Returning His Call -- Complete Notes

Text: Jeremiah 1:1-10
Title: Returning His Call

Jeremiah 1:1 – 10
NIV
1 The words of Jeremiah son of Hilkiah, one of the priests at Anathoth in the territory of Benjamin. 2 The word of the LORD came to him in the thirteenth year of the reign of Josiah son of Amon king of Judah, 3 and through the reign of Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah, down to the fifth month of the eleventh year of Zedekiah son of Josiah king of Judah, when the people of Jerusalem went into exile.
4 The word of the LORD came to me, saying,
5 "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations."
6 "Ah, Sovereign LORD," I said, "I do not know how to speak; I am only a child."
7 But the LORD said to me, "Do not say, 'I am only a child.' You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. 8 Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you," declares the LORD.
9 Then the LORD reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, "Now, I have put my words in your mouth. 10 See, today I appoint you over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant."


Introduction

Several months ago I took a team of people to Europe to visit our missionaries. One of the things I enjoy about missions trips is getting to know people better. You find yourself getting to know people better than you know your neighbors or even some of your friends and family. Layovers and long flights are particularly good for this.
But one night we were having a group dinner in Friedreshafen Germany, looking out over Lake Constance towards Austria and the Swiss Alps as the sun was setting. As I sat there with a group of about six people enjoying a German meal I began to share my personal testimony, and specific details about it - something I often assume people have already heard. But there within that group I was surprised to find out that even Pastor Betsey Hayford, a person whom I know well and have known for 15 years, was surprised to hear my story. She and the Neinabur’s and the others who were there said, “Matt, the church needs to know this about you.” So ever since then I have been waiting for a chance to share my story with you. I have shared parts of this with you in the past, but I have now been here for ten years. It may be the last time in a long time that I share this with this group of people, because I don’t like being redundant in my preaching.

Stories of “Calling” are powerful and interesting. The stories of how God got you here – how the Divine Creator reached out to you and somehow got you right here, in this church, and how He is making you into a worshipper – causing you to grow as His sons and daughters – this is an amazing story for every person in this room. Look to your right. Look to your left. That person has an amazing story to tell. It would probably take them an hour or more to share with you how God brought them to this place right here and right now.

These are stories of “calling”. This is the term often used by Christians to describe how the creator of the universe calls people to Himself, and how He reveals that He has a plan and purpose for their lives.

Our lives form an ongoing story. One that is unfolding with the passing of time. Calling is not something that happened once in our past. In fact, if it has become a past event, it is time to listen up. What is God saying now? Is there an old chapter coming to a close and a new one beginning? Letting Him author your story results in a beautifully crafted one – even if it has moments of tragedy and struggle.

2 Corinthians 3: 1Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, like some people, letters of recommendation to you or from you? 2You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everybody. 3You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.

Responding to God’s calling is allowing Him to be the author of our lives. My topic today is calling and Jeremiah 1:1-10 will be the text we will be using as we look at how God called Jeremiah and likewise how He calls us. I also am going to share some of my own story with you. But as I do I want you to consider how God has been calling you, from the time you were young. How have you been responding to His call? Are there ways in which you are not listening, or are resisting, or complaining about it?

My earliest childhood memory was one where I wanted to be a Pastor. I was only 3 or 4 years old. I remember going to church with my parents and wanting to do what that guy up front was doing. I don’t know why. My parents were not involved in church consistently. I would pressure them to go, and they would go for a time or for a season.

I also always longed to have a friendship with God. I had a longing for connection with God. It blew my mind that this might not only be possible, but was in fact what God wanted as well.

I grew up in the rough coastal town of Coos Bay, Oregon. A place where the fog tastes like salt and where back then the smell of the mills was irrepressible. A place where growing up you either escape through athletics and academic aspirations or you found yourself becoming another member of generational cycles of poverty and hard living.

