People have done incredible things in the world. The following message is from Pastor Greg Middlestetter’s sermon at the Eugene, Oregon Seventh-day Adventist church on Sabbath, 26 December 2015.
A Cast of Nobodies
God does things differently. We are one year closer to the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. God’s thoughts & thinking are beyond our comprehension.
Pastor Greg shared about how he felt overwhelmed one Sabbath when four of the Arise Pastors were all sitting in the sanctuary listening to his sermon. Jesus birth in Bethlehem is an example of God using ‘Nobodies’ to accomplish miraculous events.
Isaiah 9:6
For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us;
And the government will rest on His shoulders;
And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.
When the King of the Universe appeared, don’t you think that event should have made big news? God sent Jesus to this world through an average young woman named Mary. Mary was no one special.
Luke 1:30
The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; for you have found favor with God.
Joseph was an unknown person. He was not wealthy or top 10. God comes to us when our heart is willing.
This is how God uses people in the world. God picks people, gifts them with skills and uses the people’s talents for His work.
Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the Lord with all your heart
And do not lean on your own understanding.
6
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He will make your paths straight.
Joseph depended on God. He followed God’s call.
The shepherds were also considered nobodies and were picked by God to welcome Jesus. The wise men were different. Their customs, language, and religion were wrong but God used them to fund Jesus’ parents.
Elizabeth and Zechariah were the ordinary parents of John the Baptist who was Jesus’ cousin. God picks ordinary people to do big things in the world. God looks for faithful hearts.
The good news of Christmas is that God Loves Us & Can Use Us to do big things where you are in the world.
Just pray & open a conversation with God. All you have to say is: God Use me.
Jeremiah 29:11-13
For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope. 12 Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.
God communicates with us through these three channels:
1. His Word in the Holy Bible
2. Through Prayer
3. Through Nature