Sermon Central
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Use What You Can
Contributed by Don Hutto on Apr 12, 2001 (message contributor)
Summary: God uses what He can to show that Jesus is Christ.
Use What You Can
I. Introduction:
The ’60s were an exciting time in America and nothing was more exciting than the Space Program. The bravest men and the brightest minds were brought together to solve the most complicated challenges man has ever faced. Some of the by-products of the space program that benefit us even today are the microprocessor, the felt-tipped pen, and Velcro.
Not only did the space race afford us the opportunity to develop new and exciting products. It also taught us to use what we can to get the job done. For example, when Apollo 13 was limping home to earth after a catastrophic disaster in outer space clean air levels in the craft were running perilously low. Oxygen from the command module had been lost during the explosion that forced the crew men to return home. Canisters containing certain chemicals that acted as "scrubbers" to remove carbon dioxide from the air were available on the lunar module, but, being designed by a different company for a different unit
of the craft, they did not fit the existing system. To be blunt, the astronauts needed to fit a square peg in a round hole.
The greatest minds of NASA were put to work to solve the problem. And they came up with a solution! What was it? Duct tape! That’s right. The very same product anyone raised in the Ozarks or on a farm would have thought of to begin with. We know that anything can be repaired with baling wire and duct tape. It may seem unusual to use duct tape to repair a disabled space module, but Apollo 13 returned home and what might have been a great tragedy turned into a great triumph because sometimes you just have to use what you can.
God uses some unusual things to get His work done, too. This morning we will consider three things God used to identify the King of Kings.
II. The Colt
It seems unusual that God would use a colt to identify Jesus as the Christ because the colt was
A. Unattractive. The colt of a donkey is plain, even funny looking. It does not have the regal bearing of a stallion.
B. Unridden. Animals do not take lightly to being ridden by men without a great deal of training.
III. The Crowd
It seems unusual that God would use a crowd to identify Jesus as the Christ because this crowd was
A. Unaware. They were unaware of who Jesus truly was and His true purpose for coming into Jerusalem.
B. Unpredictable. Possibly many of the same ones who cried "Hosanna" would also cry "Crucify!"
IV. The Cross
It seems unusual that God would use a cross to identify Jesus as the Christ because the cross was
A. Unmerciful. The word "excruciating" means "out of the cross."
B. Unforgiving. No one, upon being crucified, had a second chance. Yet by His crucifixion, Jesus bought a second chance for us all.
V. Conclusion:
It seems unusual that God would use a colt, but you use what you can to reveal the Sovereign Royalty of Christ.
It seems unusual that God would use a crowd, but you use what you can to reveal the Steadfast Resolve of Christ.
It seems unusual that God would use a cross, but you use what you can to reveal the Sacrificial Response of Christ. He used the unmerciful and unforgiving cross to show His mercy and forgiveness.
