Key verses: Acts 26:12-22

Key thought: God has called us to be light, and He has given us the responsibility to bring others into this light. Our seriousness to the call affects our effectiveness as light.

Context

The passage is a summary of Paul’s calling as he presents his defence before King Agrippa.

He begins by explaining how zealous he was in the law before his conversion, he used to persecute believers until he had an encounter with Jesus After this encounter with Jesus, Paul became so zealous. His was spectacular, and Paul was so serious with this call. We can learn a few things from Paul’s seriousness to the call of God

How serious is the call?

1. It is a serious call because it is divine initiated

a. Call to salvation

God has called and extended an invitation for us to come to Him in faith. We are in a relationship with God because we have responded to the call.

All believers have received this call, it may not be as dramatic as Paul’s but it is God that seeks the lost.

Necessitates the need for discipleship, the goal of discipleship is to grow into the image of Christ.

All of us are supposed to grow on our journey of faith, the great commission is making disciples, teaching them to obey, and it is not a once off thing but a process

b. Call to ministry or service

Necessitates the need for making disciples, we must bring others into the light.

At the heart of every kind of service we do in the kingdom is the glory of God and others too can access this glorious light.

The life of Paul is a powerful model of discipleship!

A discipleship relationship provides a place of accountability, our light shines well when we are accountable to our Master Jesus and to the body of Christ.

Paul was mentored and sponsored by Barnabas, in his travels and pursuing of the calling of God in his life, he would usually go back to his church Antioch to report on the work where they went.

Paul and Barnabas “When they had arrived and gathered the church together, they began to report all things that God had done with them and how He had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles” (Acts 14:27).

2. The call attracts opposition and resistance but it is possible by divine help

Light naturally confronts darkness – the result is resistance, persecution and rejection Act 26:16

Delivering people from the power of Satan suggests warfare, the goodness is God goes with us and assures of his protection.

Our success to being light is guaranteed by God’s presence, He walk with us in the fire as light shines in darkness.

Even when it is difficult, remember God has not run out of options to have us serve him.

His purposes will be accomplished with or without us!! Being born again and serving Him is not an achievement, it is by His grace that we have seen the light of the gospel.

3. Our success as light is anchored on obedience to the divine call Our obedience is indispensable.

Our light is dimmed when we disregard the call.

Act 26:19 “Therefore, O King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision,

Paul says I am in trouble, I have been arrested and am being persecuted because of my obedience to the call of God.

There was never to be a point of turning back!

Whose call are you obeying?

How willing are you obey the call?

Paul was so serious about the call to the extent that he had no place for deserters, he agreed to disagree with Barnabas his mentor and sponsor on whether they should go along with John who had disserted them earlier. Acts 15:36

One time there was a prophecy that Paul would be arrested in Jerusalem and the church tried to persuade him not to go but this is what he answered

“What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be imprisoned but even to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” Act 21:13

Conclusion

Our understanding and seriousness to the call affects how our light shines and makes impact.

“We must take care that we do not neglect heavenly monitions through fear of being considered visionary, we must not be staggered even by the dread of being styled fanatical, or out of our minds. For to stiffle a though from God is no small sin” – Charles Spargeon