Will You Answer The Call?
by Chris Richardson
September 29, 2024 · Centerpointe Apostolic Church (Murfreesboro, TN)
Kind: sermon
Scripture: Matthew 22:14, Exodus 3, Exodus 4, Isaiah 6:1-8

Source: https://acts238.life/repository/sermons/chris-richardson--will-you-answer-the-call
Published by Acts 2:38 Life from the sermon transcript on that page.
Free to copy and share with attribution.

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But today I stand before you to ask you a question. This is a question that's been burning within me really for over a year now. And I've shared this thought Wherever I Go.

Matthew chap 22, and verse number 14 — a very familiar verse of scripture to us. It says: "For many are called, but few are chosen." And to be honest with you, that can be quite a confusing scripture. Because we could ask ourself: well, why would God call someone, but then not choose them? And it wasn't until just recently, that it kind of all clicked for me, to understand that that second part is really not that much on God. It's on us. Because the secret to being chosen is whether we will answer the call.

I stand here today to inform you, to reaffirm to you, to let you know, and to reassure you, that God wants to use you. God is called calling you. It's not a question of the call. But today, the question is: will you answer that call? The purpose of this message, over the next few minutes, is to ask you to evaluate God's call on your life. And to ask you to be honest with yourself: are you dragging your feet? Are you hoping that God will ask someone else?

Now, when you look at scripture, you find many examples of people receiving calls. You can go all the way back to the very first man, Adam. God called Adam. He created him out of the Dust of the earth. And he called him for a purpose — to reach a world that still wasn't populated, but to start a process that continues until today. You find examples of how some people responded to God's call, that are good. And you find some examples of how God's call was not received in the best way.

One of those bad examples would be that of Jonah. We know the story. God called Jonah. What was his response? To hop on a boat, and go the other direction. But when he was on the boat — now, sometimes God will let people run from the call. And just to be honest with you, the examples of this that I've witnessed in my lifetime — it doesn't end up so well. Most of the time it's a train wreck, because they've run from God's call. Well, Jonah started running. But God didn't let him get very far. It's in a storm. People on the boat were afraid. And finally Jonah had to come clean. He says: "Look, it's my fault. I'm supposed to be going somewhere else. God's called me to do something else, and I didn't answer the call. So if you'll just throw me off the boat, you guys are going to be okay." And they did. They threw him off the boat. But God had a big fish ready — a whale, as we like to call it — to swallow him up. And he spent three days and three nights in the belly of a whale. Now, I'm an adventurous type of person. I like to do all kinds of things. And spending three days and three nights in the belly of a big fish is not on my list of things I want to do. But that's what it took, for Jonah to finally say: "Okay, God, I'll go." And when he agreed to answer God's call, the Fish spit him back out on the dry ground. And he went. And he went to Nineveh — the people that he hated, that he did not want to see repent. And he wasn't too happy when they started repenting. But he did at least go.

I pray that would not be our response to God's call in our life — that at first we refuse, and try to run away. But even after we say we'll go, we still have a bad attitude about it. But I pray we'll be a little bit more like Abraham. Because when God called Abraham — what was response? "I'll go." He didn't even think about it. He packed it all up. And he headed to this place God was going to show him. And God was going to use Abraham, to start a new nation.

Now, God does things a little bit differently than I would. If I was going to start a new nation, what would be my method? I'd find the best specimen of a young man, and the best specimen of a young woman. And I'd put them together. And this is how I'm going to start my new nation. What did God do? He got two old people, that couldn't have kids. But that's because, when he does things, he doesn't want man to take credit for what man cannot do. But when Abraham went, and Sarah his wife went — God promised them that they would be a new nation. That they would be — their descendants would be so numerous as the sand, and even as the stars. But it took 25 years before they saw the beginning of that to happen. That's a good example of how we answer the call, and how we're faithful to the call. Now, they made some mistakes along the way, yes. But they kept going forward, answering God's call.

An example that we're quite familiar with would be the example of Moses. We know the story of Moses. When Moses was born, he was born in a time that Pharaoh had put a decree out, that all newborn Hebrew boys were going to be put to death. Throw them in the Nile River. Let them become a Croc snack. And Moses's mom said, "I'm not going to let that happen to my little boy." And so she made a basket that would float. And wrapped up Moses, and stuck him in the basket, and put him out on the river that was bringing death to other little boys. But he floated down that River a little ways. And where did he end up? Right in front of Pharaoh's daughter. And Pharaoh, who wanted this little boy to be dead, ended up feeding him, clothing him, giving him all the best education. Because Pharaoh's daughter says, "I'm going to take him. And I'm going to raise him as my own." God worked it out so that Moses's mom could still be involved in the early stages of raising him. And so Moses grew up, knowing he was not an Egyptian. He belonged to those slaves out there. But he was in the palace. And one day, when he was about 40 years old, he said: "You know, surely I can use this position that I have, and do something to help my people." And he saw a Taskmaster beating one of the slaves. He said, "I'm going to go do something about it." And he did. But it didn't make things better. Because he killed the Taskmaster. And then he had to flee for his life. And he spent the next 40 Years of his life in the desert, taking care of sheep.

