🙏 Sermon Title: The Calling of God
By Pastor Joel – Open Heaven Christian Church – Fisher, Arkansas
Theme Verse:
Romans 11:29 (KJV) – “For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.”
Introduction
The call of God is a divine summons—a holy interruption in the life of ordinary people, pulling them into God’s extraordinary purpose and plans. From shepherds and farmers to fishermen and queens, God calls whomever He chooses. The Word of God is full of testimonies that show His calling is irrevocable, purposeful, and transformational.
🔹Jeremiah – Called from the Womb
Before the Call:
Jeremiah was a young priest in a time of moral and spiritual decline. He had no known public ministry.
God’s Call:
Jeremiah 1:4-5 –
“Then the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.”
Lesson: God’s calling isn’t based on age or ability. It’s eternal. He prepares His chosen before they are even born.
🔹Esther – Called to Deliver an entire Nation
Before the Call:
Esther was an orphan raised by her cousin Mordecai. She lived as a minority under Persian rule.
God’s Call:
Esther 4:14 –
“For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place… and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”
Lesson: Sometimes, God’s call is revealed through crisis. You may be placed in a position “for such a time as this.”
🔹Joel – Called to Declare Judgment and Restoration
Before the Call:
Little is known of Joel’s background, but his name means “Jehovah is God.” He lived in a time of national disaster (locust plague).
God’s Call:
Joel 1:1 –
“The word of the LORD that came to Joel the son of Pethuel.”
Joel 2:28 –
“And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh…”
Lesson: God’s call may come in the midst of devastation, calling His people back to repentance and revealing future hope.
🔹David – Called from the Sheepfold to Kingship
Before the Call:
David was the youngest of eight sons, tending sheep and largely overlooked by his family.
God’s Call:
1 Samuel 16:12-13 –
“And the LORD said, Arise, anoint him: for this is he. Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him…”
Lesson: Man looks on the outside, but God sees the heart. God calls those prepared in secret for greatness in public.
🔹 Eli – A Priest and Judge in a Fading Generation
Before the Call:
Eli was a priest and judge over Israel, but his household was corrupt.
God’s Call (and Warning):
1 Samuel 2:27 –
“And there came a man of God unto Eli, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD…”
Lesson: Even leaders can be reminded of their call and corrected. God’s calling includes accountability. Eli’s story serves as a cautionary tale about the consequences of neglecting one’s responsibilities and failing to correct wrongdoing, especially within one’s family.
🔹 Samuel – Called as a Child to Be a Prophet
Before the Call:
Samuel served under Eli from a young age but didn’t yet know the Lord personally.
In 1 Samuel 3, God called to Samuel, not Eli. The young Samuel, serving under Eli, initially thought it was Eli calling him and ran to him three times, asking why he was being summoned. Finally, Eli realized God was speaking to Samuel and instructed him on how to respond to the divine call.
God’s Call:
1 Samuel 3:10 –
“And the LORD came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth.”
Before the Call:
Samuel was a young boy, dedicated to God by his mother Hannah, and served in the temple under Eli the priest.
1 Samuel 3:1 – “And the child Samuel ministered unto the LORD before Eli. And the word of the LORD was precious in those days; there was no open vision.”
God’s Call:
1 Samuel 3:10 – “And the LORD came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth.”
Lesson: God’s calling can come even in youth. When others may not hear His voice, God speaks to the one whose heart is open. Obedience in small things prepares us for greater calling. God’s voice is not limited by age. A heart willing to listen will hear God clearly. God may use others to help one hear the call of God.
🔹 Moses – Called from Hiding to Leadership
Before the Call:
Moses was raised in Pharaoh’s palace but fled Egypt after killing an Egyptian. He became a shepherd in Midian, seemingly forgotten.
Exodus 2:15 – “Now when Pharaoh heard this thing, he sought to slay Moses. But Moses fled from the face of Pharaoh, and dwelt in the land of Midian: and he sat down by a well.”
God’s Call:
Exodus 3:4 – “And when the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I.”
Exodus 3:4 –
“God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses…”
Lesson: God often calls us when we feel unworthy or unusable. Moses’ past did not disqualify him; God used it to shape his mission. The calling of God is without repentance.
