Our Greatest Ability
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While people are looking for a move of God, God is looking for a move of people.
When God decided to reward the charity and answer the constant prayers of a Roman soldier named Cornelius, as recorded in the tenth chapter of Acts, He first sent an angel. However this angel’s duties and privileges were limited. The angel was not sent to tell Cornelius the Gospel, but rather to point him to another person, the Apostle Peter in this case, who would reveal the plan of salvation to him and his household. It took some doing for God to convince Peter to go and witness to this Roman named Cornelius. (Acts 10)
This is repeated over and over again in the bible thus giving us a heavenly pattern of the Kingdom’s earthly affairs.
We see it with the Apostle Paul’s experience on the road to Damascus. The heavenly voice directed him to go into the city and await instruction from a man named Ananias. It took a few days before God convinced Ananias to go and witness to Paul. (Acts 9)
While people are looking for a move of God, God is looking for a move of people.
God moves through people, to people.
A move of God is not, as some would think, a great church service … but rather a move of God is a great life!
It may take 20 or 30 or 40 years to validate a true move of God!
True ‘revival’, as it is often referred to, is always accompanied by salvations, repentance and lasting commitments to God. True revival always results in changed lives.
Like I said: While people are looking for a move of God, God is looking for a move of people. People moving closer to Him and farther for Him.
How can we become what God is looking for?
I’m glad you asked! You see:
God moves through people, to people.
Turn in your bibles to the book of 2 Timothy.
2 Timothy 4 (KJV)
6 For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.
7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:
8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.
It is about the year AD 65. The Apostle Paul has almost finished his earthly life and ministry. He is in prison in Rome for his second and last time. Before he is executed for preaching the Gospel, Paul sits to write his spiritual son, Timothy, a last letter. (2 Timothy 4:6-8)
Timothy is still the pastor of the church in Ephesus. Paul so wants the kingdom message and mission to live on after his death. He has given his life for this cause and wishes for the church and the church leadership to remain strong and expanding.
From his prison, perhaps now in chains and ready to die, he writes:
2 Timothy 2 (NKJV)
1 ¶ You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
2 And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.
3 You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
4 No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier.
5 And also if anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules.
6 The hard-working farmer must be first to partake of the crops.
7 Consider what I say, and may the Lord give you understanding in all things.
Paul encourages Timothy to:
* Be strong
* Reproduce himself in others
* Endure hardships - don’t wimp out or quit because it gets hard
Then Paul explains that A good soldier, worker or athlete:
* Remains available
* Plays according to the rules
* Works hard
The major subject of this passage of scripture is thought to be found in verse 2:
2 Timothy 2:2 And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.
Paul instructs Timothy to commit the future of the church to faithful men … not just to able men.
Faithful means to be: Loyal and Available; Trusted and Present
* Not just that a person can do something, but that they are actually willing, trusted and present to see it is done and done right.
* God will make the faithful able.
God can give a person every ability except availability.
* Availability is what we give back to God.
Peter’s greatest ability in Acts 10 ended up being his availability. His willingness for God to use him to reach someone else. Even someone else not like him - a Roman soldier.
Ananias’ greatest ability ended up being his availability. His willingness for God to use him to reach someone else … the feared Saul of Tarsus, persecutor of believers … now the Apostle Paul!
Paul’s greatest ability was his continued availability to go where God sent and do what God needed.
Again God moved through the Apostle Paul late in his life to instruct and encourage Timothy so that Timothy would remain available for God to move through him to others and continue the process.
It’s the same today …
God moves through people, to people and your greatest ability is your availability.
Let’s offer our abilities to God right now, especially our availability.
While people are looking for a move of God, God is looking for a move of people.
God moves through people, to people.
Your greatest ability will always be your availability.