I opted for the former – identifying with the local sports hero of my youth – distance runner Steve Prefontaine. The pursuit of sports and success consumed me as a child. When I was nine years old I ran 4:54 for 1500m and was convinced then that I was destined to greatness as a runner. Yet for the next seven years of childhood as my relationship with God suffered, and my success increased, my heart became increasing disappointed with the emptiness that I felt. It all came to a head in 1985 at the Oregon State Cross Country Championship at Lane Community College in Eugene Oregon my Junior year of high school. This was a dream opportunity. I was the favorite. I hadn’t lost all year. And I felt the weight of the world on my sixteen year old shoulders. I had to win, or I would be a failure, as far as I was concerned. So when I rounded the corner of the track to finish that race and it was secure and the crowds were cheering I felt relief but also disappointment. This, for me, was the best feeling success could bring and I realized that if this was the pinnacle of success than I was sorely disappointed, not only with the moment but also for all prospects of my future.

A few months later I sorted out my lost faith and I returned to Christ and it was as if a light clicked on where I found out what was worth living for. I resolved to pursue Christ with the same intensity and wholehearted devotion that I had given to running and academics.

At that same moment of joy and fulfillment a new struggle began. God returned to me a deep desire to pastor and to serve him “full time”. It was a specific call to vocational ministry. That truly was a dream that overshadowed even my childhood dreams of Olympic glory. Then a new struggle emerged – one of my will. A tug a war between His plan for my life and the world’s plan for my life. My struggle was an issue of calling. It was a question now not of whether or not I would be a Christian, but a question of whether or not I would be a disciple. And I believe we are all called to be disciples.

Today we will look at the calling of Jeremiah…and discover that the calling that he experienced has a lot to do with how God also has spoken and is speaking to you and to me.
Please open your Bibles to Jeremiah 1 (NIV)

1 The words of Jeremiah son of Hilkiah, one of the priests at Anathoth in the territory of Benjamin. 2 The word of the LORD came to him in the thirteenth year of the reign of Josiah son of Amon king of Judah, 3 and through the reign of Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah, down to the fifth month of the eleventh year of Zedekiah son of Josiah king of Judah, when the people of Jerusalem went into exile.

Jeremiah was a young priest when God called him. He was a descendant of a famous priest – Abiathar (one of David’s priests who had opposed Solomon). Jeremiah was young when God called him and he had a ministry of 47 years. He has been called the weeping prophet. He suffered throughout his ministry. He was publicly humiliated, tortured and was often on the run. He was called to be faithful in a time when it seemed as though no one else was being faithful. Tradition tells us that his life ended when he was stoned to death and died as a martyr. He was silenced at that moment but his writings would live on. To do what he did required a strong calling. Otherwise I’m sure he would have stopped and done something else. A clear and strong calling carries us through trials, opposition and the things that cause us to doubt or question our faith.

What does it mean to be called? When God calls us, what does He say? Do I have to quit my job? Looking at how God calls Jeremiah will help us better understand how He calls us.

4 The word of the LORD came to me, saying,
5 "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations."

4 Things God Did for Jeremiah
4 Things God has done for you and me
These 4 things are part of God’s general calling – they apply to all people. They are solid biblical truths (Psalm 139, NT, OT – the confirmations are numerous)

To know your calling means knowing that He…
1. Formed you: yatsar: fashion, squeeze into shape, fashion as a potter (Jeremiah 18:1-4. Gen. 2:8: Created by God and fashioned by Him personally. Strong’s #: 3335. Personality, etc. Perfect potter. Constant shaping process.
I find encouragement in the fact that He formed me. He fashioned us, as a potter works with a shapeless, piece of mud, he with His hands and fingers shaped our DNA. He is the perfect potter and made you the way you are. You are a living miracle.
Perhaps you don’t like it. Perhaps you think He didn’t do a good job. But it isn’t your outer beauty or handsomeness that determines this. It also has to do with your personality. Your heart and soul. Your mind. Your ability to show compassion. Pastor Jim talked about this last week – but please, don’t insult what God made by constantly complaining about yourself. We often get stuck wishing we were something that we are not.

2. Knew you: yada: to know or observe, Gen. 4:1. Adam knew Eve. Intimate knowledge. Strong’s #:3045. In fact in the Bible it is used to describe sexual union between people. He knew you inside and out even before your were born. He crafted not only you DNA, but your soul. If a clone of you was made, there would be a difference. Your very person. He knows you and has known you better than any other person. He knows you better than yourself. He understands where you come from, how you think, etc.
Even before you were formed I knew you intimately. Pre-conscious and pre-life God knew you and had something special in mind when He thought of you. Even then He had intimate knowledge of you.
About the only way I can imagine this happening is to think of what it would be like to be God. Imagine what it would be like if you had unlimited resources and unlimited time and unlimited strength to determine what your own children were going to be like. You might think, I will make them smart. I will make them good looking. I will make them kind. Then you would have to get more creative – need to vary skin color more, hair type, smiles, eyes, size, build, sense of humor, etc. God is the one who determined all of these things. He knows us, better than we will ever know ourselves. He knows what you look like at your best. That is how it is with God. We would focus on external and on the circumstances of their life, but God focused on your heart.

