We read in 1 Corinthians 1:25, “This foolish plan of God is wiser than the wisest of human plans, and God's weakness is stronger than the greatest of human strength.”(NLT)
As human beings, the two aspects of life that we seek and pursue after are worldly knowledge and strength. However, the truth is that if we were to simply function on the basis of our own wisdom and strength we will hardly achieve anything. On the other hand if the Lord were to work in and through us, we will observe as we have studied in the previous sermons, that multitudes will be added to the Kingdom of God.
In 1 Corinthians 1:25 Paul highlights the fact that even the so called foolish plans of God are far wiser than all of man’s wisdom, and His weakness far outweighs man’s strength. We will in this chapter look at the insignificant people that the Lord chose, to fulfill His great plans, many of whom were anonymous.
It’s only when we as children of God do what is required of us to do, that the Lord can do His part and perform wonders in our lives. It is erroneous for us to think that we should do nothing and the Lord will do everything for us. For instance, for Lazarus to come out of the grave, the people had to roll the stone away. In order for Jesus to turn the water into wine, the servants had to fill the jars with water, and only then they could experience the miracle. God is willing to intervene and accomplish the impossible, but often we hinder God’s blessings by not cooperating and doing our part.
The feeble lamb to break powerful Pharaoh
Previously, we considered in detail as to how the people of Israel in their bondage were crying out to the Lord in their distress to have mercy on them and save them. The solution that the Lord gave them might have seemed foolish to them. He instructed them to take a one year old male lamb without blemish, and sacrifice it. The lamb as we all know is a gentle and feeble animal. Pharaoh on the other hand was a strong and mighty king. The Lord used the sacrifice of a meek lamb to gain victory over powerful Pharaoh. That is God’s ways; God uses the weak things to nullify the strong.
Sometimes when we go to the Lord with our problems, He may counsel us to do something that may not fit our preplanned notion or ideas as to the way the problems should be solved. At such times, it is necessary that we heed the Lord’s advice, and do exactly as He instructs us, for He alone is all wise and knows exactly what is right and best for any difficulty we may face.
When the weak, useless and worthless are placed in the hands of God, He can do the amazing with them. That is the reason none of us should feel we are worthless or are nobodies because, the Lord chooses to use such people for His greater glory. Look for example at Peter, the disciple of Jesus, who denied Jesus three times. He was a scared and timid man but the Lord strengthened him, and filled him with His Holy Spirit. What happened as a result was that when the very same Peter stood up and spoke God’s word boldly, 3000 people were added to the Kingdom of God in one day. The one who is in us is a great God, and He can do things far beyond our thinking and understanding if we are willing to submit to His will.
Satan the enemy had dominion and rule over us, but because Jesus the Lamb of God shed His precious blood on our behalf, He abolished and destroyed the power of Satan over our lives. We are now able to live victorious lives as children of God.
1. The man who carried a water jar
We read in Mark 14:12-13, “On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover lamb is sacrificed, Jesus' disciples asked Him, "Where do you want us to go to prepare the Passover meal for you?” Jesus said to two of the disciples, "Go into the city, where you will meet a man carrying a jar of water. Follow him,” (CEV)
The Jews celebrated the Passover festival year after year. They observed every detail of that first Passover event as a reminder of the mighty way the Lord delivered them from the cruel hands of Pharaoh, and the Egyptians. Jesus being a Jew Himself, wanted to celebrate the Passover. He called two of His disciples and asked them to go into Jerusalem to meet and follow a man who would be carrying a jar of water. Jesus was still outside of Jerusalem, and He knew that if He went into Jerusalem, the Jews and the religious leaders were on the look out to find Him, and have Him arrested and killed. However, it was very important for Jesus to celebrate the Passover, as this was the time when He would to announce to His disciples that He was indeed the Passover Lamb who was going to be sacrificed for the sins of the world. The sign given to the disciples, was that they follow a man who would be carrying a water jar. In the Jewish society it was more common to see women with water jars, and so the uncommon sight of a man carrying the water jar was what led the disciples to the house where the Passover was to be prepared. We see how this man whose name has not been mentioned, became the important link only because in his small way, he was doing what the Lord wanted him to do at that point of time.
Whatever the Lord commands us to do, if we do so willingly, we too can become a significant part of God’s plan and purposes. So often we are unable to be those tools that the Lord can use only because we are so worried about people’s opinions of us, and are more concerned about pleasing others than the Lord Himself.
2. The man who gave his furnished room for the Passover
In Mark 14:15, we read “The owner will take you upstairs and show you a large room furnished and ready for you to use. Prepare the meal there." (CEV)
Jesus told his disciples to follow the man who was carrying the water jar, and to go to the house that he would enter. They were to ask the owner of that house to show them the place where the Jesus could celebrate the Passover with His disciples. Sure enough they enter the house, and the owner willingly shows them the room ready and furnished where they could prepare for the Passover. They required a suitable place, and the Lord had prepared both the man and the place for the same.
