Faithful Not Famous

In my last sermon, Serve, I has this quote from Martin Luther King Jr., “Not everybody can be famous but everybody can be great, because, greatness is determined by service”. There are many people in the Bible that were not necessarily famous people but they were faithful servants. Well actually they could be called famous because they are in the Bible, but they are not famous like Moses, Abraham, David, Peter, John, James, and Paul. They were what you could call “common” folk a lot like you and me. So let’s get into this.

John 1:35–42 NKJV

35 Again, the next day, John stood with two of his disciples. 36 And looking at Jesus as He walked, he said, “Behold the Lamb of God!” 37 The two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. 38 Then Jesus turned, and seeing them following, said to them, “What do you seek?” They said to Him, “Rabbi” (which is to say, when translated, Teacher), “where are You staying?” 39 He said to them, “Come and see.” They came and saw where He was staying, and remained with Him that day (now it was about the tenth hour). 40 One of the two who heard John speak, and followed Him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. 41 He first found his own brother Simon, and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which is translated, the Christ). 42 And he brought him to Jesus. Now when Jesus looked at him, He said, “You are Simon the son of Jonah. You shall be called Cephas” (which is translated, A Stone).

Andrew was Not Famous Like Peter!

Though Andrew was one of the twelve, he was not famous as his brother Peter was. In fact, he was known as Simon Peter’s brother. But he was also the one who brought Peter to Jesus. we know that in Matthew 16:13–17 (NKJV) it says that Jesus asked a question. Let’s read it.

13When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?”

14So they said, “Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”

15He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”

16Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

17Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.

But notice what Andrew said in our passage when he told Simon Peter about Jesus. “We have found the Messiah ( which is translated the Christ”) Not famous but faithful.

John 6:1–14 NKJV

1 After these things Jesus went over the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias. 2 Then a great multitude followed Him, because they saw His signs which He performed on those who were diseased. 3 And Jesus went up on the mountain, and there He sat with His disciples. 4 Now the Passover, a feast of the Jews, was near. 5 Then Jesus lifted up His eyes, and seeing a great multitude coming toward Him, He said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread, that these may eat?” 6 But this He said to test him, for He Himself knew what He would do. 7 Philip answered Him, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may have a little.” 8 One of His disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to Him, 9 “There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two small fish, but what are they among so many?” 10 Then Jesus said, “Make the people sit down.” Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand. 11 And Jesus took the loaves, and when He had given thanks He distributed them to the disciples, and the disciples to those sitting down; and likewise of the fish, as much as they wanted. 12 So when they were filled, He said to His disciples, “Gather up the fragments that remain, so that nothing is lost.” 13 Therefore they gathered them up, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves which were left over by those who had eaten. 14 Then those men, when they had seen the sign that Jesus did, said, “This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world.”

Andrew was Practical!

Jesus asked Philip a question about the situation and Philip answered with what they didn’t have. But Andrew being faithful, told Jesus what they did have and asked what could they do with so little and so many. He was practical. I’ll let Jesus know what we have and He’ll provide what we need. We provide what little we have, talent, finances, limited knowledge, lack of experience, whatever we have and Jesus does the rest. Not super spiritual but practical, not famous but faithful. Here’s another example of someone who is faithful but not famous. In fact, we don’t even know her name.

Matthew 15:21–28 NKJV

21 Then Jesus went out from there and departed to the region of Tyre and Sidon. 22 And behold, a woman of Canaan came from that region and cried out to Him, saying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! My daughter is severely demon-possessed.” 23 But He answered her not a word. And His disciples came and urged Him, saying, “Send her away, for she cries out after us.” 24 But He answered and said, “I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” 25 Then she came and worshiped Him, saying, “Lord, help me!” 26 But He answered and said, “It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the little dogs.” 27 And she said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.” 28 Then Jesus answered and said to her, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour.

Zero Qualifications!

She wasn’t even a Jew. She was a Canaanite woman. She didn’t have the qualifications to even come to Jesus. In fact, the disciples urged Jesus to send her away. What was different about her? She was a faithful mom! She wouldn’t give up on her daughter. Her faithfulness, yes she was full of faith, caused Jesus to notice and grant her what she wanted. A healed daughter! One more.

Matthew 8:5–13 NKJV

5 Now when Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to Him, pleading with Him, 6 saying, “Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, dreadfully tormented.” 7 And Jesus said to him, “I will come and heal him.” 8 The centurion answered and said, “Lord, I am not worthy that You should come under my roof. But only speak a word, and my servant will be healed. 9 For I also am a man under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” 10 When Jesus heard it, He marveled, and said to those who followed, “Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel! 11 And I say to you that many will come from east and west, and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. 12 But the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” 13 Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go your way; and as you have believed, so let it be done for you.” And his servant was healed that same hour.

No Name Centurion!

He is not even named in the Bible. He is just known as a centurion. He came to Jesus on behalf of his servant. Notice, Jesus told him that He would come and heal his servant. But this centurion understood Jesus’ authority and said he was not worthy to have the Messiah come to his house, just say the word. Just use your authority Jesus. Wow, this impressed Jesus. This was great faith that Jesus had not found even in all of Israel. Who was this centurion? Just someone who was faithful to his servant, remember servant of all if you want to be great, and full of faith in trusting Jesus. Let’s be like Andrew, the Canaanite mom and the Centurion. They were not famous, they were faithful!