Sermon Tone Analysis

Answering the Call

When I was in my early thirties, I left the Air Force to take a job working for…well, the Air Force.

Except as a contract civilian.

It all started in January of 2012.

I had just the end of the previous year, come back from what would be my last deployment to the desert.

Due to a number of reasons, not the least of which were serious issues with my leadership (one of which was the fact that I was legitimately getting extorted for money by a superior officer), I decided to finally leave the Air Force.

I had applied for a job as a government contractor, but had not heard anything back, and ended up working as a security officer for the new casino that was opening south of Wichita.

Great job, but terrible hours, and the overtime was great.

I was averaging upwards of 75-90+ hours a week, with base pay being $12/hour (jumping to $18/hour after 40 hours).

It was the worst day I had ever had at work: my feet were killing me (I was on them for all except 1 hour of my 10-12 hour work day), I came outside to find that I had a flat tire, and only had my donut (and had to change it in Kansas December cold and high winds), and I found out that they were no longer letting us work overtime.

A terrible day.

Taking a side road home, I got a call on my cell from an odd number.

A Huntsville phone number.

Weird.

Then I realized that it may be an apartment that Stacy and I had been looking at.

You see, I had gotten an interview and it went well with the government contractor job, but I hadn’t gotten a call back.

I answered the phone, and it was Ms. Jorice Johnson, Human Resources worker for AAR, and she offered me the entirety of what I had asked for in my interview, with regards to pay and moving allowance.

Everything.

I worked for AAR Integrated Technologies for about a year and a half.

Great job, amazing pay.

I was good at what I did.

In fact, 6 months into my job, I was promoted from Field Engineer I (an entry level position) to Field Engineer II (experienced technician), and was well on my way to being promoted to FE III, which was a supervisory position.

I loved my job and the copious amounts of money that came along with it.

Until we all got laid off because our contract was taken by Lockheed Martin.

Stacy and I had talked about and prayed about me taking this job.

So I did, and we moved to Huntsville.

I went from making awesome money, to $265 a week in unemployment benefits.

With rent being upwards of $900 a month.

Fun, right?

I spent nearly every day that summer scouring for a job.

Nobody would hire me.

Either I was overqualified or under qualified.

I prayed to God to explain to me why He had led us out here away from all of our family and friends, only to be in a position where I wasn’t sure if I was going to be able to even feed my family, let alone keep a roof over our heads.

Stacy and I were fairly successful, I believe, keeping the truth about how bad off we were from the boys.

When I mean bad off, I mean that we had zero money in any account, were a month behind in rent, had used up our SNAP benefits for the month, perpetually behind on our utilities and always on the verge of getting our power cut off (which did happen at least once), had a nearly empty cabinets and pantry (we lived off of beans and rice and PB and Honey sandwiches, and iterations thereof, skipping breakfast because nobody woke up early enough for it), and never more than a quarter tank of gas in the car.

We were beyond broke.

But God was in it.

I didn’t know it at the time, but God was preparing me.

I was laid off the first week of June.

It was mid to end of July when I was praying and asking, no, BEGGING God to give me an answer on why He brought me and my family out there only to have us in that state!

And God answered in a very big and obvious way, telling me I was now coming to work for Him!

I didn’t want it!

I didn’t want to accept it!

There was NO way He was calling ME into ministry.

So, I started making calls.

I called pastor friends, and friends that were elders, and every time, when I asked “Could you see me as a pastor?”

Their answer was a resounding “YES!”

Samuel’s Call

Our Scripture reading for today tells the story of the call of Samuel.

Turn with me to Samuel 3 beginning with verse 1:

3 Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the LORD in the presence of Eli.

And the word of the LORD was rare in those days; there was no frequent vision.

2 At that time Eli, whose eyesight had begun to grow dim so that he could not see, was lying down in his own place.

3 The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was.

4 Then the LORD called Samuel, and he said, “Here I am!” 5 and ran to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.”

But he said, “I did not call; lie down again.”

So he went and lay down.

6 And the LORD called again, “Samuel!” and Samuel arose and went to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.”

But he said, “I did not call, my son; lie down again.”

7 Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, and the word of the LORD had not yet been revealed to him.

8 And the LORD called Samuel again the third time.

And he arose and went to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.”

Then Eli perceived that the LORD was calling the boy.

9 Therefore Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down, and if he calls you, you shall say, ‘Speak, LORD, for your servant hears.’

” So Samuel went and lay down in his place.

10 And the LORD came and stood, calling as at other times, “Samuel!

Samuel!”

And Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant hears.”

You see, the chapter begins telling of Samuel, and that he’s ministering to God in the presence of Eli, and what?

AND THE WORD OF THE LORD WAS RARE IN THOSE DAYS; THERE WAS NO FREQUENT VISION!

If that ain’t a word for today’s age, I don’t know what is!!

You see, in these TIMES when the Word of the LORD is rare, and when there is no frequent vision, God likes to get involved!

We’ll get to that in a moment, but let’s finish seeing what’s here.

Tell the story of Samuel’s call from Samuel’s perspective.

See what happened here?! Well, after reading this passage, it made me realize several things about God’s call in our lives:

Don’t delay answering.

Don’t underestimate your call.

You shouldn’t unde

You HAVE to know His voice.

You have GOT to be willing to accept the call.

Don’t Delay Answering

says, “As it is said, ‘Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts, as you did in the rebellion.’”

When God called Samuel’s name, what did Samuel do? Did he roll over and go back to sleep?

Did he yell out “What?!” NO!!

He said “Here I am!” and ran out to Eli.

What do you do when you get a calling from the Lord?

When it is clear

Well, in Matthew’s gospel, Peter and Andrew got a call from Jesus.

Turn with me to :

18 While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen.

19 And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” 20 Immediately they left their nets and followed him.

Did they tell Jesus, “Hold on, pal.

We have to put our nets and boats away!” NO!

It says: IMMEDIATELY they LEFT THEIR NETS AND FOLLOWED HIM!!

There was no delay, there was no waiting, they left what they were doing, got up, and began following Jesus.

On the converse, let’s look at :

16 And behold, a man came up to him, saying, “Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?” 17 And he said to him, “Why do you ask me about what is good?

There is only one who is good.

If you would enter life, keep the commandments.”

18 He said to him, “Which ones?”