An Available Heart
Abel Bonilla Preached on 9/6/2026John 6:4-9
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Summary
Pastor Abel Bonilla challenges the congregation to move beyond being passive observers and become active participants in God's Kingdom by cultivating a heart of availability. Drawing from the Parable of the Talents and the life of Isaiah, he emphasizes that our gifts are meant to serve the hungry and weary, not just ourselves.
Key points
- •Availability is the primary difference between those used by God and those who remain unused; warming a seat is not a calling.
- •The greatest enemy to spiritual availability is not the devil, but the flesh, which prefers comfort and leisure over kingdom work.
- •God often uses the least qualified people who are the most available, as seen in the examples of the boy with five loaves and two fish, and the calling of Isaiah.
- •Talents and blessings are not for self-consumption; like a tree, the fruit, shade, and strength we produce are intended for the hungry, weary, and weak around us.
- •Nothing happens in the Kingdom until something moves; we must intentionally negotiate our time and talents for God's use rather than burying them like the slothful servant.
Scripture
Purpose
Discipleship
Stewardship
Obedience
Spiritual Growth
Life application
Identify one talent or skill you have buried out of fear or busyness and commit to using it for the church or a neighbor this week. Whether it is administrative, musical, or the gift of encouragement, offer it to God with the prayer, 'Here I am, use me.'
Reflection questions
- In what ways has your 'flesh' or desire for comfort made you unavailable to God's calling recently?
- Isaiah responded to a general question from God rather than a specific command. Are you waiting for a 'special' call, or are you looking for needs you can fill right now?
- If your life is like a tree, who is currently eating your fruit or finding shade under your branches?
- Like the man with one talent, what are you afraid might happen if you truly made yourself available to God?
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Full transcript
0:00Amen. What an honor to be in the house
0:02of God. Amen. He is my rock. Is he your
0:04rock today? [music]
0:08We go to the rock of our salvation and
0:11that is Jesus [music] Christ.
0:14Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Amen. I want to
0:17go straight into the word of God. If you
0:18have your Bible there with you, I
0:20encourage you to open your Bible with
0:22me. Amen. The book of John, chapter 6,
0:27verse 4.
0:28If you do not have a Bible, Amen. We
0:31encourage you to reach out to a leader
0:32in this church and we will get you a
0:34Bible.
0:35>> Amen.
0:37>> I like the digital world. I appreciate
0:40the digital Bible, but ain't nothing
0:42like just carrying your physical Bible
0:45to church.
0:47Amen. Praise God for the word of God.
0:51John 6:4, the [music] Bible says, "Now
0:54the Passover, a feast of the Jews, was
0:56near. Then Jesus lifted up his eyes and
0:59seeing a great multitude [music]
1:00coming toward him, he said to Philillip,
1:04"Where shall we buy bread that these may
1:08eat?"
1:10But this he said [music] to testim, for
1:13he himself knew what he would what he
1:15would do. Philip answered him, "200
1:21dinari worth of bread [music] is not
1:23sufficient for them that every one of
1:26them may have a [music] little." One of
1:29his disciples, Andrew, Simon, Peter's
1:32brother, said to him, "There is a lad
1:36here who has five [music]
1:38barley loaves and two small fish,
1:42but what are they among so many?"
1:44[music]
1:46Just want to preach today, teach today,
1:48amen, for a couple of moments under
1:50[music] the subject, an available heart.
1:54Would you turn to your neighbor [music]
1:55and tell them an available heart?
1:59And I know we've worshiped. [music] I
2:01know we've prayed already, but I'd like
2:02for you to lift up your hands one more
2:04time and close your eyes. And would you
2:05pray [music] with me right now and say,
2:07"Father, in the name of Jesus, God, we
2:10thank you for what we feel in this
2:11house. I thank you for your presence.
2:14>> [music]
2:14>> I thank you Lord for the talents that
2:16are in this room. I thank you Lord for
2:19the availability that's in this room
2:21right now God. Lord I pray that you
2:23inspire us that your words become my
2:26words right now. [music] That your
2:27thoughts become my thoughts that your
2:30desires become my desires in this
2:32moment. Let us worship you Lord. Let us
2:35give unto you not just any praise but
2:38the highest praise Lord that you
2:40deserve. We give you all the glory. We
2:43give you all the praise, oh God. Uh
2:46every hand clap, every hallelujah, every
2:48amen belongs to you, Lord.
2:52Let your word, Lord, be settled in our
2:54hearts. In the name of Jesus, I pray.
2:57And the church of God says in Jesus
2:59name,
3:01you may be seated.
3:09We all know somebody
3:12that you can never really get a hold of
3:15them when you call them.
