REV. DR. PROF. P C NNAOCHA
BACKGROUND
Throughout scriptures we noted there was a particular day in the life of particular people when God started a journey with them. Such journeys we discovered ended in what we read in scriptures today, which has become an example. Today can be a day God can start a journey with you.
Some ended well and some did not end well. As we go through this message today, let us know that something happened in the life of all of us that saw us first time in a bible believing church. Ask yourelf ” what was the event that led to my U- Turn. We must ask ourselves this question ” How far, how well?” Why were we born in the home of Christian parents? Or why were we born in the homes of unbelieving parents?
Let us start with just a few of these past heroes or heroine of faith. :
- NOAH
- ABRAHAM
- ELISHA
- MARY THE MOTHER OF JESUS
- JUDAS ISCARIOT.
- DAVID SON OF JESSE.
- MOSES
8, SAUL.
We will take some briefs, concerning these men and a woman ( Mary mother of Jesus). In all we will, observe from the foregoing that we did not know why God called some of them in its totality. Why is it that in the midst of thousands, only one came first among equals? For some God gave a brief insight of the reason for the call.
I have been searching my mind, if I can find a clue to why God hand-picked some. Did God tell them the reason He picked them ; whether they were good before Him? You will also ask yourself the question on why and how and for what purpose did God single you out from your father’s house to gjve you a lead to this way. Was there any great work you did for God that gave you overwhelming favour?
We must ask God certain questions concerning our life and mission in His presence. If we ask, He might tell us something, which will make us serve Him according to His call on us.
But let us know that God works by foreknowledge. This is the more reason why we must serve God with fear and trembling, since we can hardly prove we merit His call. God knows us, our present and our future more than we can tell or even forecast.
There might be something God wants as a lesson to be learnt by the people of his salvation, now and in the future from our spiritual walk with Him.
Can we now look at these individuals called by God .
- Noah :
But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD. And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth. And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth. Make thee an ark of gopher wood; rooms shalt thou make in the ark, and shalt pitch it within and without with pitch.
(Genesis 6 : 8, 12,13,14,)
God used Noah’s ark to save a new generation of peoples. We read that Noah walked with the Lord and found favour before God. You will not easily see the specific things he did but note that God weighs every man’s work. We note in scriptures that Noah tended towards obedience to God.
Our mind should rise up and ask ” do I have the favour of God?
- ABRAHAM ( formerly Abram) :
Background Reading
And Terah lived seventy years, and begat Abram, Nahor, and Haran. (Genesis 11 : 26)
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. And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. So Abram departed, as the LORD had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him: and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran.
( Genesis 12 : 1 – 4)
It was in one particular day that this call came to Abram senior son of Terah. His brothers were not called. So God could pick you up from among many brothers and sisters. No one can question Him and do not condemn those who do not join, but rather keep preaching and praying for them.
The journey of our faith today is linked to the call of Abraham. It is for this reason that we must never despise small beginnings or any small movement which is kindled like fire in the name of God. Abraham’s movement out of Haran could have been despised by people of his time. We may never know how far a call might go. So be watchful as you stay in God’s presence.
- Elisha :
Background Reading
And the LORD said unto him, (Elijah) Go, return on thy way to the wilderness of Damascus: and when thou comest, anoint Hazael to be king over Syria And Jehu the son of Nimshi shalt thou anoint to be king over Israel: and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abelmeholah shalt thou anoint to be prophet in thy room. (1 Kings 19 : 15 – 16)
Had God told Elisha to expect Elijah.? Not much was told of the early life of Elisha except that he was a farmer. What then made God to tell Elijah to go and annoint him as his successor and prophet of Israel? God has the pre- call record of every man.
From the way he walked, Elisha did great work before the people . Some are born in the house if God but do not accept God intimately. Such people should seek God’s mercy that he had found them unfit for his service.
- MARY mother of Jesus
Background Reading:
Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily. But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. (Matthew 1 : 18 – 23)
The history of the Blessed Virgin Mary, started in that she found the favour of God. You know Noah found the favour of God. May we find the favour of God in His house Amen.