But it was at that point, that God's call for his life came. Because one day, as he was taking care of the sheep, he saw an unusual sight: a bush that was burning, but it wasn't burning up. Now, I think bushes burned, because of the Heat and the elements. But they'd burn up quite quickly. But this one just kept right on burning. "And I got to get closer, to see what's going on." And as he approached the bush, he heard God's voice: "Moses, don't come any closer. Take off your shoes. You're standing on Holy Ground. I am the god of your fathers. The god of Abraham, the god of Isaac, and the god of Jacob. Guess what, Moses? I've got some information for you. I've seen the oppression. I've heard the people's cries. I know they're suffering. And now I've come down, and I intend to rescue them, and provide them with a new Homeland again. But here's the catch, Moses: I'm going to send you. I want you to go talk to Pharaoh, and lead the people out."

I think, if Moses was anything like me — and some of the rest of us — "Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. Wait a minute. Where were you 40 years ago, when I was 40 years old, and I had the energy, and I wanted to do something? Where were you then? Why now? I'm 80 years old, and you want to send me? I just don't think I can do that." And if you read in Exodus chapters 3 and 4, you'll find one of the most interesting discussions between God and man. And Moses tried to come up with every excuse, as to why he could not and would not go. But God responded to those. And finally, he went.

Today I stand before you to ask you the question: is God calling you to do something? You got that slide. What would be your response, if your phone rang, and right there on the caller ID, "God's calling you"? What would be your response to that? Would you answer it? Slide to answer. Now, we like to say we would. But that would be a awfully hard call to answer sometimes. There's a little button on there, it says decline. But what do most of us do? We hit one of these volume buttons on the side. What happens when you do that? It keeps ringing, but you just don't hear it ringing anymore. It's going to go to voicemail. Why don't you just decline the call outright? It's because you want to play tricks. You want them to think you weren't available. You didn't hear the call. You don't have time to talk to them right now. And so you let it go to voicemail. How many times have we responded to God — God's calling in our life — that way?

What is God calling you to do? Well, here, let me give you some help. I'm not here to give you the answer, because it's not going to be the same for everybody. But here's something that may help you. Keep Moses in mind: what are you trying to avoid? Hallelujah. It's that very thing that you're trying to avoid, that you've already felt the Lord dealing with you to do, and you're trying to get out of it. Maybe you're a little bit like Moses. What excuses have you been making? And sorry to burst your bubble — not really, but just, I'll say it, just to be, you know, courteous — that excuse you thought you came up with, that was so great. You know, you're just borderline genius. And you came up with something nobody else had come up with before. Sorry, he heard somebody else use that very same excuse last week, probably. You're not fooling him. He's heard it before.

Or maybe you are right where God wants you to be. And you're doing — or at least you think you're doing — what he's asked you to do. But for some reason, you're stressed, and you're burned out. It could be because you're relying too much on your own ability. Maybe you need to let go a little bit, and say, "Lord, show me your way. Because if I try to do it all my way, it's not going to work. Show me your way." Or maybe you're doing God's will. You're constantly blessed and joyful. And if that's the case, maybe you ought to be the one up here preaching.

This brings me to another example: the example of Isaiah. If you read in Isaiah chapter 6 — I'm not going to read it, but you find something happened in the life of Isaiah. Isaiah was an important person. He served in King Uzziah's Court. He had a high position. But something happened that changed his life. King Uzziah died. But when King Uzziah died, no longer was his eyes on an Earthly King. But it says — and it tells us in Isaiah 6, verse number one — he saw the Lord, sitting on the throne, high and lifted up. His train filled the temple. He saw those angels with six wings, flying around, crying out one to another: "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts. The whole earth is full of his glory." He witnessed the foundation shaking. The house being filled with smoke. And when all of this began to happen, there was a realization that came over Isaiah. Because he cried out: "Woe is me, for I am lost. I am a man of unclean lips. And I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips. For my eyes have seen The King. The King. The Lord of hosts." But then one of those angels flew over to him, and had a coal taken off the Altar, and touched his mouth, and said: "Behold, this has touched your lips. Your guilt is taken away, and your sin is atoned for."

And if you're here today, and you need to repent of your sins, whatever it might be, I want to let you know: it really is that easy. When God forgives, he forgives. It doesn't have to be complicated. He touched his lips, and says, "Your guilt's taken away. Your sin's atoned for."