3:20We can all think of a person in this
3:22room that every time we attempt to reach
3:27out to them, either
3:30it could be a phone call, it could be a
3:32text message,
3:34like every time you call their phone,
3:37they don't answer.
3:39For those that prefer calls, now I know
3:42this world and the younger generation,
3:44they don't believe in phone calling
3:46somebody. They just believe in texting.
3:49I'm still of the idea of a phone call.
3:52You know, you'll get a lot more done in
3:53a phone call than in a text thread in my
3:56opinion. So, if you ever want to get a
3:58hold of me, feel free to call me.
4:02But you will typically get a uh uh their
4:05voicemail responder.
4:08You would hear something like, "I'm
4:09sorry I missed your call." Or you would
4:11hear something like, "I'm sorry I could
4:13not take your call in this moment." and
4:16you would hear something like, "I'm
4:17sorry. I'm not available to take your
4:20call right now."
4:23However, their lack of availability does
4:28not disqualify
4:30the fact that someone called.
4:36God is calling
4:38in this very hour, in this very night,
4:42this very year. 1 Corinthians chapter
4:457:1 17 says, "But as God hath
4:49distributed to every man, as the Lord
4:51hath called everyone,
4:54so let him walk." The Lord hath called
4:58everyone from the north to the south to
5:02the east and to the west. Uh everyone
5:05from previous generations, uh current
5:08generations, amen, uh future
5:10generations, uh centuries TO COME. HUH?
5:13GOD still calls today. Is anybody in
5:17this room thankful that God still
5:21speaks.
5:24Now I want you for a moment, if you
5:26would, would you stand right where you
5:29are and touch your warm seat.
5:33Come on, you got my permission to stand
5:35up now and touch your seat. Feels warm
5:38now. You may be seated.
5:45The difference between the used and the
5:48unused of God is the availability.
5:54>> Now, you had just felt your warm seat.
5:57And I want to tell somebody here today,
5:59warming a seat is not your ministry.
6:10Some of y'all thought you could get away
6:11with it, but we got you today
6:14>> in Jesus name.
6:17>> Warming your SEAT IS NOT YOUR CALLING.
6:21>> Some of us have confused coming to
6:23church and act uh we've act like acted
6:26like that IS OUR CALLING. JUST SHOWING
6:28UP. UH I'M NOT SAYING THAT THERE'S not a
6:30blessing when you show up. I believe
6:32there is a blessing uh when you show up.
6:34If you are sick, UH WHAT BETTER PLACE TO
6:37GO THAN THE HOUSE OF GOD, UH to receive
6:39your healing. Uh when you are feeling,
6:41amen, like the world is crumbling. UH
6:44AMEN. WHAT BETTER PLACE THAN THE HOUSE
6:46OF GOD UH TO COME AND RECEIVE a word OF
6:49HOPE. UH WHAT BETTER PLACE TO SHOW UP UH
6:52IN THE PRESENCE UH OF BELIEVERS UH THAT
6:55WORSHIP THE living God.
7:00>> I believe there's a special blessing
7:01when you show up. But I ASSURE YOU,
7:04AMEN. THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BEING USED
7:06BY God and unused of God, you can't be
7:11unused of God. But it's availability.
7:14That's the difference.
7:16In scripture, God repeatedly uses pe
7:19uses people who make themselves
7:22available for his kingdom. Even when
7:25they aren't super qualified, they're not
7:29experienced. They may not have uh ALL
7:32THESE IMPRESSIVE UH TITLES. AMEN. But
7:36the Lord is calling for somebody today.
7:45>> He made room for us. So why wouldn't we
7:48make room for him?
7:51>> I assure you. Amen. There's no greater
7:53thing than to get busy for the Lord.
7:55There's no greater thing than for you to
7:57go and teach a Bible study. Amen.
7:59There's no greater thing uh when you see
8:01the person you taught a Bible study go
8:03under the waters of baptism. Uh there is
8:06something so beautiful and so precious.
8:08Uh when you see God begin to use uh amen
8:12your brokenness. Uh when God begins to
8:14use your life uh YOU MAY THINK I'M NOT
8:17QUALIFIED. I'M NOT IMPRESSIVE. UH I
8:20DON'T HAVE ALL OF THIS EXPERIENCE,
8:21PASTOR BONIA. UH I DON'T HAVE THE LAST
8:24NAME. UH YOU CAN PLAY DRUMS. You can do
8:26ALL THESE THINGS.
8:28I CAN'T EVEN KEEP A BEAT.
8:32>> But I assure you, God wants to use you.
