The Common People

1. The Common People • Two of the best know and perhaps best liked boys in literature are Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn. Mark Twain must have had a wonderful childhood or a very vivid imagination to be able to write so much about these to scalawags. As he relates it, one day the governor came to town. Tom and Huck were mightily disappointed because the governor was not 25 feet tall and he lived in a house with a tin roof!

2. The Common People • We sometimes fall into the same error of thinking that great things are done by larger-than-life-people. This often leads to excusing ourselves from grand labors because we are so ordinary. But Abe Lincoln was recognized as very common looking. He said, "God must have loved the common looking man, for He made so many of us!”

3. The Common People • When we look at dogs in the show ring, we are impressed with what beauty and grace they have, yet it often takes a completely different kind of dog to do the real work. Tennessee Walking horses are beautiful animals, but put them in a harness hooked to a plow and they won’t be able to do the work.

4. The Common People • The Lord's work also demands a special type of person. Yet it is a person that He made in abundance!

5. The Common People • God Frequently Used Common People • Amos was a farmer, yet chosen to speak for God - Amos 7:10-17

6. The Common People Then Amaziah the priest of Bethel sent to Jeroboam king of Israel, saying, "Amos has conspired against you in the midst of the house of Israel. The land is not able to bear all his words. 11For thus Amos has said: 'Jeroboam shall die by the sword, And Israel shall surely be led away captive From their own land." 12Then Amaziah said to Amos: "Go, you seer! Flee to the land of Judah. There eat bread, And there prophesy. 13But never again prophesy at Bethel, For it is the king's sanctuary, And it is the royal residence." 14Then Amos answered, and said to Amaziah: "I was no prophet, Nor was I a son of a prophet, But I was a sheepbreeder And a tender of sycamore fruit. 15Then the LORD took me as I followed the flock, And the LORD said to me, 'Go, prophesy to My people Israel.' 16Now therefore, hear the word of the LORD: You say, 'Do not prophesy against Israel, And do not spout against the house of Isaac.' 17Therefore thus says the LORD: 'Your wife shall be a harlot in the city; Your sons and daughters shall fall by the sword; Your land shall be divided by survey line; You shall die in a defiled land; And Israel shall surely be led away captive From his own land.'" Amos 7:10-17

7. The Common People • God Frequently Used Common People • Elisha was also a farmer, but his influence was felt from widows to kings - 1 Kings 19:19; 2 Kings 4:1; 5:8

8. The Common People So he departed from there, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he was with the twelfth. Then Elijah passed by him and threw his mantle on him. 1 Kings 19:19 A certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets cried out to Elisha, saying, "Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that your servant feared the LORD. And the creditor is coming to take my two sons to be his slaves." 2 Kings 4:1 So it was, when Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes, that he sent to the king, saying, "Why have you torn your clothes? Please let him come to me, and he shall know that there is a prophet in Israel." 2 Kings 5:8

9. The Common People • God Frequently Used Common People • Moses was raised in king’s palace, yet had to be purified as a shepherd 40 years before leading God's people. Note: God used shepherd frequently

10. The Common People • God Frequently Used Common People • John the Baptist was so common Jesus rebuked the people for expecting anything else - Matt 11:7-11

11. The Common People As they departed, Jesus began to say to the multitudes concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? 8But what did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft garments? Indeed, those who wear soft clothing are in kings' houses. 9But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and more than a prophet. 10For this is he of whom it is written: 'Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, Who will prepare Your way before You.' 11Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.” Matthew 11:7-11

12. The Common People • Jesus Lived And Worked With Common People • He was born in a stable

13. The Common People • Jesus Lived And Worked With Common People • Shepherds, not kings, announced His birth

14. The Common People • Jesus Lived And Worked With Common People • He was trained as a carpenter, not particularly attractive - Isa 53:1-3

15. The Common People Who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed? 2For He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant, And as a root out of dry ground. He has no form or comeliness; And when we see Him, There is no beauty that we should desire Him. 3He is despised and rejected by men, A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. Isaiah 53:1-3

16. The Common People • Jesus Lived And Worked With Common People • He chose men from common ranks, not elite (fishermen, publicans, tentmakers) - Act 4:14

17. The Common People And seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it. Acts 4:14

18. The Common People • What Does It All Mean? • This lesson is not to be as poor and ignorant as possible in hopes of serving God • No special virtue in either poverty or ignorance

19. The Common People • What Does It All Mean? • This lesson is not to be as poor and ignorant as possible in hopes of serving God • Must not hope to serve God by huddling in a dark corner, renouncing all worldly possessions and shunning all contact with the lost world.

20. The Common People • What Does It All Mean? • This lesson is not to be as poor and ignorant as possible in hopes of serving God • Being a common man does not mean that at ALL.

