For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord
William MacDonald teaches that anyone who sincerely calls upon the name of the Lord will assuredly be saved, emphasizing God's faithfulness to respond to genuine cries for help.
In this evangelistic sermon, William MacDonald explores the powerful promise found in Romans 10:13 that whosoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. Using the compelling example of Sadhu Sundar Singh, MacDonald illustrates how God faithfully responds to sincere cries for help, revealing Himself in various ways to those who earnestly seek Him. The sermon challenges listeners to examine the authenticity of their faith and assures them of God's readiness to save.
Text
“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Rom. 10:13)
No one can ever really call on the Name of the Lord without being saved. This call of desperate earnestness never goes unanswered. When we get to the end of our own resources, when we abandon all hope of saving ourselves, when we have nowhere to turn but up, if at that time we send a distress call to the Lord, He will hear and answer.
A young Sikh named Sadhu Sundar Singh determined that if he could not find peace, he would commit suicide. He prayed, “Oh God, if there is a God, reveal Thyself to me tonight.” If he didn’t get an answer in seven hours, he was going to put his head on the railroad track as the next train rushed to Lahore.
In the early hours of the morning, he had a vision of Jesus coming into his room and saying in Hindustani, “You were praying to know the right way. Why do you not take it? I am the way.”
He rushed into his father’s room and said, “I am a Christian. I can serve no one else but Jesus. Till the day I die, my life is His.”
I have never known of anyone who called on the Name of the Lord in blood-earnestness without being heard. Of course, there are those who pray to the Lord when they are in a tight spot, who promise to live for Him if He will deliver them, and who then quickly forget once the pressure has been lifted. But God knows their hearts; He knows they were only fox-hole opportunists who never made a genuine heart-commitment to Him.
The fact remains that God will always reveal Himself to the one who is desperate to find Him. In countries where the Bible is not readily available, He may do it in a vision. Elsewhere He may do it through a Scripture portion, through personal witness, through Christian literature or through the miraculous converging of circumstances. So in a real sense it is true that “he who seeks God has already found Him.” It’s that sure!
Sermon Outline
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I
- The promise of salvation for all who call on the Lord
- The certainty that genuine calls for help are answered
- The nature of desperate earnestness in prayer
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II
- The example of Sadhu Sundar Singh's transformative encounter
- God revealing Himself through visions and personal experiences
- Different ways God makes Himself known to seekers
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III
- The difference between genuine faith and opportunistic prayers
- God’s knowledge of the heart and true commitment
- The assurance that seeking God is already finding Him
Key Quotes
“No one can ever really call on the Name of the Lord without being saved.” — William MacDonald
“I have never known of anyone who called on the Name of the Lord in blood-earnestness without being heard.” — William MacDonald
“He who seeks God has already found Him.” — William MacDonald
Application Points
- Approach God with sincere and desperate earnestness in prayer.
- Trust that God will reveal Himself to those who genuinely seek Him.
- Commit to a heartfelt relationship with God beyond moments of crisis.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean to call upon the name of the Lord?
It means to earnestly and sincerely seek God’s help and salvation, acknowledging one's need for Him.
Can anyone be saved by calling on the Lord?
Yes, the sermon teaches that whosoever genuinely calls on the Lord will be saved.
How does God reveal Himself to those seeking Him?
God may reveal Himself through visions, Scripture, personal witness, literature, or miraculous circumstances.
What if someone only prays in desperation but doesn’t follow through?
God knows the heart and distinguishes between genuine faith and superficial or opportunistic prayers.
Is seeking God the same as finding Him?
According to the sermon, truly seeking God is already a form of finding Him.