All Bible
verses are from NIV if not otherwise mentioned.
Matthew 10:29-31
29 Are
not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground
outside your Father’s care.
30 And
even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
31 So
don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.
Here is a sermon against fear.
He encourages them not to fear by two
striking considerations:
1.
God took care of
sparrows, the smallest and least valuable birds
2.
God numbered even the
very hairs of the head.
God has concerns about even the least living
thing in this world.
Psalm 139:1-24
14 I praise you because I am fearfully and
wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that
full well.
17 How precious to me are your thoughts, God! How
vast is the sum of them! (Or How amazing are your thoughts
concerning me)
The Psalm conveys two messages for a
careful reader.
1.
God knows everything
about you
2.
You are
so special among all the billions of people so that He takes a special care
about you.
WHY GOD IS SO PARTICULAR ABOUT YOU?
Why cannot He let you go?
Because:
You are unique
There is no one else like you.
You are remarkable, unduplicatable, and
miraculous thing.
Of all the people who have come and gone on
the earth, since the beginning of time, not ONE of them is like YOU!
No one who has ever lived or is to come has had
your combination of abilities, talents, appearance, friends, acquaintances,
burdens, sorrows and opportunities.
No one’s hair grows exactly the way yours
does.
No one’s finger prints are like yours.
No one laugh or sneeze the way you do.
No one prays about exactly the same concerns
as you do.
No one is loved by the same combination of
people that love you!
No one before, no one to come
YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY UNIQUE!
You were meant to be different.
Nowhere ever in all of history will the same
things be going on in anyone’s mind, soul and spirit as are going on in yours
right now.
If you did not exist, there
would be a hole in creation, a gap in history, something missing from the plan
for humankind.
No one can reach out to others in the same
way that you can.
No one can speak your words.
No one can convey your meanings.
No one can comfort with your kind of comfort.
No one can bring your kind of understanding
to another person.
No one can be cheerful and lighthearted and
joyous in your way.
No one can smile your smile.
No one else can bring the unique impact of
you to another human being.
YOU
ARE UNIQUE WITH A UNIQUE MISSION
Psalm 139:17 How precious to me are your thoughts, God! How
vast is the sum of them! (Or How amazing are your thoughts
concerning me)
Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope
and a future.
God has a purpose for your life, a mission to
fulfill
It is unique mission, only you can do it.
It you do not do it, it will
lay undone for ever!
Because No one can fulfill the mission the
way you can.
SUBSTITUTE
PERSON IS SUBSTITUTE WAY
God can find substitute persons with
substitute ways to realize His plans.
But cannot workout in the way He could do it
through you.
Because every one is UNIQUE
God's plans are not even dependent upon human
beings.
When Jesus entered Jerusalem and was He hailed
with Messianic references.
Jesus told his critics that if His disciples
keep silent at that time, the stones themselves would announce Him if the
people did not the Messianic entrance.
But in a different way, a
substitute way
Luke 19:37-40
37 When
he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole
crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the
miracles they had seen:
38 “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Peace in heaven and glory
in the highest!”
39 Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke
your disciples!”
40 “I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones
will cry out.”
Mission for the Promised Land
The mission to deliver and inhabit the
Promised Land fulfilled through three people.
One mission, three different people.
Moses was the national leader, God’s special
envoy to deliver Israelites from Egypt.
Aaron was the spokesman and assistant of
Moses, who later became the first High Priest.
Joshua led them into the Promised Land, led
the war to conquer and inhabit the Land.
Three had different character
And different mission
Creation of Adam and Eve
God created everything on earth by His word.
But He formed
Man out of the earth and breathed His soul into him.
Genesis 1:26,27
26 Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness,
so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over
the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move
along the ground.”
27 So God created mankind in his own image, in the
image of God he created them;
male and female he created them.
male and female he created them.
Genesis 2:7 Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust
of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man
became a living being.
God created more than one kind of all living
things
God created only one man, one kind.
There are many different kinds of animals,
birds and plants
Some can sing, others cannot
Some can swim, others cannot
Some can live in water, some live only on
earth and still others can live in both water and on earth.
But there is only one kind of man.
The creation of man is unique
Queen
Esther and Her Unique Mission
When Queen Esther resisted going to her
husband, the Persian king, to intercede for the Jews, her uncle Mordecai told
her:
Esther 4:12-14
13 he
sent back this answer: “Do not think that because you are in the king’s house
you alone of all the Jews will escape.
14 For
if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will
arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who
knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?”
God has placed you where you are now for a
unique mission.
Prophet
Jonah
God was insistent upon using Jonah for this
mission. None other would do.
Jonah 3:1,2
1 Then the word of the Lord came to
Jonah a second time:
2 “Go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim
to it the message I give you.”
When Jonah ran away from his assignment God
did not just write him off and calls another to take his place.
There were probably several other prophets
God could choose and who would be willing to preach to Nineveh.
God could have elected and prepared another
prophet even the before Creation itself.
But God insisted on Jonah.
Jonah was so out of synchronization with
God's heart.
Why would God insist on Jonah for this
mission?
