Call Unto Me

(I was inspired to write this sermon after reading Lou Bartet’s sermon of the same title and text--most of this sermon is different, although you might pick up on a similar thought or two, I also used the same opening illustration that Lou credited to www.presidentialprayerteam.org)

May 25, 2003 Sunday Morning

TITLE: Call Unto Me
TEXT: Jeremiah 33:1-3

Introduction

I’m sure most of you will remember the sniper incident that terrorized the Washington area for awhile.
Before they caught the snipers, they managed to kill 10 people and wounded 3.
What you may not know is, prayer played a vital role in bringing that situation to an end.
50 Christian truckers got together to pray that somehow the sniper terrorizing the Washington area would be caught.
Ron Lantz was scheduled to retire in a few days and didn¡¦t even live in the area, but he felt sure that God would answer their prayers.
In fact, he told the others attending the prayer meeting that God was going to use him to catch the sniper.
A few days after they began to pray
Ron was listening to the radio as he was driving through the region
and he felt compelled to pull off the highway to a rest stop.
It was just a couple of miles from where the initial prayer meeting had taken place.
As he pulled in, he was shocked to see a car similar to what was being described on the radio.
Carefully trying to read the license plate, a chill went up his back as the numbers matched.
He quickly called 911 and stayed there for what he said were the longest 15 minutes of his life,
until the police arrived.
He pulled his truck across the exit,
so there would be no escape for these murderers.
The rest is history-
the snipers were taken into custody without incident
and the horrifying ordeal was over.
I heard that Ron Nantz attended a Nazarene Church and was a small group leader in his church.
I’m sure most people would look that and say that it was a coincidence...
But, I guess I’m not most people...
I believe that God heard the prayer of that group of truckers....
and many others who cried out to God...
I believe that God directed the mind of Ron Nantz...
And, I believe that God will direct us as well...
If we will humble ourselves before God in prayer...
and if we will listen to God’s voice when He speaks to us...
and, if we will obey, and do what God tells us to do.
We have devoted this month of May to prayer...
My prayer for you is that prayer has become an even more important part of your life...
and, my prayer for us as a Church is that, as this month comes to an end that this emphasis on prayer doesn’t end.
I hope that, although we will go on to other subjects as God directs us...
that prayer will be an underlying strength for our church.
This morning, I had planned to talk to you about the 3 relationships in prayer...
when we are born, our relationship with God is Creator-Creation...
When we get saved, our relationship with God is Father-Child
And as the relationship grows, we begin to know God as Friend...
And prayer is so crucial to the development of our relationship with God...
(idea from Jack Hyles book, "Exploring Prayer", pp 170-179)
But, I felt led to go a different direction...
Read Text: Jeremiah 33:1-3
When Jeremiah wrote this, he "was still confined in the courtyard of the guard" (33:1).
He is in prison