On this Father’s day in this sermon I want to do something different. I will be preaching on THE FATHER OF ALL FATHERS…WHICH IS GOD THE FATHER.
I will be preaching from Jeremiah 33-3 as my text verse.
Look at Jeremiah 33:3 Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.
Notice the words “Call upon me”.
This makes me think of the age in which many use their TELEPHONE to call upon family and friend when in need.
Today we have become dependent on our telephones.
Everywhere you look these days we see young and old using their telephones.
Illus: We see people today that live a life of poverty, but they all have a cell phone.
Using these cell phones appears to be the most popular way of communicating these days.
We all understand the importance of communication
• The telephone has been around for over a hundred years.
• The first telephone call was made by Thomas Watson who said, “Come here, I need you”.
• Alexander Graham Bell introduced the Bell Telephone to us in 1876.
Before the invention of the telephone, if something happened, you had to wait for someone to tell you about it or find out for yourself.
With the telephone network, everything changed.
Before the invention of the telephone the most significant change was that you had to rely on word of mouth in emergencies.
Illus: If someone had to deliver a message in town, they had to go there themselves and deliver it.
This caused many problems!!!
After the invention of instant communication, everything changed.
We all know the importance of communication.
But the most important communication we need to recognize today is that God wants US TO CALL HIM!
His telephone number is Jer. 33:3. He tells us “Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.”
When we meet someone that is special in our life, we give him or her telephone number because we want to stay in touch with them.
God the Father wants us to stay in touch with Him at all times.
Today telephones are something the young and old recognize to be important to us daily.
Telephones are so important to some folks if their telephones go on the blink, they act like the world has come to an end.
Let me illustrate…
Illus: An elderly lady phoned her telephone company to report two problems.
1. She said sometime when her friends called her the telephone would not ring right away.
2. When her phone did ring, her pet dog always moaned right before the phone rang.
The telephone repairman proceeded to the scene, curious to see this psychic dog or senile elderly lady.
He climbed a nearby telephone pole, hooked in his test set, and dialed the subscriber's house.
The phone didn't ring right away, but the dog moaned loudly when the telephone began to ring.
Climbing down from the pole, the telephone repairman found the problem.
Here is how he filled out his report of the problem.
1. The elderly lady had tied the dog to the telephone system's ground wire to a steel chain and collar.
2. The wire connection to the ground rod was loose.
3. When the telephone rang, the dog was receiving 90 volts of signaling current when the phone number was called.
4. After a couple of such jolts, the dog would start moaning and then urinate on the ground.
5. The wet ground would complete the circuit, thus causing the phone to ring.
Some strange things have happened on the telephone, but it would be difficult to survive without our telephones.
In this text, Jeremiah 33:3 is in prison under false charges. God visits Jeremiah in his hour of need.
Let’s look at FOUR things in this verse.
I. THE PERSON
Look at Jer. 33:3, we read, “Call unto ME…"
God says, “CALL UNTO ME,” because you would be surprised how many do not know this is something that they should do.
When trouble comes into their life, they call on everyone but God the Father, and after they have no one else to call, they call upon the Lord.
Listen, when trouble comes, the first one we should call upon should be the Lord.
But it is amazing what people will do when they find themselves in trouble.
For example:
(1) Some will call on the preacher, as if he is a mediator between God and man.
Many call on the minister because they think the minister has a special relationship with the Lord that lay people do not have.
This may shock you, but as a minister of the gospel, I have no more influence with God than you do if you are living a godly life.
When trouble comes, we should CALL UPON THE LORD!!!
Why?
Because if God cannot help you it is for sure the preacher cannot help you!
Look at 1 Tim. 2:5, “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.”
(2) Many think that Mary, the mother of Jesus, is someone we are to call upon.
Many Catholics believe that Mary has more influence than they do as the mother of Jesus, so they pray to her.
Listen, you might as well pray to a wall as to pray to Mary.
WhY?
She is dead, and she is not a mediator between man and God.
Look at 1 Tim. 2:5, “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.”
(3). some in times of trouble call upon these television preachers.
Illus: Dr. Odell Belger could not sleep one night because he had some things heavy on his mind due to some problems in a church building program.
So, he got out of bed and went into the living room and began to watch these “so called” Christian television preacher and he was shocked:
One of the preachers referred to Acts 16 where God used Paul in an unusual way, using prayer cloths in his ministry to pray for the sick.
This fellow took the scripture completely out of context and applied it to his ministry to send out prayer cloths in paying for the sick.
