God needs you. That really sounds presumptuous doesn't it? And if you said about yourself it would be very arrogant. Let’s change that statement to God want’s and needs you. Doesn’t sound so bad now does it?
Ephesians 3:20 (NLT) Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.
This scripture tells us that God's power depends on us, these jars of clay full of imperfections. Amazing isn’t it?
2 Corinthians 4:7 (HCSB)7 Now we have this treasure in clay jars, so that this extraordinary power may be from God and not from us.
He has always worked that way. From Adam and Eve, to Noah, to Abraham, to the disciples, to Paul, and to you and me.
Let’s be completely honest, God is holy, eternal, almighty, and totally self-sufficient. He doesn't need any created being, but we do need Him. We and all of creation depend on God for all the things of life..
Psalm 104:14 (HCSB)14 He causes grass to grow for the livestock and ⌊provides⌋ crops for man to cultivate, producing food from the earth, 27 All of them wait for You to give them their food at the right time. 29 When You hide Your face, they are terrified; when You take away their breath, they die and return to the dust.
God really doesn’t need us but by His grace He has chosen to use us.
Luke 19:40 (HCSB) He answered, “I tell you, if they were to keep silent, the stones would cry out!”
Think about it! The Creator of the universe wants, needs, and uses us. He is all-powerful and doesn’t need to depend on any creature yet, He has chosen to mankind to carry out His plans. If He didn’t need or use us He would have taken us to be with Him as soon as He saved us. He wants, needs and uses us show the way to salvation and eternal life with Him through His Son Jesus.
Matthew 28:18-20 (HCSB)18 Then Jesus came near and said to them, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.19 Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,20 teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
We call this the “Great Commission”, the Apostle Paul calls it our “ministry of reconciliation”.
2 Corinthians 5:18-21 (HCSB)18 Everything is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation:19 That is, in Christ, God was reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed the message of reconciliation to us.20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, certain that God is appealing through us. We plead on Christ’s behalf, “Be reconciled to God.”21 He made the One who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
Ephesians 3:20 (NLT) Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.
This scripture tells us that God's power depends on us, these jars of clay full of imperfections. Amazing isn’t it?
2 Corinthians 4:7 (HCSB)7 Now we have this treasure in clay jars, so that this extraordinary power may be from God and not from us.
He has always worked that way. From Adam and Eve, to Noah, to Abraham, to the disciples, to Paul, and to you and me.
Let’s be completely honest, God is holy, eternal, almighty, and totally self-sufficient. He doesn't need any created being, but we do need Him. We and all of creation depend on God for all the things of life..
Psalm 104:14 (HCSB)14 He causes grass to grow for the livestock and ⌊provides⌋ crops for man to cultivate, producing food from the earth, 27 All of them wait for You to give them their food at the right time. 29 When You hide Your face, they are terrified; when You take away their breath, they die and return to the dust.
God really doesn’t need us but by His grace He has chosen to use us.
Luke 19:40 (HCSB) He answered, “I tell you, if they were to keep silent, the stones would cry out!”
Think about it! The Creator of the universe wants, needs, and uses us. He is all-powerful and doesn’t need to depend on any creature yet, He has chosen to mankind to carry out His plans. If He didn’t need or use us He would have taken us to be with Him as soon as He saved us. He wants, needs and uses us show the way to salvation and eternal life with Him through His Son Jesus.
Matthew 28:18-20 (HCSB)18 Then Jesus came near and said to them, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.19 Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,20 teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
We call this the “Great Commission”, the Apostle Paul calls it our “ministry of reconciliation”.
2 Corinthians 5:18-21 (HCSB)18 Everything is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation:19 That is, in Christ, God was reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed the message of reconciliation to us.20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, certain that God is appealing through us. We plead on Christ’s behalf, “Be reconciled to God.”21 He made the One who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
God Wanted and Needed Man for Specific Assignments
He needed man to take care of His creation.
Genesis 1:26 (HCSB) Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness. They will rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, the livestock, all the earth, and the creatures that crawl on the earth.”
He needed a man to stem the tide against the godlessness of His people.
Ezekiel was writing and prophesying at an early time in during the Babylonian exile. His prophecies predicted the fall and restoration of Israel. This scripture says that the Lord looked for a man to a man to stem the tide of ruin and turn the fortunes of the people, but there wasn’t one. He needed a man.
Ezekiel 22:30 (HCSB) I searched for a man among them who would repair the wall and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land so that I might not destroy it, but I found no one.
He needed a man to minister to His people.
On the other hand when God again needed a man to minister to His people He asked Isaiah and this time He found one.
Isaiah 6:8 (HCSB) Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying: Who should I send? Who will go for Us? I said: Here I am. Send me.
God needed a man to reconcile mankind to Himself.
Galatians 4:4-5 (HCSB)4 When the time came to completion, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the law,5 to redeem those under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.
Philippians 2:5-11 (HCSB)5 Make your own attitude that of Christ Jesus,6 who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be used for His own advantage.7 Instead He emptied Himself by assuming the form of a slave, taking on the likeness of men. And when He had come as a man in His external form,8 He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death— even to death on a cross.9 For this reason God highly exalted Him and gave Him the name that is above every name,10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow— of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth--11 and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Jesus Wants and Needs Man
Matthew 4:18-22 (HCSB)18 As He was walking along the Sea of Galilee, He saw two brothers, Simon, who was called Peter, and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the sea, since they were fishermen.19 “Follow Me,” He told them, “and I will make you fish for people!”20 Immediately they left their nets and followed Him.21 Going on from there, He saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and his brother John. They were in a boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and He called them.22 Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed Him.
