Message - The Call of God

 

The Call of God

God calls people into His service, not because of their perfection, but through His grace. Whether it is Isaiah, Paul, or Peter, each of them encountered God, were confronted with their inadequacies, and yet were transformed by grace for His purpose.

Many of us struggle with feelings of unworthiness—"I am not good enough," "I don’t have the skills," or "I have sinned too much." But today, God is reminding us that He calls the unworthy, equips them, and sends them out for His glory.

Isaiah's Vision: A Call from Holiness to Service (Isaiah 6:1-8, [9-13])

Isaiah's vision begins “In the year that King Uzziah died.” This was a time of national crisis—Uzziah had ruled for over 50 years, and his death brought uncertainty. But in that moment, Isaiah sees the Lord on the throne, high and exalted.

The Majesty of God – The seraphim cry out, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty.” This triple repetition of “holy” emphasizes God’s absolute purity and power.

Isaiah’s Brokenness – Faced with divine holiness, Isaiah exclaims, “Woe to me! I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips.” His confession shows that true encounters with God expose our unworthiness.

A Seraphim touches his lips with a burning coal – This represents God’s cleansing power. The angel declares, “Your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.”

Isaiah Responds to God's Call – When God asks, “Whom shall I send?” Isaiah, now cleansed and empowered, boldly responds: “Here am I. Send me!”

We may feel like we are not worthy to serve God, but God cleanses us and calls us anyway. His grace enables us to say, "Here I am, Lord, send me."

Paul’s Testimony: Grace That Transforms (1 Corinthians 15:1-11)

Paul reminds the Corinthians of the foundation of the Gospel:
Christ died for our sins
He was buried and raised on the third day
He appeared to the disciples, then to Paul

Paul calls himself “the least of the apostles”, saying:
“For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.”

Paul then makes a powerful statement:
“But by the grace of God, I am what I am, and His grace to me was not without effect.”

Paul was transformed from a persecutor to a preacher.
He worked harder than others, but acknowledges that it was God’s grace working through him.

Some of us feel like our past disqualifies us from serving God. But God’s grace is greater than our failures.

Peter’s Calling: From Fear to Faith (Luke 5:1-11)

Peter and his companions had fished all night and caught nothing. Yet, when Jesus tells him to “Put out into deep water and let down the nets,” Peter obeys—even though it doesn’t make sense.

The Result: Their nets are overflowing!
Peter’s Reaction: “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” – Like Isaiah, Peter realizes his unworthiness before Jesus’ power.

Instead of rejecting Peter, Jesus reassures him:
“Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.”

Peter, James, and John left everything and followed Jesus.

Sometimes God calls us to deeper waters—to places where we don’t feel comfortable. Like Peter, we must trust Him and obey.

Psalm 138 reminds us that despite our weaknesses, God fulfills His purpose in us.

“The Lord will fulfill His purpose for me; your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever.” (Psalm 138:8)

Even in trouble, God preserves us.
Even when we feel weak, God strengthens us.
Even when we doubt, God's purpose remains firm.

Throughout these scriptures, we see a pattern:

A Divine Encounter – Isaiah, Paul, and Peter each had a moment where they saw God’s glory.
A Personal Realization – They all recognized their unworthiness and weakness.
A Cleansing or Transformation – God cleanses, forgives, and restores.
A Commissioning and Sending – Each one was given a mission.

God calls ordinary, broken people.
His grace transforms us and equips us.
We must step out in faith, trusting His plan.
Our response should be: "Here am I. Send me!"

May The Lord Bless You!