Grow Small

Introduction: Grow Small

New Series - Grow Small; Personal growth, spiritual growth, X-ctr’d view

Big things happen in the world (war, rape, corporate greed, gov't, genocide)

I'm only one person, Low resources, insignif, I can't do anything; can't affect anything out there!

Never make diff?? Never do anything for God?? Have I got good news for you!

God Starts Small

Mustard Seed/Yeast

Matt 13:32 “Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches.””

Kingd. of God deceptively small at beginning… X’s ministry

Matt 18:20 “For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.””

Not mak'g consolation 4 sm. group (heard it, done it b4) — speaking power exists in sm. group of faithful!!

Unexpected, backwards… upside-down.

On earth, power assumed by majority, by strong, by the dominant! Not so in Kingd. of God.

Principle true all thru scripture. HOW God works.

God Uses Small People to do BIG Things

Moses: Had great opp. as prince, but not committed to YHWH; killed man, ran away, at bush DOUBTed — God est. him as a prophet, priest, great leader of millions of Jews

Gideon: Was “least of father’s house” & “least tribe”, doubted call — Lead, in weakness (300men) to overtake 300k!

David: Least of his father’s house, shrimpy & young, not battle-trained like brothers — Called “man after God’s <3”, united 12 tribes, push out giant clans from PL, incl. goliath

Solomon: Only child, given opp. to rec. bless, chose wisd. — Wisest & richest man ever lived, built YHWH’s 1st temple

Josiah: Only a child, wicked father murd. 8yo King — Heart softened to God’s word, undid wick’ss of his father & other kings, turn Isr. back to YHWH!

Disciples: Tax collector (traitor), brawlers (war dogs), simple tradesmen, a betrayer, NONE “made the cut” — Performed miracles & saw ppl set free, went on to start greatest mov’t in history!

1 thing notice... Most fell (Common reason: Stopped trusting in God, started overconf.)!

Moses (misrep'd God, angry w ppl); Gideon (After victory, idol - lead Isr. astray); David (murder man hide affair); Solomon (his love4 women lead him to other gods, discgraced); Disciples (at hr. X needed most, abandoned & denied him)

1 Cor 1:27 “But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.”

After calling the gentile X-foll “foolish” & “weak” & “powerless”… EXACTLY who God looks for!

Luke 18:17 “Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.””

Growing Pains: Difficulty in walking this out… “Great news… but!”

Prayer works!

James 5:16 “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.”

“Pray without ceasing”; Powerful & Effective. Works!

May not FEEL (see, taste, touch) like ur doing big thing… Bank acct. doesn’t add up… smarts not enough… been beaten down too many x… prayers not making diff… miss. giving not make diff.

Apoc: you ARE!

Takes faith to see/beleive. What we’re called to!

"God, Use Me!”

Isaiah 6:1-4 “In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him were seraphim, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. And they were calling to one another: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.” At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke.”

After, Isaiah thought he was going to die.

Angel purified his sins with a heavenly coal

Isaiah 6:8-9 “Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me!”…

All he needs is your willingness!

“You don't have to be primetime for God to use you big time!”

Be willing.

Before feet hit floor every AM, say: “How can u use me??” Honest prayer. “Use me today!” Don’t even set parameters maybe — listen & repeat.

Watch!

Watch for him to fulfill that desire — for HIS glory.

Opp 2: pray w some1, give $ to some1, care for needy, shoulder cry on, etc.

Salvation Call: to believe

Altar Call: For faith to be willing to be used…

For God to use me.

For God to meet me and bring healing,etc.