“And he found a new jawbone of an ass, and put forth his hand, and took it, and slew a thousand men with it. And Samson said, with the jawbone of an ass, heaps upon heaps, with the jaw of an ass have I slain a thousand men.” Judges 15:15-16
The Spirit of God came upon Samson and then God used him with this asses jawbone to accomplish an impossible feat. With this jawbone he slew 1000 Philistines. God loves to use insignificant and weak things to confound the wise in this world. He loves to use ‘asses’ like you and I to achieve His purposes. An ass is a cross between a donkey and a horse and many of us at times may feel like we fall into this category. At times we may even think we look like one, but be encouraged for God loves using ‘asses,’ all He wants is for us to be available.
“Then the angel of the Lord moved on ahead and stood in a narrow place where there was no room to turn, either to the right or to the left. When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, it lay down under Balaam, and he was angry and beat it with his staff. Then the Lord opened the donkey’s mouth, and it said to Balaam, “What have I done to you to make you beat me these three times?” Numbers 22:26 - 28
God caused Balaam’s ass to prophecy to this disobedient Prophet. If God can do this then He can use you. Notice that it’s not only an ass doing the talking but a female one as well, amazing! Lol. You may think you are just a ‘nothing,’ but with God you have everything you need for life and godliness and He can use you to slay more than 1000 Philistines and uncircumcised ones at that.
“Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” Zechariah 9:9
In this verse we see that Jesus used an ordinary donkey to ride triumphantly into Jerusalem and not on a beautiful white stallion as many others would have. Again we see that you don’t need to be a ‘stallion’ a ‘show pony’ or a ‘war horse’ to be used by God, just an available donkey.
We need to be set free from the idea that God only blesses perfection. Perfectionists can have a miserable existence. Yes we must try our best but we need to be set free from thinking that we need to be super talented and greatly experienced before God will use us. Remember that God responds to and blesses faith rather than works.
“I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by believing what you heard?” Galatians 3:2
There are so many disillusioned Christians out there who live with a sense of failure because their prayers seem to have been apparently unanswered. They may have tried to believe God for things but because circumstances haven’t changed over a few months they feel God doesn’t like them, or they have sinned in some way or this Christianity thing is just too hard.
The problem is caused by the society in which we live. Today we live in an ‘instant pudding’ world where everything has to get sorted out straight away or before the movie comes to an end (as problems do in movies.) Don’t forget we are the Children of Abraham who was the Father of Faith and he had to wait a long time for Isaac the promised child to be born. He didn’t think he was a failure after waiting 10 years or that he had sinned in some way. During this waiting time he had to learn to enjoy the ride.
We subconsciously think that if God is with us then where are the miracles, healings and visions? You may say that you are not seeing them in your life so God isn’t here with you, but this is not true. God is with you in the midst of the nappies, crying and noise. He’s also on the tube, at work, in the traffic jam and even in the busyness of life. In fact He’s inside of you going through it with you.
There is a more subtle lie that is being bred through the media and that is that is the idea that we don’t have enough. Advertising is constantly telling you that your look like an ass and need a nip and a tuck. You need a new car, new clothes, manicure, and even a new body. In fact you are inferior. You’re an Ass. This is a lie, for as a Christian you have more than enough already in Christ.
Stuttering Moses was told by God to deliver Israel but he said that he couldn’t do it and that God must get someone else. God said “What is that in your hand?” It was a stick of wood. God went on to say that with this stick He would deliver Israel. God loves to use asses and those that are as thick as a plank of wood to do great things for Him.
“Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up, “Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?” Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” There was plenty of grass in that place, and they sat down (about five thousand men were there). Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish. When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, “Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.” So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten.” John 6:5-13
We see in these verses that God used a little boy’s lunch to feed 5000 people. 5 loaves and 2 small fishes in the hands of God can do the trick every time. How much more use are you to God than a dead fish and sliced bread? With God you are more than enough. The Devil has tricked us into believing that we can’t do anything but just waste oxygen every day. The bible says that you can do all things through Christ.
“I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13
You may say, “If only I was that other person, had a different body, had different parents, or was of a different pedigree. If only I was in a different time period, a different Church, or been to that conference I’d be able to do it.” It’s not true for with God you can do all things; He made you for His glory. You have more than enough right now! Instead of looking at all the False Evidence Appearing Real (FEAR) start fostering a positive bible based attitude and PRAISE God. Stop concentrating on the things that you don’t have and start praising God for all that you have.
“In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18
Give thanks in everything - the good and the bad. We have so much to give thanks for and praise encourages God’s presence and develops a relationship with Him.
“But you are holy, O you that inhabits the praises of Israel.” Psalm 22:3
Praising God for the good and also the bad things brings us onto another level, that confounds the enemy and makes us strong to do exploits, but this requires faith. Remember that God can work everything together for our God.
“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God (Praise God), to them who are the called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28
God is not just in the Signs and Wonders, but also in the Mistakes and Blunders.
God is so big that He can work out everything for good, even through our faults and mistakes. Knowing this sets you free from the destructive ‘Perfectionist’ syndrome. You will not only be able to laugh at yourself but also the Devil as well and this really is powerful stuff. If an ass could prophecy with God’s anointing how much more can you laugh under God’s anointing?
My desire is to see a ‘People of Praise’ in the Church. Not a perfect people or glamorous stallions, but available praising asses, with Jesus on board riding them into Jerusalem. I want a people that are not so much problem conscious, sin conscious or devil conscious but a people who are Christ conscious.
Christ conscious in all the situations they find themselves in and especially conscious of the Christ within. Knowing Christ within is very important for when you really do you can do all things. With a people like this you don’t need a perfect marriage, perfect family or even a perfect world anymore and you definitely don’t need a Perfect Church either.
Being organised and well structured is great but it’s only part of the solution. What we really need is a bunch of loving, available donkeys who know that God will come through for them. A people that may not look like the cast of some TV sitcom but those that know who they are in Christ and know what He has done for them.
Stop thinking that God is a million miles away and doesn’t like you because you’re just an ass and start praising God for all you have outwardly. And more than just outwardly, start acknowledging the Christ within you right now. Christ in you the Hope of Glory, the Hope of Healing, the Hope of Financial Blessing and the Hope of Success. The Kingdom of God isn’t out there somewhere it’s within.
“Behold, the kingdom of God is within you.” Luke 17:21
We think that to really live we need to be somewhere else; to go and bungee jump off the Victoria Falls, climb Mt. Kilimanjaro or snorkel in Coral Reefs off the Gold Coast of Australia. These are all great adventures but if you really want to live then you need to ‘know’ God. You can have peace like a river and joy unspeakable even in your own home today. Christ is your home. It can happen if you humble yourself and look at what’s in your hand right now. Look at what’s in your life – Jesus. Rebuke Satan’s lies. What you have is more than enough. Even if you were a donkey God can still use you.