The Call of God

January 16, 2000

East Wareham United Methodist Church, Wareham, Massachusetts

1 Samuel 3:1-10; John 1:43-51

LISTENING!

This room, right this moment, is full of pictures and words and music! We can hear and see them if we just have the proper equipment and know how to use it.

Here I hope to produce a transistor boom box radio. I turn it on. It does NOT work. THEN I see it doesn't have any batteries. I find the batteries in my bag, put them in and turn it on again. I begin to get random stations. Some (bad) music. Some talking. There are many stations all competing for our attention.

This world is full of spiritual messages. Not all of them are from God. But do you know what? You already HAVE the equipment. You don't HAVE a spirit; you ARE a spirit.

Maybe you need power. FAITH is God's gift; the batteries to give you power to listen. Then you have to TURN ON, and TUNE IN.

To TURN ON, means to deliberately seek to listen for the Word of God. To realize we are spiritual creatures, and must not seek to live by bread alone.

To TUNE IN means to tune OUT so-called spiritual messages that are not God's best will for our lives. We can't follow many leaders. As a matter of fact we can't even really follow TWO leaders. We have to decide: what is God saying to ME? To US?

There are MANY spiritual messages available— and we have the ability to "tune in" to God. But to do that we need to "tune out" a lot of other broadcasters.

( I had a memorial service this week for a semi-homeless person, and met a lot of wonderful people you might call "street people." One of them told me he belongs to fifteen Christian ministries. "Oral Roberts sends me mail," he told me. He has too many messages coming in to be able to "tune in.")

HEARING!

How do you suppose God speaks to people who really want to listen?

  1. We have to be willing to take advice, and not begin by knowing it al before we even start!

    According to one 19th century expert, after the battle of Little Big Horn some Cheyenne women found Custer's body, the one they called 'Yellow Hair'. He and all his men had died because he had failed to listen to good advice. Evan Cornell, a historian, said these Cheyenne women pierced Yellow Hair's eardrums with sewing awls. This was so that in the next world he would be able to hear better, because he sure hadn't listened in this one.

    As Jerry Fuller, who told this story said, "Ouch! Lucky Custer was dead!"

  2. We need some quiet time, even silence in our lives.
  3. We need a regular time and place to talk with God, and even more important, to listen.
  4. We need the Bible. The Spirit uses the Bible as He talks with us. In the Word preached, yes. In the Word studies together, yes. And in the Word we read and think about.

If we will listen, and use our equipment, God is already speaking!!

Obeying!

How can we be sure it is GOD speaking??? We have to be willing to OBEY! We may not understand; we may not know what is the right choice; BUT IF WE ARE WILLING TO OBEY GOD WILL LEAD US!

God's will will always be bringing us closer to Jesus! To His Lordship! To His glory!!

THE GOSPEL STORY HERE - John 1:43-51

Jesus told Philip the Apostle, Follow me. He did. Philip had to talk about it. He told his friend, Nathaniel. The result was the conversion of Nathaniel.

So, in fact, Jesus called Nathaniel through Philip! He might call someone through you or me!

Philip: We have found the Messiah!

Nathaniel: Can anything good come from Nazareth? (Can anything good happen HERE?)

P: Come and see!

Jesus: (Backs Philip up)I know you! Nathaniel, your faith is on the right track!!

N: How do you know me?

Jesus: You haven't seen ANYTHING yet!!

Nathaniel begins to follow Jesus— his faith begins to unfold as he listens, hears, obeys!!

We might reflect on others who have answered God's call.

(Henri Nouwen's responses to God's calls led him first to the ordained ministry in his native Netherlands, then to university classrooms in Europe and the U.S.A. Later, seeking, Nouwen became a member of one of Jean Vanier's L'Arche Communities; there he answered God's call as spoken through the needs of the intellectually and physically handicapped with whom he shared his love and care. Nouwen found at L'Arche the home and family harmony for which he had longed so many years of his life.)

Esther Sanger was past 50 years of age when she heard God speak in a special way.

God is a God of surprises. We need to be listening and willing to hear and to heed the call of God from wherever, in whomever and whenever it may come.

When we feel unequal to the challenge of God's call, remember that no call ever comes without accompanying grace. When there seems to be inner conflict or we think we need to quit or take a detour it is time to renew surrender, and tell God we are WILLING to obey if we KNOW IT IS HIS WILL!

Remember we cannot be filled with the Spirit if we are not willing to let go of the stuff that clutters up our lives. We cannot be blessed and a blessing if we are hanging on to known sins. When it is clearly God's will we had better ask for grace to obey immediately:

Illustration: The renowned preacher Donald Grey Barnhouse told of a missionary in Africa whose little son was playing in the yard. Suddenly he heard his father's voice. "Philip! Obey me instantly! Drop to the ground!" The boy did what he was told without any question. "Now crawl toward me as fast as you can." Again the boy obeyed. "Now stand up and run to me!" The lad followed instructions and ended in his father's arms. Only then did he look back at the tree where he had been playing. Hanging from a limb was a 15-foot snake! Suppose the boy had paused to ask why, or in a whining tone had inquired, "Do I have to do that right now?" He would have been killed by that deadly reptile.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, You showed Your glory and led many to faith by the works of Your Son. As He brought gladness and healing to His people, grant us these same gifts and lead us also to perfect faith in Him, Jesus Christ our Lord. AMEN.

Affirm your faith with me:

The Apostles' Creed - on Page 7 UMH

Invitation

Prayer of Confession - on Page 8 UMH

Let us offer ourselves and our gifts to God!

The Lord's Prayer

Communion

O God you are My God

Benediction

Postlude