MARY had been marked out to be used of God. As a young woman , do you know God can use you exceptionally, if you remain obedient to Him? Check your records and pray and seek God’s face. Those who excel in His invitation programme are ordained for HIGHER service.
- JUDAS ISCARIOT
Bible Reading:
Philip, and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the publican; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus; Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him. ( Matthew10 : 3 -4)
Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests, And said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver. And from that time he sought opportunity to betray him. (Matthew 26 : 14 – 16)
Scripture mentioned from the onset that Jesus called, JUDAS who also betrayed Him. Some commentators may argue that God does not know everything.
A young man in my village told me that God does not kmow everything and if God knows, why did He create evil people. He said he does not condemn thieves since God created them. This my young brother will therefore never question abnormal pattern of behaviour such as injustice, cultism immorality or drug abuse since according to Him could be what God created them to be doing on earth. This is blasphemous. He could be of a depraved character.
The thought I tend to hold here is that God loved Judas and wished to give him the last chance to turn around his life. This could also be for anyone who is not upright before God.
God is calling both good and bad people and all have the opportunity to change from past evil lives. This is the reason we have many people in the church to find their way. So it will not be reasonable to reason that God does not know all things. If all were perfect people , there would be no need for preaching the gospel of repentance.
- David son of Jesse.
Bible reading:
Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah. (1 Samuel 16 : 13)
Nobody told Israel that David would replace Saul. But God had told Samuel that David was a man after His heart. He had many pitfalls however, but he proved himself a man with the fear of God. He was the youngest among eight brothers and no one will imagine he will be taken first. This syndrome of first born is losing grip in classical choices by God. But we know David served God earnestly.
- Moses
Background Bible Reading:
And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt. 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. And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground. Moreover he said, I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God. And the LORD said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows;
3:10 Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth my people the children of Israel out of Egypt.
(Exodus 3: 3 – 7, 10)
In the early reading we come accross this clause ” and when God saw that he turned to see that God called…..” ; this is a proof that when we have a listening ear and the mind to look on God we sre set to receive from Him.
Moses never knew that what appeared as a simple call will take him 40 years to accomplish, until he was 120 years. We know his trials, his persecution (from those he was out to lead) and his failures to please God, especially in the way he carried out an instruction to speak to the rock to produce water.
Here was a man, who was picked from the bank of a river and now the Oracle of the great Elohim.. How come it that while there were great people in his time, God found in him a man to lead Israel out of the bondage of Egypt? If God wants to use you, do not say you are from the small tribe of Benjamin.
Think about yourselves. Does God have a great mission in your life?
- Saul:
Because the children of Samuel disappointed their God, Israel did not find them competent to take the office of their father as priests in Israel. They did not walk in the foosteps of their father.
The people asked for a king to rule over them like the rest of the nations. God warned them of the danger of having a king, but the pressure kept coming and God gave them Saul.
Bible Reading:
Now the LORD had told Samuel in his ear a day before Saul came, saying, To morrow about this time I will send thee a man out of the land of Benjamin, and thou shalt anoint him to be captain over my people Israel, that he may save my people out of the hand of the Philistines: for I have looked upon my people, because their cry is come unto me. And when Samuel saw Saul, the LORD said unto him, Behold the man whom I spake to thee of! this same shall reign over my people. Then Saul drew near to Samuel in the gate, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, where the seer’s house is. And Samuel answered Saul, and said, I am the seer: go up before me unto the high place; for ye shall eat with me to day, and to morrow I will let thee go, and will tell thee all that is in thine heart. (1 Samuel 9 : 15 – 19)
We know from bible history that Saul did not please the Lord. He reigned in disobedience and failed. God has raised many people today, but because of one aspect or the other of their lives they are denied of God’s beneficial plans for them.
Did God call Saul to fail? Surely not. To fail was his own personal internal choice of not living by the rules. We will not fail, but we will fulfil destiny in Jesus name. AMEN
REV. DR. PROF. P C NNAOCHA