And then I thought of you. How many of you enjoy the work you do? How many of you would like to keep on doing that work for years? How many of you feel like you are making a difference in the world with what you do?
I’ve asked the emotional question, haven’t I? I’ve asked for your FEELINGS. But our God is not just the God of feelings, the God of our heart, but is also the God of our mind, the God of rational thought. So I’m going to use a very important word today. I’m going to ask you if you are following your calling...
Calling. Like most words that make sense in a Christian context, the world has taken over the word and watered it down so it means much more and yet much less than the word meant when it was first used in a Christian-only sense. So let’s see if we can narrow it down, to define it, to discuss it so we know exactly what it means for God to call you.
Calling. Like most words that make sense in a Christian context, the world has taken over the word and watered it down so it means much more and yet much less than the word meant when it was first used in a Christian-only sense. So let’s see if we can narrow it down, to define it, to discuss it so we know exactly what it means for God to call you.
Our readings today speak of two calls by God – first, the call of Isaiah to speak on behalf of God. Second, the call of Peter, James, and John to follow Jesus, stop fishing for fish and to start fishing for people.
Isaiah was a man who lived in a time of trouble. After Solomon’s death, his kingdom was split by civil war. The area around Jerusalem stayed with the kings of Judah, while the northern territory split away and formed under the kings of Israel. After a couple hundred years, the northern kingdom of Israel was destroyed by the Assyrians. Isaiah saw this coming. And he saw the coming trouble from Assyria for Judah. Isaiah’s reputation as a prophet was so high that in the New Testament he is often referred to simply as “The Prophet”.
One day, when King Uzziah was king of Judah, a vision came to Isaiah. Now what is a vision? A vision can be a vivid dream or it can be a vivid daydream, a mental movie that is received from God. Isaiah had quite a few of these visions.
In this one, Isaiah saw the Lord seated on a “high and lofty throne.” His robe was so large and lush that it filled the temple. There were at least two seraphim standing above the Lord – these were six-winged creatures, possibly otherwise human in appearance – or not, it is always unclear when seraphim are mentioned in the Bible. The root word “seraph” is also used to describe serpents, so they could be holy serpents with six wings. Origen, an early Christian writer, says they are the physical manifestation of the Christ and the Holy Spirit in heaven. Unfortunately, there are no details that help us answer this question about who the seraphim are.
One of the seraphim called to the other – “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of Hosts’ His glory fills the whole earth.” Isaiah writes that “the foundations of the doorways shook at the sound of their voices and the temple was filled with smoke.” Can you imagine this? The power of their voices, the smoke filling the entire room, and behind it all is God sitting there upon a throne.
And poor Isaiah realizes that Isaiah is NOT “holy, holy, holy”. On the contrary, Isaiah is a man who talks in a very unholy way and lives among people who are not holy, either, and poor Isaiah figures he’s toast because he has seen the Holy King, the LORD of Hosts and his sin overwhelms him.
And doesn’t that happen to us all on the day when we realize that God is so holy, so perfect, so good that our very presence in His sight would contaminate God.
One day, when King Uzziah was king of Judah, a vision came to Isaiah. Now what is a vision? A vision can be a vivid dream or it can be a vivid daydream, a mental movie that is received from God. Isaiah had quite a few of these visions.
In this one, Isaiah saw the Lord seated on a “high and lofty throne.” His robe was so large and lush that it filled the temple. There were at least two seraphim standing above the Lord – these were six-winged creatures, possibly otherwise human in appearance – or not, it is always unclear when seraphim are mentioned in the Bible. The root word “seraph” is also used to describe serpents, so they could be holy serpents with six wings. Origen, an early Christian writer, says they are the physical manifestation of the Christ and the Holy Spirit in heaven. Unfortunately, there are no details that help us answer this question about who the seraphim are.
One of the seraphim called to the other – “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of Hosts’ His glory fills the whole earth.” Isaiah writes that “the foundations of the doorways shook at the sound of their voices and the temple was filled with smoke.” Can you imagine this? The power of their voices, the smoke filling the entire room, and behind it all is God sitting there upon a throne.
And poor Isaiah realizes that Isaiah is NOT “holy, holy, holy”. On the contrary, Isaiah is a man who talks in a very unholy way and lives among people who are not holy, either, and poor Isaiah figures he’s toast because he has seen the Holy King, the LORD of Hosts and his sin overwhelms him.
And doesn’t that happen to us all on the day when we realize that God is so holy, so perfect, so good that our very presence in His sight would contaminate God.
