Call To Me!

“CALL TO ME” Jeremiah 33:3

FBCF – 8/17/25

Jon Daniels

INTRO – Cellphones have changed our lives in so many ways – some good, some not so good. Some ways they’ve made us lazier – Other ways more efficient. We use them for so many more things that just making phone calls – apps for everything! On my phone: My to-do list, notes app, weather, news, maps, medical & fitness apps, travel/airline apps, tickets for ballgames & concerts, banking & financial apps, our church’s giving app, shopping, Google, Kindle books, an app that tracks airplanes (grandson loves that one! Wants to find all the crop dusters that are flying!), podcasts, music, Scripture memory, devotionals, the Bible (get the YouVersion Bible app!), & more. Most of us use our phones as alarm clock.

Another way cellphones have changed our lives is that most of us no longer have landline phones in our homes. (video of kids trying to use rotary phone)

Another way that cellphones have changed our lives is that we don’t remember numbers anymore. Used to know everybody’s number – family members, friends, girlfriend/boyfriend, parents’ work, stores… Now we don’t know anybody’s numbers anymore. I don’t even know my Mama’s cellphone # - she still has a landline & I know that number b/c it’s the same number we’ve had since I was a kid, but I don’t know her cellphone #. But that’s OK b/c all I need to do is to do this: Pull her up in my contacts or go to my “recents” & touch her name & I’m calling her: (call Mama)

Today, we are finishing up these revival-prep sermons from the book of Jeremiah w/ a message based on 1 verse of Scripture that many people have coined as “God’s phone number” – Jeremiah 33:3. Turn to that now.

EXPLANATION – Jeremiah 33:3 (p. 662)

Context of Jer. 33 – Jeremiah in prison in Jerusalem. King Zedekiah had put him there b/c Jeremiah had prophesied that the Babylonians would succeed in conquering Jerusalem. It was a terrible time period in the life of God’s people, but they had brought it on themselves due to their persistent rebellion & disobedience to the Lord. Despite suffering b/c he continued to preach the impending judgment of God, Jeremiah remained faithful to the Lord, even when it hurt.

v. 1 tells us where he was – “still shut up in the court of the guard” – the royal prison – not as bad as if he was thrown into a dungeon or put in solitary confinement. But in prison, nonetheless.

v. 2 tells us who was speaking to him – “Thus says the LORD who made the earth, the LORD who formed it to establish it – the LORD is His name.” This is why Jeremiah could continue to remain focused & faithful as a prophet of God. He KNEW that the God who was speaking to him & through him is the one true living God of all creation – the sovereign Lord of all, the Creator of the universe. He made the earth, formed the earth, & established the earth, making it solid & firm. He knew that he could trust in His Lord to take care of him no matter what his circumstances looked like. He had already made this declaration in 32:17 – “Ah, Lord God! It is you who have made the heavens & the earth by your great power & outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for you.”

And then, in the midst of suffering & pain, this God – HIS God – gives him this word of encouragement & comfort: “Call to me & I will answer you!”

When you KNOW that this is your God – when you know how strong & powerful He is – when you know that He has always been faithful to you & always will be – when you know that the plans He has for you are plans “to prosper you & not to harm you, to give you a future & a hope” (Jeremiahs 29:11) – then you will KNOW that He is a God to you can & MUST call to. And that’s exactly what He wants us to do – “Call to me & I will answer you & show you great & mighty things you do not know.”

APPLICATION – Revival does not come unless & until God’s people call out to Him.

THE INVITATION – “Call to me” – Our relationship w/ God is not a false relationship b/c He’s not a false god. It’s not a dead relationship b/c He’s not a dead god. It’s not a cold, impersonal relationship b/c He’s not a cold, impersonal god. It’s not an uncertain relationship b/c He’s not a god of uncertainty & confusion. Our relationship to Him is a REAL relationship, a LIVING relationship, a WARM, PERSONAL relationship, a CERTAIN, DEFINITE, SECURE, SURE, TRUSTWORTHY relationship!