WHEN GOD USES A BABY

Pastor Rick Jackson

Have you ever read something that just seemed to reach out and slap you in the face and say "pay attention"? As I explained in the earlier message that happened to me twice this week. Once with the phrase "the Lord hath need" and the other with the quote I am about to give you. In his comments on the book of Exodus Ray Stedman wrote, "When God wants to do something big, He starts with a baby. That's God's pattern. His modus-operandi. He uses the weak things, the simple things, the small things, to confound the great and the wise."

That's pretty thought-provoking is it not? And how true. We could show where God uses small things, weak things, etc. all through the Scripture but lets narrow the field a little bit and look at WHEN GOD USES A BABY!

I. GOD USED THE PROMISE OF A CHILD [Gn. 3:15]

1. To make a great man and a great nation [Gn. 12:1-2, 15:1-6, 18:9-15, 21:1-3]

2. To maintain faith in the face of fear or pleasure [Heb. 11:23-29]

3. To motivate dedication and determination [Judges 13:1-5]

II. GOD USED THE PRESENCE OF A CHILD

1. To answer a prayer [I Sam. 1:9-20]

2. To answer a kindness [II Ki. 4:8-17]

3. To anticipate a visitation [Lk. 1:11-17]

III. GOD USES THE POWER OF A CHILD

1. To provide a Heavenly Heritage [Ps. 127:3, Mal. 2:15]

2. To change a life [Gn. 5:21-22]

3. To redeem mankind [Mt. 1:21, Jn 3:16]