8:35>> Come on. I'm not just speaking to young
8:36people in this room right now. Uh I'm
8:38also preaching, amen, to some of our
8:40elders in the room. Uh you thought that
8:42your dreams were never GOING TO COME,
8:44AMEN, TO FLUITION. BUT LET ME TELL YOU,
8:47GOD STILL HAS YOU ON HIS MIND.
8:50[cheering and applause]
8:53>> GOD REPEATEDLY uses people that are
8:56available He made room for us. And we
8:59want to make room for him. BUT THE BIBLE
9:02TALKS ABOUT THREE ENEMIES. UH, three
9:05enemies of our soul, the world, the
9:08devil, and our flesh.
9:11>> The biggest enemy we face every day. Uh,
9:14it's not the devil.
9:16>> You're not that popular. The devil's not
9:18always on your back.
9:22>> Now, I've been preaching for a little
9:23bit. That's why I talk the way I talk.
9:25Amen. Some of y'all thinking, "Man, this
9:27this new pastor is a little too
9:31blunt." Well, I I believe we ought to be
9:33blunt in the house of God.
9:37>> The devil is after our soul. Yes, the
9:41world is the playground that the devil
9:44uses to confuse us. But I assure YOU,
9:47THE GREATEST BATTLE of your life uh is
9:50not going to be against the devil or
9:52against the world. The greatest battle
9:54you are going to live uh amen and you're
9:56going to have to overcome is your flesh.
10:00>> The person you see in the mirror every
10:03morning. Uh the person, Amen, that you
10:05smile at when you brush your teeth, UH
10:07AMEN, THAT IS your greatest enemy. Uh in
10:11many ways, amen. THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT
10:14SHOULD EXCEL IN GOD, BUT IT IS THEIR
10:16flesh
10:19>> that hinders that growth.
10:22This flesh is a problem. WE'RE
10:25COMFORTABLE. WE WANT THINGS OUR WAY. WE
10:27DESIRE TO DO IT OUR WAY. AMEN. WE ARE
10:30NOT THE PEOPLE OF STAGNANT WATERS. UH WE
10:33ARE the people of living waters.
10:37>> CAN I PREACH TO SOMEBODY ON THIS
10:39WEDNESDAY NIGHT? Uh I'm SO THANKFUL FOR
10:42ALL THE TALENT YOU HAVE. BUT IF YOU'RE
10:44NOT USING THAT FOR THE kingdom of God,
10:50>> there's a danger.
10:53>> Stagnant waters stink.
10:58Don't take it personal.
11:02And it's the truth. Living waters
11:06represent new life, represent growth.
11:10BUT IT IS OFTEN TIMES THAT THE FLESH
11:13GETS in the way of what God is trying to
11:16do. One of my favorite stories in the
11:19Bible, we read in the book of Isaiah,
11:22the calling of Isaiah was it's not it's
11:26one of my favorite scriptures and and
11:28and portions of scriptures. Amen. When I
11:30read this story, I'm just always so
11:32encouraged. In fact, I was 18 years old
11:34when I was wrestling uh with the calling
11:36of God over my life. I wasn't sure uh
11:39amen what I was going to end up doing.
11:41Uh and I remember reading this part of
11:43scripture uh when a young man a prophet
11:46amenia amen had an experience with the
11:49Lord. The Bible says uh in the king that
11:51and in the year that KING UZZIAH DIED I
11:54SAW THE LORD HIGH AND LIFTED up uh and
11:57his train filled the temple. The Bible
12:00says that this man had an EXPERIENCE
12:02WITH GOD UH THAT WAS SO INTENSE UH THAT
12:05WAS so great uh amen that he HEARD THE
12:08VOICE OF GOD.
12:12>> I've noticed
12:14the voice that he heard said whom shall
12:17I SEND AND WHO WILL GO for me?
12:22>> His voice WAS ASKING THIS QUESTION OR
12:24THESE QUESTIONS TO the choir.
12:28He wasn't specifically speaking to
12:30Isaiah. Now, I've always I've always
12:32interpreted this that ISAIAH WASN'T
12:35NECESSARILY CALLED BY GOD, AMEN,
12:37DIRECTLY. BUT THE LORD POSED THE
12:40QUESTION UH AND IT WAS ISAIAH THAT SAID,
12:42UH HERE I AM. Send me. Uh in other
12:47words, GOD, YOU HAVE A NEED. UH I'm
12:49available to fulfill THAT NEED. UH GOD,
12:52YOU ARE LOOKING FOR SOMEBODY TO USE. UH
12:55I am available. so that you can do what
12:59you want to do.
13:04>> Someone may argue with me today and say,
13:06"Well, preacher, if God wasn't really
13:08speaking to him, he would have never had
13:09that vision." You're right.
13:12The Lord was speaking to the heart of
13:15this man. And Isaiah's
13:19moment with God
13:22shook his life, transformed his world.
