Why Not Us? Why Not Now?

SENT, Part 2

Have you ever been voluntold?

You step out of a meeting for two minutes. When you come back, you're in charge of the potluck.

Nobody checked your resume. You were just the one who was there.

Ever feel unqualified for what's in front of you? Peter knew that feeling.

The Last Guy You'd Pick

The fire has fallen. A crowd is gathering. Somebody has to explain what's going on.

"Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd" (Acts 2:14).

Peter. The fisherman who had denied Jesus a few weeks earlier. His opening argument? These people aren't drunk. "It's only nine in the morning!" (Acts 2:15).

Later, the religious leaders called Peter and John "unschooled, ordinary men." But they also noticed "these men had been with Jesus" (Acts 4:13).

Peter's past had not disqualified him. Empowered by the Spirit, he stood up and pointed the crowd to Jesus.

Do Not Disturb

Your phone has a setting called Do Not Disturb. It stays charged and connected, but the calls go unnoticed.

We can live our faith that way. We believe. We attend. But when obedience interrupts our plans, we silence the call.

Peter picked up.

The Shoe Store

In 1855, a Boston Sunday school teacher named Edward Kimball decided to visit one of his students at work, a young clerk in his uncle's shoe store.

Kimball second-guessed himself so much that he walked right past the store. Then he turned around, went in, found the young man in the back, and talked to him about Christ's love. The clerk gave his life to Jesus.

That clerk was D. L. Moody, who went on to preach to huge crowds in America and Britain.

Almost everybody knows Moody. Hardly anybody knows Kimball. He wasn't impressive. He was available.

More Than Availability

Peter did more than volunteer to speak. He proclaimed Jesus: crucified, raised from the dead, and exalted. He called his listeners to repent and be baptized (Acts 2:22-38).

Availability matters because it makes room for obedience. But Jesus is the message.

You may never address a crowd. You can still listen to a coworker, invite a neighbor to lunch, or explain why you trust Jesus.

Nobody Skipped

Peter quoted the prophet Joel: "I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams" (Acts 2:17).

Young or old. Experienced leader or just beginning. Your age or personality doesn't put you beyond God's use, and Sheridan isn't beyond His reach.

Just a Witness

"God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of it" (Acts 2:32).

The apostles were eyewitnesses of the resurrection. We share their message, and we can speak honestly about what Jesus has done in our lives.

The man born blind put it simply: "One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!" (John 9:25).

About 3,000 people responded to Peter's message that day (Acts 2:41). That day. Not someday.

If God worked through an ordinary fisherman, why not us? Why not now?

Bring It Home

1. Get off Do Not Disturb with God.
2. Each morning, before you check anything, pray four words: "Lord, I'm available today."
3. Write your 60-second story: life before Jesus, how you met Him, what's different now.
4. Be ready for the one person who needs to hear it.

God doesn't send the impressive. He sends the available.

And if you've never called on Jesus yourself, the promise Peter proclaimed is for you: "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved" (Acts 2:21).

Come Home

We're walking through the book of Acts in our series SENT. Join us Sundays at 10:00 a.m. at 501 S Main Street in Sheridan.

Let's Pray

Lord, I'm available today. Not when I'm ready. Today. Amen.

#Jesus_NtheKnow