Scriptures For Sermons On Calling On God
Calling on God in Scripture
The concept of calling on God is a pervasive theme throughout the Bible, emphasizing the importance of prayer and invocation in the life of believers. The phrase "calling on the name of the Lord" is particularly significant, as it is associated with salvation, worship, and a personal relationship with God [2].
In the Old Testament, calling on God is often linked to prayer and supplication. For instance, Psalm 17:6 says, "I call on You, O God, for You will answer me. Incline Your ear to me; hear my words" [4]. Similarly, Psalm 141:1 implores, "O LORD, I call upon You; hasten to me! Give ear to my voice when I call to You!" [3]. These passages demonstrate the urgency and intimacy involved in calling on God.
The New Testament continues this theme, with the apostle Paul writing in Romans 10:13, "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved" [9]. This verse is a reference to Joel 2:32, which states that "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved". The early Christian community understood this calling to be a fundamental aspect of their faith, as seen in Acts 2:21 and 9:14, 21 [7].
The act of calling on God is not limited to individual prayer; it is also a communal practice. In public prayer, believers gather to invoke God's presence and blessings. According to Torrey's Topical Textbook, public prayer is "acceptable to God" and is characterized by the presence of Christ, who sanctifies it [5].
The patristic tradition also emphasizes the significance of calling on God. The early church fathers, such as Clement and Origen, encouraged believers to call upon God's name, seeking blessings such as faith, fear, peace, and purity [6, 8].
The biblical concept of calling on God is closely tied to the idea of God's call to humanity. According to Torrey's Topical Textbook, God's call is "of grace" and is addressed to all people, regardless of their background or circumstances [1]. This call is not limited to salvation but also encompasses a call to fellowship with Christ and to holiness [1].
Sources
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Call of God, The — By Christ -- Isa 55:5; Ro 1:6. By his Spirit -- Re 22:17. By his works -- Ps 19:2,3; Ro 1:20. By his ministers -- Jer 35:15; 2Co 5:20. By his gospel -- 2Th 2:14. Is from darkness -- 1Pe 2:9. Addressed to all -- Isa 45:22; Mt 20:16. Most reject -- Pr 1:24; Mt 20:16. Effectual to saints -- Ps 110:3; Ac 2:47; 13:48; 1Co 1:24. To man is Of grace. -- Ga 1:15; 2Ti 1:9. According to the purpose of God. -- Ro 8:28; 9:11,23,24. High. -- Php 3:14. Holy. -- 1Ti 1:9. Heavenly. -- Heb 3:1. To fellowship with Christ. -- 1Co 1:9. To holiness. -- 1Th 4:7. To liber”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Call — (1.) To cry for help, hence to pray (Gen. 4:26). Thus men are said to "call upon the name of the Lord" (Acts 2:21; 7:59; 9:14; Rom. 10:12; 1 Cor. 1:2). (2.) God calls with respect to men when he designates them to some special office (Ex. 31:2; Isa. 22:20; Acts 13:2), and when he invites them to accept his offered grace (Matt. 9:13; 11:28; 22:4). In the message of the gospel his call is addressed to all men, to Jews and Gentiles alike (Matt. 28:19; Mark 16:15; Rom. 9:24, 25). But this universal call is not inseparably connected with salvation, although it leav”
- Psalms “Psalms 141:1 (NASB) — O LORD, I call upon You; hasten to me! Give ear to my voice when I call to You!”
- Psalms “Psalms 17:6 (BSB) — I call on You, O God, for You will answer me. Incline Your ear to me; hear my words.”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Prayer, Public — Acceptable to God -- Isa 56:7. God promises to hear -- 2Ch 7:14,16. God promises to bless in -- Ex 20:24. Christ Sanctifies by his presence. -- Mt 18:20. Attended. -- Mt 12:9; Lu 4:16. Promises answers to. -- Mt 18:19. Instituted form of -- Lu 11:2. Should not be made in an unknown language -- 1Co 14:14-16. Saints delight in -- Ps 42:4; 122:1. Exhortation to -- Heb 10:25. Urge others to join in -- Ps 95:6; Zec 8:21. Exemplified Joshua. -- Jos 7:6-9. David. -- 1Ch 29:10-19. Solomon. -- 2Ch 6:1-42. Jehoshaphat. -- 2Ch 20:5-13. Jeshua. -- Ne 9:1-38. Jew”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “ANF Vol 1: Clement, Polycarp, Ignatius, Barnabas, Papias, Justin Martyr, Irenaeus — CHAP. LVIII.--BLESSINGS SOUGHT FOR ALL THAT CALL UPON GOD.: May God, who seeth all things, and who is the Ruler of all spirits and the Lord of all flesh--who chose our Lord Jesus Christ and us through Him to be a peculiar(1) people--grant to every soul that calleth upon His glorious and holy Name, faith, fear, peace, patience, long-suffering, self-control, purity, and sobriety, to the well-pleasing of His Name, through our High Priest and Protector, Jesus Christ, by whom be to Him glory, and majesty, and power,”
- Joel (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Joel 2:32: 2:32 everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved: Calling on the name of God should not be a final act of desperation; it accompanies a lifelong commitment of worship, service, and fellowship with the Lord (see Gen 12:8; Ps 105:1; Isa 12:4; Rom 10:13; 12:1-2). • Those whom the Lord has called are his chosen remnant, the survivors of judgment who worship him (see 2 Kgs 19:31; Ezra 9:8-15; Isa 10:20-22).”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “ANF Vol 9: Gospel of Peter, Diatessaron, Origen's Commentaries — CHAP. LXIV.--BLESSINGS SOUGHT FOR ALL THAT CALL UPON GOD.: May God, who seeth all things, and who is the Ruler of all spirits and the Lord of all flesh--who chose our Lord Jesus Christ and us through Him to be a peculiar(2) people--grant to every soul that calleth upon His glorious and holy name, faith, fear, peace, patience, long-suffering, self-control, purity, and sobriety, to the well-pleasing of His name, through our High Priest and Protector, Jesus Christ, by whom be to Him glory, and majesty, and power, and honour, both no”
- Romans (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Romans 10:13: For whosoever shall call, etc. - Nor shall any one who hears this doctrine of salvation, and credits it as he is commanded, be permitted to pray or supplicate the throne of grace in vain: for the Prophet Joel hath declared, Joe 2:32 : Whosoever shall call upon, invoke, the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Savior of sinners, shall be saved - shall have his guilt pardoned, his heart purified; and if he abide in the faith, rooted and grounded in him, showing forth the virtues of him who was called him out of darkness into his marvellous light, he shall be saved with”