13:25The Bible says that he, AND I QUOTE,
13:27"HERE I AM. Send me." He was available
13:31to do something for the Lord.
13:36>> Second Timothy tells us about Paul
13:40describing the vessels in a great house
13:44and he says the sanctified vessel
13:48becomes
13:49meat for the master's use.
13:54It's talking about the availability. You
13:57can't just be called uh and do nothing
13:59with your calling.
14:02>> You can't just be called and do nothing
14:05with your calling. Listen to me. Uh
14:07amen. Every single person in this room
14:10has a talent.
14:13Every single one of us have a talent. We
14:16have a talent. Some of us can talk in
14:20ways that others can't.
14:23Some of us have talents, amen, that are
14:26administrative tal talents. Some of us,
14:29amen, are musically talented. Now, I
14:32know that in church, the musical talent,
14:35Amen, sometimes gets the most
14:39spotlight.
14:41>> That does not mean that the other
14:43talents mean less to God.
14:48>> I know I'm I'm getting in a little
14:49trouble in here. I feel like I'm getting
14:51a little in trouble in here. Amen. It's
14:52a little quiet in the room,
14:55>> but there are talents in this room.
14:57Amen. I'll tell you what is the greatest
14:59uh place on earth. Amen. As far as
15:02dreams, Amen. It is the cemetery.
15:09Many dreams that were buried when people
15:11were buried.
15:14PEOPLE THAT HAD INCREDIBLE TALENT,
15:16PEOPLE THAT HAD INCREDIBLE GIFTINGS FOR
15:18GOD. UH BUT YET THEY THOUGHT, WELL, GOD
15:21DOES NOT NEED ME OR MY FLESH IS GETTING
15:23IN THE WAY. AND IT IS SO EASY TO FALL
15:26BEHIND AND THINK UH THAT EVERYBODY else
15:29can live for God, can do SOMETHING FOR
15:32GOD, UH BUT not me.
15:36>> I want to stir the hearts of every
15:38person in this room. Uh I'm here to
15:39provoke a Christian uh in this room. I'm
15:43here to provoke amen a saint of the
15:45living God. Uh it IS TIME TO RISE UP AND
15:49IT IS TIME TO SAY, "LORD, I'm available
15:51for you. Uh I'm available for your
15:54kingdom. UH I WILL GO EVEN IF THEY DON'T
15:56WANT TO GO. UH I WILL LIFT UP MY VOICE
15:59UH EVEN IF THEY DON'T WANT TO LIFT UP
16:01THEIR VOICE. UH I WILL DO LORD WHAT
16:04OTHERS DON'T WANT TO DO
16:06>> because I'm available
16:09>> for you."
16:11availability speaks volumes
16:15in the heart of God.
16:17The Bible gives us insight in a parable
16:20of talents. Matthew chapter 25. And we
16:24know the story, but I'm going to read a
16:26portion of it here for us. For the
16:28kingdom of heaven is as as a man
16:31traveling into a far country, who called
16:34his own servants, and delivered unto
16:36them his goods.
16:38And unto one he gave, someone say with
16:41me, five talents.
16:45>> To another two, somebody say with me,
16:47two talents.
16:50>> And to another one or another one
16:53talent. Say with me, one talent.
16:56>> To every man according to, watch this,
17:00his several ability
17:03>> and straightway took his journey. Verse
17:0716 says, uh, "Then he that had received
17:10the five talents went and traded with
17:13the same, and made them other five
17:15talents." Uh, and likewise he that had
17:18received two, he also gained other two.
17:22Uh, but the one or But he that had
17:25received one went and digged in the
17:28earth and hid his lord's money.
17:35>> Verse 20. And so he that had received
17:37five talents came and brought other five
17:41talents, SAYING, LORD, THOU deliverest
17:43unto me five talents, uh, behold, I have
17:47gained beside them five talents more.
17:52>> His lord said unto him, well done, thou
17:55good and faithful servant. Thou has been
17:59faithful over a few things. Uh, I will
18:01make thee ruler over many things. Enter
18:04thou into the joy of the Lord. The same
18:08thing happened for the one that had two
18:10talents. Uh he produced another two
18:12talents, the Bible says. Uh Amen. And
18:15the the the Lord said the same things to
18:17him. Uh Amen. Enter thou into the joy of
18:21the Lord. Uh but then the person that
18:24had one talent
18:27>> came and said, Lord,
18:30I knew thee that thou art a a hard man.
18:34reaping where thou hast not sown, and
18:36gathering where thou hast not straw.
18:41And I was afraid, and went,
18:44and hid thy talent in the earth,
18:48lo there thou hast that is thine.
