GOD IS CALLING TO YOU
Rom. 10:20-21
INTRODUCTION
A. HUMOR: CALLING 911
1. Marie got deathly ill and Boudreaux called 911. The 911 operator told Boudreaux that they would send someone out right away.
2. "Where do you live at?" asked the operator.
Boudreaux replied, "At de end of Eucalyptus Drive."
"Can you spell that for me?" the operator asked.
3. There was a long pause and finally Boudreaux said, "How '......bout if I drag her over to Oak Street and you pick her up over der?"
B. SERMON STARTER
1. Everybody, please stand.
2. If you have ever ignored a ringing phone because you knew who it was, sit down.
3. If you have ever picked up the phone and said something stupid because you thought you knew who it was, sit down.
4. If you've ever tried to imitate a bird call, sit down.
5. If you've ever lost your religion over the call of an umpire or referee, sit down.
6. If you've ever fallen or dropped something trying to get to a ringing phone, sit down.
7. If you've ever stayed home from someplace you really wanted to go because you were expecting an important call, sit down.
8. If you've ever sat by the phone waiting for someone to call, sit down.
9. I took you through that just as a reminder of the different kinds of calls that we hear, and just how important a call can be. [Anne Robertson]
10. We've all experienced one sort of call or another, and tonight we’re going to consider that God is calling to us and look at the reasons why.
C. TEXT
“The boy Samuel ministered before the LORD under Eli. In those days the word of the LORD was rare; there were not many visions. 2 One night Eli, whose eyes were becoming so weak that he could barely see, was lying down in his usual place. 3 The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple of the LORD,
where the ark of God was. 4 Then the LORD called Samuel. Samuel answered, “Here I am.” 5 And he ran to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.” But Eli said, “I did not call; go back and lie down.” So he went and lay down. 6 Again the LORD called, “Samuel!” And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.”
“My son,” Eli said, “I did not call; go back and lie down.” 7 Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD: The word of the LORD had not yet been revealed to him. 8 The LORD called Samuel a third time, and Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.” Then Eli realized that the LORD was calling the boy. 9 So Eli told Samuel, “Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, ‘Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place. 10 The LORD came and stood there, calling as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.” 1 Sam. 3:1-10.
D. THESIS
1. The words “Calling as at other times” means that God had been calling Samuel for some time but Samuel hadn’t been hearing Him. This is true of you and I as well.
2. So tonight we’re going to look at the Biblical record of God calling, the purpose of His calling, and two remarkable aspects of His calling.
3. The title of this message is, “God is Calling to You!”
I. BIBLICAL RECORD OF GOD CALLING
A.NUMEROUS INSTANCES OF HIS CALLING
1. Samuel, as we’ve read.
2. Adam & Eve; “And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God amongst the trees of the garden. And the Lord God called unto Adam, and said unto him, “Where art You?”Gen. 3:8-9.
3. Moses, “God called to him from within the bush, ‘Moses! Moses!’” And Moses said, “Here I am.” Ex. 3:4
4. All Peoples; “To you, O people, I call out; I raise my voice to all mankind.” Prov. 8:4.
5. UNIVERSIALITY OF HIS CALLING
a. “All the Earth,” “Turn to me and be saved, all you ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other.” Isa. 45:22.
b. Everyone, “Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters…” Isa. 55:1.
c. “As many as you find,” “The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son. He sent his servants….‘go to the street corners and invite to the banquet anyone you find.’” Matt. 22:2-3, 9.
d. “Anyone who thirsts,” Jn. 7:37.
e. “All who call on Him,” Rom. 10:12.
f. “God wants all men saved,” 1 Th. 2:4.
B. REASON: BECAUSE HE LOVES US
“The Lord appeared to us in the past, saying: ‘I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.’” Jer. 31:3.
II. PURPOSE OF THIS CALL
A. BRING US INTO RELATIONSHIP W/ HIM
1. God is inviting you into a relationship with him. It is a relationship based on faith, your trust in Jesus.
2. It is a relationship based on the work of salvation done by Jesus, not yourself.
3. “9As Jesus was going down the road, he saw Matthew sitting at his tax-collection booth. “Come, be my disciple,” Jesus said to him. So Matthew got up and followed him. Matthew 9:9-13.
4. Jesus calls us all to be His disciples; to be with Him and hear His words and learn from Him, the master-teacher.
5. Paul said, “I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord…that I may gain Christ and be found in him…” “I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and…becoming like him…attaining to the resurrection from the dead.” Phip. 3:8-11.
B. ILLUSTRATION
1. A church lost its pastor and set a search committee to find a new pastor for the church. Some of its members were a little picky about applicants. About that time an interesting application letter came in.
