Sermon Title: The Way of the Believer: Calling on the Name of God
"From there he went on toward the hills east of Bethel and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east. There he built an altar to the Lord and called on the name of the Lord." (Genesis 12:8)
Dearly Beloved,
Greetings in the Name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!
The way of the true believer is conscientiously lived in the holy pattern of Calling on the Name of God.
From the days of Adam when “people began to call on the name of the Lord” (Genesis 4:26), to Isaac who built an altar “called on the name of the Lord” at Beersheba (Genesis 26:25) and certainly to the earliest disciples in Jerusalem (Ref: Acts 2) – there is clear and compelling biblical evidence that for every true believer of the living God, calling upon His Name is a lifelong and inter-generational pursuit.
Why do we call on the Name of God?
Calling on the Name of God - a lifelong pursuit of His Forgiveness and Mercy.
To call on the Name of God is to constantly recognise our utter need for His Forgiveness and Mercy.
“I love the Lord, for he heard my voice; He heard my cry for mercy.
Because He turned his ear to me, I will call on Him as long as I live.” (Psalm 116:1-2)
“You, Lord, are forgiving and good, abounding in love to all who call to you.” (Psalm 86:5)
Calling on the Name of God - a lifelong pursuit of Deliverance from all evil
Our present reality in this world is evil.
To call on the Name of God is to open our hearts to the Lord’s work of increasing our faith in His Deliverance and Protection over us.
“I called to the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and I have been saved from my enemies. In my distress I called to the Lord; I cried to my God for help. From his temple He heard my voice; my cry came before Him, into his ears.” (Psalm 18:3, 6)
“Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.” (2 Timothy 2:22)
Our chief weapon against the evil of this world is established on the purity of our hearts; for it is only out of a pure heart may we fully trust and obey our Lord.
Calling on the Name of God - a lifelong pursuit of endearing yourself to God; becoming His Beloved.
“Will they find delight in the Almighty? Will they call on God at all times?” (Job 27:10)
We minister to our children by providing for their physical, spiritual, social, emotional and intellectual needs; and our children ministers to us when they respond in love, trust and obedience to us.
In the same way, we endear ourselves to the Lord when we express our love to Him through worship, obedience and service – calling on God at all times.
Calling on the Name of God - a lifelong pursuit of living in God’s Love and Favor.
“(You) Pour out your wrath on the nations that do not acknowledge You, on the kingdoms that do not call on Your name;” (Psalm 79:6)
The opposite of God’s wrath is divine love and favor poured out upon those who acknowledge Him and call on His Name.
Live in God’s love and favor – acknowledge Him and call on His Name all the days of your life!
Calling on the Name of God - a lifelong pursuit of Salvation
“Sacrifice thank offerings to God (Be thankful), fulfill your vows to the Most High (Be obedient), and call on Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor Me.” (Psalm 50:14-15)
That our lives may honor the Lord speaks to much more than simply delivered from the troubles of this world; rather, it speaks to our deliverance from the bondages and wages of sin in our lives.
Salvation is both distinct and progressive.
To call on the Name of God is to recognise our sinful state and more so, our utter need for the Lord who is our Salvation. (Ref: Psalm 27)
To call on the Name of God is to also believe that God has saved us – having forgiven our sins through Christ and restore us as His Children and citizens of His Present, Coming and Eternal Kingdom.
The Apostle Paul makes it clear.
9 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.
12 For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, 13 for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (Romans 10:9-10, 12-13)
Calling on the Name of God - a lifelong pursuit of making God known; inbreaking His Kingdom.
“Give praise to the Lord, proclaim his name; make known among the nations what He has done.” (Psalm 105:1)
“Then I will purify the lips of the peoples, that all of them may call on the name of the Lord and serve Him shoulder to shoulder.” (Zephaniah 3:9)
Only with pure lips and holy hearts may we truly “call on the Name of the Lord and serve Him shoulder to shoulder”; purity and holiness that comes only from being in a present and real relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ who commands us,
““Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. 16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved… …
17 And these signs will accompany those who believe:
In My Name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18 they will pick up snakes …; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all;
they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.” (Mark 16:15-18)
And what is the Name of God revealed to us?
Our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.
“That is why we labor and strive, because we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all people, and especially of those who believe.” (1 Timothy 4:10)
The lifelong pursuit of the true believer - must necessarily be to call on the Name of Jesus; for it is in His Name that we are able to live in “labor and strive” – as we labor with Christ in preaching the Gospel to all Creation; and strive to be holy, for He is holy. (Ref: Leviticus 11:44)
Both of which is impossible unless we live conscientiously in the holy pattern of calling upon the Name of Jesus.