We don’t often think of that, but to get an idea, imagine that you are standing, looking at the throne room of God, awaiting an interview with God Himself. Everyone around you is dressed in fine clothing, everyone has perfect teeth like Hollywood actresses, there’s not a speck of lint anywhere to be found, not the slightest smudge of dirt, not a missing button anywhere. Everything glistens, everything is polished, not a fingerprint or footprint on the perfect glass floor, everything is golden unless it is made of perfect gemstones, everything is so perfect and so beautiful.
Suddenly you realize that you are standing in front of God and you forgot to wash and comb your hair, brush your teeth, and use deodorant this morning. And you can smell your underarms. Plus, you also realize you are wearing your well-used work clothes, which are covered in mud, grease, and the hair from your pet puppy. And then you remember last week’s parable about the man who showed up to the king’s wedding feast NOT wearing wedding clothes, who was bound and tossed into the outer darkness. You believe - you know you aren't good enough to stand in front of a perfect God!
Isaiah was terrified. Isaiah was terrified for it hit him how imperfect, how unholy, unholy, unholy he was.
But one of the seraphim flew to him with a glowing coal from the altar, touched Isaiah’s lips with it and said: “Now that this has touched your lips, your wickedness is removed and your sin is atoned for.”
What joy! All has been forgiven. Every unclean thing Isaiah has ever said is forgiven!
And almost all of us have all felt that joy of knowing that our sins have been forgiven and we are right with God!
And now, Isaiah heard from the throne the voice of the Lord saying:
Who should I send? Who will go for Us?
Who indeed? Who is ready to speak of the loving, forgiving king who has just allowed this terribly evil man to be forgiven, to be given a new life, to stand without punishment? Would you? You have also been forgiven by that king of all your unholiness, your crimes, your blasphemies, your sins against God and man. Would you step forward?
So Isaiah said, (and I imagine it in a weak voice.)
Here I am. Send me.
And the Lord gave Isaiah a message to take to the people.
That, my friends, is a vision! That is a calling!
But that is the blockbuster movie type of calling, with the special effects, the CGI seraphim and smoke, the Dolby surround-sound when the seraphim speak. It shakes you in your boots.
But there are also callings that are a bit more down to earth...
Isaiah was terrified. Isaiah was terrified for it hit him how imperfect, how unholy, unholy, unholy he was.
But one of the seraphim flew to him with a glowing coal from the altar, touched Isaiah’s lips with it and said: “Now that this has touched your lips, your wickedness is removed and your sin is atoned for.”
What joy! All has been forgiven. Every unclean thing Isaiah has ever said is forgiven!
And almost all of us have all felt that joy of knowing that our sins have been forgiven and we are right with God!
And now, Isaiah heard from the throne the voice of the Lord saying:
Who should I send? Who will go for Us?
Who indeed? Who is ready to speak of the loving, forgiving king who has just allowed this terribly evil man to be forgiven, to be given a new life, to stand without punishment? Would you? You have also been forgiven by that king of all your unholiness, your crimes, your blasphemies, your sins against God and man. Would you step forward?
So Isaiah said, (and I imagine it in a weak voice.)
Here I am. Send me.
And the Lord gave Isaiah a message to take to the people.
That, my friends, is a vision! That is a calling!
But that is the blockbuster movie type of calling, with the special effects, the CGI seraphim and smoke, the Dolby surround-sound when the seraphim speak. It shakes you in your boots.
But there are also callings that are a bit more down to earth...
One day, Simon, James, and John were minding their own business. They’d gone out fishing the night before, probably trying to attract fish to their boats and nets with a lantern. It had been a terrible night – no fish at all. And these guys weren’t recreational fishermen – they didn’t use a hook and line, they didn’t have a tackle box full of lures, carefully tied and selected. No, these were working men who made their living off of catching and selling many fish every day, men who supplied the nearby town with food and were in competition with other fishermen, men for whom a night without fish was like a day for a restaurant without a customer. It had been a terrible night for business.
So the three – and possibly Simon’s brother Andrew – had pulled the boats up to the shore, and taken the nets, cleaning and washing them, removing the mud and the sticks from the twine – this was far, far before monofilament lines were available. Can you imagine how much junk would get caught by a twine net?
So Jesus, a man they had met before down in the Jordan Valley at John the Baptist’s camp, asked them if he could use one of the boats as a floating stage. Would Simon mind putting out just a few feet so He could teach from the boat and everybody could see and hear Him?