If you would call him he would send you this red prayer cloth for a substantial contribution.
He changed the channel….
• The second preacher came on and he did not have prayer clothes, he had miracle water. If you would call him for prayer, he would send you this miracle water and it would bring healing and prosperity into your life for only a Fifty-dollar contribution.
He changed the channel…
• The third preacher if you would call him for prayer he would send you a piece of jewelry for only a twenty five contribution.
All three of these preachers were misleading people!
Nowhere in the scripture does the Word of God teach such things.
But the Word of God does say this… Look at 1 Tim. 2:5, “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.”
You do not need a red cloth, green cloth or even a bottle of water. God says all you have to do is, “CALL UNTO ME!”
Illus: Years ago, Oral Roberts built a prayer tower and he told his followers it would be manned twenty-four hours a day. And if an emergency came up, his followers were to call the prayer tower for prayer.
Listen, you do not need call his prayer tower. As a child of God you are granted the permission yourself to call upon God.
God says, “CALL UNTO ME!” How much clearer can God make it?
You do not need a pastor, priest or a television preacher. ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS CALL UPON GOD in times of need. And if you live a godly life He will Hear and answer your prayer.
Now if you are not living a godly life do not waste your time to call upon Him because He tells us…. As Paul wrote to Timothy in I Timothy 6:11 he tells him, "But you O man of God, flee these evil things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness.”
Psalm 66:19 makes it even clearer, we read, if I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:
But God has promised to hear the prayers of the godly when they call upon Him.
If you are a child of God, God will hear your prayer as well as any preacher’s prayers.
He said, “Call unto me!”
Who is the "me" in this passage?
The "Me" in this verse is none other than God Himself.
He is:
• Elohim, the One to whom all power belongs.
• El Shaddai, the Almighty God.
• El Elyon, the Most High God above whom there is no other.
• El Roi, the God who sees me.
• Jehovah, the self-sustaining all sufficient One.
• Jehovah Sabaoth, the Lord of hosts, the Guardian and Helper of those who fear Him.
• Jehovah Jireh, the Lord our Provider.
• Jehovah Shalom, the Lord our Peace.
• Jehovah Shammah, the Lord who is there, the One who is with me day and night.
• Abba, my Father.
• Immanuel, God with us.
• The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.
• The Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
• He is JESUS!
He said, “Call unto me!”
This is what blind Bartimaeus did.
Look at Mark 10:46-47, “And they came to Jericho: and as he went out of Jericho with his disciples and a great number of people, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the highway side begging. And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, and say, Jesus, thou son of David, have mercy on me."
We see THE PERSON who we are to call….that is, the Lord Jesus.
But notice something else in this verse of scripture, we see…
II. THE PROMISE
Jer. 33:3, we read, “…I will answer thee…"
DOES GOD ANSWER ALL PRAYERS?
Illus: Someone said, God answers prayer four ways
1) Yes,
2) No,
3) Wait a while,
But for some who will call upon God He says “You’ve got to be kidding!”
Illus: Some will not work and then they call upon God to provide for them.
GOD IS NOT GOING TO ANSWER A PRAYER LIKE THIS WHEN HE HAS COMMANDED US TO WORK SIX DAYS!
Illus: People that pray these kinds of prayers remind me of a fifth grade boy who lived in South Carolina. He would not study for a big test he had to take on Friday afternoon.
He went to church that Sunday and heard a sermon on WE SERVE A GOD WHO CAN DO THE IMPOSSIBLE!!!
He went home that night and his father could hear him praying by himself in his room. As his dad passed his door, he heard the boy praying over and over again, "Charleston, Charleston, and Charleston."
The next day, the dad asked his son what he was doing. The boy replied that he had given the wrong answer for the capital of South Carolina on a test, and he was praying that God would make Charleston the capital of South Carolina.
Listen, God will do his part, but he expects us to do our part before He answers prayer.
Why should we call upon God?
• Because the wisdom of God perceives what is best for us
• Because the power of God performs what is best for us
He is the one who LOVES US AND CAN HELP US!
He tells us, in 1 Peter 5:7, “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.”
Illus: While crossing the Atlantic on an ocean liner, the great preacher, F.B. Meyer, was asked to deliver a message to the passengers on "Answered Prayer."
A skeptic who was present at the service was asked by his friends, "What did you think of Dr. Meyer's sermon?"
He answered, "I didn't believe a word of it."
That afternoon the skeptic put two oranges in his pocket before going for a stroll on the deck. On his way he passed an elderly woman sitting in her deck chair fast asleep.
