Pastor Francois van Niekerk

THEME: Power Unlimited – BIG GOD

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TEXT : Matthew 21:1-5 (NLT)

‘“Go into the village over there,” He said. “As soon as you enter it, you will see a donkey tied there, with its colt beside it. Untie them and bring them to Me. If anyone asks what you are doing, just say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and he will immediately let you take them.” This took place to fulfill the prophecy that said, “Tell the people of Israel, ‘Look, your King is coming to you. He is humble, riding on a donkey – riding on a donkey’s colt.’”’

INTRODUCTION

• We are meant to do exploits for God, not in our own power or wisdom but in His.
• Zechariah 4:6b (NIV) says, ‘‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the LORD Almighty.’
• We are meant to be vessels and vehicles serving God’s power.
• So what does this have to do with a donkey? You might ask, ‘Are you calling me a donkey?’ Well, it all depends …

MAIN POINTS
1. Donkey history

• Donkeys are known as beasts of burden. They have been used for thousands of years with no change to their basic design – saying something about their reliability!
• Donkeys played an important role in the Bible and in prophecies.
• Let’s look at a little Biblical background on the humble donkey:
  
  • It was Abraham’s vehicle of choice.
  • In a prophetic picture the tribe of Issachar was portrayed as ‘a strong donkey carrying a load’.
  • It was Moses’ mode of transport to carry his family back to Egypt (safe family transport).
  • Donkeys could be so desirable; the Law of Moses stipulated that they were not to be coveted!
  • There is even a speaking donkey in the Bible (the Bible version of Shrek’s friend Donkey if you wish – there is really nothing new!) God chose to speak to Balaam through a donkey. (See Numbers 22:28) The most astounding thing is not as much the speaking donkey but rather that the man had a conversation with it! I think it made for interesting dialogue at home that night. ‘Hi Honey, how was your day?’ ‘Great! You will not believe what our donkey told me. So I said to her …’ ‘Excuse me, you had a discussion with our donkey?’
  • Actually this is not so amazing. People speak to their vehicles and computers and tools all the time. Maybe some people need to hear from their donkey or dishwasher to save them from their madness! In 2 Peter 2:16 (NIV) it says:
    ‘But he was rebuked for his wrongdoing by a donkey – a beast without speech – who spoke with a man's voice and restrained the prophet's madness.’ (Emphasis added)
  • Donkey accessories are great! Ask Samson, he used a donkey’s jawbone to do serious damage to the Philistines – killing a thousand of them with it.
  • However, donkey accessories could become very expensive in economically tough times. A donkey head was sold for 80 shekels of silver (about R3 296) during the siege of Samaria in the Old Testament. And you thought steak was expensive!
  • Donkeys played an important role in bringing Saul, the first king of Israel, into his prophetic destiny.
  • Donkeys were not only men’s choice of vehicle, but were also suitable for the ladies. Abigail, one of David’s wives, travelled on one and so did Mary, the mother of Jesus.
  • Even national leaders and high officials used them for transport in Bible times (maybe some of our politicians can take a hint from this.)
  • Joseph chose this trusted form of family transport when they had to flee from Herod with baby Jesus and journey to Egypt.
  • And finally, King Jesus traveled on one, thus fulfilling the prophecy in Zechariah 9:9 (NKJV):
    ‘“Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, Lowly and riding on a donkey, A colt, the foal of a donkey.’
    This was a sign of humility. Someone suggested if Jesus came to earth today He would ride a Kawasaki KLR 650, because it is one of the most basic and affordable motorbikes around. This is why I ride one – following the Lord’s example!
• So, what is the point in all of this?
  
  • God can do a lot through donkeys!
  • If we can only be of so much use to God as the donkey has been throughout history, we will do well:
    
    • Let Him use you to carry important people and important things;
    • Let Him speak through you; and most of all
    • Carry the very presence and power of the King of kings!

2. Donkey psychology

• Why are donkeys so unique?
  