18:52His lord answered and said unto him,
18:54thou wicked and slothful servant, uh,
18:57thou knowest, that I reap where I sowed
19:00not, and gather where I have not TROD.
19:03UH, THOU OUGHTEST THEREFORE TO HAVE PUT
19:06MY money to the exchangers. Uh, and then
19:09at my coming I should have received my
19:12own with usery.
19:15Interest is the word there.
19:18Take therefore the talent from him and
19:21give it unto him which hath 10 talents.
19:25The Lord was upset when he found out
19:29that the one he gave one talent, instead
19:32of using that one talent,
19:36he decided to bury it
19:39>> because he was afraid.
19:43>> I feel the conviction of the Holy Ghost.
19:48As I think about the many talents that
19:51are sitting in this room right now,
19:55some of us have been the one of five
19:58talents, some the one of two talents,
20:03but there are a few in this room that
20:06you have one talent.
20:08And you think, Lord, what can I do with
20:10this one talent? Could you really use
20:15this one talent? What's interesting
20:18about the story that we just read uh and
20:20the scriptures I just read, amen, is
20:23that the Bible be begins to describe the
20:25marketplace. What was happening, Amen,
20:28in the marketplace with THE ONE THAT HAD
20:30FIVE TALENTS and the one that had two
20:32talents. WHAT THEY DECIDED TO DO WAS TO
20:35GO negotiate
20:38>> with what they had.
20:43Negotiation. The word negotiation comes
20:45from the Latin.
20:49Negotium.
20:53The first part means not.
20:56The other part means leisure.
21:00So in simple terms,
21:03no leisure. That's what negotiation
21:05means.
21:07There's work to be done.
21:11They decided that they would not sit
21:15idally with what God had given them.
21:21This is the dilemma here. This is what's
21:24interesting.
21:25Many of us in this room have talents.
21:29Every single person in this room, I
21:31assure you, you have something to offer
21:34God.
21:36You may think that in the eyes of man is
21:38not much. You may think, amen, that what
21:41you have is just not it's unimportant.
21:44You think, amen, that you cannot uh
21:46accomplish anything with it. Uh but so
21:48did the young lad that came to Jesus
21:51with bread and fish.
21:56I want to encourage you to this very
21:58night that what you have you bring to
22:01the Lord
22:04>> in your hands. It may not mean much
22:08>> but in the hands of God it can be
22:10multiplied
22:11>> in your purview. It may not mean a lot
22:14uh but when you give it to God uh and he
22:17begins to multiply uh and he begins to
22:20see what you cannot see uh and his plans
22:23uh begin to move and shift UH AND THEN
22:25IT TURNS OUT HIS PLANS UH ARE HIGHER
22:28THAN YOUR PLANS UH AND THEN YOU DON'T
22:30UNDERSTAND WHY UH BUT HIS WAYS are
22:40>> you ought to bring it to the Lord.
22:44So they went and they negotiated.
22:46They decided they were not going to sit
22:49and wait, but I must do something for
22:54the Lord.
22:56I know big day is coming up and we are
22:57excited. And Saturday we're going to do
22:59what we're going to do and then possibly
23:01Sunday if I heard correctly. Amen. We're
23:03going to go out. Amen. Uh there is
23:05always something you can do for the
23:07Lord. I assure you uh there are people
23:10in your circle right now that you can
23:12minister to. Uh there are people the
23:14Lord has placed uh in your surroundings
23:17uh as a neighbor, amen, that you can
23:19impact uh with your testimony. IT IS
23:22TIME FOR SOMEBODY TO SAY, "LORD, I am
23:24available
23:26>> to be used by you."
23:28>> Is there anybody in this room that wants
23:30to be used of God?
23:37God always uses those that are
23:41available.
23:43>> In the year 15 1958,
23:47a country preacher named David
23:50Wilkerson
23:52began traveling from Pennsylvania to New
23:54York City
23:56to reach gang members who were
24:01steeped and deeped in in in murder and
24:04violence. Eventually,
24:07David, this preacher,
24:11country preacher, reached one of the
24:12most notorious gang members at the time,
24:17a teenager named Niki Cruz.
24:22This young man, Niki Cruz, was
24:26murder, a lot of violence in his
24:30history.
24:32And Nikki Cruz said, and I quote,
24:36"He was running toward me, and I knew
24:39it. But I couldn't fight this kind of
24:44approach.
24:46If he had come at me with a knife, I
24:49would have fought him. IF HE HAD COME
24:53BEGGING AND PLEADING, I WOULD HAVE
24:55LAUGHED AT HIM AND kicked him in the
24:58teeth.
25:00But he came saying,
25:03"I love you."
