The Call Of God
Sermon
Sermons on the First Readings
Series III, Cycle C
Jeremiah had a task, a vision, and a promise from God. The prophet Jeremiah had a call from God to preach his word to a people needing to hear from God. His call has been duplicated multiple times over the centuries.
Moses, Samuel, Amos, Isaiah, and Ezekiel could point to a precise moment in their journey when God called them to be prophets ... ones who announced God's actions and words. Preaching, announcing God's presence, word, direction comes first from a person who has a passion for what matters in life spiritually. When God calls a person to preach, he gives them the necessary gifts to preach and expects him/her to prepare as if eternity were at stake ... and it is for the hearers. Jerry Vines wrote, "Men prepare sermons; God prepares men."
The story is told of Saint Francis of Assisi who invited a young monk to accompany him to town to preach. The young friar was excited to be with Francis and wanted to learn as much from him as possible so he watched him closely. He observed his mentor carefully as they strolled along the streets of the community. Saint Francis would often stop to visit with the children and the merchants. After a while they returned to the abbey. The young priest said, "Sir, you have forgotten that we went to town to preach." Wisely Francis replied, "My son, we have preached! We have been seen by many. Our behavior was closely observed. Our attitudes were closely measured. Our words have been overheard. It was by these measures that we preached our morning sermon."
God has called certain people to preach sermons like Jeremiah in a public pulpit; however, he has called all of us to preach sermons in the marketplace of life. The pulpit ministry and the marketplace ministry have similarities.
The Call (Jeremiah 1:4-5)
"The word of the Lord came to me" in verse 4 indicates a very personal call from God. He recognizes our gifts, abilities, talents, attitudes, and personalities because he has made us. God initiates the call. It is his appointment. His loving approval sends us to the lost world to share the kingdom message through our words, actions, and righteousness.
Andrew Blackwood Jr. writes, "God's initiative does not destroy man's responsibility; quite the contrary. God has acted, therefore man is responsible to act."1
The call of God stresses several areas:
* a divine compulsion to respond to the call that God lays on the heart,
* a deep compassion that others are in need of the God that they share,
* a directed concern for the lost who are in desperate need of God's redemption,
* a diligence that drives one to understand and study the word, and
* a depth of accountability for their own spiritual well being.
Whether we are pastors or laypersons, we carry the responsibility of listening and responding to the call of God.
God Knows The Person He Has Called (Jeremiah 1:6-9)
God has called all of us, clergy and laity alike, to the essential aspects of ministry. Often both laity and clergy are running in circles trying to do everything and missing the essential!
I heard about the pilot who announced over the intercom, "Ladies and gentlemen, I have good news and bad news. The good news is that we have a tailwind, and we are making excellent time. The bad news is that our compass is broken, and we have no idea where we are going!"
Many pastors and their congregants have the same problem. They wander aimlessly around not knowing where they are headed and what they are called to do. They see a responsibility that needs to be tackled, but ask, "Who will fulfill the task?" Instead of asking, "Who feels called to undertake this ministry?" The difference is ever so subtle. God is not calling us to take a task but to fulfill ministry. Ministry is with people, not an organizational chart. God knows the person he has called to do the ministry. He has equipped them with his power and purpose. He has done this by giving individuals:
* Expectations -- God will give us the power to overcome obstacles that would hinder our vision or expectations. Dr. Charles Spurgeon was talking to a young preacher, "feeling him out," and he said, "Young man, you really don't expect much to happen in your pastorate, do you?" The young fellow replied, "Well ... no ... not really." Spurgeon exploded, "Then you won't see much happen, either!" Ask God to give you a high expectation of what can occur in your local church, whether it is a Sunday school class, preaching, maintenance or janitorial work, music ... whatever expect God to bless your effort for the church and his kingdom!
* Talents -- God-given abilities for God's glory. Phillips Brooks told the story of some illiterate tribesmen to whom a sundial was given. They desired to honor it and keep it sacred so they built a roof over it! Do the talents God has given you seem so valuable that you carefully put a roof over them to shelter and honor them instead of using them for God?
* Wisdom
Wisdom is the ability to see with discernment, to view life as God perceives it. Understanding is the skill to respond with insight. Knowledge is the rare trait of learning with perception -- discovering and growing.2
* Leadership -- Fred Smith said that leadership is both something you are and something you do. Clergy and lay leadership need both -- character and action.
* Faith -- God has given us the power to have faith. Accept it now.
Faith is companion to all the ingredients that make for the best things in life -- hope, love, joy, to name a few. Fear is stranger to all of these. Thus, fear can only nurture itself on the things that breed the worst in life -- despair, misery, and the like.3
God Uses The Person He Has Called (Jeremiah 1:10)
God commissions Jeremiah to share the good news of God with the people in verse 9. God's hand touches Jeremiah and declares that he has put his words into his mouth. He has given him a direction to speak.