So Simon did so and Jesus taught for a while. When he finished, he turned to Simon and said, “Put out into deep water and ya’ll let down your nets for a catch.”
Simon was tired. He’d only let the man teach from his boat because he had talked with him down at John’s place and knew Jesus had some good things to say. But Simon was tired, and you can hear his almost complaint.
“Master,” Simon replied, “we’ve worked hard all night long and caught nothing! But at Your word, I’ll let down the nets.”
So they went out to the deep water, put in the nets, and so many fish came into the nets the nets began to tear. So they yelled to James and John in the other boat to come and help, and they lifted so many fish into their boats that they began to sink.
Simon – the man Jesus would later call Peter – Simon Peter fell to Jesus’ knees, much like Isaiah. “Go away from me, because I’m a sinful man, Lord!” Simon recognized the power of God in Jesus – if he didn’t yet quite realize that Jesus was God Himself walking on the earth – but Simon knew that Jesus was responsible for perhaps the biggest day of fishing he’d ever had. Jesus must know God and God must listen to Jesus. Talk about a way to pay rent for a speaking stage!
Jesus looked back at Simon, and then, assuming Simon’s agreement, Jesus said to him. “Don’t be afraid. From now on you will be catching people!”
And the men brought the boats to land, left everything, and followed Jesus. They left the biggest catch in their life and followed Jesus. For they knew that this was what was important in life – being with the man who knew God was far more important than even the most profitable fishing day those fishermen had ever had.
And so, with these two calls as a basis, how do we know our calls?
First of all, there is the general call by God of Christians and Jews – indeed, of all people. This is found in Micah 6:8
He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.
And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with your God. (NIV)
This is a general call to all people. It is the basis for this song - We are Called!"
Then, there are the two great commandments and the great commission, which apply to all Christians. In Matthew 22, A Pharisee asked Jesus:
“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
Love God. Love your neighbor as yourself.
And the Great commission of Matthew 28:
Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Make disciples of all people, baptize them, and teach them to obey everything Jesus commanded.
But there is also the question of a special call from God. For these more general calls are pretty vague – the call of Isaiah was not vague. It was very specific and special.
How do we find out our call?
Part of this is something we can do on our own while we await the vision or the voice of God.
GPS. You know how a GPS system helps you find your way - except in parts of our state of West Virginia. There is a GPS for helping understand your personal call to ministry and purpose in life.
G – what are your gifts that God has given you? Scripture tells us that all believers are given gifts. What are your gifts? Ask yourself: What do I do far better than the other people I know. For example, I’ve been given two musical gifts – I play the piano well and I sing well. My wife has the gift of being able to talk and listen to people for hours. Debbie Moore has the gift of being able to teach children. Lynn Davis has the gift of organization, which makes her a wonderful treasurer and church secretary. I know a woman who has the gift of baking – another who has the gift of a healing touch. I knew a man who had a special, focused gift – he could heal rheumatoid arthritis through prayer and touch. Nothing else. Just rheumatoid arthritis. I know another man who has a gift when it comes to carpentry, another with making furniture. Still another has been blessed with the ability to make money and gives 30% of his income to charity. Another woman can paint; still another man can design anything. My son Andy can preach revival. What are your gifts? Ask your close friends if you don’t know. "What do I do well that other people have trouble with doing?" These gifts are the tools you bring to the mission of God.
The P in our GPS stands for Passion – what gets you worked up? What makes you angry or makes you cry? Is it old folks in the nursing home or two-year olds? Is it the poor or is it the child with Down’s Syndrome. Is it the homeless man under the bridge – or is it the brilliant child who is being picked on in class? Is it falling down houses or is it dead fish in a river? Where is your passion directed? Find out. This passion tells you what your mission is repairing of the Creation.
Finally, the S in our GPS stands for Style – How do you like to work? Are you a loner, sitting in front of a computer screen? Or are in happiest in front of a crowded room? Do you prefer to work outdoors with two friends on a project, or would you rather coordinate a world-wide project by email from your living room? Do you like the idea of being alone in a foreign country – or do you prefer going to an office where you meet with a twenty-person team? Do you like doing a project and completing it or would you rather just keep DOING, never finishing, but always doing, like the person who works the refreshment stand at a WVU game. Do you like meeting new people every day or would you rather work with two other people for the next ten years. Find out your working style and you will know how you will be happy.
The GPS – Gifts, Passion, and Style – helps guide us to our part in the Body of Christ, to our part in God’s mission.
But for some, God calls us directly.
