One of these significant records is that of the Call of Jeremiah. Here is an outline of the call of Jeremiah. I am sure you can identify with some of these stages that Jeremiah went through.

If you would like to read more about any of these stages of Jeremiah’s call, you can click on the red heading of any of the points.

God called Jeremiah to do the impossible
God knows that you and I are all capable of doing so much more than we are doing. After all He created us. God will always cause you to move outside of our comfort zone into a new height in your life.

I am sure that even today, there is a challenge set before you. Does this obstacle seem too hard for you? Remember with God NOTHING is impossible. You have the skills and the ability to overcome anything that crosses your path. Of course you have an added strength if you are walking with God in obedience to Him.

Why did God call Jeremiah? Because He was planning to show Jeremiah that nothing is impossible with God.

Responding to God’s call
Jeremiah responded to God’s call with an objection, “I can’t speak, I am only a child”.

Who does our destiny depend on?
A big mistake that is made by some folk when they sense God calling is to respond and then expect God to do everything.

17 “Get yourself ready! Stand up and say to them whatever I command you. Do not be terrified by them, or I will terrify you before them.
18 Today I have made you a fortified city, an iron pillar and a bronze wall to stand against the whole land-against the kings of Judah, its officials, its priests and the people of the land.
19 They will fight against you but will not overcome you, for I am with you and will rescue you,” declares the LORD.

When God calls you, He has already made all the preparations necessary for you to succeed. Failing is never an option when you obey God’s call for your life.

Do you feel worthy of God’s call?
If you don’t feel worthy of God’s call on your life, you are not alone. Jeremiah was not exactly the ideal candidate to become a prophet to the nations. He did not seem to be a great candidate for success either.

Let’s face it, if you were to interviewing candidates for the position of a prophet to the nations, would you choose someone who by his own admission could not speak? (See Jeremiah 1:6 “… I do not know to speak for I am only a child”) I am sure you wouldn’t choose someone as unsure of themselves as Jeremiah was.

In fact, I am sure you would see him as weak, perhaps even unstable and certainly not ready for the position that was open in your organization. No, according to man’s criteria, Jeremiah was not the ideal choice.

But God saw beyond the outward appearances (of course). He saw beyond the fears and doubts that Jeremiah was expressing and choose the man He knew he could trust.

If you sense God calling you to be and do something you think is too hard for you, remember this:

• God knows you better than you know yourself.
• If God called you, then you KNOW you can be ALL He is calling you to be and you KNOW you can do all He is calling you to do.

God equipped Jeremiah:
God gave Jeremiah:

• The words to speak,
• Careful instructions as to what he should do and how he should react,
• A guarantee of success.

Special instructions:
God gave Jeremiah specific instructions:

• Stand up and say to them whatever I command you.
• Do not be terrified by them or I will terrify you before them. This is a very sobering command accompanied by a consequence of disobedience. Do not be afraid of them.

Fear and Faith
Fear is actually misguided faith. Fear believes the worst can happen. Fear is faith in evil. Losers walk in fear.

When you walk in faith you believe for the best outcome. You know that God is good and so only good (or what is good for you) can happen. God is looking for men and women of faith, to obey Him and follow Him. Winners walk in faith.

If your faith is focused on evil, then evil can happen. If your faith is solidly placed in the good things that can happen to you, God will see to it that you are protected from evil, and only that which can do you good will happen in your life.

Evil may fight against you, but it will not prevail. This is the promise that God gave to Jeremiah, and is the same promise He has for YOU.

All He asks is that you trust and obey!

This is No #4 of the Series “Why Did God Call Jeremiah?”

We can see his reaction when he said: “Ah, Sovereign LORD, I do not know how to speak; I am only a child.” Jeremiah 1:6.

I have heard many Bible teachers responding to objections with the following argument: “Don’t worry, just respond to the call and the rest is up to God. Carrying out your calling does not depend on you, it all depends on God”

Well, that is only partly true. In fact, this concept taken by itself is close to a fallacy. A few years ago church went through a phase where in some circles almost all you heard was “believe it, confess it and you will have it”.

But there is a BIG missing ingredient in this theory This missing ingredient actually turns these theories into dangerous proclamations that have hurt many people who tried to follow them.

Missing Ingredient:
What is this missing ingredient?

Well in Jeremiah chapter 1:11-12, we find God telling asking Jeremiah what he saw. Jeremiah responded to the vision saying, “I see a branch of the almond tree”. God responds: in verse 12 saying: “You have seen well, for I am alert and active, watching over My word to perform it.” (Amplified version of the Bible).

