I’M HERE. Three simple words – “Here I am” – and they mean – I am available – I am available to listen – I am available and willing to listen to what YOU are saying to me – and what YOU have to say to me.
When we speak these words, we never know where they will lead us, or what the consequences will be, yes, even in 2021.
What do we do when we hear the voice of God, when we know that this is God speaking to me, doing something to get my attention, control my life, my talents and gifts?
What happens when I say to God: “Here I am”?
1 – I can make a sacrifice that I never thought I could make. That may not be the best start to a message, perhaps one should begin with a blessing, but this is a blessing! Look again at Abraham – Some time later, God tested Abraham. He said to him: “Abraham!” “I’m here,” he replied. Then God said: Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains that I will tell you about. Genesis 22v. 1 and 2
God does not test us to qualify us, but to make us grow and develop.
Matthew 10 verse 39 – Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. This is the beginning of the cross. I give up something to receive something much better. GOD gives it back in ways we could never imagine, but it starts with sacrifice.
Jacob gave up his schemes – Joseph gave up his dreams – Moses gave up Pharaoh’s palaces – David gave up that desire to build the Temple for God – Matthew gave up his job as a tax collector – Peter gave up his nets – Paul gave up to their religion – Mary gives her son. Everybody gave something, everybody knew something about the sacrifice, so God gives something back.
Couldn’t we miss the sacrifice part? No! We relinquish control and God gains control, and God does something.
Romans 12 verse 1 – I exhort you brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice holy and pleasing to God – which is your spiritual worship.
2 – “Here I am” – means that I am facing a fear that I thought I could never face.
JACOB – Wrestled with God – his name means ‘scheming’ – but then God gives him a new name – Israel.
And God spoke to Israel in a vision at night and said, “Jacob! Jacob!” “I’m here,” he replied. “I am God, the God of your father,” he said. Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, because there I will make you a great nation. I will go down with you to Egypt, and I will certainly bring you back. Genesis 46 verses 2 to 4.
This was the one place he was never supposed to go!
What is the one thing you would never want to do? Where is the one place I never want to go?
3 – “Here I am” – I see a miracle that I thought I would never see otherwise.
Moses – When the Lord saw that he had come to look, God called him from inside the bush: “Moses! Moses!” And Moses said, “Here I am.” “Come no closer,” said God. “Take off your sandals, because the place where you are is holy ground.” exodus 3 verse 4
40 years in the Pharaoh’s Palace – 40 years in the desert tending sheep.
MOSES asks 4 questions – Who am I? Who are you? What about them? How about this? This problem – the weakness I have – the fight?
Remember and consider the miracles that Moses saw over the years.
4 – “Here I am” – I hear a message that I never thought I would hear.
1 Samuel 3 verse 4 – Samuel – Then the LORD called Samuel. Samuel replied, “Here I am.” When GOD speaks to you, it can sound like someone else, or it can sound like someone else, instead of you.
The voice of God, the call of God, can ruin your plans, hopes and ambitions.
5 – “Here I am” – I’m going to a place I never thought I’d go.
Isaiah 6 verse 8 – Isaiah has this vision – he hears this voice – Then I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: “Whom can I send? Who will go for us?” So I said, “Here I am. Send me!”
We tend to say, “That’s a good question. I’m going to consider that question. I’ll give it to you at some point. I’ll get someone to consult me on this.”
God doesn’t do that – God doesn’t need to consult – He needs obedient servants.
6 – “Here I am” – I trust a promise I never thought I could trust.
Luke 1 v35, 37 and 38 – consider Mary.
The angel replied: “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the Holy One who will be born will be called the Son of God. For nothing is impossible with God.” “I am the servant of the Lord,” answered Mary. “Let it be to me as you have said.”
This is the promise of a virgin birth – Mary is about 14 or 15 years old – she is betrothed to Joseph. The words are slightly different from “Here I am”, but the sentiment is the same.
Some may consider that they have been too sinful and therefore unworthy; others may consider them to have been a failure or have made too many mistakes or have too many flaws.
“I am a failure, I have always been a failure, I will never be anything and I will never do anything with my life.”
That is no longer true when we say “Here I am” to God, when God calls.
7 – I serve a person whom I never thought I could serve.
Acts 9 verses 10 and 11 – Ananias There was a follower of Jesus in Damascus named Ananias. The Lord spoke to Ananias in a vision, “Ananias!”
Ananias replied, “Here I am, Lord.” The Lord told him, “Get up and go to Straight Street. Find the house of Judas and ask for a man named Saul, from the city of Tarsus.”
At that time, Ananias did not know the end of the story, we do. Ananias becomes involved right at the beginning of Saul’s Christian life. Ananias had to go and confront Saul of Tarsus – and serve Saul of Tarsus. Saul was healed, and Saul was baptized, because Ananias went and served.
8 – I find a JOY that I never thought I would find – JESUS.
Actually it is Jesus who finds us – people may say at first that they have found God, or that they have found Jesus – but soon they realize that it is Jesus who has come to look for us – and to call us. This is what the resurrection is all about: He is available to enter any church, in any life by the Holy Spirit.
Revelation 3 verse 20 has to do with Jesus wanting to enter the Church – to be allowed to enter His Church! “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in and eat with you, and you will eat with me.”
I am available – I am willing to listen – I am willing to serve – I am willing to trust – I am willing to go.
“Here I am” – willing to sacrifice myself – I have strength and courage to face fears.
“Here I am” – ready to see miracles – and hear a message I never thought I’d hear – and go and do what I never thought I could go and do.
“Here I am” – ready to trust God’s promises – and perhaps serve someone I thought I would never serve – and enjoy that Joy that is in Jesus Christ, and all the other blessings of GOD.
January 2021 – “Here I am” – when God calls – when Jesus chooses – it is because there is a very real need – and he wants you to be part of his plan and purpose.
Please answer carefully.