• In the spirit of fun, the skeptic put the two oranges in her lap.
• Later as he passed her way, he saw her happily eating one of the oranges. "You seem to be enjoying that orange," he remarked with a smile.
• "Yes, sir," she replied, "My Father gave them to me."
• "Your father? Surely your father can't be still alive!"
• "Praise God," she replied, "He is very much alive."
• "What do you mean?" pressed the skeptic.
• She explained, "I'll tell you, sir. I have been seasick for days. I was asking my heavenly Father to somehow send me an orange. I fell asleep while I was praying. When I awoke, I found He had not only sent me one orange but two!"
The skeptic was speechless.
God has PROMISED to take care of us, and God has never made a promise He did not keep! Never!!!
We see:
I. THE PERSON,
II. THE PROMISE
and -
III. THE PROVISION
In Jer. 33:3, we read, “…and shew thee great and mighty things"
This portion of the verse tells us about the things we are going to receive from God.
It is God’s job to PROVIDE for us and it is our job to be thankful for what HE PROVIDES.
Illus: Two men were walking through a field one day when they spotted an enraged bull. Immediately they ran toward the nearest fence. The storming bull ran after them in hot pursuit, and they realized that they were not going to make it.
• Terrified, one man shouted to his friend, “Say a prayer, John. We’re in trouble”
• John said, “I’ve never prayed out loud before. I don’t know what to say.”
• “But you have to” yelled his companion; “The bull is catching up to us.”
• “All right,” said John, as he ran with all his might; “I’ll say the only prayer I know. My father used to say it at the table.”
• He prayed, “Oh Lord, for what we are about to receive, make us truly thankful.”
God not only promised to answer prayers but show us some things we have never seen before.
He said, “I will show thee great and mighty things.”
• The term "show" is a translation of the Hebrew word means to make something that was previously unknown or unknowable is made known.
• The Hebrew term translated "mighty things" was used to refer to that which was inaccessible, either because it was hidden or well protected.
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 murderers.
The rest is now history. The snipers were taken into custody without incident and the horrifying ordeal was over.
As we CALL UPON GOD we can we see super
Power of God before us.
I.THE PERSON,
II.THE PROMISE,
III.THE PROVISION
and-
IV. THE PROVIDER
Jer. 33:3 "…which thou knowest not."
Many of God’s people have weak faith. They cannot comprehend the God who created the universe can easily PROVIDE FOR THEM!
Illus: Paul Harvey talked about a 3-year-old boy who went to the grocery store with his mother. Before they entered the grocery store she said to him, "Now you’re not going to get any chocolate chip cookies and so don’t even ask."
She put him up in the cart and he sat in the little child’s seat while she wheeled down the aisles. He was doing just fine until they came to the cookie section. He saw the chocolate chip cookies and he stood up in the seat and said, “Mom, can I have some chocolate chip cookies?”
She said, “I told you not to even ask. You’re not going to get any.” So he sat back down.
They continued down the aisles, but in their search for certain items they ended up back in the cookie aisle. “Mom, can I please have some chocolate chip cookies?” She said, “I told you that you can’t have any. Now sit down and be quiet.”
Finally, they were approaching the checkout lane. The little boy sensed that this might be his last chance. So just before they got to the line, he stood up on the seat of the cart & shouted in his loudest voice, “In the name of Jesus, may I have some chocolate chip cookies?”
And everybody round about just laughed. Some even applauded. And, according to Paul Harvey, due to the generosity of the other shoppers, the little boy & his mother left with 23 boxes of chocolate chip cookies....
God’s Word tells us YOU HAVE NOT BECAUSE
YOU ASK NOT.
If we do not have what He wants us to have it is ONLY because we have not asked!
Let us "Call unto Him."
When are we going to learn WE ARE TO CALL UPON GOD?
He give us His telephone number in Jeremiah 33:3, Jeremiah 33:3 Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.
Illus: Sir Walter Raleigh asked a favor from Queen Elizabeth. She answered him, "Raleigh, when will you leave off begging?" He answered, "When your Majesty leaves off giving!"
Many are going to be surprise when they get to heaven to find out what they could have had if they had only asked of GOD THE FATHER.
Good cell phone reception is dependent upon not getting too far away from the cell phone tower. For good reception with God, we must stay close to God.
Conclusion:
God commands us to call unto Him.
We looked at:
I. THE PERSON
II. THE PROMISE
III. THE PROVISION
IV. THE PROVIDER