Jesus needed men to “fish for people”. The invitation to “follow me” resulted in constant companionship with Jesus and training that would result in them accomplishing the “Great Commission”
Matthew 10:2-4 (HCSB)2 These are the names of the 12 apostles: First, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother;3 Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus;4 Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed Him.
Jesus told His disciples to ask for help because there was a need for more men to help harvest the lost thus accomplishing the “Great Commission”..
Matthew 9:36-38 (HCSB)36 When He saw the crowds, He felt compassion for them, because they were weary and worn out, like sheep without a shepherd.37 Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest is abundant, but the workers are few.38 Therefore, pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest.”
Workers are what God wants and needs. He doesn't need spectators. Although He can do it all by Himself He wants us to work with Him. God wants to work with man who He created in His own image.
Genesis 1:26 (HCSB) Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness. They will rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, the livestock, all the earth, and the creatures that crawl on the earth.”
The angels even envy us because God want, needs and uses us.
1 Peter 1:10-12 (HCSB)10 Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that would come to you searched and carefully investigated. 11 They inquired into what time or what circumstances[a] the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating when He testified in advance to the messianic sufferings[b] and the glories that would follow.[c] 12 It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you. These things have now been announced to you through those who preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Angels desire to look into these things.
He needed man to take care of His creation.
Genesis 1:26 (HCSB) Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness. They will rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, the livestock, all the earth, and the creatures that crawl on the earth.”
He needed a man to stem the tide against the godlessness of His people.
Ezekiel was writing and prophesying at an early time in during the Babylonian exile. His prophecies predicted the fall and restoration of Israel. This scripture says that the Lord looked for a man to a man to stem the tide of ruin and turn the fortunes of the people, but there wasn’t one. He needed a man.
Ezekiel 22:30 (HCSB) I searched for a man among them who would repair the wall and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land so that I might not destroy it, but I found no one.
He needed a man to minister to His people.
On the other hand when God again needed a man to minister to His people He asked Isaiah and this time He found one.
Isaiah 6:8 (HCSB) Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying: Who should I send? Who will go for Us? I said: Here I am. Send me.
God needed a man to reconcile mankind to Himself.
Galatians 4:4-5 (HCSB)4 When the time came to completion, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the law,5 to redeem those under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.
Philippians 2:5-11 (HCSB)5 Make your own attitude that of Christ Jesus,6 who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be used for His own advantage.7 Instead He emptied Himself by assuming the form of a slave, taking on the likeness of men. And when He had come as a man in His external form,8 He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death— even to death on a cross.9 For this reason God highly exalted Him and gave Him the name that is above every name,10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow— of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth--11 and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Jesus Wants and Needs Man
Matthew 4:18-22 (HCSB)18 As He was walking along the Sea of Galilee, He saw two brothers, Simon, who was called Peter, and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the sea, since they were fishermen.19 “Follow Me,” He told them, “and I will make you fish for people!”20 Immediately they left their nets and followed Him.21 Going on from there, He saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and his brother John. They were in a boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and He called them.22 Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed Him.
Jesus needed men to “fish for people”. The invitation to “follow me” resulted in constant companionship with Jesus and training that would result in them accomplishing the “Great Commission”
Matthew 10:2-4 (HCSB)2 These are the names of the 12 apostles: First, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother;3 Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus;4 Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed Him.
Jesus told His disciples to ask for help because there was a need for more men to help harvest the lost thus accomplishing the “Great Commission”..
Matthew 9:36-38 (HCSB)36 When He saw the crowds, He felt compassion for them, because they were weary and worn out, like sheep without a shepherd.37 Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest is abundant, but the workers are few.38 Therefore, pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest.”
Workers are what God wants and needs. He doesn't need spectators. Although He can do it all by Himself He wants us to work with Him. God wants to work with man who He created in His own image.
Genesis 1:26 (HCSB) Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness. They will rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, the livestock, all the earth, and the creatures that crawl on the earth.”
The angels even envy us because God want, needs and uses us.
1 Peter 1:10-12 (HCSB)10 Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that would come to you searched and carefully investigated. 11 They inquired into what time or what circumstances[a] the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating when He testified in advance to the messianic sufferings[b] and the glories that would follow.[c] 12 It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you. These things have now been announced to you through those who preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Angels desire to look into these things.
And having chosen them, he called them to come to him. And having called them, he gave them right standing with himself. And having given them right standing, he gave them his glory.
When God Needs You He’ll Call You
Just as Jesus called Peter, Andrew, James, John, and His other apostles, He will call you when He needs you. When He calls you don’t hesitate because you don’t think you you’re qualified because He will equip you with whatever you need in order to accomplish what He needs you to do.
2 Corinthians 3:4-6 (HCSB) 4 We have this kind of confidence toward God through Christ.5 ⌊It is⌋ not that we are competent in ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves, but our competence is from God.6 He has made us competent to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter, but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit produces life.
He’ll equip you first with the Holy Spirit;
Ephesians 1:13(HCSB) When you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and when you believed in Him, you were also sealed with the promised Holy Spirit.
Then with Spiritual Gifts;
Ephesians 4:7 (HCSB) Now grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of the Messiah’s gift.
It’s harvest time and God needs you.
This from the devotional “Lent for Everyone” by Tom Wright “Whenever God does something new, he involves people — often unlikely people, frequently surprised and alarmed people. He asks them to trust him in a new way, to put aside their natural reactions, to listen humbly for a fresh word and to act on it without knowing exactly how it's going to work out.”
You may be small in your own eyes, but God needs you!
Yours is a mission you alone can fill,
Whether it be to build or teach or till;
Your goal may still be hidden from your view,
But somewhere God has urgent need of you. —Thayer
God is looking for ordinary people for extraordinary work. He’s looking for you.
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