The Call Beyond Your Weaknesses | Sunday Service 017 | Elder William Rwambulla

Whether your turn comes today or tomorrow, what truly matters is your response to the call. God knows each one of us. He has called us, qualified us, and equipped us with every necessary resource, ability, and tool for His service. Throughout history, mankind has continually found excuses for not stepping up to serve God whenever opportunities arise. This sermon presents two practical examples of ministers whom God called into service — Isaiah and Jonah. Though both men had fears and excuses similar to those many of us carry today, God gave them grace to look beyond their weaknesses and instead focus on Him who called them, relying not on their own strength but on His sufficiency. In Isaiah 1:1–19, the Bible invites us to recognize that refusing to serve the Lord amounts to rebellion, and God hates rebellion. Yet even in His mercy, He gives us a window to come to Him just as we are: with our fears, sins, insecurities, and doubts so that He may cleanse and restore us. In verse 19, God gives a promise to all who willingly step up to serve Him: they shall experience His goodness in the land of the living. In Isaiah 6:1–9, we see that Isaiah was human just like us, filled with ordinary fears and limitations. However, the moment he submitted himself to the cleansing work of God, his life was completely transformed, and God commissioned him into prophetic ministry. In verse 8, when God asked, “Whom shall I send?”, Isaiah responded, “Here I am, send me.” Let us learn from Isaiah that when God calls you, you must rise in willingness and obedience. Remaining seated while waiting for another sign may simply become an act of resistance to God’s call. Jonah 1:1 introduces us to the call of Jonah and his response. Jonah’s experience teaches us that disobedience “running away from our purpose and God’s calling upon our lives” does not only affect us, but also impacts the people around us. If you are already on the run from God’s purpose, He still offers a window of mercy for you to relent, return to Him, and be redirected back to the path of your ministry and purpose, just as He did for Jonah in Jonah 2:1–10. Jonah’s story teaches the Church today that running away from your calling is only delaying the inevitable. God is patient, yet faithful to accomplish His purpose upon your life. Jonah 3 reminds us that God’s call remains firm even after failure. In Jonah 3:5–10, we are cautioned not to assume the results of our ministry work. We are merely messengers; God alone reserves the right over the outcome and impact of the ministry. Gospel of Matthew 12:39–40 further confirms the significance of Jonah’s story. Its inclusion in the New Testament is proof that God has purpose for every person and every detail of their lives. Isaiah’s ministry to Judah and Jerusalem — God’s chosen people — and Jonah’s ministry to Nineveh — the Gentiles — clearly demonstrate that God shows no partiality. Whoever is willing to repent and surrender themselves to God’s service, He will reveal His glory through them. Therefore, everyone who hears this sermon and decides to rise up and serve God’s purpose for their life can be assured that God will use them regardless of their past or present circumstances. The question is not whether you are called to serve in the Kingdom of God, but when. Whether your turn comes today or tomorrow, what truly matters is your response to the call. Be blessed as you listen.