Call Unto Me

TITLE: Call Unto Me

TEXT: Jeremiah 33:3

TOPIC: Prayer

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Preached by Louis Bartet at Point Assembly of God on January 26, 2003.

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ILLUS: I’m sure most of you will remember the sniper incident that terrorized the Washington area. Before they were apprehended the snipers killed 10 and wounded 3. What you may not know is, prayer played a vital role in bringing that ordeal to an end.

50 Christian truckers got together to pray that somehow the sniper terrorizing the Washington area would be caught. Ron Lantz was scheduled to retire in a few days and didn¡¦t even live in the area, but he felt sure that God would answer their prayers. In fact, he told the others attending the prayer meeting that God was going to use him to catch the sniper.

A few days after they began to pray Ron was listening to the radio as he was driving through the region and felt compelled to pull off the highway to a rest stop. It was just a couple of miles from where the initial prayer meeting had taken place. As he pulled in, he was shocked to see a car similar to what was being described on the radio.

Carefully trying to read the license plate, a chill went up his back as the numbers matched. He quickly called 911 and remained there for what he said were the longest 15 minutes of his life, until the police arrived. He even pulled his truck across the exit, there would now be no escape for these elusive murderers. The rest is now history-the snipers were taken into custody without incident and the horrifying ordeal was over.

SOURCE: www.presidentialprayerteam.org.

Incredible? YES! Unbelievable? NO!

According to Jeremiah 33:3, we serve a God who gives incredible answers to prayer.

Jeremiah 33:3 - Call to Me, and I will answer you, and I will tell you great and mighty things, which you do not know. (NAS)

Although God begins with a command, it is a command based upon two significant realities.

1. First, the person praying is admitting their limitations. This is implied by the phrase, "mighty things, which you do not know." .

When Jeremiah penned this God given promise he "was still confined in the court of the guard" (33:1). He is in prison and Jerusalem has been conquered and destroyed. The longed for restoration is beyond his grasp. There is nothing that he or the disposed inhabitants of Israel could do to restore the fortunes of Israel or the fortunes of Judah.

God’s word to them is, "Ask me to do what you cannot do." This suggests the second significant reality.

2. Second, the person praying is admitting that God is the answer to their need. God’s word to those who recognize their limitations is, "Call unto Me." We’re not instructed to call upon¡K

„X Budda

„X Confucious

„X Mohammed

„X Baal

„X The spirit of the forest

„X The force

„X Hari Krishna

„X Joseph Smith

„X Charles Manson

„X Jim Jones

„X David Koresh

„X Yoda or

„X Anyone or anything else!

All that stuff gathered and placed in a big pile wouldn’t make a good moose nugget¡K or a small cow chip.

God instructs us, "call upon Me!"

Who is the "Me" in this passage? The "Me" in this verse is none other than God Himself. He is¡K

„X Elohim, the One to whom all power belongs.

„X El Shaddai, the Almighty God.

„X El Elyon, the Most High God above whom there is no other.

„X El Olam, the Everlasting God who is without beginning or end.

„X El Roi, the God who sees me.

„X Jehovah, the self-sustaining all sufficient One.

„X Jehovah Sabaoth, the Lord of hosts, the Guardian and Helper of those who fear Him.

„X Jehovah Jireh, the Lord our Provider.

„X Jehovah Rapha, the Lord our Healer who gives us health and deliverance from disease.

„X Jehovah Nissi, the Lord my Banner, the One who gives me victory over my enemy.

„X Jehovah MQaddishkhem, the Lord that sanctifies or separates us unto Himself.

„X Jehovah Shalom, the Lord our Peace.

„X Jehovah Rohi, the Lord my Shepherd, the One who protects me, provides for me and who is present with me.

„X Jehovah Tsidkenu, the Lord our Righteousness, the One who through the sacrifice of Jesus gives me rightstanding with Himself.

„X Jehovah Shammah, the Lord who is there, the One who is with me day and night.

„X Abba, my Father.

„X Immanuel, God with us.

„X The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.

„X The Way, the Truth, and the Life.

„X The Resurrection and the Life.

„X The Word.

„X The great High Priest.

„X The Head of the Body.