saints who were unable to attend Bible Study at night. A gold embossed invitation from the mayor of the city of Houston inviting him to meet Queen Elizabeth II, Queen of England, or Seasoned Saints Bible Study? Which will it be? In his RSVP he respectfully declined the invitation, citing he had a previous engagement to teach his seasoned saints Bible Study. This engagement took priority over meeting the Queen of England, as he had already met the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. You remember the rich young ruler who came to Jesus to inquire about what he should do to inherit eternal life. The writer takes the time to tell us that Jesus loved him. After a short conversation Jesus tells him he lacks one thing and that was to sell everything, give it to the poor, and to take up his cross and follow Him. The Bible says he was sad at this word, and went away grieved, for he had great possessions (Mark 10:17-22).   Consider what it means that you choose to honor the claim of the Lord on your life or you reject it for some other priority that claims your allegiance.

Thursday, November 24, 2022

Jesus also tells several parables of the kingdom of heaven that illustrate this freedom to accept or reject this invitation: The parable of the great supper in Luke 14:16-24, and the parable of the marriage feast prepared by a king for his son in Matthew 22:2-10 are examples. The invitation went out to the planned guests who refused to come. Therefore, the king sent his servants into the highways and hedges to invite, even compel as many as they found to come. The writer takes the time to tell us both bad and good filled the hall (Matthew 22:10). Ananias had some apprehension when in a vision God told him to go to Judas’ house and lay hands on one called Saul of Tarsus. Like some of us, Ananias may have thought, “Lord do you know who this man is”, or “Lord do you know what he has done”. He proceeds to inform the Lord about what he had heard about Saul.  About all the harm he had done to God’s saints in Jerusalem and how he had authority from the chief priests to bind all those who called on the name of the Lord. Often people express disbelief that someone has been called by Christ. You may have expressed such disbelief about someone you know or maybe someone may have expressed such sentiments about you. But the Lord told Ananias to go “for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear my name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel” (Acts 9:15). Saul had been called by God for a special and unique assignment, to be an apostle.   I believe it was this event Apostle Paul had in mind when in 1 Corinthians 1:1 he writes “Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God…”. This Greek word for “called” as used by Apostle Paul occurs only eleven times in the New Testament: twice in Matthew’s gospel, four times in Romans, three times in 1 Corinthians, once in Jude and once in Revelations.   Apostle Paul saw every believer as being called and in 1 Corinthians 1:2 he reminded the church of God at Corinth, that they were “called” to be saints. This word “called” is the same as the word used in verse 1. “Called” is one of those special and unique words that was applied to individuals who had not only received the invitation but had genuinely responded to the gospel of Jesus Christ. They had been convinced of the truth of the gospel message; they had been convicted by the Holy Spirit of their sins and had confessed Christ as Lord. Clearly not everyone is called to be an apostle, a preacher, an evangelist, or even a teacher but every believer has been called by the Lord for His purpose. These believers had been “sanctified in Christ Jesus.” To be sanctified is to be set apart, to be made holy, to be consecrated, and to be separated. (1 Peter 1:15, 16) When we believe in Christ through faith, we are immediately set apart for God’s use and His alone. We are to present our bodies to the Lord as a living sacrifice, holy, well pleasing to God which our reasonable service. We are to live transformed lives through the power of the Holy Spirit. We are to yield ourselves unto God as instruments of righteousness (Romans 6:13; 12:1, 2; 2 Cor.6:14-17). Our lives should reflect the holiness of God (1Peter 1:15,16). We are to separate ourselves from the world (2 Cor. 6:17).   Consider what it means as one who believes in Christ, to live a transformed life as the Lord’s representative.