25:05God has a plan for you,
25:11preacher. I don't know what to do. Can
25:13God really use me? I assure you, you
25:16have breath in your lungs and you have
25:17words to speak. Uh all you have to do is
25:20say, "Lord, uh when I open my mouth, I
25:22want your spirit to flow. uh when I open
25:25my when I go to work tomorrow, uh when I
25:28start my Monday, even though I got to
25:30fight a little traffic to get there, uh
25:32even THOUGH I'M NOT FEELING 100%, UH
25:35LORD, UH I WANT YOU TO USE MY MOUTH. UH
25:38AND THE LORD can use your mouth. UH THE
25:41LORD CAN GIVE YOU WORDS TO SPEAK. UH
25:44THERE IS SOMEBODY THAT IS needing to
25:46HEAR A WORD FROM THE LORD. UH NIKKI CRUZ
25:49DID NOT UNDERSTAND. UH WHAT DO I DO? UH,
25:52I'M NOT USED TO THIS KIND OF LOVE. UH,
25:54I'M NOT USED THIS USED TO THIS KIND OF
25:56PERSON. UH, IF IF YOU WOULD HAVE COME TO
25:59ME WITH A KNIFE, UH, I WOULD HAVE FOUGHT
26:01YOU. UH, IF YOU WOULD HAVE COME TO ME,
26:03BE BEGGING AND PLEADING, UH, I WOULD
26:04HAVE LAUGHED AND I WOULD HAVE KICKED
26:06YOU. UH, BUT HE SAYS, "OH, I DON'T KNOW
26:08WHAT TO DO WITH THIS KIND OF PREACHER."
26:11HE SAID, "I LOVE YOU."
26:18How did David become the one to reach
26:21these gang members?
26:24I assure you, he was available.
26:27I'm just a country preacher. I don't
26:30have a lot to offer.
26:33But what he did have, he gave to the
26:35Lord. And the Lord multiplied it.
26:42I believe. Amen. One of the primary
26:43qualifications
26:45for his success was his availability.
26:49G uh Bob Goff puts it this way. He says,
26:53"God often uses the least qualified
26:58but the most available people to get
27:00things done in his kingdom."
27:03I assure you, I've seen people that are
27:05talented. My God, they are talented.
27:08They have knowledge. Uh but they do
27:10nothing with the knowledge that the Lord
27:11has given him. Uh the Lord, Amen. Lord,
27:13help us that we don't become a church uh
27:15that is so full that we sit at the table
27:18and receive so much every Sunday and
27:21every Wednesday. Uh and there's so much
27:23intake uh AND WE ARE PROCESSING EVERY
27:25DAY. UH AND THAT IS A BEAUTIFUL THING.
27:27Don't get me wrong. UH BUT THE LORD, I
27:29PRAY THE LORD HELPS US THAT WE DON'T
27:31BECOME A CHURCH UH THAT IS STAGNANT UH
27:33WITH ALL THIS INFORMATION. UH WE HAVE
27:36THE ONENESS. UH WE HAVE THE REVELATION.
27:38IT IS TIME FOR SOMEBODY TO SAY, "GOD,
27:41I'M AVAILABLE.
27:45>> I WANT TO DO IT. LORD, I WANT TO DO IT.
27:48GOD,
27:50>> I WONDER WHAT GOD COULD DO IN YOUR life
27:53because of a decision to show up.
27:56>> I wonder, AMEN. WHAT GOD COULD DO UH IN
27:59THE LIFE OF OTHERS BECAUSE UH YOU
28:01DECIDED TO be available for him.
28:09We can't grow a church. We can't double
28:11a church
28:13if there aren't people that are
28:14available to be used by God.
28:17>> Now, I know we it was prophesied over
28:19this church. That was a great great
28:22prophecy, amen, that we heard at camp
28:24meeting. Amen. And I received that
28:26prophecy. Amen. But just because the
28:28Lord spoke, it does not mean we get to
28:30sit and wait uh for something to happen.
28:32Uh amen. And uh we cannot sit and wait.
28:36Uh it is time uh that WE SAY, "GOD, UH
28:38I'M AVAILABLE. I I HAVE FEET. I'M GOING
28:41to
28:43I'm going to step into the unknown."
28:46>> I love what Albert Einstein said as he's
28:50talking about the
28:52theory of relativity. He says, "Nothing
28:56moves."
28:59Nothing happens until something moves.
29:03Nothing is going to happen, folks,
29:09>> if nobody moves.
29:12>> And I'm speaking, amen, to every person
29:14in this room. Uh I thank God for our
29:16volunteers. Uh I thank God for our
29:18worship team. Uh I thank God for every
29:20person that comes and cleans a church
29:22and does so much for the kingdom of God.