We are minding our own business, maybe beginning to get involved in the church, when a thought or a dream or a vision or a voice comes to us that suggests we should completely change our course from what we were doing to something else, more radically involving us in God’s mission. Like Samuel, who as a boy was given by his mother to live and learn at the tabernacle under Eli the high priest.
One night, everyone had gone to bed, when Samuel heard the Voice: "Samuel, Samuel!" The boy got out of bed, went to the old priest Eli and said, “Here I am”. But Eli had not called the boy. He told him to go back to bed.
This happened twice more than night. Then Eli realized it was the voice of God calling to the boy Samuel. He gave him advice and the boy followed it. He went back to bed and when the voice came again, Samuel said, “Speak Lord, for your servant is listening.”
And God gave instructions to Samuel that night. And Samuel grew up to be the prophet that anointed the first two kings of Israel, Saul and David.
So Simon did so and Jesus taught for a while. When he finished, he turned to Simon and said, “Put out into deep water and ya’ll let down your nets for a catch.”
Simon was tired. He’d only let the man teach from his boat because he had talked with him down at John’s place and knew Jesus had some good things to say. But Simon was tired, and you can hear his almost complaint.
“Master,” Simon replied, “we’ve worked hard all night long and caught nothing! But at Your word, I’ll let down the nets.”
So they went out to the deep water, put in the nets, and so many fish came into the nets the nets began to tear. So they yelled to James and John in the other boat to come and help, and they lifted so many fish into their boats that they began to sink.
Simon – the man Jesus would later call Peter – Simon Peter fell to Jesus’ knees, much like Isaiah. “Go away from me, because I’m a sinful man, Lord!” Simon recognized the power of God in Jesus – if he didn’t yet quite realize that Jesus was God Himself walking on the earth – but Simon knew that Jesus was responsible for perhaps the biggest day of fishing he’d ever had. Jesus must know God and God must listen to Jesus. Talk about a way to pay rent for a speaking stage!
Jesus looked back at Simon, and then, assuming Simon’s agreement, Jesus said to him. “Don’t be afraid. From now on you will be catching people!”
And the men brought the boats to land, left everything, and followed Jesus. They left the biggest catch in their life and followed Jesus. For they knew that this was what was important in life – being with the man who knew God was far more important than even the most profitable fishing day those fishermen had ever had.
And so, with these two calls as a basis, how do we know our calls?
First of all, there is the general call by God of Christians and Jews – indeed, of all people. This is found in Micah 6:8
He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.
And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with your God. (NIV)
This is a general call to all people. It is the basis for this song - We are Called!"
Then, there are the two great commandments and the great commission, which apply to all Christians. In Matthew 22, A Pharisee asked Jesus:
“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
Love God. Love your neighbor as yourself.
And the Great commission of Matthew 28:
Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Make disciples of all people, baptize them, and teach them to obey everything Jesus commanded.
But there is also the question of a special call from God. For these more general calls are pretty vague – the call of Isaiah was not vague. It was very specific and special.
How do we find out our call?
Part of this is something we can do on our own while we await the vision or the voice of God.
GPS. You know how a GPS system helps you find your way - except in parts of our state of West Virginia. There is a GPS for helping understand your personal call to ministry and purpose in life.
G – what are your gifts that God has given you? Scripture tells us that all believers are given gifts. What are your gifts? Ask yourself: What do I do far better than the other people I know. For example, I’ve been given two musical gifts – I play the piano well and I sing well. My wife has the gift of being able to talk and listen to people for hours. Debbie Moore has the gift of being able to teach children. Lynn Davis has the gift of organization, which makes her a wonderful treasurer and church secretary. I know a woman who has the gift of baking – another who has the gift of a healing touch. I knew a man who had a special, focused gift – he could heal rheumatoid arthritis through prayer and touch. Nothing else. Just rheumatoid arthritis. I know another man who has a gift when it comes to carpentry, another with making furniture. Still another has been blessed with the ability to make money and gives 30% of his income to charity. Another woman can paint; still another man can design anything. My son Andy can preach revival. What are your gifts? Ask your close friends if you don’t know. "What do I do well that other people have trouble with doing?" These gifts are the tools you bring to the mission of God.
The P in our GPS stands for Passion – what gets you worked up? What makes you angry or makes you cry? Is it old folks in the nursing home or two-year olds? Is it the poor or is it the child with Down’s Syndrome. Is it the homeless man under the bridge – or is it the brilliant child who is being picked on in class? Is it falling down houses or is it dead fish in a river? Where is your passion directed? Find out. This passion tells you what your mission is repairing of the Creation.