Brethren, in any and all circumstances of your life, only the Name of Jesus brings us to the true reality that He alone is God over everything, and everyone.
In fullest trust and obedience, speak the Name of Jesus in every situation; and experience His Presence and Power as He works with us and confirms “His word by the signs that accompanied it.” (Mark 16:20)
Daily call on the Name of our God, our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, and start living in the holy pattern of a true believer of the living God.
Shalom.
Let us pray.
Our Father in Heaven,
Hallowed be Your Name.
Your Kingdom come, Your Will be done; on earth, as it is in heaven.
Holy Spirit, grant me courage, strength, resolve and wisdom to live in the holy pattern of constantly and conscientiously calling on the Name of God – that not only does it become a lifelong pursuit for me, through my example, may it also be the pursuit of the generations that follow me.
That as I call on Your Name, I would daily experience Your Forgiveness and Mercy; Your deliverance from all evil; and that I would endear myself to You – living in Your Love and Favor, becoming Your beloved child.
Lord, may I rest in the assurance of Your Salvation when I call on Your Holy Name; and live daily in the blessed Commission of preaching Your Gospel to all Creation.
May my experience be personal and real – that I will honor You, my God; and serve with You “shoulder to shoulder” (Zephaniah 3:9); that in Your Name, I will drive out demons, speak in new tongues; be protected from all works of the evil one; and when I place my hands on sick people, they will get well! (Ref: Mark 16:15-18)
To this, may I daily declare with my mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in my heart that God raised him from the dead.
In Christ, I am justified and saved from the bondages and wages of sin! (Ref: Romans 10:9-10, 12-13)
Use me, Holy Spirit, as Your vessel of Power to preach the Good News of Jesus – that all who hears will call upon the Name of Jesus and be saved!
Purify my heart and lips, O Lord, that I may daily labor with You in Your Kingdom Inbreaking work; and strive daily to be holy, acceptable and pleasing in Your sight.
In every situation – in fullest trust and obedience - I will speak the Name of Jesus; and anticipate Your Presence and Power as You work in with Your church.
I thank You and pray all these in the Name of our God, Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
"From there he went on toward the hills east of Bethel and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east. There he built an altar to the Lord and called on the name of the Lord." (Genesis 12:8)
Dearly Beloved,
Greetings in the Name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!
The way of the true believer is conscientiously lived in the holy pattern of Calling on the Name of God.
From the days of Adam when “people began to call on the name of the Lord” (Genesis 4:26), to Isaac who built an altar “called on the name of the Lord” at Beersheba (Genesis 26:25) and certainly to the earliest disciples in Jerusalem (Ref: Acts 2) – there is clear and compelling biblical evidence that for every true believer of the living God, calling upon His Name is a lifelong and inter-generational pursuit.
Why do we call on the Name of God?
Calling on the Name of God - a lifelong pursuit of His Forgiveness and Mercy.
To call on the Name of God is to constantly recognise our utter need for His Forgiveness and Mercy.
“I love the Lord, for he heard my voice; He heard my cry for mercy.
Because He turned his ear to me, I will call on Him as long as I live.” (Psalm 116:1-2)
“You, Lord, are forgiving and good, abounding in love to all who call to you.” (Psalm 86:5)
Calling on the Name of God - a lifelong pursuit of Deliverance from all evil
Our present reality in this world is evil.
To call on the Name of God is to open our hearts to the Lord’s work of increasing our faith in His Deliverance and Protection over us.
“I called to the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and I have been saved from my enemies. In my distress I called to the Lord; I cried to my God for help. From his temple He heard my voice; my cry came before Him, into his ears.” (Psalm 18:3, 6)
“Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.” (2 Timothy 2:22)
Our chief weapon against the evil of this world is established on the purity of our hearts; for it is only out of a pure heart may we fully trust and obey our Lord.
Calling on the Name of God - a lifelong pursuit of endearing yourself to God; becoming His Beloved.
“Will they find delight in the Almighty? Will they call on God at all times?” (Job 27:10)
We minister to our children by providing for their physical, spiritual, social, emotional and intellectual needs; and our children ministers to us when they respond in love, trust and obedience to us.
In the same way, we endear ourselves to the Lord when we express our love to Him through worship, obedience and service – calling on God at all times.
Calling on the Name of God - a lifelong pursuit of living in God’s Love and Favor.
