"If You are Willing"

“If You are Willing”  

Romans 16:25 (NLT)
“Now all glory to God, who is able to make you strong”

Have you ever thought about different things you would like to do in the church, be a missionary, or an evangelist?  You may have been wanting to go to another country and share the Gospel.  You love hearing the stories of those who have seen the power of God work in people in far off Africa.  Well – why haven’t you done any of those things?           

You may think you aren’t able to do what you would like to; that you aren’t gifted or talented enough.  You are lying to yourself.  The truth is that you aren’t really willing to give your life over to God to use as He sees fit.  You don’t see how it could happen because you aren’t able to figure it out.   Yet God is able to make you able!  Did you get that?  God is able to make you!  How do I know that is true?  I’m going to show you all through the Bible where he has given ability to ordinary people just like you.

Let’s begin with Abraham in the book of Genesis.  He and his wife, Sarah lived with his father and family in Haran. He was a shepherd, as was all the family, and they worshipped idols; he did not know God.  One day Jehovah God spoke to Abraham (Abram as he was called in those days) and God said to him to get out of this country and away from his father.  This was a huge test for Abraham, because generations of families lived together in their tent cities and to leave it all was very difficult.  Although he did know who this was who spoke to him, he was willing to take his wife, his flocks and all his possessions do what this unknown God told him.  His nephew, Lot and his family decided to go with them.  So Abraham and all who were with him left Haran and traveled where God led them.  God promised him that Canaan would belong to his descendants forever.  It is known today as Israel.

In the book of Joshua we read how Joshua conquered the city of Jericho because of a harlot who was called Rahab. Harlots have always been an abomination to God, but God used her because she was willing.  Two of Joshua’s men went to spy out this walled city.  Their lives were saved because Rahab was willing to hide them.  The men went back to Joshua to report what they found in the city.  True to their promise to Rahab the only ones who were brought out alive.  God blessed Rahab in generation to come she was noted as the Great-great grandmother of King David.

In 1 Samuel, we see where Israel demanded that they have a king to rule over them, so Saul was chosen.  Over time Saul was disobedient to God and a new king had to be picked.  So Samuel went to a man called Jesse who had several sons, but Samuel passed by each, but the Lord did not choose any of them.  Samuel asked him if there were any more sons and Jesse said there was the youngest called David.   God told Samuel to anoint David to be the next king of Israel.  David was a shepherd boy who lived in the fields with sheep, but in time David was willing and God made him able to govern an entire country.  David was to be known as ‘a friend of God’.

As we read the Gospels in the New Testament, we see how Jesus reached out to those of little ability to become the foundation of Christianity.  Many of the disciples were unschooled fisherman; among the others were a tax collector, a zealot and a treasurer.  The one thing that stands out about them was – they were all willing to drop everything they were doing and follow Jesus. None of them had the ability to make a great impact on this world, but with the Lord leading them they could do ‘all things’.  Take Peter for example, he was just a fisherman, but God chose him to begin the church. “And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.” Matthew 16:18

You might think that God chose Peter to do this and you are right, however, Peter had to be willing or God could not have used him.  God has plans for all of his people, “For I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. [Jeremiah 29:11]  Not everyone follows those plans. Not everyone is willing.  God can takes you to places you never dreamed of; he will give you abilities you’ve never thought you had and he can provide ways to do things that you didn’t know existed. 

If you are truly willing, God will make you able.  Don’t give up on wanting to serve God in different ways and places.  He is looking for you!