Finally, the S in our GPS stands for Style – How do you like to work? Are you a loner, sitting in front of a computer screen? Or are in happiest in front of a crowded room? Do you prefer to work outdoors with two friends on a project, or would you rather coordinate a world-wide project by email from your living room? Do you like the idea of being alone in a foreign country – or do you prefer going to an office where you meet with a twenty-person team? Do you like doing a project and completing it or would you rather just keep DOING, never finishing, but always doing, like the person who works the refreshment stand at a WVU game. Do you like meeting new people every day or would you rather work with two other people for the next ten years. Find out your working style and you will know how you will be happy.
The GPS – Gifts, Passion, and Style – helps guide us to our part in the Body of Christ, to our part in God’s mission.
But for some, God calls us directly.
We are minding our own business, maybe beginning to get involved in the church, when a thought or a dream or a vision or a voice comes to us that suggests we should completely change our course from what we were doing to something else, more radically involving us in God’s mission. Like Samuel, who as a boy was given by his mother to live and learn at the tabernacle under Eli the high priest.
One night, everyone had gone to bed, when Samuel heard the Voice: "Samuel, Samuel!" The boy got out of bed, went to the old priest Eli and said, “Here I am”. But Eli had not called the boy. He told him to go back to bed.
This happened twice more than night. Then Eli realized it was the voice of God calling to the boy Samuel. He gave him advice and the boy followed it. He went back to bed and when the voice came again, Samuel said, “Speak Lord, for your servant is listening.”
And God gave instructions to Samuel that night. And Samuel grew up to be the prophet that anointed the first two kings of Israel, Saul and David.
Did you notice that the Voice that called Samuel sounded to him like the voice of his friend and mentor Eli? Sometimes, God's Holy Spirit speaks to us through the voice of a godly friend, a Sunday school leader, a pastor.
Next, did you notice it was only on the fourth call that God and Samuel began to hold a conversation? If God is calling you, the call will not go away, but will come back time and again until you answer the call. Most of the pastors I know tell me they heard the call and tried to ignore it for five or ten years before finally answering it. God isn’t going away and God isn’t going to take your excuses. Remember the exchange that Moses and God had at the burning bush in Exodus Chapter 3. If you don’t remember, go read that this afternoon.
If you are feeling a call toward greater involvement in leading ministries in the church, I encourage you to put Saturday April 6 on your calendar for the Basic Lay Servant Course. It is a course in church leadership, taught at Buckhannon’s Chapel Hill UMC. I will be your teacher – you need to come to Chapel Hill to get credit for the course. It is not a course in preaching – you will be asked to prepare and lead a 4-5 minute devotional to 4-5 other students like yourself. Most of the day-long course is spent in orienting you to the duties and roles of being a leader in the local church.
If you feel that God may be calling you to actually lead a church, this is the first step. After this, you can take several other courses in preaching, leading worship, grief counseling, Methodist doctrine, and such. But this course is the ideal course if you want to lead or develop a ministry in this local church.
But if you hear God calling your name, remember to do as Samuel did. Bow in prayer and say, “Speak, Lord. Your servant is listening.” And listen!
Next, did you notice it was only on the fourth call that God and Samuel began to hold a conversation? If God is calling you, the call will not go away, but will come back time and again until you answer the call. Most of the pastors I know tell me they heard the call and tried to ignore it for five or ten years before finally answering it. God isn’t going away and God isn’t going to take your excuses. Remember the exchange that Moses and God had at the burning bush in Exodus Chapter 3. If you don’t remember, go read that this afternoon.
If you are feeling a call toward greater involvement in leading ministries in the church, I encourage you to put Saturday April 6 on your calendar for the Basic Lay Servant Course. It is a course in church leadership, taught at Buckhannon’s Chapel Hill UMC. I will be your teacher – you need to come to Chapel Hill to get credit for the course. It is not a course in preaching – you will be asked to prepare and lead a 4-5 minute devotional to 4-5 other students like yourself. Most of the day-long course is spent in orienting you to the duties and roles of being a leader in the local church.
If you feel that God may be calling you to actually lead a church, this is the first step. After this, you can take several other courses in preaching, leading worship, grief counseling, Methodist doctrine, and such. But this course is the ideal course if you want to lead or develop a ministry in this local church.
But if you hear God calling your name, remember to do as Samuel did. Bow in prayer and say, “Speak, Lord. Your servant is listening.” And listen!
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