“(You) Pour out your wrath on the nations that do not acknowledge You, on the kingdoms that do not call on Your name;” (Psalm 79:6)
The opposite of God’s wrath is divine love and favor poured out upon those who acknowledge Him and call on His Name.
Live in God’s love and favor – acknowledge Him and call on His Name all the days of your life!
Calling on the Name of God - a lifelong pursuit of Salvation
“Sacrifice thank offerings to God (Be thankful), fulfill your vows to the Most High (Be obedient), and call on Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor Me.” (Psalm 50:14-15)
That our lives may honor the Lord speaks to much more than simply delivered from the troubles of this world; rather, it speaks to our deliverance from the bondages and wages of sin in our lives.
Salvation is both distinct and progressive.
To call on the Name of God is to recognise our sinful state and more so, our utter need for the Lord who is our Salvation. (Ref: Psalm 27)
To call on the Name of God is to also believe that God has saved us – having forgiven our sins through Christ and restore us as His Children and citizens of His Present, Coming and Eternal Kingdom.
The Apostle Paul makes it clear.
9 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.
12 For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, 13 for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (Romans 10:9-10, 12-13)
Calling on the Name of God - a lifelong pursuit of making God known; inbreaking His Kingdom.
“Give praise to the Lord, proclaim his name; make known among the nations what He has done.” (Psalm 105:1)
“Then I will purify the lips of the peoples, that all of them may call on the name of the Lord and serve Him shoulder to shoulder.” (Zephaniah 3:9)
Only with pure lips and holy hearts may we truly “call on the Name of the Lord and serve Him shoulder to shoulder”; purity and holiness that comes only from being in a present and real relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ who commands us,
““Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. 16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved… …
17 And these signs will accompany those who believe:
In My Name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18 they will pick up snakes …; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all;
they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.” (Mark 16:15-18)
And what is the Name of God revealed to us?
Our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.
“That is why we labor and strive, because we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all people, and especially of those who believe.” (1 Timothy 4:10)
The lifelong pursuit of the true believer - must necessarily be to call on the Name of Jesus; for it is in His Name that we are able to live in “labor and strive” – as we labor with Christ in preaching the Gospel to all Creation; and strive to be holy, for He is holy. (Ref: Leviticus 11:44)
Both of which is impossible unless we live conscientiously in the holy pattern of calling upon the Name of Jesus.
Brethren, in any and all circumstances of your life, only the Name of Jesus brings us to the true reality that He alone is God over everything, and everyone.
In fullest trust and obedience, speak the Name of Jesus in every situation; and experience His Presence and Power as He works with us and confirms “His word by the signs that accompanied it.” (Mark 16:20)
Daily call on the Name of our God, our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, and start living in the holy pattern of a true believer of the living God.
Shalom.
Let us pray.
Our Father in Heaven,
Hallowed be Your Name.
Your Kingdom come, Your Will be done; on earth, as it is in heaven.
Holy Spirit, grant me courage, strength, resolve and wisdom to live in the holy pattern of constantly and conscientiously calling on the Name of God – that not only does it become a lifelong pursuit for me, through my example, may it also be the pursuit of the generations that follow me.
That as I call on Your Name, I would daily experience Your Forgiveness and Mercy; Your deliverance from all evil; and that I would endear myself to You – living in Your Love and Favor, becoming Your beloved child.
Lord, may I rest in the assurance of Your Salvation when I call on Your Holy Name; and live daily in the blessed Commission of preaching Your Gospel to all Creation.
May my experience be personal and real – that I will honor You, my God; and serve with You “shoulder to shoulder” (Zephaniah 3:9); that in Your Name, I will drive out demons, speak in new tongues; be protected from all works of the evil one; and when I place my hands on sick people, they will get well! (Ref: Mark 16:15-18)
To this, may I daily declare with my mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in my heart that God raised him from the dead.
In Christ, I am justified and saved from the bondages and wages of sin! (Ref: Romans 10:9-10, 12-13)
Use me, Holy Spirit, as Your vessel of Power to preach the Good News of Jesus – that all who hears will call upon the Name of Jesus and be saved!
Purify my heart and lips, O Lord, that I may daily labor with You in Your Kingdom Inbreaking work; and strive daily to be holy, acceptable and pleasing in Your sight.
In every situation – in fullest trust and obedience - I will speak the Name of Jesus; and anticipate Your Presence and Power as You work in with Your church.
I thank You and pray all these in the Name of our God, Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.