"Last Man Standing"
How many people I've ever seen the infomercial… You know the one about the miraculous cloth that does it all… It's called Shamwow
You know the one I'm talking about, on TV it looks like it sure does some amazing things. But what makes it memorable is the guy that's the one doing the commercial.
I think I remember his name is Vince, or something… Just one day out of the blue he steps into everyone's living room all across the country and Shamwow!
Some people would think...oh this is just a guy that did a commercial and they probably would be right.
But whatever the case may be...an opportunity came across his path and he stepped up and he did it.
And for that one act… he is forever to be remembered. Someone tapped him on the shoulder and he said yes.
We never knew anything about him before then… And we have never known anything about him since either.
I guess you could call him a one hit wonder…has anyone ever had a song you've known for a long time?
And when someone asks you who sang it..you have to look it up because you have no idea...who you've been listening to all this time
You see the thing is...there have been a lot of One hit wonders all through history.
People when they were asked to do something, they just did it... And they found their purpose in doing so.
The bible is full of people that heard the voice of God...stepped out in faith, followed His calling and became a part of history.
We read of one such example in the book
Of Judges
Judges 3:31 MSG
Shamgar son of Anath came after Ehud. Using a cattle prod, he killed six hundred Philistines
Now I think you might see the coalition to the first reference that I made… Because after reading about Shamgar, The first thing I thought of was Shamwow!
Shamgar was a minor judge… not all that big of a deal in the chain of power
for the people of Israel.
We all remember the exploits of Sampson… Who took a jaw bone of an ass and killed 1000 Philistines and did one exploit after another.
Samson was a larger-than-life Bible hero… His life was full of intrigue and adventure, he also had romantic escapades which led to many times of trouble and ultimately is demise.
But Shamgar wasn't any of those things… We don't know anything about him prior to or after the fact of the Valiant Heroic feat he accomplished.
Kind of like Jabez...he just chose to step out and trust the Lord take Him at His word and his name was forever recorded in the bible..
A cattle prod was his weapon of choice… That's all he had. A stick mind you...With God on his side that's all He needed!
He slew 600 Philistines and saved Israel.
History records it as what a man did...
But clearly it could only be recorded as..What The Almighty God Did! Amen??
I can just imagine...600 men, whether they were trained soldiers or not..
600 men is 600 men...and I don't imagine they were each waiting their turn patiently...they were all coming at him and when the dust cleared..
He was the the last man standing and the nation of Israel was saved!!
It had to have been nothing short of miraculous!!
I guess that certainly gives new meaning to the phrase...with God your not a minority....But a Majority! "An Army of One"
Matthew 22:14 NKJ
14 For many are called, but few are chosen.
Many are called but few heed the calling... For whatever reason they choose to not choose to follow God's prompting and Gods will in their life.
They may or not have been raised in the church...
they may be a good person...
they may know the scriptures...
they may come from an affluent family...
Their qualifications may be long…
But God is not looking for someone's
credentials, He's looking for obedience...
He's looking for someone to step up to the plate and hit the ball!
Mark 10:17-22 MSG
17 As he went out into the street, a man came running up, greeted him with great reverence, and asked, “Good Teacher, what must I do to get eternal life?”
18-19 Jesus said, “Why are you calling me good? No one is good, only God. You know the commandments: Don’t murder, don’t commit adultery, don’t steal, don’t lie, don’t cheat, honor your father and mother.”
20 He said, “Teacher, I have—from my youth—kept them all!”
21 Jesus looked him hard in the eye—and loved him! He said, “There’s one thing left: Go sell whatever you own and give it to the poor. All your wealth will then be heavenly wealth. And come follow me.”
22 The man’s face clouded over. This was the last thing he expected to hear, and he walked off with a heavy heart. He was holding on tight to a lot of things, and not about to let go.
We see here... Clearly this man knew all the rules, he had been raised to learn the commandments, he came from a good family, he was probably a good citizen of stature in the community...
He knew all about religion… But didn't know the One that religion was all about.
I want you to notice something here...Jesus looked him hard in the eye—and loved him! Jesus was not going to tell him what he wanted to hear...
He told him what He knew he needed to hear...Amen??
Jesus was offering this man, everything that was available to Him!
He was asking for obedience… and in return Jesus was offering him everything...
Salvation and the peace that passes all understanding...that goes with it!
The man’s face clouded over. This was the last thing he expected to hear, and he walked off with a heavy heart.
Like a lot of people still today...he was holding on tight to a lot of things, and not about to let go of them.