But then he heard the voice of the Lord, saying: "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" There is an ideal response to God's call in our life. It doesn't matter what that call is. That's — sometimes we get worried about what he's going to call us to do. It really doesn't matter. He's going to call us to do what he wants us to do. And if we'll answer the call, he's going to use us, in the way he wants to use us. And in the end, he's going to be the one that gets the glory. But you don't have to be in fear. You don't have to worry about it. Because he is going to take care of you. Maybe not the way you want it. But he will take care of you, if you will respond in the way that Isaiah responded. What was Isaiah's response? "Here I Am, Lord. Send me. You need someone? I'm available. I don't have anything else going on. And even if I did, I'm here. Send me." It might be istini. Maybe somewhere else. Might just be next door, to your next door neighbor. Or that person you work with, or go to school with, that you see in the store. It may not be some exotic place on the far side of the globe. But wherever it is, and whatever it is, if you will answer the call, he will choose you.

I don't know about you today. Yes, I've been in this a long time now. I got the plaque just a few months ago: 30 years of missionary service. I don't know — I mean, I don't look that old, surely. Now, for the youngsters, yes, I probably do. Third — 30 years as a missionary. Has it always been easy? No. There have been times i' wanted to quit. Yeah. One of those came a couple years ago, when we lost our first grandchild. That weekend, Lord and I had some discussions: "Lord, you could take this call away. I — you know, I've done enough now. I'm on the far side of the globe, in my 21 week old still born. I can't be there with my son and his wife, and encourage them." Said: "Lord, that's — this is a little rough. Covid. We missed his wedding. Not all that I signed up for." When you can hear reports of what's God's doing, and you realize this life is just temporary anyway — there's a world out there that needs Jesus. Whether it be in Madagascar, mayote, one of the other Islands I'm in charge of now — Marius, reunion, sells, koros — or whether it be in Murphy's Boro, there's a world waiting on us, to answer God's call in our lives. But the question is: will you answer the call?

It's not really my business. I'm just the voice today. It's between you and God. Well, maybe let me add a little bit to that. It's still none of my business. But it's not really just between you and God, you see. Because when God calls us, it's not for our benefit. He doesn't call you so you can feel good. He calls you because there's someone he wants to use you to reach them. So it's not just between you and God. And if you do not answer the call — oh, here, we don't want to think about this one — what's going to be the end result for that other person? There are people in your life, in your circle of influence. People that you come in contact with. You are the only person in their life that knows this truth, that knows the Full Gospel. If I don't share it with them, what's the end result for them? They would will be lost. I know it's not the popular thing. Because, you know, modern day, we're all about us. What we want. What we want to do. We're too wrapped up in our own little self-important life. And we fail to look at a loss world that needs Jesus. And that's why he saved you, and he saved me. He filled us with his spirit. "And you shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost has come upon you. And you shall be Witnesses." The power of the Holy Ghost is to enable us — not to feel Goosebumps up and down our back — but to enable us to share a message, that will reach a world, and change lives.

"Here I Am, Lord. Send me." And I've heard it said too many times, by too many aging ministers and missionaries: "If I had another life to give — if I could turn the clock back, and be 20 years old again, and let the Lord call me once again — I would still go again. And again. And again. Because the cause is too great. The need is too great."

Will you answer call? The first call is the call to be saved. It all begins there. When you repent of your sins. You're baptized, like we saw at the beginning of service, in the name of Jesus Christ, for the remission of sins. And you receive the infilling of the Holy Ghost, with the evidence of speaking in other tongues. That's when God's first calling you, bringing you into his church and his family. But then he keeps calling. And there are many sitting here today — you felt the call, but until now you have not responded. I ask you, before it's too late: please answer his call.

In fact, why don't we just do that right now? Can we stand to our feet? The altar is open. It may take a little bit of Courage. But I promise you, if you'll go through with it, you will not regret it. Yes, there will be some rough days. But you will not regret answering God's call. And he will use you, for his glory, for his kingdom. And lives will be changed, because you answered the call. Not for who you are, but because of who he is. And because he will work in your life. And he will use you for something glorious. And his name will be glorified.

Oh, can we just go to him and prayer today? "Lord Jesus — Here I Am. Here I Am, Lord. Here I Am, Lord. Here I Am, Lord. Use me. Use me for your kingdom. Use Me For Your Glory. Use me, that someone's life might be changed. Oh, Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Hallelujah, Jesus. The Lord's doing something right now, in the lives of several people standing here at the front. You've put it off. But today you've made up your mind: 'I'm going to go through with it now.' Use me, Lord Jesus, For Your Glory. Hallu