Are you too big or too small?
Can God use you today? How many of us are ready to be used by God but bring up a whole series of reasons why we can’t be used by God?
It is possible to be too big for God to use you, but never too small for God to use you.
Let me explain. Who was Rahab in the Bible? Let’s have a quick list of what we remember about Rahab…….
There is a prayer that Jewish male tend to say, “Thank God I am not a woman or a Gentile!” Well Rahab had a lot stacked against her… She was a woman, she was a Gentile and she was a prostitute. So let’s consider how the Bible remembers her. In Matthew 1 she is mentioned in Jesus family tree… how many people here would tell the whole world that your family tree contains a prostitute especially if you were someone of renown. Hebrews 11 mentions Rahab as being a harlot with faith. She was used by God to help the nation of Israel.
Can you image the conversation going on? Rahab, listen to me. Who’s that? It is me, the Lord, God of Israel and I need you to do something for me. Well, could you just wait a minute. Firstly, I need to change my life a bit. I must stop being a prostitute and I must pay off a few debts I owe. I need a college degree and if I just get this other right I’ll then be able to serve you. Is that ok Lord?
And what do you God might reply. Well actually Rahab I need you now. I need you as you are. If you have a heart to follow me, then do it now. Follow me now.
Thankfully Rahab responded.
Ok let’s move on a bit. Let’s take a look at a personal favourite of mine… Peter. What do we know of Peter?
Peter was uneducated (probably). I know he wrote a few letters but they were probably written down for him. Mark’s gospel could well have been dictated by Peter to Mark, with Mark adding a few extra details that he thought important! Anyway, back to Peter. Have you ever thought of a greater comedy sketch than Peter and Jesus and Peter and John.
Peter: We need some food Lord.
Jesus: Well you feed them.
Peter: Me feed them ok - Off you go back to your homes and eat.
Jesus: No you feed them.
Peter: What me feed them. Well I better go and get my boat and start fishing. Not much good on baking bread mind.
Jesus: No you feed them here and now.
Peter: Well we got here a boy with two loaves and five fishes. If we break the loaves up into small bits and maybe get folks to just suck on the fish, yep I reckon that will do it.
Jesus: Oh Peter give it here. You just need to ask your Dad in heaven. Rub a dub dub, thank God for the grub. Now hand it out.
Peter: It is flipping cold out here and where is Jesus when you need Him.
John: Stop your whining Peter. If we are going to eat, do your job and get fishing.
Peter: But there is no fish.
Voice from the shore. Have you got any fish?
Peter: Oh great here we go. John is moaning at me and now this guy on the shore. Everyone picks on Peter the fisherman. No we haven’t got any fish.
Voice: Well throw you net on the right side.
Peter: Oh yes right well that was obvious wasn’t it - throw it on the right side of the boat. Why didn’t I think of that… Of course the experienced fisherman - who knows you only catch fish in the shallows and not the deep.
John: Let’s do it.
Usual netting of hundreds of fish!!!
Peter: Wow what a fluke.
John: That’s not a fluke, it’s a cod.
Peter: Seems fishy to me, the scale of the catch, let’s get it fin…ished so we go home.
John: But that’s the Lord on the shore.
Peter: Oh yes right that’s the Lord shouting out from the shore, I am sure he has other things to do than worry about telling us where to fish….. It is the Lord, I’m off… Splash!
Ok so they might not be real. But have you ever thought of some of the conversations you might be having with God. Some of the excuses you might be offering.
Let’s try to unburdened ourselves of them now:
I am going to add some as we talk as well. I wonder if we are able to identify them with the people from the Bible and maybe identify with them ourselves.
God used Peter to build His church. This guy that got it wrong so often. God chose to use to build His church.
Moses stuttered
Timothy had stomach problems
Jacob was a liar
David had an affair
Abraham was too old
John was self-righteous
Naomi was a poor widow
Paul was a murderer
Jonah ran from God
Miriam was a gossip
Gideon doubted - and so did Thomas
Jeremiah was depressed and suicidal
Elijah was burned out
Martha was a worrier
Amos’ training was in fig-tree pruning
God doesn’t look at our faults, finances or failings. He only looks at our willingness. If you are willing today to be used by God today - then get ready because He will use you. God has a history of using insignificant people - but - and I believe here is the key, they were willing to be used. Did they offer God reasons for not using them. Yes they did, but they still obeyed when called. I believe that the one thing that stops each and everyone of us today from doing what God wants us to do is disobedience. We come to church most weeks offering our lives to God and saying yes we will do what you ask and then when He asks we say “Oh but I can’t. I have this wrong or this wrong. Just do this for me and I’ll then obey.” But don’t you see, when God does that for you there will be another, oh but.
God never asks about our ability or our inability - just our availability. Well I would like to add to that and our obedience.
“The wise in heart accepts commands….” Proverbs 10 v 8
I wanted to bring encouragement this morning to those who felt they were not good enough, but God has also asked me to bring a warning to those who just won’t obey. I will do my will with or without you. There are many blessings I would like to give my people and they are waiting for you today, but you have to obey what I ask. If not then I’ll just ask someone else.
I am waiting for your obedience but I am willing to move on.
Posted in Sermons |