Everyone wants to be remembered for something great. Most people take an entire lifetime to merit entrance into the hall of fame. However, the Bible is filled with sterling examples of young people who earned hall of fame honors for their great faith.
Application: Do not wait until it is too late to make a lasting contribution for the cause of Christ and His kingdom. Do something similar to the following young people who overcame great odds to be remembered as men and women who rose above difficulties because they expected great things from God and attempted great things for God!
1. Jesus allowed the little lad with five loaves of bread and two fish to be recorded in history as one who was used of God in a great miracle (John 6:1-15)
A. Jesus wanted everyone to know that little becomes much when it is placed in the Master’s hand. (John 6:1)
B. Jesus wanted everyone to remember that the little lad would be used to challenge millions with his meager gift. (John 6:11)
C. Jesus wanted everyone to believe that the lad’s lunch would be sufficient to feed 5,000 when given completely over to the Lord’s control. (John 6:12,13)
2. The Lord used Meshach, Shadrack, and Abednego because of their great faith and obedience. (Dan. 3:12)
A. The Lord used the friends of Daniel because they were willing to die for their Lord
B. The Lord used the three friends because they refused to compromise their beliefs
C. The Lord used the three young men because they were willing to bring glory to God even in their death, suffering or public humiliation (Dan. 3:28,29)
3. The Lord used Caleb because he believed God for His promises
A. Joshua and Caleb are remembered because they exhibited great faith, courage and obedience to God’s grand purposes of advancement of His influence
B. Caleb was willing to be sent into dangerous Canaan as a spy for God’s people. (Num 13:1-3,6)
C. Caleb was saved from death and destruction by the miracle working God. (Num 14:10-12)
4. The Lord used Samuel as a young man because of His Godly Mindset
A. Samuel knew that his mother gave birth to him because of prayer and faith. (I Sam. 1:10-20)
B. Samuel knew that his entire life was dedicated to the Lord’s purposes and anything less would result in misery and failure
C. Samuel knew that God had called him to be His spokesman (I Sam. 3:18)
5. The Lord used Esther because she was willing to sacrifice her life for God’s purposes and people
A. Esther knew that God gave her beauty and everything to her for His glory and not her own. (Esth. 2:7,15)
B. Esther showed great wisdom, courage and discernment by warning King Ahasuerus of a plot against his life. (Esth. 2:22)
C. Esther gave the credit for the deliverance of her people and her life to God instead of using it for self-aggrandizement (Esth 7:3-7)
6. The Lord used David as youth because He believed God could use him to conquer all kinds of giants. (I Sam 17)
A. David quickly ran to the battlefront to face the giant Goliath because he represented opposition to the Lord and His people. (I Sam. 17:34,50,51)
B. David faced and defeated a lion and a bear because he knew God had given him great strength and skills to be used for God’s glory. (I Sam. 17:34-36)
C. David was chosen by the Lord to be Israel’s king because He was willing to build God’s kingdom and not his own. (I Sam. 16:12,13)
7. The Lord used Namaan’s maid because she was humble enough to be a great servant
A. Namaan’s maid served Namaan’s wife with humility, grace, and love. (2 Kings 5:2)
B. Namaan’s maid told Namaan’s wife that how her master could be healed because she was listening to God’s voice. (2 Kings 5:3)
C. Namaan’s maid was used of God to bring healing of Namaan of his leprosy - the most dreaded disease of the day. (2 Kings 5:14)
8. The Lord used the youthful disciples because they were willing to leave all and follow Jesus. (Matt. 4:19)
A. Peter, James and John left their families and their professions to follow Jesus.
B. The young disciples were willing to be melted and molded after Christ’s will
C. The Lord Jesus used a group of very young disciples to build the early Christian church movement.
Application: Great young people are the primary people that God is still calling to plant and grow new churches in fields that are still ripe for the harvest!