Because He wanted it done in a
way Jonah would do it.
The
Calling of Moses
God called Moses to His Mission 6 times in a
single meeting (Exodus 3: 1 - 4:18)
God
has invested in us
God has been investing in Moses for the last
eighty years: 40 + 40 = 80
1. God created him an exceptionally
beautiful child.
Exodus 2:2 The woman conceived and gave
birth to a son; and when she saw that he was [especially] beautiful and
healthy, she hid him for three months [to protect him from the Egyptians]. (AMP)
Exodus 2:2 and she became pregnant and
gave birth to a son. When she saw that he was a fine child, she hid him for
three months. (NIV)
Exodus 2:2 “And the woman conceived, and bare a son:
and when she saw him that he was a goodly child, she hid him three months.” (KJV)
2. God protected Moses from the massacre of
babies.
3. God gave food, shelter and education and
training in the Egyptian Palace.
4. God gave him exceptional training as a
Shepherd for forty years.
None of Moses contemporaries, not even Aaron,
his cousin had such a background.
There was none like Moses among the whole
Israelites in Egypt.
Numbers 12:1-8
3 (Now Moses was a very humble man, more humble than anyone else on
the face of the earth.)
7 But this is not true of my servant Moses; he is faithful in all my
house.
Moses or NO the mission
If Moses did not take up the mission, there
would not have been an account of the deliverance of Israelites from Egypt as
we have now in Exodus.
Jehu
and his Unique Mission
2 Kings 9:17-20
20 The
lookout reported, “He has reached them, but he isn’t coming back either. The driving is like that of Jehu son of Nimshi - he
drives like a maniac.”
Jehu ben Nimshi was in fact the son of a man
called Jehoshaphat (not to be confused with Jehoshaphat king of Judah).
Nimshi was Jehu's grandfather, but he is
usually known as Jehu ben Nimshi.
He was one of the leading military officers
of Jehoram king of Israel , who had been campaigning against the Arameans in
Ramoth Gil'ad (in the Golan Heights).
Jehu was a bold, daring, prompt, and
precipitate general.
In his various military operations he had
established his character.
Now it was almost proverbial.
Events Surrounding the Time Period of Jehu
Elijah is three missions
When the prophet Elijah had asked to be
relieved of his ministry, God had told him to do three things:
1. Anoint Elisha as his successor
2. Appoint Haza-el as king of Aram
3. Anoint Jehu son of Nimshi as king of Israel
(I Kings 19:16).
Elijah and Elisha
Elijah's ministry was nearing its
end and so he anointed the young Elisha to be a prophet in Israel for the Lord.
It was at this time that Ahab was
king over the northern kingdom of Israel.
The time period was around 850
B.C.
King Ahab dies
King Ahab dies
The Syrians begin attacking
Israel, so Judah in the south comes to help fight the Syrians.
Ahab is scared of Elijah's
prophecy and disguises himself as a normal soldier.
In the midst of the battle a
stray arrow hits him, and later he dies.
Jehoram Becomes King
Jehoram Becomes King
Ahab's kingdom passes on to their
son Jehoram (or Joram).
But Jezebel was still the real
power behind the throne.
Elijah is Taken up in a Fiery Chariot
Elijah received a word from the
Lord, and Elisha came with him on his last journey.
They came to the Jordan River,
Elijah struck it with his cloak and the waters parted, and both of them walked
across on dry land.
Elijah asked Elisha if he had any
requests before the Lord took him away.
Elisha asked to be doubly
anointed as a prophet like Elijah so he could continue doing the work for the
Lord.
Elijah promised him, "if you
see me when I'm taken from you, it will be a sign that God has granted your
request."
Suddenly a chariot of fire came
down and took Elijah up in a whirlwind.
Elisha stood staring for some
time, then he reached down and picked up Elijah's cloak, turned and headed
back.
He struck the waters of the
Jordan River with the Elijah's cloak and the waters parted again.
The Prophet Elisha
The Prophet Elisha
News that Elijah was gone spread
quickly even to the palace of Queen Jezebel in Samaria, and she was very happy.
She began to rule Israel with an
iron fist, severely oppressing the people, even the poor.
Elisha helped many including one
poor woman by doing a miracle, he asked her to collect all the jars that she
could, and the Lord filled every jar with the finest oil in order for her to
pay the moneylender.
Elisha's fame spread everywhere
and especially his generosity and kindness.
He raised the Shunammites’ son from the dead
The poisonous pottage was healed
The loaves of bread were multiplied
The axe head was made to float
Water for the armies of Israel and Judah
He healed Naaman, the leprous the Syrian General
He revealed and thus helped to overthrow the King Syria’s plot to kill King Jehoram.
He revealed and thus helped to overthrow the King Syria’s plot to kill King Jehoram.
And many more ….
Hazael King of Syria
During this time Elisha journeyed
over 100 miles northeast to Damascus in Syria.
King Benhadad was very sick and
when he learned that Elisha was in Damascus.
He asked one of his court
officials named Hazael to have Elisha "inquire of the Lord" whether
he was going to recover or die.