Here was a man, anonymous again who welcomed Jesus and his disciples to use his house, and thereby was instrumental in being a part of God’s great plan of salvation. He must have known that the Jews were on the lookout for Jesus, but he was willing to take the risk, and allow Jesus to celebrate the best Passover ever. Right there in his house the greatest revelation was made – that Jesus was indeed the Passover Lamb of God who was going to be sacrificed for the sins of all mankind.
Isn’t it an awesome thought, that even before we go to the Lord with our needs and problems, He already has a solution at hand? When we are willing to offer what we have to the Lord without hesitation, we too become those channels through whom God can accomplish His divine plans and purposes.
3. The man who gave His Donkey and Colt
We read in Matthew 21:2-3, He said to them, "Go into the village ahead of you. You will find a donkey tied there and a colt with it. Untie them, and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, tell him that the Lord needs them. That person will send them at once." (GW)
The Lord was in need of a donkey to make His entry into Jerusalem. He instructed the disciples to go to the village, and He asked them to untie the donkey and a colt and bring it to Him. The man who owned them both, on knowing it was for Jesus, willingly sent them to Him. When most people concentrate on the triumphant entry of Jesus, and still others even speak highly about the donkey Jesus rode on, no one takes time to think about a man, who willingly gave his donkey and colt without a moment’s hesitation. It was a valuable asset to him that he willingly gave to Jesus.
It is always a far greater blessing to give than to receive. We may often consider what we are able to give as insignificant, but let us remember that every little thing that is given to God, however small or inconsequential it may seem, plays an important part in God’s divine plan. Also, nothing that we do for the Lord, goes unnoticed by Him.
4. The lad who gave up his lunch
In John 6:9, we read, “There’s a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish—but what’s that for so many?” (TLV)
When Jesus wanted to feed over 5000 people who were hungry, it was a young boy who willingly gave up his lunch of five loaves and two fishes, who made the miracle a reality. By giving up his lunch, he was expressing the tremendous faith he had in Jesus. His willingness to part with his lunch, turned out to be a huge blessing for over 5000 people who ate and were satisfied.
When we give up those little things into God’s hands He will always do the greater things for us and make us a blessing to many.
5. The mother who refused to give up her baby
Pharaoh had commanded all the Israelite families to throw their new born baby boys into the Nile River. There was one woman who had faith in God who refused to do that. She was the mother of Moses. She knew that the Lord had given the baby to her, and she was unwilling to throw him into the river like many other mothers did. She kept the baby in a basket, and let him out into the river. Pharaoh’s daughter herself saw baby Moses, and adopted him as her son. By doing what she could do, Moses’ mother not only saved baby Moses from death, but also played her part to the astounding work of the Lord letting Moses grow up in Pharaoh’s Palace.
Such little acts of faith can accomplish much for the Kingdom of God.
6. The slave girl who helped her ailing master
It says in 2 Kings 5:2-3, “In one of their raids against Israel, the Syrians had carried off a little Israelite girl, who became a servant of Naaman's wife. One day she said to her mistress, "I wish that my master could go to the prophet who lives in Samaria! He would cure him of his disease." (GNB)
She was a young Israelite girl who was captured and brought to be a servant for Naaman’s wife in Syria. Her situation was definitely not the best. However, she had faith to believe that the Lord could use her to be a blessing to her master Naaman. Her little introduction of Naaman to Elisha, not only cured him of his leprosy, but also made him a believer in the Lord. Though a slave girl, she must have had a good testimony at her work place, for her master and mistress to heed her suggestion, and go seeking after Elisha.
It is important for us to be those who bear a good testimony, and we must also be those who make use of every opportunity to share about the Lord no matter where we are placed. Let us never shy away from sharing or doing something for the Lord under the premise that we are insignificant. God is not a respecter of people, nor does He show favoritism. If we are willing to do anything however small it may be, like giving away something, opening up our home or just sharing a testimony, the Lord will use these to build His Kingdom through us. Instead of constantly waiting on the Lord to bless us, we should be those who desire to bless others in every possible way.
Let’s recap on all the people the Lord used, most of whose names are not known. Firstly, the people of Israel who might not have had much money and resources, and who probably only had their lambs, which they willingly sacrificed. The man who simply carried a water jar, the man who opened up his house for Jesus to celebrate the Passover, the man who willingly gave his Donkey, the boy who gave up his lunch, a lady who didn’t give up her baby, and a young girl who gave a little introduction to her ailing master. May the Lord help us to be those who give willingly and generously. We must always remember that we are not insignificant and nothing we do is inconsequential in God’s eyes, when done for His glory, and we will surely receive the blessings due us at the right time.
Rev. F. Andrew Dixon
www.goodnewsfriends.net
Transcribed by: Sis. Esther Collins
