Sermon:Calling upon God

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO CALL UPON GOD?

◇Calling upon God signifies seeking His presence and invoking His help or guidance in times of need.

◇Calling upon God is both a plea for assistance and a recognition of His divine authority. 

◇Calling upon God means invoking His name,seeking His help,guidance,or presence and establishing a relationship with Him through prayer and worship.

◇Calling upon God signifies a deep reliance on Him in times of need and an acknowledgement of His sovereignty. 

◇Calling upon God means dependence on Him for help and relief;having confidence that He responds to prayers.

WHY WE SHOULD CALL UPON GOD

◇God is ever present and ready to hear.

God is always present and accessible to those who seek Him.Calling upon God, therefore, is not just a hope in vain but an acknowledgment that God is always present and actively involved in the lives of His people.

- Psalm 145:18, "The Lord is near to all who call on Him, to all who call upon Him in truth." 

◇Calling upon God reflects our Dependence on Him.

Calling upon God is a recognition of our own limitations and a declaration of our need for His mercy and grace. It is not just an act of asking for help, but also an acknowledgment of our total dependence on Him for forgiveness, guidance, and provision.

-Isaiah 55:6-7 ,"Seek the Lord while He may be found; call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous  man his thoughts;Let him return to the Lord, and He will have mercy on him, and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon." 

◇Calling upon God is an act of faith.

Calling upon God is an act of faith because it requires belief in both God’s existence and His willingness to respond. It’s an expression of trust that God will hear and answer our prayers, whether in His timing or according to His will. 

-Hebrews 11:6 says, "But without faith it is impossible to please Him,for He who comes to God must believe  that He is ,and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him."

FACTS ABOUT CALLING UPON GOD FROM THE BIBLE

•God invites believers to call to Him, promising not only guidance but also answers to their prayers.

-Jeremiah 33:3,"Call to me,and I will answer you,and show you great and mighty things,which you do not know."

•Calling upon God is associated with salvation.

 -Romans 10:13,"Whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved."

•Calling upon God involves asking with confidence,knowing He listens and responds to prayers aligned with His will.

-1 John 5:14-15,"Now this is the confidence we have in Him,that if we ask anything according to His will,He hears us.And if we know that He hears us,whatever we ask,we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him."

•God is accessible to all who call upon Him for salvation.

-Acts 2:21,"And it shall come to pass that whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved."

•Call upon the Lord and make known His deeds among the peoples.

-1 Chronicles 16:8,"Call upon His name;Make known His deeds among the peoples!

-Psalm 105:1," Call upon His name;Make known His deeds among the peoples!

•The Lord draws near when you call on Him.

-Lamentations 3:57,"You drew near on the day I called on You,And said,"Do not fear.!"

•Calling upon the Lord in times of trouble can lead to protection from enemies.

-2 Samuel 22:4,"I will call upon the Lord ,who is worthy to be praised;so shall I be saved from my enemies.

•Calling upon God can lead to relief in times of distress.

-Psalm 18:6,"In my distress I called upon the Lord,And cried out to my God."

-Psalm 120:1,"In my distress I cried out to the Lord,And He heard me."

•God will answer those who call upon Him.

-Psalm 91:15,"He shall call upon me,and I will answer him.."

-Isaiah 58:9,"Then you shall call,and the Lord will answer.."

-Zechariah 13:9,"They will call on my name,and I will answer them."

•God will answer before you call and hear when you are still speaking.

-Isaiah 65:24,"It shall come to pass that before they call,I will answer;And while they are still speaking,I will hear."

•God is good, willing to forgive and abundant in mercy to all those who call upon Him.

-Psalm 86:5,"For you,Lord,are good,and ready to forgive,And abundant in mercy to all those who call upon you."

•Call upon the Lord all the days of your life.

-Psalm 116:2,"Because He has inclined His ear to me,Therefore I will call upon Him as long as I live."

•Call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

-2 Timothy 2:22b,"Call on the Lord out of a pure heart."

•The Lord will pour out His fury on families who do not call upon His name.

-Jeremiah 10:25,"Pour out your fury of Gentiles ,who do not know you,And on families who do not call on your name."

•The Lord will pour out His wrath on kingdoms that do not call on His name.

-Psalm 79:6,"Pour out your wrath on the nations that do not know you,And on the kingdoms that do not call on your name."

•Calling upon God in times of trouble leads to deliverance.

-Psalm 50:15,"Call upon me in the day of trouble;I will deliver you,and you shall glorify me."

•The Lord will hear those who call upon Him.

-Psalm 17:6,"I have called upon you,for you will hear me,O God."

•The Lord will save anyone who call upon Him.

-Psalm 55:16,"As for me,I will call upon God,And the Lord shall save me."

•Whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

-Joel 2:32,"And it shall come to pass that whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved."