Jeremiah gives a clearer picture than any other biblical writer of what it means to receive and transmit God's word. Certainly Jeremiah is nothing like a tape-recorder that unthinkingly repeats whatever is spoken into the microphone; he is a man, fully possessed by the Spirit (hand) of God, who believes that he is responsible to use all his God-given intellect to express the divine word in human words.4
We have been called by God through the testimony of our mouths to declare the salvation, righteousness, and holiness of God to a lost and dying world. Jeremiah, as a man, has little authority. However, through the presence of God and as his representative he has full authority.
God tells Jeremiah that he has been appointed his spokesman to express to his society their spiraling downward plunge into the abyss of destruction. God says that Israel will be uprooted, torn down, destroyed, and overthrown. Today's society parallels that ancient society of Jeremiah. Morals, actions, and philosophy are all so anti-Christian that it calls for men and women to stand up and cry out against them. The reason God tells Jeremiah there must be this uprooting is to rebuild or replant a godly society.
In her book, Gardening Mercies, Laurie Ostby Kehler writes about a neighbor who came by her house and viewed her garden for the first time. The neighbor told Kehler how hopeless her gardening was because of the soil conditions. "I have cement-hard clay soil, plus oak root fungus disease in my soil." That combination kills things. So her friend said that nothing would grow.
Everyone has obstacles to overcome in gardening. If you're looking for a gardening experience without obstacles, forget about gardening ... some gardeners start out with big problems. Steep slopes, high altitude, short growing seasons, heavy wind, diseased soil ... If something isn't happening to challenge you, you're not gardening.5
Just as Jeremiah saw the obstacles he also saw the solution ... it was in God. Today there are many obstacles that come our way, but with God's help we can overcome them. These obstacles become our launching pad to conversation with our neighbors and friends about what Jesus can do in their lives. As we share with others, we will begin to see changes in their hearts and lives as they allow God to do his gardening work and cut out the diseased soil.
Let this prayer soak your soul.
Almighty God, in every age you have called out men and women to be your faithful servants. We believe you have now called us to join that great company who seek to follow you. Grant unto us today and always a clear vision of your call and strength to fulfill the ministry assigned to us. We pray in the name of Christ. Amen.6
_____________________
1. Andrew W. Blackwood Jr., Commentary on Jeremiah (Waco: Word Books, 1977), p. 37.
2. Charles Swindoll, The Tale of the Tardy Oxcart (Nashville: Word Publishing, 1998), p. 613.
3. C. Neil Strait, Strait Lines (Kansas City: Beacon Hill Press of Kansas City, 1976), p. 26.
4. Op cit, Blackwood, p. 39.
5. Laurie Ostby Kehler, Gardening Mercies (Minneapolis: Bethany House, 2001), pp. 178-179.
6. Reuben P. Job, Norman Shawchuck, A Guide to Prayer (Nashville: The Upper Room, 1983), p. 65.
Moses, Samuel, Amos, Isaiah, and Ezekiel could point to a precise moment in their journey when God called them to be prophets ... ones who announced God's actions and words. Preaching, announcing God's presence, word, direction comes first from a person who has a passion for what matters in life spiritually. When God calls a person to preach, he gives them the necessary gifts to preach and expects him/her to prepare as if eternity were at stake ... and it is for the hearers. Jerry Vines wrote, "Men prepare sermons; God prepares men."
The story is told of Saint Francis of Assisi who invited a young monk to accompany him to town to preach. The young friar was excited to be with Francis and wanted to learn as much from him as possible so he watched him closely. He observed his mentor carefully as they strolled along the streets of the community. Saint Francis would often stop to visit with the children and the merchants. After a while they returned to the abbey. The young priest said, "Sir, you have forgotten that we went to town to preach." Wisely Francis replied, "My son, we have preached! We have been seen by many. Our behavior was closely observed. Our attitudes were closely measured. Our words have been overheard. It was by these measures that we preached our morning sermon."
God has called certain people to preach sermons like Jeremiah in a public pulpit; however, he has called all of us to preach sermons in the marketplace of life. The pulpit ministry and the marketplace ministry have similarities.
The Call (Jeremiah 1:4-5)
"The word of the Lord came to me" in verse 4 indicates a very personal call from God. He recognizes our gifts, abilities, talents, attitudes, and personalities because he has made us. God initiates the call. It is his appointment. His loving approval sends us to the lost world to share the kingdom message through our words, actions, and righteousness.
Andrew Blackwood Jr. writes, "God's initiative does not destroy man's responsibility; quite the contrary. God has acted, therefore man is responsible to act."1
The call of God stresses several areas:
* a divine compulsion to respond to the call that God lays on the heart,
* a deep compassion that others are in need of the God that they share,
* a directed concern for the lost who are in desperate need of God's redemption,
* a diligence that drives one to understand and study the word, and
* a depth of accountability for their own spiritual well being.
Whether we are pastors or laypersons, we carry the responsibility of listening and responding to the call of God.
God Knows The Person He Has Called (Jeremiah 1:6-9)
God has called all of us, clergy and laity alike, to the essential aspects of ministry. Often both laity and clergy are running in circles trying to do everything and missing the essential!
I heard about the pilot who announced over the intercom, "Ladies and gentlemen, I have good news and bad news. The good news is that we have a tailwind, and we are making excellent time. The bad news is that our compass is broken, and we have no idea where we are going!"