  • They are not too clever but very dependable. They mostly look half asleep but we have learned never to judge a book by its cover.
  • They are hardy and simple. They don’t need a lot of pampering.
  • They may not always seem so ready and willing to go but they are real sloggers – once started they just keep on and on. They have proved to have great endurance.
  • And finally, they need a lot of encouragement to keep going (just as we do …)

3. Donkey theology

• I believe this lines up well with the words of the Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 1:26-29 (NLT):
  ‘Remember, dear brothers and sisters, that few of you were wise in the world’s eyes or powerful or wealthy when God called you. Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And He chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful. God chose things despised by the world, things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important. As a result, no one can ever boast in the presence of God.’
• Donkeys are not concerned about their looks or popularity. They may even look unwilling at times, but they know what they were made for. You were made to carry God’s power!
• Donkeys are work animals. We are called to serve God. Although we are King’s kids we are not called to be palace pampered royalty.
• Some Christians want to receive all God’s promises and expect His power to work for them, but disappear the moment God or church leaders call for sacrificial duty. Let’s be persistent and show enduran
• ce as donkeys do!
• Be careful of an attitude that says, ‘Just another donkey, just another day.’
• God loves doing the extraordinary through the highly unlikely. He has donkeys prepared for His every purpose – we only need to release them!
• There is an important lesson to be learnt from donkey theology:
  
  • Don’t worship or exalt the donkey – worship the King. Never worship the power or the gift, but rather the Giver.
• Furthermore, the illustration of the donkey must lead to two important practical applications:
  
  1. ‘Let me be the donkey’ – humble and willing to carry His purpose and power.
  2. See His power as the vehicle (donkey). Use the donkey to get the job done for God. Release His power to carry His purpose. The gifts and leading of the Spirit will prepare the donkey – the vehicle that will carry the King and His power into the situations of life.
• Be warned that you could be questioned when you engage with God’s power – when you dare to untie the donkey. Be assured of your mandate and mission so that you may answer in the Name of the King. In the service of the King, His power is released.

4. Called to carry

• Will you carry the burden of the Lord? Will you say, ‘I will be your donkey?’ Hear the words, ‘The Lord has need of them.’
• Make sure you have been unburdened from your own load. Get rid of your burden to make room for His burden. Sometimes we can be so busy carrying our own burden or even the burdens of others that we have no time or room for the legitimate burden of the Lord. He offers to carry yours and care for you. In Matthew 11:28 (NKJV) He says, ‘Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.’ Then He calls us to take up His cross and His cause. Firstly you must lay down what you must and make room for His burden.
• Check the validity of your burdens – even the spiritual ones. They may appear godly but are often misplaced or inappropriate because God did not make you responsible for the burden that He is supposed to carry (souls, family, sickness of others, the poor etc).
• Ultimately we are to carry the Lord’s presence and power while He carries the weight of the world upon His shoulders! It is still Jesus who turns the water into wine. He is the one who does the miracles. We simply work with Him.
• Will you be the Lord’s donkey? Will you carry the King and His power?
• What burdens are you carrying; His or yours? Make sure it’s the real burden of the Lord!
• Being a donkey can be dangerous. You could be misunderstood, beaten and abused (thinking of the account of Balaam and his donkey).
• It can also be pure delight as you proudly carry your King. Whether it is into your city, into the office or into the next conversation …
• One thing I know, I will rather be Jesus’ donkey than the devil’s race horse. I don’t care that I’m the donkey because I am carrying the King!

5. Serve the Lord’s purpose!

• This is how you can release the Lord’s power and presence in your world:
  
  • Know your identity;
  • Know who and what you are called to carry;
  • Live in communion with Him. Live to serve Him and His purpose;
  • Know your tools (gifts of the Holy Spirit) and use them in the context of the text;
  • Allow the Holy Spirit to shape you to be more and more like Jesus. The fruit of the Spirit in your life makes God visible to this world;
  • Listen for His voice on a daily basis;
  • Dare to obey when He speaks; and
  • Lose the fear – be it for people, failure or reputation damage. Resist peer pressure and the need to be ‘in’. Be ‘in’ with God. Dare to do life in His power!

CONCLUSION

• Untie the donkey today to release donkey dynamite!
• You qualify to be His donkey. You are exactly the one He chose for this honour. The Lord has need of you!
• Let’s make headlines today as we declare: ‘Let me be the donkey!’
• May our prayer be:
  Lord, we volunteer! We will carry Your power and Your presence to do Your will.
• I am happy to be God’s donkey – a carrier of my King and His power!