INTRO MESSAGE
GET FAT - Availability
QUICK REVIEW
➢ Last week we started a series of teachings on the characteristics that lead us to experience promotion and become the person God has created us to be.
➢ We call it GETTING FAT – reason God loves to use FAT PEOPLE.
• F-FAITHFULNESS/ A=AVAILABILITY/ T=TEACHABILITY
➢ We talked about Ruth – Did you read about here this week?
➢ After last week’s message on Faithfulness I was reminded of one of my favorite stories
PICTURE OF HORTON HATCHES THE EGG
➢ The elephant on the tree is Horton. He is convinced by lazy Mayzie (the bird) into sitting on her egg while she takes a break--which proves to last for months.
➢ Horton is laughed at by his jungle friends, exposed to the elements, captured by hunters, forced to endure a terrible sea voyage, and finally placed in a travelling circus. All through the ordeal Horton repeats his moto:
I meant what I said, and I said what I meant:
An elephant's faithful one hundred percent.
Moral of the story: Faithfulness even in difficult times.
MESSAGE
THIS WEEK WE MOVE ON TO LETTER A=Availability.
STORY
➢ How many of you remember your first job?
➢ I was 15 when I applied for my first “real” job: McDonalds
➢ My first few jobs where in retail (Mc Donalds, Flowers, Shoe store in Mall, Resturant)
➢ I was so nervous about that first interview I almost passed out.
➢ They gave mefree Coke to drink – probably because I looked pail.
➢ I got better in time, but each interview the question that was always at the end and helped to finalize the decision was "What is your availability?"
➢ I waited tables through college. During that time I was offered management twice.
➢ Both times I had to turn it down because of my availability. I had other priorities, College, Ministry, Fiance'. (All three have paid off better than managing a resturant.)
➢ Point is, I couldn't get the promotion because I wasn't available.
I learned through my early jobs that Promotion often hinged on availability.
APPLICATION
➢ Maybe you are in sales and you desire to be in a regional or national position. The question you will have to answer is, "Are you available to travel?"
➢ Whether it is a boss, a friend, or a pastor; all of them are looking to promote people and they are looking for people who are available.
AVAILBILITY = TIME (We all value time)
➢ We all are given the same amount of time but each of us determines how we "SPEND" it. Sounds like money huh?
➢ Time is like currencey.
➢ Time is a bank account that only accepts withdrawls
HOW DO YOU “SPEND” YOUR TIME?
VIDEO (Time spent)
➢ Wouldn’t you agree:
• Time is the most valuable commodity we have
• So we make ourselves available for what matters most – what you value?
➢ I can tell what is important to a person by how they “spend” their time.
• Entertainment – Live for the next movie or TV show
• Recreation – “live for the weekend”
• Career – live at the job
• KIDS – live at the soccer or baseball fields
• Or in my case you’ll find me every morning at from 7:30 – 8:00 am directing traffic at my kids school.
I GUESS THAT WHY THE CALL OF CHRIST IS SO SIMPLE YET SO PROFOUND.- HE SAID “FOLLOW ME!”
➢ Remember in the Gospels Jesus is met by a man who is very wealthy. This man asks Jesus how can I have eternal life.
• Jesus responds,
MK 10:21 “Jesus looked at him and loved him. "One thing you lack," he said. "Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." (NIV)
➢ He didn’t want the guys money – or house – or horse
➢ He asked for his time – “What’s your availability?”
Later on in the Gospel of Luke, Jesus (The model leader that He is) tells a parable (which is a story with a point)
READ LK 14:15-24 (READ)
➢ Jesus talks about those who experience God’s abundant blessing by comparing those who are not available (they make lame excuses) to those who are available.
➢ Those who were available got to experience the feast.
➢ Those who were available were promoted from their humble existence to a place of honor.
➢
➢ Jesus didn’t ask for a resume for His disciples, He simply yet profoundly said, “Follow me”
➢ The CEO of heaven is asking “What’s your availability.”
WHAT MATTERS TO GOD
➢ God is more concerned about your availability then your ability.
➢ He will give you the ability if you will give Him the availability.
➢ God loves to use ordinary people to do extraordinary things.
• Jesus had a problem – how to feed thousands of people.
• A small boy with an insignificant lunch made himself available.
• Problem solved
➢ It’s not the size of the ability, it’s the heart of availability.
➢ It’s saying…
ILLUSTRATION
➢ Charles Elliet had a problem.
• He had a contract to build an engineering marvel-a suspension bridge over the Niagara River.
• But he had no way of stretching his first cable between the shores.
• Any boat that tried to cross the falls would be swept over. Then Eliet hit on an idea.
• If a kite carrying a cord could be flown across the river, the cord could then be used to pull larger cables across.
So Elliet began to ask around, and a young man named Homan Walsh responded.
• On WalshÃs first attempt the kite cord broke when it caught in the river’s ice, but on his next try he succeeded in flying his kite to the opposite shore of the river.
• The vital link was established, and the bridge built.
Because someone was available to do something as insignificant as flying a kite.
Remember what we read last week at the close of the service:
II Chron 16:9
“The eyes of the Lord search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.”
WHAT’S YOUR AVAILBILITY?
➢ God asked this question to the prophet Isaiah
IS 6:8-9b “Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: “ Whom shall I send, And who will go for Us?”
Then I said, “Here am I! Send me.” And He said, “Go, and tell this people:
➢ CLOSE:
Promotion on the job hinges on availability – promotion in God’s Kingdom hinges on availability.
➢ I am always looking to be around for available people.
