Matthew 21:42
From the moment that I got saved, some 23 years ago, I had a God-given burden that I could not extinguish, for my life to be used by God!! I figured that for 20 years, I had given myself in full-time service to do the devil’s bidding; how now, that I’m a born-again Christian could I give the True and Living God anything less? Every fiber of my being cried forth, “Lord use me!! Get the glory of my life this side of eternity!
Yet in the face of a barren landscape the voice of my own reasoning would say, but how? There was nothing of any outward brilliance to commend itself to God, nothing to lend itself by way of encouragement. All I had was a burden that I could not rid myself of. Do you want to know what the balm was that soothed my soul in those early years? The means that God used to inject faith into my spiritual bloodstream? It was the examples given in this Book of the men that God used. Ah, man has his criteria of selection, but listen, those whom the world passes over are God’s chosen vessels; those whom men reject as unworthy are God’s unlikely candidates!
Acts 12:1-5
When the people of God begin to pray, God begins to move! This, my dear friends, is an indisputable fact of history to which the Scriptures provide undeniable testimony.
In this sermon, example after example is laid bare, demonstrating that God responds to the prayers of His people. Whether, Moses, Abraham, Hannah, Elisha, Hezekiah, or Elijah, they prayed unto God and were heard!! May this be an impetus to stir us to prayer so as to lay hold on God in this desperate hour and to see Him come through!!
1 Samuel 3:10
I would argue that the single greatest tool the Devil has used to pervert a whole generation in this century and the latter half of the last has been the power of mass media — Film, music, radio, television, and now the internet. What was previously confined to the abominable opera houses and disgusting theatre halls is now aired en-mass 24-7/365 click-and-demand across the world!! So immoral and harmful is the content, as a child of God, you daren’t cast your eyes upon it, not lend an ear to hear. Every value contrary to the Word of God is lauded and celebrated, promoted, and embraced, not only by the artists themselves but by their millions of fans and followers whom they’ve managed to hoodwink by the truckload!
My dear people, can I ask, what are you setting before your eyes in the name of entertainment? The films you sit down to watch? The dramas and the soaps? The women’s magazines? David purposed in his heart; “ I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes” (Ps. 101:3). Will you say the same?
1 Samuel 3:10
No man who upon hearing the voice of God, ever lived to regret the day He answered the call!! My phone rings all the time and sometimes I regret answering it. An unidentified number appears on the screen — it’s a local number, and you think, I’d better answer it, only to discover two seconds in that it’s a national telesales company masquerading behind a local area code!! WHY DID I ANSWER THE CALL? Brothers and Sisters, such words might indeed be uttered when man is calling, but never a soul lived to regret answering the call of God!! There are times that I have to say also, that I have lived to regret heeding the voice of man. Sometimes those voices are well intentioned — counsel that means me well, but it’s not God’s council and thus there’s only one inevitable outcome — disappointment and regret!! Ah, many a man upon hearing the voice of his closest kin regretted the day he ever gave heed, but no man — and I mean NO MAN — ever lived to regret the day He answered the call of God!!
This sermon in its simplest form is a call to obedience!