Many pastors and their congregants have the same problem. They wander aimlessly around not knowing where they are headed and what they are called to do. They see a responsibility that needs to be tackled, but ask, "Who will fulfill the task?" Instead of asking, "Who feels called to undertake this ministry?" The difference is ever so subtle. God is not calling us to take a task but to fulfill ministry. Ministry is with people, not an organizational chart. God knows the person he has called to do the ministry. He has equipped them with his power and purpose. He has done this by giving individuals:
* Expectations -- God will give us the power to overcome obstacles that would hinder our vision or expectations. Dr. Charles Spurgeon was talking to a young preacher, "feeling him out," and he said, "Young man, you really don't expect much to happen in your pastorate, do you?" The young fellow replied, "Well ... no ... not really." Spurgeon exploded, "Then you won't see much happen, either!" Ask God to give you a high expectation of what can occur in your local church, whether it is a Sunday school class, preaching, maintenance or janitorial work, music ... whatever expect God to bless your effort for the church and his kingdom!
* Talents -- God-given abilities for God's glory. Phillips Brooks told the story of some illiterate tribesmen to whom a sundial was given. They desired to honor it and keep it sacred so they built a roof over it! Do the talents God has given you seem so valuable that you carefully put a roof over them to shelter and honor them instead of using them for God?
* Wisdom
Wisdom is the ability to see with discernment, to view life as God perceives it. Understanding is the skill to respond with insight. Knowledge is the rare trait of learning with perception -- discovering and growing.2
* Leadership -- Fred Smith said that leadership is both something you are and something you do. Clergy and lay leadership need both -- character and action.
* Faith -- God has given us the power to have faith. Accept it now.
Faith is companion to all the ingredients that make for the best things in life -- hope, love, joy, to name a few. Fear is stranger to all of these. Thus, fear can only nurture itself on the things that breed the worst in life -- despair, misery, and the like.3
God Uses The Person He Has Called (Jeremiah 1:10)
God commissions Jeremiah to share the good news of God with the people in verse 9. God's hand touches Jeremiah and declares that he has put his words into his mouth. He has given him a direction to speak.
Jeremiah gives a clearer picture than any other biblical writer of what it means to receive and transmit God's word. Certainly Jeremiah is nothing like a tape-recorder that unthinkingly repeats whatever is spoken into the microphone; he is a man, fully possessed by the Spirit (hand) of God, who believes that he is responsible to use all his God-given intellect to express the divine word in human words.4
We have been called by God through the testimony of our mouths to declare the salvation, righteousness, and holiness of God to a lost and dying world. Jeremiah, as a man, has little authority. However, through the presence of God and as his representative he has full authority.
God tells Jeremiah that he has been appointed his spokesman to express to his society their spiraling downward plunge into the abyss of destruction. God says that Israel will be uprooted, torn down, destroyed, and overthrown. Today's society parallels that ancient society of Jeremiah. Morals, actions, and philosophy are all so anti-Christian that it calls for men and women to stand up and cry out against them. The reason God tells Jeremiah there must be this uprooting is to rebuild or replant a godly society.
In her book, Gardening Mercies, Laurie Ostby Kehler writes about a neighbor who came by her house and viewed her garden for the first time. The neighbor told Kehler how hopeless her gardening was because of the soil conditions. "I have cement-hard clay soil, plus oak root fungus disease in my soil." That combination kills things. So her friend said that nothing would grow.
Everyone has obstacles to overcome in gardening. If you're looking for a gardening experience without obstacles, forget about gardening ... some gardeners start out with big problems. Steep slopes, high altitude, short growing seasons, heavy wind, diseased soil ... If something isn't happening to challenge you, you're not gardening.5
Just as Jeremiah saw the obstacles he also saw the solution ... it was in God. Today there are many obstacles that come our way, but with God's help we can overcome them. These obstacles become our launching pad to conversation with our neighbors and friends about what Jesus can do in their lives. As we share with others, we will begin to see changes in their hearts and lives as they allow God to do his gardening work and cut out the diseased soil.
Let this prayer soak your soul.
Almighty God, in every age you have called out men and women to be your faithful servants. We believe you have now called us to join that great company who seek to follow you. Grant unto us today and always a clear vision of your call and strength to fulfill the ministry assigned to us. We pray in the name of Christ. Amen.6
_____________________
1. Andrew W. Blackwood Jr., Commentary on Jeremiah (Waco: Word Books, 1977), p. 37.
2. Charles Swindoll, The Tale of the Tardy Oxcart (Nashville: Word Publishing, 1998), p. 613.
3. C. Neil Strait, Strait Lines (Kansas City: Beacon Hill Press of Kansas City, 1976), p. 26.
4. Op cit, Blackwood, p. 39.
5. Laurie Ostby Kehler, Gardening Mercies (Minneapolis: Bethany House, 2001), pp. 178-179.
6. Reuben P. Job, Norman Shawchuck, A Guide to Prayer (Nashville: The Upper Room, 1983), p. 65.