Then in the book of James, we are clearly told “Faith without works is dead”. (James 2:17). This means that faith is ACTIVE, not passive.

We are called to a walk of faith with God. Since real faith is active, this means our walk with God will be full of ACTION. This journey of faith will take us to our destiny as we respond by faith to the impressions God puts in our hearts.

So what is the missing ingredient? ACTION.

A true walk of faith is a journey of action. There will be no fulfilling of your destiny without ACTION. (Remember, in the last article we mentioned that God is asking us to trust and obey. “Obey” is an ACTIVE verb.)

Partnership.
Our faith walk is a partnership. Successful partners walk together with each of them pulling 100% of their weight. The great advantage of walking in partnership with God is that when you put your 100%, God also puts His

Of course the outcome of that is we can end up achieving great things that are far beyond our natural ability. This is because the strength of His 100% far outweighs the strength of our 100%.

Nevertheless, a true partnership is a TWO sided contract. Both partners play a part, not just one of them.

There IS one thing He expects you and I to do and that is to be ALERT and ACTIVE.

Jesus told His disciples to watch and pray – that word “watch” is translated from a greek word which means to be alert.

So does our destiny depend on us or on God?

God has already planned our destiny, and provided EVERYTHING we need to reach it. Our destiny is good and probably far beyond our wildest dreams. In Jeremiah 29:11, God reassures us that His plans for us are good and full of prosperity.

Now it depends on you and me to take what He has given us, use it and start moving towards our destiny or calling.

This is No #3 of the Series “Why Did God Call Jeremiah?”

“Ah, Sovereign LORD I do not know how to speak; I am only a child.” (Jeremiah 1:6)

History reveals that he was probably quite young, but here he was focusing on his inadequacy more than on his age. His age was an excuse. He was simply saying “What? It’s too big for me, I can’t do that”.

I remember being called into my boss’s office after I had submitted my resignation in the Education Board of New Zealand. I was getting ready to go out to the mission field. My boss was genuinely interested in what I was about to do and asked me what sort of duties my missionary work would include.

When I mentioned public speaking, he looked at me incredulously and said “YOU?”

Yes, I went on to speak at many conferences, churches of over 1000 as well as organize my own conferences and seminars. Nothing is impossible for God!

When God Calls How Do You Respond?
Jeremiah had missed the point completely. When God calls, the point is not whether you are ABLE to do what God asks. The real point is: are you WILLING.

Take a look at verses 7-9 of Jeremiah Chapter 1:
Verse 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.

Verse 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.

What is God REALLY looking for?
It is clear from God’s response to Jeremiah’s doubts, that all God is looking for is a willing heart, not an able heart.

God gives the ability just as soon as He sees the willingness.

• God did not ask Jeremiah if he COULD carry out the task.
• God asked Jeremiah if he WOULD do it.

Again, when God Calls How Do You Respond?

• Do you respond with excuses when you sense God asking you to do something that seems too hard?
• Do you think that you the right person for the job? That does not matter – God thinks you are.
• Do you feel able to do the job? That does not matter either – God will empower you!

As one of those famous old hymns declares:

Trust and obey.

This is all that God is looking for – faith and obedience. Maybe your calling is too big for you. But nothing is too big for God

Trust and obey – I know you can do that, right?

This is No #2 of the Series “Why Did God Call Jeremiah?”

God called Jeremiah to be a something beyond his wildest dreams. He was called to be a prophet to the nations. How could this be? This was certainly Jeremiah’s first reaction as he challenged that inner voice he as hearing which Jeremiah recognized to be God.

You Are Capable Of Doing More Than You Are Doing Now!
It is a scientifically known fact that we only use a very small percentage of our actual potential. This means you were created to be capable of doing much more than you are doing right now.

You were created to fulfill a destiny, which is also God’s call on your life. In order to fulfill this destiny you will need to use more of your God given brain than you possibly are now. God has a way of calling us to do things that are beyond our wildest imaginations.

Called To Do The Impossible
Jeremiah was called by God to do something that seemed impossible for him. He was called not because of who he was at the time, but because of who he would become. God would see to that.

Are you being called to an impossible dream?

With God there are no impossibilities, only possibilities.

What does it take on our part?

• Obedience – to the call
• Cooperation with God during the moulding and shaping.
• Above all, it takes faith. Active faith (there really is no other kind, since faith without works is dead).

Are you answering the call?

This is No #1 of the series “Why Did God Call Jeremiah”.