One night I heard Steve Hill give a talk on the "four calls of God in your life", as a guest speaker on Benny Hinn's "This is Your Day" TV show. These four calls are the Outward Call, Inward call, Onward Call, and Upward Call. I do not remember all of Mr. Hill’s interpretation of the calls, so I am adding my own interpretations. I believe Mr. Hill hit the nail on the head with this talk, and I would like to share it with you.
1. The Outward Call - When Jesus walked by the Sea of Galilee and called Peter, Andrew, James and John from their fishing boats to follow Him, that was an outward call. As God states that He wants none to be lost, but all saved, means that at sometime in your life, you will be called. Whether through your conscience or otherwise, you will receive a tug from the Holy Spirit to turn your life over to Christ. If you decide to respond to His call, you then move on to the inward call.
2. The Inward Call - After the outside candy coating, then comes the deep part. God now wants you to clean up your act. As He states "Be Holy because I am Holy". The inward call consists of removing all sin. Getting the drinking, theft, porno, foul language, etc., out of your life. If you want to work for God, and want your prayers answered, you have to clean out your house and let the Holy Spirit enter. There is a price to pay when you answer this call, and because of this price, a lot of people fall away. But the rewards for answering this call are far greater than the price.
3. The Onward Call - After the Inward comes the onward call, or your assignment. God gives you your assignment, your marching orders "Go ye to all the world". Whatever your job is, whether He sends you to people, or sends people to you, your job will be made clear, and you will be working for God. There may be many years spent on the inward call before you receive the onward call. Moses spent 40 years in the desert being prepared by God, before returning to Egypt to lead the Jews. On the other hand Paul just spent a few years in training before he was sent to preach. The onward call will last for the rest of your life, and whatever your assignment is, it will boil down to one thing, bringing people to Christ.
4. The Upward Call - After hopefully working many years during the onward call, finally the day will come when you are called home by Jesus. This is the call you keep in the back of your mind all the years spent working for God. No matter what temptations or problems arise during those years, you will resist them and get through them, and not fall away, because of God's promise of eternity in Heaven. Nothing on earth is worth losing the upward call to Heaven. As Paul states in 2 Timothy 4:8 "In Heaven a crown is waiting for me---." Note: Paul didn’t say "I think, or I hope I'm going to Heaven and a crown is waiting for me" He knew flat out when his work here was done, what his reward would be.
If the Holy Spirit is tugging at your heart right now to clean up your act and come work for God, don’t miss this chance, it is time to turn your life over to Christ. Pray to the Lord to forgive your sins. Acknowledge that Jesus is the Son of God and that He is the source of Salvation, and that He died for our sins. Ask Him to come into your life and guide you. Read the Bible and let the Holy Spirit guide you through the inward and onward calls.
By George Konig
Christian Internet Forum
www.georgekonig.org
December 28, 2003
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