Ready and Willing: Embracing God's Call in Faith
Summary
There is a deep assurance in knowing that, while we may not know the exact moment or day, we can be confident that Jesus will call us home, and our responsibility is to be ready. Readiness is not just a personal matter; it extends to our families, our church, and our community. As we strive to create an environment where our homes and hearts are prepared to meet Jesus, we are reminded that our journey is not about perfection, but about faithfulness and surrender.
The comfort of “going home” is a powerful image—one of familiarity, belonging, and rest. Heaven is promised to be even greater than our earthly homes, a place prepared for us by God Himself. Yet, to experience the fullness of God’s presence and blessing, we must be willing to empty ourselves completely, just as the widow in Scripture poured out her last bit of oil in obedience. It is only when we are fully emptied—holding nothing back—that God can fill us to overflowing.
This call to be filled is not reserved for the extraordinary, but for ordinary people. The disciples were not superheroes or people of great renown; they were fishermen, tax collectors, and everyday workers. Their transformation came not from their qualifications, but from their willingness to follow Jesus and be changed by His Spirit. The same is true for us. God delights in using those the world considers unqualified, so that His power and grace are made evident.
Women, too, played vital roles in the early church—Lydia, Priscilla, Phoebe, and others—demonstrating that God’s call is not limited by gender, status, or background. The Bible is filled with stories of ordinary people who, through surrender and faithfulness, became instruments of God’s extraordinary work.
No matter your age, background, or past failures, God can use you. The only requirement is a heart willing to say, “Here I am, Lord. Use me.” Faithfulness and consistency, not talent or status, are what God seeks. When we surrender our weaknesses and insecurities to Him, His strength is made perfect in us. Let us remove every excuse and step forward in faith, trusting that God can and will use ordinary people to accomplish His extraordinary purposes.
Key Takeaways
- True readiness for Christ’s return is not about knowing the timing, but about living each day in faithful surrender. This means creating an environment in our homes and hearts where Jesus is welcome, and where we are prepared to meet Him at any moment. Readiness is a daily choice, not a one-time event. [01:13]
- God’s overflowing blessings require us to be fully emptied of ourselves. Like the widow who poured out her last oil, we must be willing to let go of every remnant of self-reliance, pride, or reservation. Only when we are truly emptied can God fill us to overflowing with His presence and purpose. [23:15]
- God specializes in using ordinary people—those without status, pedigree, or special qualifications. The disciples were everyday workers, flawed and impulsive, yet Jesus called them to change the world. Our perceived inadequacies are often the very places where God’s power is most clearly displayed. [38:20]
- The call and empowerment of God are not limited by gender, age, or background. Women like Lydia, Priscilla, and Phoebe were instrumental in the early church, showing that God’s mission includes all who are willing. Every believer, regardless of their story, can be a vessel for God’s extraordinary work. [47:02]
- Faithfulness and surrender are what God seeks, not perfection or talent. Even if you have failed, struggled, or feel unqualified, God’s invitation remains: start now, trust Him, and take the first step. His strength is made perfect in our weakness, and He delights in using those who simply say, “Here I am, Lord. Use me.” [01:05:33]
Youtube Chapters
[00:00] - Welcome
[00:32] - The Call to Readiness
[01:13] - Preparing Our Homes and Hearts
[01:50] - The Comfort of Home and the Hope of Heaven
[03:05] - Giving and Worship
[05:24] - Set a Fire: A Cry for More of God
[09:47] - Prayer of Surrender and Sacrifice
[18:11] - The Principle of Being Emptied
[23:15] - Faithfulness and Overflow
[28:20] - Jesus Calls Ordinary People
[32:16] - The Disciples: Everyday Workers
[38:20] - God’s Power in Our Weakness
[45:49] - Women in the Early Church
[53:00] - Ordinary People, Extraordinary God
[55:12] - God’s Call is for Everyone
[01:01:17] - God Chooses the Unqualified
[01:05:33] - Faithfulness Over Perfection
[01:06:10] - Surrender and Response
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
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### Bible Reading
1. John 1:42-51 (ESV)
> 42 He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon the son of John. You shall be called Cephas” (which means Peter).