21. The Common People • What Does It All Mean? • What it DOES mean is this: we must seek to please God and not ourselves, no matter what social status is.

22. The Common People • What Does It All Mean? • When we have His will in our hearts then He can use us to do great things

23. The Common People • What Does It All Mean? • Peter wasn't a preacher, he was an uneducated fisherman (if we were door-knocking, would probably skip his door) • Jesus made him a fisher of men - Matt 4:18,19

24. The Common People And Jesus, walking by the Sea of Galilee, saw two brothers, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. 19Then He said to them, "Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men." Matthew 4:18-19

25. The Common People • What Does It All Mean? • Peter wasn't a preacher, he was an uneducated fisherman (if we were door-knocking, would probably skip his door) • Jesus made him a fisher of men - Matt 4:18,19 • This only happened AFTER his conversion

26. The Common People • What Does It All Mean? • We might not be corporate executives or company presidents...most aren't. We might not be doctors, lawyers, bankers...most aren't. (Affluence has affected the church)

27. The Common People • What Does It All Mean? • We MUST be Christ-like (remember Isa 53:1-3)

28. The Common People Who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed? 2For He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant, And as a root out of dry ground. He has no form or comeliness; And when we see Him, There is no beauty that we should desire Him. 3He is despised and rejected by men, A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. Isaiah 53:1-3

29. The Common People • What Does It All Mean? • When we have our Lord's desire to do God's will, then He can use us to His glory and power

30. The Common People • What Does It All Mean? • Remember: God took Peter where he was and used those abilities for His glory (outspoken..Act 2)

31. The Common People • What Can Common People Do? • Let's not think we are of no use to the Lord because we have little wealth, education or talent. • The only deficiency that can prevent our serving God is LITTLE FAITH.

32. The Common People • What Can Common People Do? • Edward Everett Hale: “I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything but still I can do something; and because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do something I can do.”

33. The Common People • What Can Common People Do? • Again, what can we do? Evaluate Your Gifts - Rom 12:4-8

34. The Common People For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, 5so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. 6Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; 7or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; 8he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness. Romans 12:4-8

35. The Common People • What Can Common People Do? • Again, what can we do? Evaluate Your Gifts - Rom 12:4-8 • Do what God expects of ALL Christians • Worship faithfully...no special talent required • Study and pray regularly (the more we study, the more we see to do) • Live pure lives...talent or wealth not required • Be kind, thoughtful, helpful • Give as prospered (remember widows, Macedonians)

36. The Common People • What Can Common People Do? • Again, what can we do? Evaluate Your Gifts - Rom 12:4-8 • Bring others to the Lord • Hannah brought Samuel - 1 Sam 1-3 • Andrew brought Peter - John 1:41-42

37. The Common People And he brought him to Jesus. Now when Jesus looked at him, He said, "You are Simon the son of Jonah. You shall be called Cephas" (which is translated, A Stone). 43The following day Jesus wanted to go to Galilee, and He found Philip and said to him, "Follow Me." John 1:42-43

38. The Common People • What Can Common People Do? • Again, what can we do? Evaluate Your Gifts - Rom 12:4-8 • Take some initiative • Joseph asked for Christ's body - Mk 15:43-45

39. The Common People Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent council member, who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God, coming and taking courage, went in to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. 44Pilate marveled that He was already dead; and summoning the centurion, he asked him if He had been dead for some time. 45So when he found out from the centurion, he granted the body to Joseph. Mark 15:43-45

40. The Common People • What Can Common People Do? • Again, what can we do? Evaluate Your Gifts - Rom 12:4-8 • Take some initiative • Priscilla and Aquila corrected Apollos - Act 18:24-26

41. The Common People Now a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man and mighty in the Scriptures, came to Ephesus. 25This man had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things of the Lord, though he knew only the baptism of John. 26So he began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Aquila and Priscilla heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately. Acts 18:24-26

42. The Common People • What Can Common People Do? • Again, what can we do? Evaluate Your Gifts - Rom 12:4-8 • Take some initiative • Some sit on their hands because never given anything to do • Whose job is it to parcel out the work (who told Good Samaritan to take care of man) • Each bee has to find his own flower and bring honey to the hive. • Use the opportunities God gives you - Gal 6:10; Eph 5:16

43. The Common People Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith. Galatians 6:10 redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Ephesians 5:16

44. The Common People • What Can Common People Do? • Working people are happy people • Idleness is still the devil's workshop • The church grows strong when members are contributing, not sapping, strength

45. The Common People • Give yourself to God and let Him make of you what He wills - 1 Cor 1:26-31

46. The Common People For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. 27But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; 28and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, 29that no flesh should glory in His presence. 30But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God--and righteousness and sanctification and redemption-- 31that, as it is written, "He who glories, let him glory in the LORD.“ 1 Corinthians 1:26-31