3. Set you apart: qadash: To dedicate, appoint, consecrate. God takes the lives of people on this broken planet, and he sets them apart. He wants to move them all over into this new category of those who are redeemed. But some resist. He says, move out of the pile of dead people, and into the pile of the living. Yet some crawl back…“out of the womb I sanctified you”
To set apart is to make holy, sanctify. Strong’s #6942. Was Jeremiah special? No. God has a plan for you as well. You are a priest. You are set apart. Separate you from the dead and to set you over here into the group of those that are spiritually alive. It’s as if He is panning for Gold – sifting through silt and mud and sets apart the gold in a separate pile. Not set apart to fail or to be condemned, but you are consecrated for transformation. Not for futile living, but to shine as a son or daughter of God. Holy = set apart. Now some spend their life saying no. Others spend their life crawling back into the pile of dead people, but God has a pile of special things.

4. Appointed you: Nathan: To charge, to give or to put over. Given by another as a spokesperson.
There is a specific appointment. There is a specific task for you to do. Your voice is important. For all of us it isn’t so much the words that you speak, but the way your life is meant to speak. A leader is needed. A person that cares is needed. A person who knows God is needed and you are probably the only one that can be that light. You have been appointed.

These things are aspects of universal/general calling, but this one, speaks to the specific call that no one knows but God and you.

Jeremiah 29:11

He has something for you – right now, in your future.
There are dreams that God had for you when He designed you. Some dreams may have been lost, but His fingerprints are still all over you.

It is important that we recognize our calling.
This is what calling looks like. His voice continues to ring out about these four things.

Part of understanding your calling is making a clear distinction between your vocation and avocation.
A dictionary definition of the terms is as follows:Vocation: A divine call to the religious life. One's job or occupation. Avocation: A subordinate occupation one pursues, a hobby, secondary job or interest. Both of these terms contain the Latin root vocare which means "to call".The common use of these terms identifies vocation as being essentially our job, and avocation as our hobby.A Christian distinction of these terms identifies "vocation" as your true calling in life (primary), and "avocation" usually refers to what you do to make a living (secondary). Sometimes a person has the luxury of these two things being very closely related. Other times one pursues their true vocation outside of their job. For example, a salesman might feel truly called to serve the poor. They might have a job (avocation) in sales, but they pursue their true vocation by volunteering with a mission and as a community advocate for the poor (outside their job). We often don't get paid for our vocation, but we must seek ways of fulfilling it. Yes, the highest calling of every Christian is their pursuit of God, but this often has very specific and personal uniqueness as well as life-shaping implications.Author and educator Parker Palmer put it this way:"My vocation (to use the poet's term) is the spiritual life, the quest for God, which relies on the eye of the heart. My avocation is education, the quest for knowledge, which relies on the eye of the mind. I have seen life through both these eyes as long as I can remember - but the two images have not always coincided....I have been forced to find ways for my eyes to work together, to find a common focus for my spirit seeking heart and my knowledge seeking mind that embraces reality in all its amazing dimensions." To Know as We Are Known, Parker Palmer

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Doubt, distractions and discouragement often come and challenge that calling. They challenge God’s voice.

6 "Ah, Sovereign LORD," I said, "I do not know how to speak; I am only a child."
Excuses: The power of choice. The complaint. Yes, he was young. He felt as though he was not ready. He felt he lacked in both skills and experience.

Ever argue with Him?
What you’ll notice is that God addresses both the excuse as well as the root issue that Jeremiah didn’t even bring up.
7 But the LORD said to me, "Do not say, 'I am only a child.' You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. 8 Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you," declares the LORD.

