Use Me in Thy Service

What is it like to be used by God?

One of the biggest challenges we face as humans in our short lives is that life is about us, that we are the center of the story, that we are the main character in the play . . . when actually we are more like a good prop

Matthew 21:1–7 NASB95

When they had approached Jerusalem and had come to Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, “Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied there and a colt with her; untie them and bring them to Me. “If anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord has need of them,’ and immediately he will send them.” This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet: “Say to the daughter of Zion, ‘Behold your King is coming to you, Gentle, and mounted on a donkey, Even on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.’ ” The disciples went and did just as Jesus had instructed them, and brought the donkey and the colt, and laid their coats on them; and He sat on the coats.

Summarize Story

Crucifixion is just a few days away

Matthew 21:2–3 NASB95

saying to them, “Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied there and a colt with her; untie them and bring them to Me. “If anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord has need of them,’ and immediately he will send them.”

There is a time element

Jesus gave them these instructions at this particular time

this event will happen on this particular year, this particular day, during the Passover Celebrations

Go . . . now is the time

We are on His clock

and he often does not share detailed time lines

so you need to be ready and willing when he says, “Go”

These donkeys have been living their entire lives, doing their own thing, but now is the big moment to do something for Jesus

When God calls you to do something or perform a task . . . it might be on a Sunday, or on a Thursday night

it might be this year or 7 years from onow

it might be morning, noon , or night

but when he says go . . . then go

when he says come here . . . then come here

if you want to be used in his service, then you must realize that God has a schedule that we must adjust to

There is also an ownership component

Jesus says, “go over there and get the donkey and it’s colt, untie them and bring them to me

Spoken matter of factly

Spoken with so much authority . . . . like he’s got it like that

and I am reminded that the earth is the Lord . . .

everything belongs to God -earth, the things, the people

he does have it like that

This is something to always keep in the forefront of your mind . . . because God is so generous that we tend to think God’s things belong to us

I have asked Deacon Whitaker to take some things to my car, and he has graciously agreed

I gave him my keys

and later when I ask, “Do you have my keys” . . . he has never gotten an attitude with me, because he has never thought that is my car

But something happens when you allow people to use your things for a long time . . . they naturally think its theirs

that’s why disrespectful will tell parents, “get out my room” . . . but their names are not on the mortage or lease

and we must not do the same with God’s things

When he calls us to use HIS . . . hansds, feet, voice, strength, resources, money, intelligence, connections

If you want to be used in his service, you must realize that everything belongs to him

God will call you when you are tied up

Jesus said untie them and bring them to me

He will call you when you are tied up in something

You already have a set agenda, plans

you’ll be busy

Moses was watching sheep

David was watching sheep

Peter was fishing

Paul was chasing Christians

I’m sure Esther was just trying to survive palace politics (why she didn’t want to be involved)

they were busy and God said, I need you

if you want to be used in God’s service, then when he calls, you have to untie yourself (or get some help)

There will be a burden to bear

Jesus sat on the donkey

it will not be burden or struggle free

God uses us to get him to where he wants to go, and it will be a burden

side note: Jesus should be the only burden you bear

colt that had not ben riding

The assignment is not about you

People were cheering, shouting, praising, but not because of the donkey

your job is to give people an opportunity to see Jesus, recognize Jesus, praise Jesus

you are a part of the story, but it is not your story, it’s His story

You are to be a person of peace

Kings rode donkeys when coming in peace, horses in time of war