I discovered the name of the young boy the Lord used to keep me on track last Saturday night. His name is not Jeremy, as I announced in my weekend message. His name is Randy. For those who do not understand the Sunday reference, let me explain.
I was invited to preach at Ignite ’10 last Saturday night in Pell City, Alabama. Outdoor Christian Festivals just are not my forte. Don’t misunderstand me; I love to preach the gospel. And, I am eternally thankful I was invited to preach. Yet preaching to thousands in an outdoor environment just is not my specialty. I am much more adept at preaching in a worship center to people I know.
So, I am standing backstage waiting for the moment to preach. I am fish out of water. I certainly do not have the “look”. I am overdressed in my shorts and golf shirt. The band performing after me is extremely popular. And they’ve got the look and the sound and the coolness as well as the following.
Besides, I can only think of two people – my wife and my daughter – out of the thousands who came to hear a 48 year-old, overweight, Southern Baptist preacher preach. So I am nervous.
More than that, I am struggling with what to say. I’ve got millions of thoughts running through my mind. What I worked on last Monday is no longer an option. What I prayed about that morning does make sense that night. I am struggling over what to preach.
With just a few minutes to go, Randy, an outgoing twelve year-old boy approaches me. He has a backstage pass because His father Kenny is one of the two visionaries behind Ignite. Randy and I know each other. We met the week before when I was preaching a revival at his church, First Baptist Pell City.
So Randy approaches me. He holds up his knuckles for a fist bump. I obliged. Then Randy declares matter-of-factly, “I bet I know what you are going to preach about!”
Humored, I reply, “Really? And what’s that?”
Randy states emphatically, “You’re going to preach about Jesus!”
Now you may be wondering where Randy developed that idea. I knew immediately to what he was referring.
The week before I declared at Randy’s church what I have said so often. I informed the fine people of First Baptist, Pell City, that if I had one more sermon to preach, I would preach about Jesus. If I had one more Sunday of sermons to preach, I would preach about Jesus. If I had one more month, one more year, one more decade to preach, I would preach about Jesus.
So, Randy remembered my previous declaration. And that was all I needed. No more anxiety. No more struggling over what to say. God used Randy to remind me why I had been invited to preach at Ignite ‘10. And so I preached about Jesus.
Thank you, Randy. The Lord used you in powerful way.
Hey Ryan,
You did awsome and thank you! I loved the whole 3 Questions thing that is a great tool to use. I didnt know God was going to use me that day but I guess he did. I’m just glad that he spoke to you through me. When I saw you standing there I was just trying to think of something to say to you and that just came out. And by the way, I am 13 years old.
Acts 18:9 Keep on preaching about Jesus!
Randy
Randy, you are the man! I am so proud of you. And are you sure you are only 13. You have the wisdom of someone much older.
Trust God, my friend. He has his hand on you and wants to use you in a powerful way.
By the way, I told this story in my message Sunday morning at CrossPoint. And I am dead serious when I say God used you. Thank you for being so sensitive to the Holy Spirit.