WHEN YOU CALL ON GOD?

Let's Talk Scripture: A subsidiary of Writing and Researching  For Christ Mission

Preacher: Brother Waheed Ogunjobi 

Bible Verses  for the sermon.

Hebrews 4:15- 16(NIV) says:

15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. 16 Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. 

This passage encourages us to approach God's  throne with confidence.

The scripture is replete with verses,where God enjoined us as brethren to call on him, promising that he would answer us speedily. Let me share some of the verse for our edification.

Here are some Bible verses that encourage us to call on God:

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

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

3. Matthew 7:7-8 - "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened."

4. Psalm 91:15 - "He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him."

5. Isaiah 55:6 - "Seek the Lord while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near."

6. Romans 10:12-13 - "For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. For whoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."

7. 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 if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him."

The verses above are virtually saying the same  thing- call on me, ask and it shall be given, look up unto your lord and so on

 The one that fascinates me most of all the scriptures is Romans 10: 12-13 which says: "For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. For whoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."

Look at the last verse, it says: Whoever call on the name of God shall be saved. Whoever it says, it didn't say the Jews, it didn't say the gentiles, it didn't say the sinner or the blameless. So, whoever you are, the commandment is call on him. That is why you may be surprised that God answers the prayers of the sinners. He considers us all as his son and he believes sinners can still be saved. After all, there are bountiful scriptural references to people who were once sinners and today are the main vessels God is using. The bottom line here or what we are driving at is the fact that God answers the prayers of everyone irrespective of whom you are. The main thing is that you should be confident  and humble enough to turn to him. He may now give or measure to you according to the portions you may deserve,  but he sure will answer.

Matthew 7:9-11, which says:

"Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!"

This passage emphasizes God's loving nature and willingness to provide for His children. Just as human parents want to give good gifts to their children, God, our Heavenly Father, desires to give us good things when we ask Him. This encourages us to trust in His goodness and provision, and to ask Him with confidence.

Note:  These verses remind us that God is always available to listen and respond to our calls. May they encourage you to seek Him in times of need!

We have exhausted the portion about God's promises to listen to our pleas, now let's look at those who call on God innthe scripture and how they received answers. Let's take a quick journey to the book of Jonah.

*BIBLE VERSES ABOUT PEOPLE WHO CALLED  ON GOD AND ARE SAVED*

*THE BOOK OF JONAH*

In the book of Jonah, we see the manifestation of people who pray. These are the people who prayed and received

1. The People inside the ship prayed.

2. Jonah himself prayed from the belly of the fish 

3. The people of NIneveh prayed. Our major concern here however are the people of Nibeveh.

The People of NiNEVEH

As said earlier, God does not want anyone to go astray. When you chose to, he let you be, hoping that like the prodigal sin, you will retrace your steps. So when he saw that the evil of the people of Nineveh

The people of Nineveh call on God in Jonah 3:8-10, which says:

"8 But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and cry mightily to God; yes, let every one turn from his evil way and from the violence that is in his hands. 9 Who can tell if God will turn and relent, and turn away from His fierce anger, so that we may not perish? 10 Then God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God relented from the disaster that He had said He would bring upon them, and He did not do it."

In this passage, the people of Nineveh:

- Cry out to God with urgency and sincerity

- Turn away from their evil ways and violence

- Seek God's mercy and forgiveness

God sees their genuine repentance and spares the city from destruction. This event is a powerful example of God's mercy and willingness to forgive those who turn to Him with a humble heart.

CLASSICAL CASES OF PEOPLE CALLING ONTO GOD AND GETTiNG ANSWERS

1. Jonah and the Whale (Jonah 1-2): Jonah prayed inside the whale, and God saved him.

2. David and Goliath (1 Samuel 17): David called out to God before defeating the giant Goliath.

3. Daniel in the Lion's Den (Daniel 6): Daniel prayed, and God shut the lions' mouths.

4. Peter Walking on Water (Matthew 14:22-33): Peter cried out to Jesus, and He saved him from drowning.

5. Paul and Silas in Prison (Acts 16:25-34): They prayed and sang hymns, and God freed them through an earthquake.

6. Hannah's Prayer (1 Samuel 1): Hannah prayed for a child, and God gave her Samuel.

7. Elijah and the Widow (1 Kings 17): Elijah prayed, and God multiplied the widow's food.

8. Jesus and the Blind Man (Mark 10:46-52): The blind man called out to Jesus, and He healed him.

9. The Disciples in the Storm (Mark 4:35-41): They cried out to Jesus, and He calmed the storm.

10. King Hezekiah's Prayer (2 Kings 19-20): Hezekiah prayed, and God saved Judah from Assyria.

CONCLUSION

To avoid being bored, it is obvious that we can't possibly  finish exploring all the issues  pertaining to the topic at hand "  When You Call on God? We can easily discern from the issue of Jonah. We gave ample.of instances , where Jonah himself called on God even from the belly of the fish and he got answers; the people with whom he was together in the ship did the same and they received answers and above all are the people of Nineveh, who had to put in sack clothes, fasted  and looked up to God for help and they indeed received help. In our private closets, we must have had instances when we genuinely call on God and got answers. He is still the same God today, yesterday and for ever more.He remain faithful. We are the unfaithful ones. But despite our infirmities, he is there to heed our prayers . May all our supplications be acceptable onto God. Amen.

For further enquiries, prayers and counselling, reach the Writing and Researching  For  Christ Mission on 08035004741 or waheedogunjobi@gmail.com