ORDINARY MEN AND EXTRAORDINARY DEEDS
ORDINARY MEN AND EXTRAORDINARY DEEDS
God uses the unexpected, unimpressive, and inexperienced to accomplish remarkable things. Simple men were used by God to lay foundation for the church. A fine example is the shepherd boy David. David was smaller in stature / status but stood up for his people, his God and defeated Goliath.
What made this shepherd boy dare Goliath? In OT 1Sam. 16:13-14 says that the Spirit of the Lord rushed upon David. The Holy Spirit made all the difference. Saul (1 Sam. 16:13-14) also mentions that the Spirit departed Saul. The contrast between Saul and David was not their position; it was their spirit. We’re told that the Spirit rushed upon David, while the Spirit departed from Saul. One man was Spirit-filled and led. The other was without Spirit.
What spurred those simple men who dared persecution, stood up against the powers and take stand. NT we are told the Holy Spirit, they received the power to be witnesses for Jesus Christ because of the coming of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost. (Acts 1:8).
God’s spirit coming on David and on the people gathered in a prayer room in Jerusalem spurred zeal, faith and wisdom.
God’s Spirit spurs Zeal.David could not tolerate abuses hurled at Israelites and their God. So “He was stirred to the depths with concern for the glory of God.” Disciples were stirred by what they have seen and stood up for God, committed for the glory of God. What is stirring you? Are you stirred to the depths for the glory of God? Do you hide out in your tent, your library, your office, or are you incited with zeal for the Lord to pursue his glory through counseling, discipleship, mission, and preaching? Are you passionately pursuing God’s glory or your own glory?
God’s Spirit spurs Faith.God doesn’t look at appearances, but at the heart. God chose those twelve ordinary men and God chose David. Men would not have chosen those twelve; Saul would not have chosen David, cos we are motivated by fear, not by faith. God chooses men for his work and encourages them. Saul discouraged young leaders like David not to fight Goliath because he was motivated by fear, not faith. Men laughed at the twelve, mocked them, but they stood by what is true. God Spirit spurred faith. Are you leading your church or leaders based on fear or faith? Do you insist on control or let go of it to let others rise up in faith? Are you judging by appearances or looking at the heart?
God’s Spirit spurs Wisdom.David’s faith was marked by self-control and tempered by wisdom. When mocked by his brothers, he didn’t pick a fight or defend his abilities. So did the twelve, they did not pick a fight, but channeled their energies to tell the truth. The Spirit produces leaders that are balanced and discerning, not merely zealous and faith-filled. They don’t get side-tracked by petty issues, We need wisdom to discern what voices to listen to and which ones to shut out. We don’t entertain every idea. We follow the Spirit through wisdom, not ambition.
My prayer is God makes us zealous, faith-filled, and wise to lead well and finish strong, ever dependent upon the Spirit. Ask God He will give you power to witness Christ boldly (Acts 4:31).
God uses the unexpected, unimpressive, and inexperienced to accomplish remarkable things. Simple men were used by God to lay foundation for the church. A fine example is the shepherd boy David. David was smaller in stature / status but stood up for his people, his God and defeated Goliath.
What made this shepherd boy dare Goliath? In OT 1Sam. 16:13-14 says that the Spirit of the Lord rushed upon David. The Holy Spirit made all the difference. Saul (1 Sam. 16:13-14) also mentions that the Spirit departed Saul. The contrast between Saul and David was not their position; it was their spirit. We’re told that the Spirit rushed upon David, while the Spirit departed from Saul. One man was Spirit-filled and led. The other was without Spirit.
What spurred those simple men who dared persecution, stood up against the powers and take stand. NT we are told the Holy Spirit, they received the power to be witnesses for Jesus Christ because of the coming of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost. (Acts 1:8).
God’s spirit coming on David and on the people gathered in a prayer room in Jerusalem spurred zeal, faith and wisdom.
God’s Spirit spurs Zeal.David could not tolerate abuses hurled at Israelites and their God. So “He was stirred to the depths with concern for the glory of God.” Disciples were stirred by what they have seen and stood up for God, committed for the glory of God. What is stirring you? Are you stirred to the depths for the glory of God? Do you hide out in your tent, your library, your office, or are you incited with zeal for the Lord to pursue his glory through counseling, discipleship, mission, and preaching? Are you passionately pursuing God’s glory or your own glory?
God’s Spirit spurs Faith.God doesn’t look at appearances, but at the heart. God chose those twelve ordinary men and God chose David. Men would not have chosen those twelve; Saul would not have chosen David, cos we are motivated by fear, not by faith. God chooses men for his work and encourages them. Saul discouraged young leaders like David not to fight Goliath because he was motivated by fear, not faith. Men laughed at the twelve, mocked them, but they stood by what is true. God Spirit spurred faith. Are you leading your church or leaders based on fear or faith? Do you insist on control or let go of it to let others rise up in faith? Are you judging by appearances or looking at the heart?
God’s Spirit spurs Wisdom.David’s faith was marked by self-control and tempered by wisdom. When mocked by his brothers, he didn’t pick a fight or defend his abilities. So did the twelve, they did not pick a fight, but channeled their energies to tell the truth. The Spirit produces leaders that are balanced and discerning, not merely zealous and faith-filled. They don’t get side-tracked by petty issues, We need wisdom to discern what voices to listen to and which ones to shut out. We don’t entertain every idea. We follow the Spirit through wisdom, not ambition.
My prayer is God makes us zealous, faith-filled, and wise to lead well and finish strong, ever dependent upon the Spirit. Ask God He will give you power to witness Christ boldly (Acts 4:31).
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