Expose Yourself.
“And the man and his wife were both naked, and were not ashamed.”-Genesis 2:25
No, I’m not advocating going streaking in church, but I believe we can learn a lot from the mistake of Adam and Eve. God placed them blameless and pure in the garden. They were in perfect communion with God the Father, but it did not take long before the serpent crept in; and whispered words of deceit in their ears. They listened to him instead of their loving heavenly Father, and lost the innocence and purity that they were created with. Ever since that time man has been playing hide and seek with God. We only want to expose ourselves to God when we think we are being good enough, but in reality we are never good enough. Isaiah 64:6 says, “For all of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment; and all of us wither like a leaf, and all our iniquities like the wind take us away.” Nothing we ever do can make us worthy to stand before God, but still we continue playing the game that began in the garden of Eden with Adam and Eve who tried to hide from God because they were ashamed, and has continued until today. I want to look at a few examples of what God can do with ANYONE who exposes themselves before God, and trusts Him to use them.
Moses was born to a Hebrew maidservant, and through events was discovered by Pharaoh’s daughter. He was raised in the royal house of Egypt, but because he killed an Egyptian that was mistreating a Hebrew he was exiled. He went to the land of Midian where he was used by God to free the Hebrew people. I’m sure that many of you may know the story, but I want to talk about it for a minute because it is such a beautiful picture of God’s grace. Moses tried and tried to get out of the mission that God, but every excuse Moses gave God countered. Finally, Moses pulled out his “trump card”, and figured this would be the final word because God could not, Moses thought, counter this play. Moses said in Exodus 4:10, … Please, Lord, I have never been eloquent; neither recently nor in time past, nor since Thou hast spoken to Thy servant; for I am a man slow of speech and slow of tongue.” Moses said I’m worthless to you God, and there is nothing good in me. Even though Moses was right, and there was nothing good in him God took him, and through his faithfulness, or exposing himself, God used him to deliver the Hebrew nation from Egyptian captivity.
In Judges 6 we see how the Lord visited Gideon. At the time of God’s visit to Gideon, Israel was under siege by the Midianites, and when the angel of God came to Gideon he greeted Gideon by calling him a valliant warrior. Gideon was in a winepress beating out wheat. He was trying to separate the wheat kernels’ from the shucks. This is dusty/dirty work that should be done outside, but Gideon was afraid that the Midianites might discover what He was doing and confiscate the separated wheat. Basically, Gideon was getting nasty and breathing in dust because he was a coward; so when the angel called him a valiant warrior he must’ve been shocked. He was cowardly,in himself; but because he was able to put away his own feelings, and expose himself to God the Lord used Him to defeat the armies of Midian.
When Jesus, God in the flesh, came to this earth,; He used ordinary men with faults and failures to turn the world upside down because they were willing to expose themselves, and admit their faults, but they totally relied on His strength. He can use you to, if you are willing to admit that you make mistakes; and expose your vulnerability before Him.
Father, I ask that You take my vulnerabilities, and use them for Your glory as I expose myself before You.
In Jesus’ name, Amen
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Yes, You Can Ministry 