Calling on the Name of the LORD

Genesis 4.1-26

This was early in human history. In just a few generations from Adam, as the population of the earth increased, men began to call on the Name of the LORD.

This is the first time prayer is mnetioned in the Bible. In between the fall of Adam and Eve, until this point, there does appear that there was a great deal of communication with the LORD. Abel brought sacrifices that pleased God. This was right and good. Now there is widespread prayer.

1. At That Time vs.1-25

We read of tremendous progress taking place here in the early days of life on the earth. Livestock is being raised, the arts in music being developed, tools being made and cities being built. It is something what man was able to do back then with his imagination and the natural resources of the earth.

We also read of the first and second murder as well as the first lie. These things can ame the progress seem as Solomin wrote in Ecclesiates, "meaningless!"

It was a time of progress and pain, a time of hope and a time of sin moving through the young population on earth.

At that time men began to call on the Name of the LORD.

2. Our Time II Timothy 3.1-5

We live in a time of terror, a time when we need to take precautions and security with our belongings all the way through to our identities. There are horrific things going on.

But we ought not to be anxious or distressed! God's promises are true. His Word stands firm. Psalm 119.89 Your Word, O LORD, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens!

We are facing the same old evil but now it is in exponential form.

Yet as believers we have no business writhing our hands and fretting or worrying or acting as if we are on the losing side. The time we are in, this time, is a time for men to call upon the Name of the LORD.

I remember being part of a dinner a few years ago at the Brooklyn Tabernacle. There were 40 pastors there, all from Long Island. Pastor Cymbala asked us a question, "Is your churchcring out to God? If not, why not?"

We are to look to God and His Word for strength, wisdom and spiritual growth. We have His Spirit to guide us. This is a time for men to call upon the Name of the LORD!

3. Call out to God- Calling on His Name. vs. 26

The names of God are the nature of God! Calling out to Him means:

* To cry out to Him- baby in need cries, children in pain cry

* It means to do it loudly with emotion "God Help Us!" This is what we do when we are in distress. If someone we love is in danger we cry, "O God Please help us!" Souls in danger this day.

* It means to summon. We need you O LORD!

*To invite

-Recognize the time- it is time to call out to God

-Realizing our needs- God's power (Ephesians 3.20-21) God's help (Psalm 46.1) For forgiveness Psalm 86.5 You are forgiving and good, O LORD, abounding in love to all who call to You.

-Remembering Who He Is

The Creator, the Sustainer

Psalm 89.37 David liked the promises of God to him to the moon, the faithful witness in the sky. When I was just 2 years old growing up in Queens, one hot summer night my dad and mom and Nana and Poppa and I went for a walk. We lived right across from Kennedy Airport, then known as Idlewhile. I was fixated with the moon. I didn't care about the planes. I wanted to walk to the moon. Way back then God was drawing my heart. As I put this message up on early this morning on this blog, I looked out the window and there was the moon shining in all its brilliance. That same moon I saw 51 years ago in Queens on that hot summer night, that same moon that David saw 3,000 years ago and wrote about it. That same moon that God spoke into existence at creation. He is drawing my heart. He is drawing your heart today to call out to Him in this time we are in. It is time to call- when we call He answers!