29:24Uh amen. But it is time for somebody to
29:26say, "Lord, uh my availability is not
29:28just in this house. Uh but I need to go
29:30and do something out there. Uh, I got to
29:32go and reach a soul in the name of
29:35Jesus. UH, SOMEBODY OUGHT TO SAY, "LORD,
29:37GIVE ME CONVICTION."
29:40>> We pray for blessing. UH, LORD, BLESS
29:43ME. We sing it IN SPANISH AND WE love
29:45this song. Uh, we say, "Bless me. Bless
29:47me. Bless me." Now,
29:51>> I'm not hating on the song. We sing it
29:52all the time. And I actually enjoy it.
29:56But we pray about blessing, but what
29:59about conviction?
30:02God, give me more conviction. Give me a
30:05burden. Give me a heaviness
30:07so that I can do your work. God, inspire
30:11me. So that I could do what you have
30:13called me to do.
30:16I love the story of
30:19we read in the book of Luke 5:E 1 to
30:23verse three. The Bible says, "And it
30:24came to pass that as the people pressed
30:26upon him to hear the word of God, he
30:29stood by the lake and saw two ships
30:33standing by the lake, uh, but the
30:35fishermen were gone out of them and were
30:38washing their nets. And he entered into
30:41one of the ships, which was Simon's,
30:44and prayed him that he would thrust out
30:48a little from the land." and he sat down
30:52and taught the people out of the ship.
30:56What's interesting about this portion of
30:58scripture is that THE LORD HAD TWO
31:00OPTIONS.
31:02There were two ships by the lake and he
31:06chose Simon Peter's boat.
31:12>> Was not a coincidence.
31:14We don't believe in coincidences. Not in
31:16the not in the house of God. It wasn't a
31:19coincidence uh that the Lord had chosen
31:21uh the boat that Peter, Amen, owned. Uh
31:24the Bible makes mention of two BOATS UH
31:27BEING DOCKED AND JESUS ASKED SIMON, he
31:31asked Peter to PUT HIS BOAT FURTHER OUT
31:33INTO THE WATER. UH AMEN. COULD PETER
31:36PETER HAD ALL OF THE THE THE THE
31:39OPPORTUNITIES TO SAY, "OH, GOD, I'M JUST
31:41I I just fished. I'm tired."
31:45Peter had the ability Amen. the ability
31:48to say uh and resist GOD AND SAY, "OH,
31:50NO. I I JUST I can't do it.
31:54Who are you? WHY ARE YOU ASKING this of
31:56me?"
31:58HE DIDN'T HAVE TO DO IT.
32:01>> But the Bible says that WHEN THE LORD
32:02TOLD PETER, "PETER,
32:05take the boat out so that I can feed my
32:08sheep."
32:10Peter didn't question, Peter didn't
32:12fight it.
32:13Peter didn't decide, well, you know, it
32:15needs to make sense for me before I can
32:16say yes.
32:19I like deep thinkers, but my God,
32:21sometimes you can think too far into
32:24something
32:26and not let God use you.
32:30Just respond.
32:33>> Isaiah said, "Here I am. Send me."
32:38>> As an 18-year-old, I was I was trying to
32:39figure out what I was going to do. And I
32:41remember I was just so hungry to do
32:42something for the Lord. Uh I was just so
32:44hungry, Amen. to do something for God. I
32:47went back from a conference in Dallas.
32:49Amen. We have some Dallas folks in the
32:50house. God bless them. Amen. Uh but I
32:53was I was I was in Dallas. We were
32:55playing at a at a church event. Uh and I
32:57was so so hungry to do something for the
32:59Lord. Uh I remember coming back to my
33:02high school. Uh amen. I was 18. And I I
33:04showed up Monday, Amen. to to practice.
33:07Amen. And I begin to testify uh to all
33:09of the people in that in that soccer
33:11field. Uh I begin to testify to all of
33:13my friends in that lunchroom. Uh amen.
33:15AND AND WE STARTED BIBLE STUDIES. UH
33:18NOBODY THEY DIDN'T GIVE ME a license so
33:20that I can GO AND START A BIBLE STUDY AT
33:21MY HOME. UH I JUST HAD A HUNGER TO DO
33:24SOMETHING FOR GOD. UH WE OPENED OUR
33:26HOME. UH WE STARTED BIBLE STUDIES. UH
33:28MAN, WE HAD 40 COLLEGE STUDENTS UH AND
33:31HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN OUR LIVING ROOM.
