My mind seems to work between several tangents whenever considering a topic. So, while I was listening to Brian talk about how the church needs to turn to prayer for EVERY need (not only our own, but the needs of our brothers as well), but I also found myself considering two other tangents.
- In Acts 4:13, Peter and John are referred to as "unlearned and ignorant men". As Brian mentioned, the term ignorant in the Greek is "idiotes" similar to our modern day word "idiot". Its funny to me how God seems to choose the most incapable to accomplish his works. In Judges 7, God chose to reduced the size of Gideon's army from 12,200 men to 300 men to stop Israel from "vaunt themselves against me, saying, Mine own hand hath saved me." A great article that sums this up can be read here: http://showcase.netins.net/web/agros/pastlitt.htm. So, whether your an idiot, small in stature, lacking resources, or whatever your excuse is that God cannot use you to accomplish his will, remember that God uses idiots. In fact, he seems to prefer to use incapable people, leaving on-lookers to no other conclusion than what was done was done by the hand of God. This is a great reminder to be humble. I hope there never comes a day where someone thinks I did something great. I hope people see great things I've been involved in and say, "surely God was at work here!"
- Although Brian was calling us to Prayer, I recalled last weeks sermon when Brian said there comes a time for every man to say "as for me and my house". I am to lead my own house to be a place of prayer. Although I have spoken to God as long as I can recall, however I've always had great difficulty with praying publicly, or out loud with others. This may be because we didn't pray out loud much when I was growing up (other than at the supper table) I plan to pray with my wife and kids more often. Even now, writing this, it seems like such a silly hurdle, and I can't explain why it is so difficult, but it always has been.
