Today we continue on our three part sermon series on Acts 3:11-26.
God Is Looking For Willing Vessels
Peter could have walked past that beggar that day. He could have refused to look at him. He could have even refused to have opened his mouth and speak the words that God told him to speak. He could have. But he didn’t.
God is looking for willing vessels. People who are willing to be used by Him. He is not looking for perfect people – for if He was, He would never do anything for there was only one perfect human, Jesus Christ.
No. God is looking for people who are willing to be used by Him. His blood alone cleanses us and His Spirit alone flows through us – changing lives and destroying the works of the evil one.
All that we must do is be willing. We must be willing to be a fool for God. To open our mouths – to move our legs – to move our arms – to walk where He says walk and say that He says.
Yes, it will be hard. Yes, we will fall on our faces sometime. Ah…but there will be times when we will hit the ball out of the park. One thing I guarantee, you will never see God work if you never pray for the sick or never open your ears and listen to Him.
The blessed thing is that He is willing to work with cracked pots – for He….
God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; 28 and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, (1 Corinthians 1:27-28)
9 And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Cor 12:9-10)
God is not looking for superstars. He is looking for normal average day people who are willing to trust Him – to look past their weaknesses to God’s strength. Peter said in Acts 3 that it was faith that comes through Jesus. It is only through Jesus that see God work – it is His strength, His power that flows through us that changes the world – that changes our circumstances.
A professional baseball player is concerned great is he hits the ball 33% of the time – meaning that he strikes out 66% of the time. That’s a lot of strikes! But you know what? He still swings at the ball because he knows that there is no way he will ever hit a homerun if he does not swing!
Let me tell you a story. A little over a month ago I pulled into Taco del Mar to grab something to eat. As I sat in the parking lot talking on the phone, I noticed a man standing about ten feet away looking unkempt and unshowered – shoot, he didn’t even have his shirt on. Looking straight at me, the guys started telling me that he wasn’t going to go back to his girl’s place. That they were through… this rambling bothered me, so I looked away – trying to look busy as I talked on the phone.
A few minutes later I walk into the restaurant only to see this guy sitting there (with a shirt on) talking to himself. Coving up my book with my hand ( I didn’t want him to see that I was read a book about the Bible), I ordered my food and sat down. The only problem was that each time I looked up from my book/food, I looked straight at him… it was like God was telling me to go talk to him.
But I didn’t want too. I didn’t want to get involved. I wanted to eat my food, go to Home Depot and then go home. I didn’t need this…I was not a willing vessel.
Finally, I finish my dinner and got up…only to have God hit me again. “Go talk to him.” Glancing around I noticed that the bathroom was on the other side of this guy…so I told myself that I would go to the bathroom and on the way back I would say “hi” to him – that way it doesn’t look like I’m really that interested in him… so that is what I did…only I didn’t say “hi” to him… he said ‘hi’ to me. Yelp. I failed – I so scared of having my time table messed up that failed to obey my King. Instead, God had him talk to me….
I share this story with you because I want you all to know something. We all mess up. We all make mistakes.
The choice is this: are you going to stay there? Or are you going to get up?
For a righteous man may fall seven times
And rise again,
But the wicked shall fall by calamity. (Prov 24:15)
Thank God that He is right there with His hand stretched out, waiting for us to grab it. It is His righteousness that heals. It is by His blood that evil is destroyed.
We must need to believe that He is who He says He is and have faith that He wants to heal people today of physical ailments, spiritual deadness, and emotional trauma. We must be willing vessels – clay pots in the hands of the Potter.
Because there are times when we swing and we hit the ball hard. Like the time I was standing in the middle of a park in San Jose, Costa Rica. It was after a short mime play outlining the Gospel message. As I stood there I saw a young man a few years older then me standing next to a bench – God said to go pray with him. I helmed and hauled – allowing my team mates to lead the way – only to be lead to a couple sitting on the bench next to this man. Talk about a sign for God!
Finally getting a clue, I begin to talk to this man – sharing the joy of Christ with him. As I talked to him, he said that he felt empty and hollow inside. I told him that Jesus could feel that hole – and we prayed. When we finished, he looked up with tears falling down his face: “I feel something!!! I feel something!!!”
God is real! God is here today! God has destroyed the works of the evil one! He is waiting for us to bow our knees and follow Him. He is waiting for us to say, “Here am I, send me – use me!”
It starts today.
Those who need a touch of God Those who need a touch of God please come forth and allow us to pray for you. Please note that the reason I’m asking you to come forth is not to shame you or to place guilt on you. Far from it!!! I ask because there is something powerful about standing up and declaring publicly that you are ready and willing to be touched by God. It is a symbolic act of a spiritual work. That is why we have altars calls.
However, I also know that there are those who may not be ready for such a bold step. That is ok. God still wants to heal you. He honors those who take little steps – because it is not the size of the step that counts but the direct of the movement. If you are not comfortable coming forward, then grab someone you trust and pray with them. Come to the prayer meeting tonight or call me. We are to walk through this life together as one body.
And know this, this is a safe place. There will be no gossip or slander in this place! That is a direct violation of our King’s word and I will not have it! We are to be a reconciling community – a healing community full of trust, healing, grace and love. We can not have that if folks about spreading rumors. No. We must be trustworthy people who do not spread things under the false title of a ‘prayer request.’ What is said here says here.
It is a private affair.
So come forth if you need a touch of God. Allow the King of the Universe to change your life and heal your soul, spirit and body.