Sermon # 3 - God's Call And His Purposes Series

We read in Isaiah 43:1, “Israel, the LORD who created you says, "Do not be afraid---I will save you. I have called you by name---you are mine.” (GNB)

God’s word in the above mentioned verse is directed towards Jacob or Israel because the promise of God is directed towards His children, who believed on His word. The first word of encouragement that proceeds from the Lord is, ‘Do not be afraid’ because He is the one who created us. There are so many issues that we encounter daily pertaining to our circumstances, family, children, work, health or our future and it to such ones that the word of the Lord comes as a great assurance, and comfort exhorting us to not be fearful. If we have placed our trust in the God, who is the creator of heaven and earth, the one who marvelously created us, there is no room or need for fear in our lives.

Secondly, the Lord reassures us that He will save or redeem us. If you are wondering how this was made possible, it was because of the sacrifice of our Lord Jesus, when He died on the cross and shed His precious blood for each one of us for our sins. God created man in perfection, but when man chose to disobey God, and sinned against Him, he became a slave to Satan. In order for man to be set free from the bondage of sin and Satan, God sent His only begotten Son into the world, to redeem us with His sinless blood. This implies that Satan has no more power or dominion over our lives, and we can live a life of total victory.

Thirdly, God has called each one of us by name, and to some who are reason rationally with their limited human mind, this may seem impossible. However, we read in Psalms 147:4, He counts the stars and calls them all by name. (NLT) Even today scientists are in awe when they discover a new star or asteroid in space, but we have such an awesome God, who not only has counted all the stars, but has also called each of them by name. If He knows the millions of stars by name, how much more will He not know by name those whom He has created, who belong to Him?

The Lord goes on further to say in Isaiah 43:2, “When you pass through deep waters, I will be with you; your troubles will not overwhelm you. When you pass through fire, you will not be burnt, the hard trials that come will not hurt you.” (GNB)

Just because we are created, redeemed and called by name, it does not mean that our life will be free from struggles. The comfort we receive from the Lord is that when we pass through flood like situations, we will not be overwhelmed by them. The Israelites encountered the Jordan River when it was in full deluge, but the Lord parted the Jordan, to make them realize that He could make a way through that overflowing river. These incidents of the crossing of the Red Sea and the Jordan are mentioned in the bible so that we too will be encouraged to know that when these kind of situations overtake us, the Lord stands by to assure us that we need not fear, for He has promised to be with us and make a way for us. We may even go through furnace like difficulties, but none of it will quench us for the Lord will be with us, and give us victory over every one of these hardships. In order to experience the victory we do not have to wait till we get to heaven, for the Lord has promised to make us triumphant right here on earth. The thought that should be topmost on our mind, is not for our life to end on earth so we can go to heaven, but rather that the Lord should fulfill His purposes in our life while we remain here in this world.

God called Abraham by name

We read in Genesis 22:11, But the angel of the LORD called to him from heaven, "Abraham, Abraham!" He answered, "Yes, here I am." (GNB)

Also in Genesis 22:17, “I promise that I will give you as many descendants as there are stars in the sky or grains of sand along the seashore. Your descendants will conquer their enemies.” (GNB)

God called Abraham by name for a purpose to bless him, make his descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky or grains of sand along he seashore. He also assured him that his descendants would conquer their enemies.

The purpose of God calling us is that He should raise us up, give us victory, give us increase and make us a blessing, so that He can perform His mighty acts in and through us. God has called each one of us by name not to live defeated lives, but to stand forth triumphant over every situation irrespective of how arduous it may seem.