33:33UH AMEN. WE BAPTIZED EIGHT OF THEM IN
33:35the name OF JESUS. UH, ONE OF THEM WAS
33:37BAPTIZED IN MY BATHTUB. UH, AMEN. FOR
33:40THE REMISSION OF THEIR SINS. UH, WE HAD
33:42FOUR OF THEM RECEIVE THE GIFT OF THE
33:44HOLY GHOST in our living room.
33:51>> If you are available,
33:55>> if you are just available.
33:59>> But often we ask, "What's in it for me?"
34:01God,
34:04I'll just do it if you can guarantee
34:08something in return.
34:14I want you to think about a tree.
34:17A tree produces
34:20much fruit.
34:24A tree has branches that grow.
34:29branches extend and provide shade.
34:36A healthy tree ought to bring forth
34:38fruit. We know what the Bible says about
34:41a fig tree that was unproductive.
34:46Jesus cursed it,
34:49was upset because it deceived the eye
34:54from far away. IT LOOKED HEALTHY and it
34:56looked fruitful. BUT THE MOMENT HE
34:59DESIRED TO TASTE THE FRUIT OF THE TREE,
35:02>> there was nothing there for him.
35:07The tree grows and it ought to produce
35:10fruit.
35:11It has branches that provides shade.
35:15The tree develops strength,
35:18beauty, has abundance.
35:22But so much of what it produces
35:26is not designed for himself.
35:30>> The fruit is not for the tree.
35:33>> The tree produces the fruit, but the
35:35fruit OF THE TREE IS NOT FOR THE TREE.
35:38>> The tree produces shade, BUT THE SHADE
35:41IS NOT FOR the tree.
35:44>> I'm preaching to somebody here today. I
35:45was trying to teach tonight. Amen. But I
35:47I just feel the Holy Ghost in this room
35:49right now. Amen. And uh we are we ARE
35:51ASKING LORD UH I WILL GROW, I will put
35:54in the work, I WILL STUDY, BUT THERE but
35:56but the fruit NEEDS TO COME BACK TO ME.
35:58UH AND THE LORD SAYS, "NO, HOLD ON A
36:00SECOND. UH THE FRUIT IS NOT FOR YOU. UH
36:02and the shade is not for you. Uh amen.
36:05The fruit IS FOR THE HUNGRY. UH THE
36:07SHADE IS FOR THOSE THAT ARE WEARY UH AND
36:10TRAVELING ALL AROUND YOU. UH THE TREE
36:12DEVELOPS THE STRENGTH. UH BUT THE
36:14STRENGTH IS NOT FOR THE TREE.
36:17>> It's for the traveler.
36:25Your gift is not just for you.
36:30>> Your talent is not just for you.
36:33>> Your blessing
36:36is not just for you.
36:39>> Well, you pastor, you mean to tell me
36:40that my raise is not for me.
36:45>> Give your tithe. Amen. God bless you.
36:49give unto the Lord.
36:52>> Your testimony is not just for you.
36:58>> God put fruit in your branches. God has
37:01placed Amen. uh branches uh that are
37:03full of fruit. Uh and somebody that is
37:06hungry is needing your fruit.
37:16>> Availability
37:18I'm available
37:20and I'm closing if the musicians can
37:22come at this time.
37:29God gave us so many things.
37:33God put fruit on your branches because
37:36somewhere
37:40somebody
37:42is hungry.
37:46God gave you strength.
37:50You have been able to develop branches
37:52in your life of success
37:55to provide shade.
37:59But the shade
38:01is not for you.
38:04Somewhere
38:06there is somebody weary.
38:11God gave you strength because
38:14somewhere there is somebody that is
38:17weak.
38:20God did not bless you simply [music] so
38:22that you could admire
38:25what he put in your life.
38:28I've always said I am blessed
38:31to be a blessing.
38:38Why else would you want to be blessed
38:41so that it stops flowing with you?
38:49Availability. Would you stand with me
38:50right now?
38:57I want you [music] to think about this.
39:01A young lad named David
39:04was on his way to drop
39:07drop off some provisions to his brothers
39:12who were at [music] war with the
39:14Philistines.
39:16And in that small task, David made
39:19himself available
39:21and he heard
39:24a giant challenging [music] the people
39:26of God.
39:31He saw the need. He made himself [music]
39:33available.
39:36And we know the rest of the story.
39:41This altar is open. Would you come and
39:43pray [music] and say, "Lord,
39:46my heart is open.
39:49I am available.
39:52I am available.
39:55Don't let [music] me be a deceiving
39:59tree.
40:01but that my life would produce
40:05fruit
40:07for your kingdom. Would you come and
40:08lift up your hands
40:11for a moment? [music] Don't think about
40:13yourself.
40:15Don't just think about what you can
40:17gain,
40:19but say, "Lord, [music] I know what you
40:20have given me. I ought to give to
40:24someone else.