2. "To the pastoral search committee:
“I would like to apply for the position. I can’t say that I preach very well. In fact, I tend to stutter when I speak. I do have a lot of experience, since I am over 75 years old. I have only just recently had an encounter with God. As far as people skills go, I do tend to lose my temper every once in a while. I’m also inclined to want things done my way and get cranky if it’s not taken care of right away. Once I even killed somebody. But you’re gracious people and believe me when I say that’s all behind me now. I intend on leading you into a brighter future."
3. The committee was horrified. An old man with no
seminary training, who’s arrogant, temperamental, hears voices, an ex-murderer as their pastor? Who had such colossal nerve? “Who signed the letter of introduction?” The committee member eyed them all keenly before she answered, "It's signed, ‘Moses’."
4. Moses didn’t have the right qualifications from a human viewpoint, but that didn’t stop God calling him to serve the people of Israel. This story highlights the fact that:
C. GOD CALL US TO SERVE HIM
1. When God calls, he calls ordinary people.
2. Usually when God calls, the people feel inadequate. The good news is that God knew what we were like before He called us! He accepts us “as is.” We get altered at the altar!
3. But we all have talents, gifts, and something we can do for the Lord.
4. A key to developing our relationship with God is to get involved in His work and attempt things that can only be done with His help. That’s how we come to know Him in a greater way.
III. REMARKABLE ASPECTS OF HIS CALLING
A. BASED ON GRACE
1. God spoke through Isaiah saying, “I was found by those who did not seek me; I revealed myself to those who did not ask for me.” But concerning Israel he says, “All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and obstinate people.” Rom. 10:20-21.
2. The people God called didn’t merit God, because they had never sought for Him. Our calling isn’t based on our worthiness.
3. You’d have thought God would only reveal Himself to a seeker, or to someone searching for Him, but the verse says the opposite.
4. From God’s perspective, we’re all flawed, fallen. Human nature is depraved. It takes extraordinary working of the Holy Spirit to turn us to Him.
5. HOW FREQUENTLY DOES HE CALL?
a. “All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and obstinate people.”
b. The words, “all day long” may be translated “daily.”
“Daily” God has called to us & all day long!
6. HUMOR. Some people talk & don’t listen.
a. One pastor was called by a man who said he needed some advice. But when the man got in his office, he talked the entire appointment time, never getting around to listening to any advice.
b. The man later told a friend that he learned a lot from the pastor during his visit!
B. PEOPLE FREQUENTLY WON’T ANSWER
1. God didn’t call you once and then let you alone, but every day He’s called you; every day He’s had your conscience speak to you; given you some token He’s real.
2. Oh, how much we’ll have to account for at God's great Judgment Seat!
3. From the first days of your life, he wooed you through your mother, pouring His love on you.
4. In your childhood God bestowed love on you and warned through instances of earthly disobedience.
5. How often was your youthful heart affected; yet you put it off; ignoring all the ways God blessed you.
6. When you were sick or in need, you prayed and God graciously aided and comforted you.
7. It’s probable that God will keep on stretching out his hands until all your hairs grow grey, but don’t think that if you ignore your salvation, you shall go unpunished.
8. When the heavens are on fire and Christ comes to judge the Earth -- there won’t be one excuse that you can make which will be valid at the last great day.
9. Because “All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and obstinate people.” God still calls. Will you answer?
CONCLUSION
A. ILLUSTRATION
1. One night a family with multiple children was noisily chattering away at the dinner table when the youngest, a four-year-old, stood up on his chair and shouted, "PASS THE BUTTER!"
2. His parents sat in stunned silence for a moment and
then sent the young, ill-mannered child to his room. The father of the family later told his noisy bunch that he had sound recorded the evening meal.
3. On playback a quiet voice was heard asking, "Please pass the butter." A few moments later the voice called out a little louder, "Could someone PLEASE pass the butter." A few moments later there was the thundering shout everyone remembered from the meal, "PASS THE BUTTER!"
4. Often it isn't that God didn't tell us something, it is that we weren't listening. Maybe there was too much noise and activity to recognize the still small voice of God speaking to our hearts.
5. During the visit of the angels to the Manger in Bethlehem, have you ever wondered why the Shepherds were chosen to hear the announcement of the Savior's birth? Could it be at least in part that they would listen? Will you?
6. Can you hear the Lord's voice over the noise of life? Do we need to turn off the I-Pad, the Smart Phone, the Computer, I-Pod, the TV, etc. and go to a quiet place and listen for the Lord's voice? (Michael Ullrich)
B. THE CALL
1. The Bible records many instances of God calling us. He calls us into relationship & to serve Him. We are called because God has grace to us and His calling is daily, all day long.
2. How many will say “Yes” to God tonight? How many will begin to be more obedient?
3. God knew what you were when He called you. He will take you as you are. Just give yourself to Him and let Him make the alterations.
4. Prayer.