🔹 Abraham – Called from Idolatry to Covenant
Before the Call:
Abraham, originally Abram, lived in Ur of the Chaldees, a land of idol worship. He was surrounded by a culture that did not know the true God.
Joshua 24:2 – “And Joshua said unto all the people, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Your fathers dwelt on the other side of the flood in old time, even Terah, the father of Abraham, and the father of Nachor: and they served other gods.”
God’s Call:
Genesis 12:1-3 – “Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee: And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing…”
Genesis 12:1-2 –
“Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country…”
Lesson: God calls us out of the world and into covenant relationship, not because we are perfect, but because He has a purpose for us. His calling transforms our identity and destiny.
🔹 The Call of Isaiah – From Sinner to Spokesman
Before the Call:
Isaiah was a man aware of his unworthiness and sinfulness.
Isaiah 6:5 – “Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips…”
God’s Call:
Isaiah 6:8 – “Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.”
Lesson: God cleanses before He commissions. Our past faults do not cancel our future usefulness. For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.
🔹Peter – Called from Fishing to Feeding God’s Sheep
Before the Call:
Peter (Simon) was a fisherman—hardworking, impulsive, and ordinary.
Matthew 4:18-19 – “And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter… And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”
God’s Call (Restored):
After denying Jesus three times, Peter was restored and recommissioned by the Lord to serve in the Kingdom of God by feeding God’s people truths that Peter learned while walking with Jesus.
John 21:17 – “He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me?… Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.”
Restoration:
John 21:17 –
“Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.”
God’s Call:
Matthew 4:19 –
“And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”
Lesson: God not only calls—He restores and recommissions. Failure does not forfeit calling. Jesus restores us and reaffirms His purpose. The calling of God is not revoked.
🔹Paul – Called from Persecutor to Preacher
Before the Call:
Saul (later called Paul) persecuted the church and was a zealous Pharisee.
Acts 9:1 – “And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord…”
God’s Call:
Acts 9:4-6 – “And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?… And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.”
Paul later says:
Galatians 1:15 – “But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by his grace…”
Lesson: Even enemies of God can be transformed by His call. Grace changes everything. Paul became one of the greatest apostles. God’s calling overrides man’s past.
🔹 James and John – Called from the Boat to Boldness
Before the Call:
They were fishermen, the sons of Zebedee, likely living quiet lives of labor.
God’s Call:
Matthew 4:21-22 –
“And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother… and he called them. And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed him.”
Lesson: The call of God often requires immediate obedience and sacrifice of comfort and family ties.
🔹 John the Baptist – Called to Prepare the Way
Before the Call:
John lived in the wilderness, separated for God’s purpose.
God’s Call:
Luke 3:2-4 –
“The word of God came unto John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness… The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord…”
Lesson: Some calls are to prepare others for Jesus, not to seek glory but to point to the Savior.
📖 Key Scripture to Meditate On
Romans 11:29 (KJV)
“For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.”
No matter your past, no matter your mistakes, the call of God on your life is still valid. God does not revoke it. He still calls today.
✝️ Conclusion & Application
You may relate to Jeremiah’s youth, David’s obscurity, Esther’s risk, or Paul’s radical transformation.
But the truth remains: God still calls.
No matter where you come from or what you’ve done, God’s calling is sure. He calls whom He chooses—young or old, weak or strong, lost or religious. And when He calls, He equips and empowers. He does not change His mind. If you feel called by God, respond today. If you’ve failed in your calling, return—His call still stands.
He calls the weak to show His strength.
He calls the unlikely to display His sovereignty.
He calls the fallen to restore them.
He calls the faithful to elevate them.
Have you answered the call?
If you’ve stepped away from the call of God on your life—come back.
If you’ve never heard the call of God—listen today.
If you’re walking in it—walk worthy of it.
🙌 Altar Call
Who is God calling today?
A Samuel to say, “Speak, Lord, for thy servant heareth”
A Jeremiah to preach when no one listens
A David to rise up with a heart after God
An Esther to stand for her people
A James or John to drop the nets and follow the Lord
A Paul to stop resisting and go forth boldly
God’s calling is without repentance. He still wants to use YOU in His kingdom if you will heed the call.