There'll always be things that will keep you from the purpose that God has for you......All of which can be overcome, but yet the accuser relentlessly
tells us a different story
Illus. A woman walked to work past a pet store. One day a parrot called out to her as she passes and said. “Hey lady, you’re ugly.” She was upset but blew it off. Same thing happened the next day. She got a little angrier but went on. The third day same thing. She went into the store and told the owner who had a talk with the parrot. The next day she passes by, “Hey lady.” She looks at him says, “Yes.” The parrot said, “You know.”
The devil constantly reminds us of our shortcomings...Guess What?
God uses people who have shortcomings...and to that I say Hallelujah
there is hope...Amen?
The apostle Paul said the same thing..the man who wrote
over half of the New Testament and still said that...he was the
chief of all sinners...he knew there was Hope
Romans 15:13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.
So many times we like to think that the ones we read about who have done miraculous things, somehow have exceptional abilities.
God is the one with the exceptional abilities… But everyone has shortcomings
When we allow God's purpose to be front and center… And we step out in faith and trust His ability over our own
there is nothing that can't be accomplished for His glory and His kingdom.
And the amazing thing about shortcomings is… They all come up short and are subject to the amazing abilities of God when challenged!
Shamgar Was ready for the call of God when God called… While this is the only recorded scripture about him, it doesn't negate the fact that he lived his life following the things of God.
Because when God called him..he answered the call...he didn't have to think about it, he had already thought about it and was ready to respond!
One of the major problems in churches today is that God calls and calls and calls...and no one seems to be ready to listen when He does.
God tries to raise people up to do great things like Shamgar and for whatever reason they find themselves making excuses and finding various reasons to keep them from doing the will of God.
Oh I just can't..
I've never done that before...
I don't know how...
What will my friends think?
If your worried about what your friends will think...
Let me be the one to tell you...their not the friends you think they are..
Shamgar was completely sold out to the things of God...And when the need arose he didn't think twice about what God told him to do.
Got is still looking for men and women to be obedient and faithful in the world that we live today.
TBS in 2 Chronicles that the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him
The moment you step out...God knows it and is ready
to help you and shownHimself strong..in every way He can..
What has God told you to do?
What has God put in your heart to do for the Kingdom?
Chances are....it's something bigger than you think that you were able to do on your own.
And that's the truth… On your own it would never happen and that's how you know it's from God.
Gods dreams for you, Gods plans for you...Are more grand then you could ever think or imagine...and they all start with one thing!
By you saying okay…
Okay Lord your will not mine..
Okay Lord your cause not mine..
Okay Lord your Glory not mine....
In 1922,a woman named Rhea F. Miller wrote a poem. In 1932, a copy of that poem was placed on the top of an organ in a family home in New York. Seated at the organ was a 23-year-old musician named George Beverly Shea.
Miller's poem caught young George's attention. The words on the paper rang true to the cry of his heart. And so, he set them to music. Upon hearing her son singing this testimony of commitment, George's mother came in from the kitchen, with tears in her eyes, and encouraged him to sing the new song in church the following Sunday.
As the congregants listened to George's deep voice sing out I'd Rather Have Jesus, than silver and gold, little did they know that the song was destined to become one of the most well-known of all contemporary Christian songs.
Of course, shall we say the rest is history. For when George joined forces with Billy Graham, the world would be changed forever.
I’d rather have Jesus than silver or gold;
I’d rather be His than have riches untold;
I’d rather have Jesus than houses or lands;
I’d rather be led by His nail-pierced hand
Refrain:
Than to be the king of a vast domain
Or be held in sin’s dread sway;
I’d rather have Jesus than anything
This world affords today.
I suppose if you were to ask George if he would've ever dreamed he would have done so much to further the cause of Christ...he would've said not in a million years
Like Shamgar...he said yes and the chapters and story of his life took a different turn when God became the author of it.
God is still willing to help you rewrite the story of the rest of your life.
You may think there's not enough time left to do something significant
with your life…
But that's not what God thinks, because He knows no limits and He wants you to know today..that you are not limited! Amen??
Matthew 19:26-30 NKJ
26 But Jesus looked at them and said to them, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
27 Then Peter answered and said to Him, “See, we have left all and followed You. Therefore what shall we have?”
28 So Jesus said to them, “Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife[a] or children or lands, for My name’s sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life. 30 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.
Maybe Gods speaking to your heart this morning and asking you to step out to do something for the kingdom or to give something to the kingdom…
Something in the natural you could never see yourself doing...something that's bigger than your imagination…something that's bigger than your understanding.
I would encourage you to not try to figure it out..but to just to be found faithful in doing what God is called you to do… And know that He is a rewarder of those who seek him!
Amen?
Let's pray!