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE CALL UPON GOD

◇God listens and responds: If we ask anything according to God’s will, He hears us. Not only does He hear, but He also responds, giving us confidence that our prayers are not in vain.

-1 John 5:14-15,"Now this is the confidence that we have in Him,that If we ask anything according to His will,He hears us.And of we know that He hears us,whatever we ask,we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him."

◇God delivers and heals:When we call upon God, He hears and delivers us from our troubles,afflictions and provides healing for those who have a broken heart.

 -Psalm 34:17-19,"The righteous cry out,and the Lord hears,And delivers them out of all their troubles.The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart,And saves such as have a contrite spirit.Many are the afflictions of the righteous but the Lord delivers him out of them all."

◇Calling upon God strengthens our faith.

God wants us to call upon Him in times of trouble, promising that He will deliver us, and in turn,we will glorify Him. As we call upon God in times of need, we experience His faithfulness, which in turn strengthens our faith in Him. 

-Psalm 50:15,"Call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me."

DOES GOD ANSWER EVERYONE WHO CALLS UPON HIM?No,He doesn't answer everyone who calls upon Him.

◇There are instances where God does not respond,particularly if the people have turned away from Him.

-Proverbs 1:28,"Then they will call on me ,but I will not answer;They will seek me diligently,but they will not find me."

◇God may choose not to answer when people persist in disobedience. 

-Jeremiah 11:14,"So do not pray for this people,or lift up a cry or prayer for them;for I will not hear them in the time that they cry out to Me because of their trouble.

◇God can be silent even when we desperately cried out to Him in the face of suffering. 

-Habakkuk 1:2,"O Lord,how long shall I cry,And you will not hear?Even cry out to you,"Violence !"And you will not save.

OBSTACLES TO CALLING UPON GOD

◇Self-sufficiency and pride.

 When we rely on our own abilities and don’t see the need for God, it creates a barrier. Pride can lead to spiritual independence, hindering us from seeking God’s help or guidance.

-James 4:6,"God resists the proud,But gives grace to the humble.'

◇Unconfessed sin.

 Sin separates us  from God. If we are harboring sin and refusing to repent, it becomes difficult to approach God in prayer because sin disrupts fellowship with Him.

-Psalm 66:18,"If I regard iniquity in my heart,The Lord will not hear."

◇Doubt and unbelief.

Doubt in God's ability or willingness to answer prayer can prevent us from calling upon Him in faith. Without faith, it’s hard to engage in meaningful prayer or rely on God's promises.

-James 1:6-7," But let him ask in faith,with no doubting.....For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord."

◇Busyness and distraction.

In our busy lives, we may neglect to call on God, often distracted by the worries of life and the demands of the day. 

-Luke 10:40-42,"And Martha was distracted with much serving....Martha,Martha,you are worried and troubled about many things.But one thing is needed."

◇Fear or shame: Some people may feel unworthy to approach God due to past mistakes or guilt. But God invites us to come boldly before His throne of grace, regardless of our imperfections.

-Hebrews 4:16,'Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace,that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need."

PRAYERS

1.Lord,I call upon you in my troubles. Deliver me,and I will glorify your name forever in Jesus' name.

2.Father,I call to you and ask for your guidance.Reveal to me the great things I do not know in Jesus' name.

3.I call upon you,Lord,my rock and my saviour.Save me from my enemies and be my refuge in Jesus' name.

4.Answer me,O God,when i call.Show me your grace and relief in my distress in Jesus' name.

5.In my distress,I called upon you,Lord.Hear my cry and come to my rescue in Jesus' name.

6.To you,Lord,i cry for help.Do not be silent,but hear my supplications and answer me speedily in Jesus' name.

7.Lord,may i not be among those who call yet do not seek you sincerely in Jesus' name.

8.Lord,as I call upon your name,hear my prayer and act in my life in Jesus' name.

9.God,i seek you and call out to you.Open my eyes to your presence,for i long to know you in Jesus' name.

10)I will not call out to the Lord in vain in Jesus' name.

11)O Lord,deliver in times of trouble in Jesus' name.

12)When I call upon you,Lord,answer me and be with me in my troubles in Jesus' name.

13)Refine me,O God,and answer when I call in Jesus' name

14)Lord Jesus,relieve me in my distress in Jesus' name.

15)Almighty God,do not leave me nor forsake me n Jesus' name.

16)O Lord,do not deliver me to the will of my adversaries in Jesus' name.

17)Father,do not be silent when I call upon your name in Jesus' name.

18)O Lord,have mercy upon me and hear when I call upon you in Jesus' name.

19.Heavenly Father,help me to seek your will above my own in Jesus' name.

20.Teach me,God,to pray with a sincere heart in Jesus' name.

Thank you  Lord for answered prayers,in the name of Jesus',Amen.