The Call
The Call
(Fire in your bones)
David Wilkerson
God sends Jeremiah into the temple.
And you can read about his warning (about disaster)
in the 19 chapter. (It’s a) very strong message.
Pashhur was the governor. He slapped him in the face. Then he put them in stock. He put him in a torture rack.
Now I want to tell you there’s no man in the Bible more called than this man.
“Before I formed you in the belly I knew you
before you came out of the womb,
I sanctified you.”
Jeremiah 1:5
“I ordained you to be a prophet to the nations.”
Jeremiah 1:5
“You shall go where I send you.
Whatever I command you you shall speak.”
(Jeremiah 1:7)
“Don’t ever fear men.
I am with you to deliver you.”
(Jeremiah 1:8)
This is a man who knew he was called, knew what his mission was.
God said,
“Gird up your loins.”
(Jeremiah 1:17)
“Rise up and speak everything I say to you.
Be afraid of no man.”
(Jeremiah 1:17)
“Don’t be impressed by their smiles.
Don’t be afraid of their frowns.”
It’s an amazing call.
Given one of the clearest calls in the Bible.
God made him this promise.
“I have made you a defensed city,
surrounded you with iron and brass wall.”
(Jeremiah 1:18)
“I made you an impregnable city.
Fear no man. Accept my call.”
Then these amazing words came.
“lest I confound you before the people.”
(Jeremiah 1:17)
Simply because he doubts that call …
“I’m gonna allow you to stand before the people and you’ll be confused.
You will be confounded.”
This is an important word from the heart of God.
This is what He really saying to us.
“If you’ll trust me, you’ll never be confounded.
But if you’ll doubt that, I confound you before men.”
I cannot tell you how important it is today
to remember the call that God put on your heart.
And if you doubt that call that God placed on you …
That’s why you find ministers running all over the world,
trying to confirm the call of God.
One man met me backstage.
He said,
“I had a church of 600. It’s down to 400 people.
Do you have a word for me?”
I said, “Yes.”
“You didn’t have to go any further than the secret closet to prayer.
That’s where the revival was, the word of God was.
You’re sitting in front of television set. because you feel like a failure.
Get back on your knee. Forget the crowd.
Minister to Jesus.
You come to the pulpit with the Word of God.
Every hungry person within a hundred miles will come
to hear you preach.”
“He has saved us and called us with a holy calling,
not according to our works
but according to his own purpose and grace.
which was given us in Christ Jesus
before the world began.”
(2Timothy 1:9)
Paul the apostle said,
“I’ve been appointed to preach
for which cause I suffer.”
(2Timothy 1:11-12)
“If you want to know why I suffer.
Because I was appointed. I was called.
And I know my work.
I am called to suffer.”
Do you understand that we have all received the same call?
Do you understand why we suffer?
Because God has laid His hand upon us.
“I know in whom I have believed.
I’m persuaded He is able to keep that
which I’ve committed on him against that day.”
(2Timothy 1:12)
Jeremiah reached the low point that night in torture.
Here’s a man who’s been so sure of himself
and now in his torture.
Listen to his words.
“Oh Lord, you have deceived me, and I have been deceived.”
(Jeremiah 20:7)
“You’re stronger than I am. And you’ve prevailed against me.”
(Jeremiah 20:7)
“You called me and allowed me to be deceived and deluded.
You called me. Then you forsake me.”
Can you imagine what he was thinking?
because this rack was at the temple gate
and all the crowd goes by.
And he said,
“I’ve been mocked.
The word I preach is being mocked.”
“I hate the day I was born. …”
(Jeremiah 20:14)
“Lord, why didn’t you kill me?”
“I will not make mention of Him.
I will not speak His name anymore. …”
(Jeremiah 20:9)
What was he saying?
“I quit. It’s enough!
I’m tired of being mocked.”
There’s comes a time when you’re in the rack.
You’re going through a time of torture.
God called you as His hand upon you.
But now you’re in a hard situation.
You wonder if you really count
and you said ‘That’s enough.’
Your head is in the rack.
Everything is twisted and turned.
“Where are you, God?
You called me.
I sacrificed for You.
And I get nothing but pain.”
Let me tell you what the Holy Spirit told me.
As if God is saying,
“He is hurting.
But he is still my man.
I’ve called him from the womb.
I know his heart. I remember his call.”
And listen to what the prophet said,
“Then I said I will not mention His name
but”
(It is a) very important “but.”
“but His words was in my heart
as a burning fire shut up in my bones.”
(Jeremiah 20:9)
Holy Ghost came on him.
“Jeremiah, remember.
You are an impregnable city. Forget what people say.
Remember your call, the word I promised you.
Remember that I sent you, anointed you.
I told you that there would be suffering but let it burn.”
“I will never quit because of a fire burning in my bone!
Because I am called.”
I don’t care what you go through.
You’re gonna stand up today.
And you’re gonna say ‘I am called.’
“I’m going through a hard trial.
But there’s a fire burning in my bone.
I can’t stop. I must speak His word.”
He wants to bring healing, restoration to those that are under the rack of torture and pain that God will renew you and stir up that fire.
Some of you have been thinking “I’ve had enough.”
You want to take an easier path, but there’s a fire.
Let it burn.
Let the Holy Ghost bring it back to your heart.
My God, send the Holy Ghost now.
Heal the hurt of every hurting person.
Oh, Fire of the Word of God,
Come and remind us
“God is a wall of fire around about me.”
“Lord, I trust You.”