CALLED TO CHINA
Rom. 1:1 Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of God.
The calling of God is one of the great spiritual mysteries. The word church in the original language of the Bible, means “the called out ones”. If you are born again, you know something of the calling of God. You were called out of the world, called out of another lifestyle, to be His own possession. The Bible calls the called out ones “His elect”. In a very similar way there is another spiritual calling. This calling is not for every Christian, it is a calling into the ministry of The Lord. This is a holy calling. Hudson Taylor spoke about his calling to China which happened during an encounter he had with The Lord as a teenager shortly after his conversion. Here is that special moment in his own words.
“Several months after my conversion I had a free afternoon. I closed myself in my room. I wanted to spend the afternoon mostly talking with God. Feeling pretty happy, I poured my soul out to God. Over and over, I told him about my love for him. I felt so thankful! He had done everything for me. He’d saved me when I had given up all hope. I hadn’t even wanted salvation! I asked him to give me something to do for him. I wanted an outlet for my love and thankfulness. I wanted some self-denying way to serve him. It didn’t matter what it was. I wanted something that would please him. Something I could do for the One who had done so much for me. I remember that I dedicated myself without holding anything back. I put myself, my life, my friends, everything on the altar. A deep, solemn sort of feeling came over me. With it came assurance. I knew God had accepted my offering. His presence became real and blessed. I was only a child—only fifteen—but I remember stretching myself on the ground and lying there, silent, before him. I felt indescribable awe and joy I didn’t know what kind of service he accepted me for, but a deep sense of awareness came over me. I didn’t belong to myself any more.”
I received my calling into the ministry at a church service shortly after my conversion. It was at an Assembly of God church near Kerman, California. There was a guest speaker speaking on the call of God from Isaiah 6. I remember him calling out “Who will go?”. I was totally undone. I found myself on my face at the altar under the powerful anointing of the Spirit. I didn’t know where I would go and what all the ramifications associated with the call of God would be. From that day my calling to preach became as clear as my calling to be a Christian. Maybe The Lord is speaking to someone as they read this devotion. I have to repeat the words that have been spoken since Isaiah spoke them 2700 years ago. “Who will go? Who can I send?”
3 thoughts on “CALLED TO CHINA”
Wow, Who Wouldn’t Want To Be “Called To China?” Seriously, and Teasingly as Well! Yet as we know, “The Harvest Is Plentious, But The Laborers Are Few.” We Are Called To Go Wherever Our Dear Lord Leads. We Must Learn To “Be Instant In-Season And Out-Of-Season.” Thank You Lord for “Leading The Way.” You Alone Lord, Divinely Decide Our Walk and Path Chosen. Amen.
Wow, that’s the way I feel. I did the same thing, i feel the same thing like Hudson did. I feel the same way. The Lord has touched me in a way that is unspeakable. O how I love your Presences Lord. The Lord has been calling me for a long time. I have said the same words to Him. I don’t belong to myself anymore. I don’t know what my calling is but I know its something. Just stuck on. I have actually been I guess preaching the word, texting the word on my phone every morning sharing the Gospel, doing altar calls, beyond the grave calls, praying for people as I call the people from beyond the grave welcome them to their new life in the Lord. It’s amazing how people poor out to you when you call the new people and pray with them, when you ask if they need prayer. Something that I really fell in love with is doing Gods work. Jesus is amazing/ Awesome/very Unique/quite different, ha I started just sending scriptures every morning over my phone the Lord told me to do that to all my phone contacts/friends and new friends from beyond the grave calls I make. I ask them if I can put them in my phone to send them a scripture daily that the Lord wants me to send. Wow Lord, all I want to do is His work. I can remember going to a Jesus Culture concert walking in Church where it was being held looking all around the church as I was waiting for the concert to start it was held in Baton Rouge and as I was standing up in there looking around waiting, I Said to the LORD I want a Church like this, i want to work for You, I want to do what You want me to do if its your will. Who’s this guy?, Kevin never would of said something like that . Kevin is a new Man, thanks to the water and thanks to You LORD. I was in awe and the next thing that happened this Power fell on me it was amazing.. The Lord has made a 100 degree turn around on me. It’s all His and I am all His. Lord i ask right now show me where You want me to go, Holy Spirit move me. Show me guide me for your precious work. Pastor Frank your blog has touched me very hard and I know the LORD wants me somewhere. I do amazing things that I never use to do when I spend time with the Lord Daily. The Holy Spirit is amazing. He teaches me everything. Pastor Frank you and I need to get together and have a talk. A good talk,ha. Your talking to me. My heart is so heavy because I know its time to make a move and let people know what the LORD has done for me. It’s what I’m designed to do. Give Him Glory. Wow, love you Pastor, praying for you all, be safe and have an awesome time working for the LORD. Thank you Holy Spirit. So in Love with the LORD and I want the whole world to know. Ha, guess I’m a Jesus Freak…;)
Amen! Those times of intamcy with jesus! Yielding our hearts to jesus! Where we are one with him!! Jesus