Friday, November 25, 2022

I recall a situation in the life of one of our ministers. He had been married over twenty years and reared two stepsons. One day in 2013 a lady and her daughter showed up on the doorsteps of his stepmother’s home looking for him. She was a high school girlfriend and with her was her daughter who she said was his daughter. He and his wife had tried having children but with no success and he had expressed the desire to have children of his own. After the DNA test confirmed that this young lady was his daughter, it was downhill from there. It all started very innocently. Seeking to know his daughter he started socializing with his daughter and the ex-girlfriend, first with his wife then without his wife. During this time, he received two payments from an insurance settlement. Shortly after receiving the payments, he started telling people he didn’t love his wife anymore and eventually separated from her and started living with his daughter and her mother. He stopped attending church and Facebook posts revealed he had gone back into the world. He was at night clubs, smoking, drinking, and dressing unbecoming of a saint. It was as if someone put a hook in his nose. He forgot all about God’s calling on his life.   Today temptation is very great but with every temptation, the Lord provides a way of escape (1 Cor. 10:13). Dr. Billy Graham said, “We can’t flee from temptation in our own strength—but God will give us the strength we need, if we’ll only seek it.” A friend of his said “When the devil knocks, I just send Jesus to the door!” Are you going to win every battle? No, you are not, but as we mature in Christ, we should win more than we lose.     Consider what it means to let temptation lead you away from fulfilling the claim of the Lord on your life.

Saturday, November 26, 2022

The Lord told us to come out from among them, be separated, not to love the world or the things in the world. The Lord knew that if we fraternized with the world we could be drawn away by the deceitfulness of sin through the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life (1 John2:15-17).  God wants us to be separated from the world not to punish us, but to protect us, to bless us and to use us for His glory.   These believers were called to be “saints”. Bro. Moses said there were only two kinds of people in his church, “the saints” and “the ain’ts”. This word “saint” has had so much stigma associated with it that many believers don’t want to be called “saints”. When I was coming up “saint” was used to refer to someone who was “thought” to be especially holy, religious, and sanctified; or it was used to reference someone who had been canonized by the Roman Catholic church. But what does it mean to be a saint? A saint is someone who has been called and chosen by God, a “holy one”, set apart for God’s special purposes. We have been called into relationship with God. In 1 Peter 2:9 the apostle writes, “you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” Every born-again believer is a saint. You may not feel like it and your life may not always reflect it, but it’s true. We have been called to live a holy, dedicated, and morally pure life.   1 Peter 1:14-16 (ESV) reads “As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” Our conduct should be worthy of the gospel of Christ.  Our talk and our walk should be in alignment with the word of God. As saints we are members of God’s family (Romans 8:14; Eph. 2:19). We are God’s workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works. (Eph. 2:10) We are salt and light to a dying, sinful world (Matt. 5:13) We are being transformed to the image of Christ (Romans 12:2; Phil. 2:5; Matt. 11:29) We are children of the living God (Gal. 3:26-29). We are heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ (Romans 8:17). We have an inheritance eternal in the heavens (1 Peter 1:3-4) We are partakers of God’s promises in Christ (Eph. 3:6). Our citizenship is in heaven (Phil. 4:20). We are the body of Christ (Romans 12:3-8; Eph. 4:15-16, 5:30; 1 Cor. 12:27). We are the living Temple of God (Eph. 2:19-22; 1 Cor. 6:19; 2 Cor. 6:16). We are the bride of Christ (Eph. 5:22-27; 2 Cor. 11:2).   Dr. Tony Evans says to us as believers, “CHRISTIAN, don’t you know who you are? Stop letting the world tell you who you are. You are a child of God. You are a saint. You are secure. You are sanctified. You are holy. You have royal blood flowing through your veins! That’s who you are! A lot of us are not acting like we should act because we don’t remember who we are” (1 Peter 2:9). I say to you today, remember whose you are and who you are.   God bless and keep you and may His peace guard your hearts and minds.   Consider what it means for you to be who you are in Christ.

Second Baptist Church Los Angeles 2412 Griffith Ave Los Angeles, CA 90011  Phone: (213) 748-0318

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