A Call

 

I Heard You Call
No it was not me
 

Pastor Jerry was reading from I Samuel 3:1-10, and John 1:43-51. 

There are various type of Callings.  Often it is us calling on God with our needs, and there is also a Calling from God for ministry.

The child Samuel heard God calling but he thought it was the prophet Eli. 

 

After three times, Eli realized that the Lord was calling the boy. So Eli told Samuel, “Go and lie down, and if he calls you again, say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.’”

Samuel grew and continued to listen and speak as God told him.  He became one of the great Judges in Israel.

Reading from John 1:43-51 it was Jesus calling his disciples, “Come and follow me.

COME AND SEE !!
 

Philip ran and found Nathaniel, “Come and see,” said Philip, but Nathaniel questioned, yet he came to see Jesus.

 

Jesus called him out and Nathaniel asked, how do you know me?   Jesus answered, “I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you.”

Then Nathanael declared, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the king of Israel.”

Jesus said, “You believe,  because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You will see greater things than that.”  He then added, “Very truly I tell you, you  will see ‘heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.” 

Jesus continued to reach out and call more to follow and serve Him.   

Today the call is still going forth. Long before - - He has known you and seen you with His divine eye. Even while you were in your mother’s womb, He knew you. 

The Call to ministry is often a long process, with much study and certain rites to recognize ordination.

Pastor told a story of a time he was helping out at the prison by cleaning out a cell that was vacant.  On the wall was a Certificate of Ordination, that had been purchased for $2.00.  He reminisced how his ordination had cost him much time and money and here he could have had a certificate for two dollars.  (We all smiled.)

 

Pastor went on to say there are legitimate on line college courses for a degree that will prepare one for ministry.

Learn to discern and listen to what God is calling us as individuals and as a congregation. 

Hear the call; “Come and See.”

The majority of work in the church is up to the congregation.  How important is it to take out the trash?  To greet people at the door?  To sing in the choir?  Keep humble and be willing to do what falls to your hand to do.

What does a call to ministry contain?  There are many directions one can go, all are good and the options are varied.

Serve God, doing your best and serve with your witness.  Be honest and keep a good humor and a clean lifestyle. 

You are not called to argue and find fault. 

 

You are called to ask people to come and receive Jesus. 

 

We are to say, “Come and See.”