Sixth Grade Lessons, Block 5—How to Contact the Lord
Week 23
Calling on the Name of the Lord
Reading Reference: Calling on the Name of the Lord; Life-study of Genesis, msg. 25; Psa. 145:18, Rom. 10:12
Memory Verse: Because He inclines His ear to me; / Therefore I will call upon Him all my days. (Psa. 116:2)
Suggested Songs: Calling, O Lord Jesus
Scripture Reading: Gen. 4:26; Psa. 18:6; 50:15; 81:7; 86:5, 7; 88:9; 116:2-4, 13; 118:5; Isa. 12:2-6; 55:1; 64:7; Acts 2:17a, 21, Rom. 10:12-13, 1 Cor. 1:2; 12:3, 13; 15:45b; 2 Tim. 2:22
Points to Emphasize
- What is the meaning of calling on the Name of the Lord?—Isa. 12:2-6
To call means to call out to, to cry unto, to cry out. The Greek word for “call upon” is epikaleo, composed of epi, upon, and kaleo, call by name, that is, to call out audibly, even loudly.
To call on the Lord also means to cry to Him and to experience spiritual breathing. “I called upon thy name, O Lord, out of the low dungeon. Thou hast heard my voice: hide not thine ear at my breathing, at my cry” (Lam. 3:55-56).
By calling on His name all the sinful, evil, and unclean things will be breathed out, and all the positive things—the riches of the Lord—will be breathed into you.
- Calling on the Name of the Lord in the Old Testament—Gen. 4:26
Calling on the Lord began in the third generation of the human race with Enosh, the son of Seth. The history of calling on the Lord’s name continued throughout the Bible with Abraham, Isaac, Moses, Job, Jabez, Samson, Samuel, David, Jonah, Elijah, and Jeremiah.
- Practiced by New Testament believers—Acts 2:21, Rom 10:12-13, 1 Cor. 1:2, 2 Tim. 2:22
Calling on the name of the Lord was practiced by the New Testament believers beginning on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:21). The New Testament believers practiced calling on the Lord. All the early saints were Jesus-callers. Their calling on the name of the Lord was a sign, a mark, that they were Christians. If we become those who call on the name of the Lord, our calling will mark us out as Christians.
- The purpose of calling
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- To be saved—Rom. 10:13; Psa. 116:13; Isa. 12:2-4, 6.
- To be rescued from distress—Psa. 18:6; 118:5, 50:15; 86:7; 81:7; 116:3-4.
- To participate of His mercy—Psa. 86:5; Acts 2:17a, 21.
- To eat and drink the Lord—Isa. 55:1.
- To enjoy His riches—Rom. 10:12; 1 Cor. 15:45b; 12:3; 1:2; 12:13
- To stir ourselves up—Isa. 64:7.
- The way to call—2 Tim. 2:22; 88:9; 116:2
How should we call on the Lord? We must call on Him out of a pure heart (2 Tim. 2:22). Our heart, which is the source of our calling, must be pure, seeking nothing except the Lord Himself. We need to open our mouth wide to call on the Lord. Furthermore, we need to call on the Lord corporately. We should call daily upon His name. As long as we live, we should call on the name of the Lord.
- The need to practice—2 Tim. 2:22
Calling on the name of the Lord is not merely a doctrine. It is very practical. We need to practice it daily and hourly. We should never stop our spiritual breathing.
In any situation, at any time, call: “Lord Jesus, O Lord Jesus!” If you practice calling on His name, you will see that it is a wonderful way to enjoy the Lord’s riches.