Later that day Hazael found
Elisha.
The prophet told Hazael to tell
the king that he may recover, but he told Hazael that the king was going to
die.
Then Elisha looked at Hazael and
became very disturbed and broke into tears, Hazael wondered why he wept and
Elisha replied:
2 Kings 8:7-13
12 “Why
is my lord weeping?” asked Hazael. “Because I know the harm you will do to the Israelites,” he
answered. “You will set fire to their fortified places, kill their young men
with the sword, dash their little children to the ground, and rip open their
pregnant women.”
13 Hazael
said, “How could your servant, a mere dog, accomplish such a feat?” “The Lord has shown me that you will become king of Aram,” answered Elisha.
Jehu is Anointed King by Elisha
God had done many miracles to
show Israel that he is their true God.
But King Jehoram and his wife
Jezebel continued to worship Baal and built temples to Baal throughout Israel.
The Syrians began attacking
Israel again and Jehoram came to the battle and got wounded.
It was at this time that he put
his commander Jehu in charge at Ramoth Gil'ad and
returned to Samaria.
Jehu was approached by a young
prophet of God, sent by Elisha.
According to tradition prophet Jonah arrived
to carry out his secret mission, which was highly dangerous as he was
appointing Jehu to instigate a mutiny against the king.
Taking Jehu into an inner chamber, Jonah
delivered his prophecy and fled.
The prophet anointed him with oil
and said to him "thus says the Lord, I have anointed you to be king over
Israel to fight for those who worship me and to fight against those who worship
Baal."
Jehu took this responsibility
very seriously and went to kill Jezebel and her son Jehoram.
He asked the army of Israel if
they were with him, and they got excited saying "we are with you to a
man".
Jehu Comes to Kill Jehoram
Jehoram was in Jezreel when he
saw the army approaching.
He noticed Jehu driving very
swiftly, and thought he is bringing him news of the war.
Jehu was evidently a man of great strength
with his own brand of zeal for God.
With the new power that came from his
anointment by the prophet, he soon won over his fellow officers and quickly
master-minded a surprise assault on King Jehoram as he lay recuperating in
Jezre'el.
As Jehu rode with his band of men towards
Jezre'el, the city watchman saw them in the distance.
Before the watchman could identify them, the
king sent out successive horsemen to find out who they were and what they
wanted.
But instead of coming back, they joined the
advancing party.
Reporting this, the watchman said:
2 Kings 9:17-20
20 The
lookout reported, “He has reached them, but he isn’t coming back either. The driving is like that of Jehu son of Nimshi - he
drives like a maniac.”
This phrase graphically depicts the kind of
man Jehu was.
When King Jehoram himself came out towards
Jehu together with his brother-in-law, Ahaziah king of Judah , who had been
"visiting the sick.
He said to Jehu when he arrived,
"are you bring me news of peace?"
Jehu replied "how can there
be peace in Israel while you and your mother are worshiping Baal?"
Jehoram tried to
escape but was killed by Jehu.
Jehu's arrow struck Jehoram between the arms
and through his heart.
Jehoram's body was thrown out from his chariot into the Jezre'el field that had been the ancestral portion of Naboth, whom Jehoram's father Ahab had had killed in order to seize his vineyard (I Kings ch 21).
After killing Jehoram, Jehu now went on to
"cleanse" Israel of the sinful House of Ahab.
First he killed Jehoram's brother-in-law and
ally, Ahaziah king of Judah (v27-8).
Ahaziah had also followed the path of Ahab
and is said to have scratched out divine names from the Torah and replaced them
with the names of idols.
Jehu Comes to Kill Jezebel
Next Jehu turned his attention to the queen
mother, Jehoram's mother and Ahab's widow, the accursed Jezebel, who was in
Jezre'el.
Jezebel heard the news about her
son, and also that Jehu was coming for her next.
She slapped on her make-up, did up her hair
and called to him from her window.
She hoped to allure the man who had just killed
her husband into marrying her.
However, Jehu had sufficient zeal not to pay
attention to her enticements.
Jehu cried "who is on the
Lord side", the servants inside the palace pushed Jezebel out the window
and she died.
Elijah's prophecy had come true
and Baal worship was removed from Israel.
Idols were broken, and heathen
temples were destroyed, and made a place to dump refuse.
Every
Call Has Untold Details
Every person has a mission assigned by God
Every call or assignment has untold details
1.
We
must recognize our mission
Ephesians 4:11,12
11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists,
the pastors and teachers,
12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ
may be built up
2.
Do
not imitate
God has many apostles and many evangelists.
He added you to the group because He wanted
the Uniqueness in you.
So do not imitate.
Jesus is your reward.
He is your master.
He has assigned you the particular task.
And He knows how hard or soft is the task.
Fulfilling it is your only mission.
3. If you resist, the assignment
for you will lay undone
Because none else can do it.
Another person is another mission.
So accept His call.
Be yourself always.
Be confident of yourself; God wants the
uniqueness in you
Leave no reason to regret by looking at the
unfinished task when you will be in the Eternity
Fulfill your task.
No comments:
Post a Comment