Complaint is followed by confirmation

My story – how I argued with God. Fears and doubts (persecution). I was mostly felt an obligation to other people that seemed contrary to this calling. I had the opportunity to go to a “good college”. I had been accepted into West Point. I had been accepted into Dartmouth. Didn’t I owe it to everyone??? This was my big break to get out of Coos Bay and live a life of success! It would be so easy if God would just tell me to go to one of those schools, but instead He said, “Matt, lay those things at my feet. Go to LIFE Bible College. Trust me with this.” So with fear and trembling I laid those at His feet and withdrew my applications to those schools, and had to face the expected disappointment on my family and friends.

Be honest! Complain, but listen to the confirmation.
God argues back…addressing fears and promising His help and presence.

Isn’t this great news – that He will go with you? Not only does God promise His presence He also promises His protection. It wasn’t as if God said “I might help you out”. No, He promised rescue. But He also asked for obedience. What is He telling you to do? Disobedience is the only thing that can hinder you and me from fulfilling God’s call. This is one aspect of calling. Understanding that Christianity includes submission to His will. An alignment of our will to His will for our lives in specific terms. What has He been telling you to do? If it is baptism, get baptized! Failure to obey can get in the way of the next thing that He has for us. If it telling the truth, do it! Grace goes along way, but disobedience truly is the one thing that can really get in our way.
There is only one condition – obedience.

2. It is important that we resolve to fulfill God’s calling by receiving God’s assurance when we doubt or face trials.


9 Then the LORD reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, "Now, I have put my words in your mouth. 10 See, today I appoint you over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant."

God put words in his mouth (put – 5414 – to give or to appoint words to you).
God appointed him over nations: To set over, to send on a visit with friendly or hostile intent (see 6485).

The potter reaches out and touches his mouth.
God says, “I will take care of your fear”. I will meet the need of that excuse that you have.

God provides what is needed .. For Jeremiah, but also for me and for you.
God says to Jeremiah, “My touch will be upon you when you speak. And it is my will that you be involved in uprooting and tearing down.”
There is a sovereign provision of gifts, abilities, within our personality, that God makes.

God is in the business of giving you the ability to do all of these things.

3. It is important that we receive God’s gifts and provision to fulfill this call.
A called person is involved in these activities.
What in your life needs to be uprooted?
What in your life needs to be torn down or destroyed? (Harsh language, but necessary in order to build something new.)
What power struggles are going on where God’s plan needs to overthrow your plans?
What needs to be built and to be planted in your life and in the lives of others?
In the agrarian economy they knew what this meant – to grow something healthy and fruitful. Jeremiah was called to do these things and likewise we are called to do these things as well. This is about the influence of the kingdom of God.
(More about receiving His provision)
When I showed up at LIFE Bible College I had nothing. $300, one duffle bag, no bedding, and a bunch of burning bridges in my past. But He had called, and He has provided, and He has enabled me to be a part of things I could never hope to accomplish on my own. I had given up on running; but since that day I have had the joy of doing all the running I could want. At that time I gave up the thought of having a comfortable life and now I have more stuff than I want. At that time I felt alone, now I have more people than I want. My relationship with my parents is great. And now I stand in front of a group of people and just like this I can remember being 4 years old feeling drawn to do this very thing. I am fulfilling my call.

Fulfill your call. Yes, fulfilling your call will always involve sacrifice. This is what the cross is. But in the end it is worth it.
Next time you hold your son or daughter if you listen, you might realize you are fulfilling His call. Next time you do your job, or care for an employee, or serve another meal at a food bank, or coach another game, or handout another bulletin, you might sense that fulfillment. This week I sensed fulfillment in a great way 3x – riding the Burke Gilman with my 15 year old daughter, taking my 13 year old son mountain climbing, and spending time with my wife, Heidi.

Understanding His calling isn’t about visions of grandeur. No, it is simpler than that. It is to recognize your uniqueness. He makes us whole enough to do what He has called us to do.
So what is your story? When did you hear His voice? Are you on track?

Jeremiah 10:23: “A man’s life is not his own; It’s not for man to direct his steps.”
RECOGNIZE RESOLVE RECEIVE. Stop putting your call on hold, if you know you’re doing this. Go for it!
Calling is fulfilled when we recognize it, resolve to obey and receive His provision.
Pursue a clear calling (LISTEN and SEEK)
Recognize your calling. Resolve to obey.
Receive His assurance and provision.

Jeremiah 29:11
Prayer
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------