> 43 The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Follow me.”
> 44 Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter.
> 45 Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”
> 46 Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.”
> 47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!”
> 48 Nathanael said to him, “How do you know me?” Jesus answered him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.”
> 49 Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!”
> 50 Jesus answered him, “Because I said to you, ‘I saw you under the fig tree,’ do you believe? You will see greater things than these.”
> 51 And he said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”
2. 1 Corinthians 1:26-29 (ESV)
> 26 For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth.
> 27 But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong;
> 28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are,
> 29 so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.
3. 2 Kings 4:1-7 (ESV) (The story of the widow’s oil, referenced in the sermon)
> 1 Now the wife of one of the sons of the prophets cried to Elisha, “Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that your servant feared the Lord, but the creditor has come to take my two children to be his slaves.”
> 2 And Elisha said to her, “What shall I do for you? Tell me; what have you in the house?” And she said, “Your servant has nothing in the house except a jar of oil.”
> 3 Then he said, “Go outside, borrow vessels from all your neighbors, empty vessels and not too few.
> 4 Then go in and shut the door behind yourself and your sons and pour into all these vessels. And when one is full, set it aside.”
> 5 So she went from him and shut the door behind herself and her sons. And as she poured they brought the vessels to her.
> 6 When the vessels were full, she said to her son, “Bring me another vessel.” And he said to her, “There is not another.” Then the oil stopped flowing.
> 7 She came and told the man of God, and he said, “Go, sell the oil and pay your debts, and you and your sons can live on the rest.”
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### Observation Questions
1. In John 1, what kinds of people did Jesus call to be his disciples? What were their backgrounds and jobs? ([32:16])
2. According to 1 Corinthians 1, what kind of people does God often choose to fulfill His purposes? Why do you think that is? ([01:01:17])
3. In the story of the widow’s oil (2 Kings 4), what did the widow have to do before God provided for her needs? ([21:15])
4. The sermon mentioned several women in the early church, like Lydia, Priscilla, and Phoebe. What roles did they play in the spread of the gospel? ([47:02])
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### Interpretation Questions
1. Why do you think Jesus chose ordinary, unqualified people like fishermen and tax collectors to be his closest followers, instead of religious leaders or people with influence? ([38:20])
2. The widow had to pour out all she had before God filled her up. What does this teach us about surrender and trust in God? ([23:15])
3. The sermon says that God’s call is not limited by gender, age, or background. How does this challenge the way we sometimes view who can serve or lead in the church? ([47:02])
4. The pastor said, “God didn’t ask for your talent…He asked you to be faithful.” What does faithfulness look like in everyday life, especially when we feel unqualified or have failed before? ([01:05:33])
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### Application Questions
1. The sermon talked about being “ready” for Jesus—not by knowing the timing, but by living in faithful surrender every day. What does “readiness” look like in your home or personal life right now? Is there something you need to change to be more ready? ([01:13])
2. The widow had to let go of her last bit of oil before God could fill her up. Is there something in your life—like pride, self-reliance, or a specific worry—that you need to “pour out” so God can fill you? What would it look like to do that this week? ([23:15])
3. The disciples and early church leaders were ordinary people with flaws and failures. Can you think of a time when you felt unqualified or too ordinary for God to use you? How might God want to use you right where you are? ([38:20])
4. The sermon highlighted women like Lydia, Priscilla, and Phoebe who played key roles in the church. Are there ways you can encourage or support people in your church who might feel overlooked or unqualified? ([47:02])
5. The pastor said, “Start now, trust Him, and take the first step.” Is there a step of faith or obedience you’ve been putting off because you feel unprepared or afraid? What is one small action you can take this week to move forward? ([01:05:33])
6. Faithfulness and consistency are what God seeks, not perfection. What is one area of your life where you can practice more faithfulness or consistency, even if you don’t feel talented or strong? ([01:05:33])
7. The sermon encouraged removing every excuse and stepping forward in faith. What is one excuse you’ve used to avoid serving or following God’s call? How can you surrender that excuse to God and trust Him to use you? ([01:06:10])
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Close in prayer, asking God to help each person surrender, be faithful, and trust Him to use their ordinary lives for His extraordinary purposes.
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