Every believer has a calling, a mission uniquely crafted by God. Yet in the pursuit of something “big” for Him, we often overlook the simple, faithful steps He has placed right in front of us. Drawing from Acts 28 and the unforgettable story of missionary Svea Flood, this sermon challenges us to embrace the power of doing what we can right now, where we are, with what we have. Because in the kingdom of God, little is much when He is in it.
1. Do What You Can Do Now
It’s easy to wait for a perfect opportunity to serve God: a platform, a position, or a spotlight. But the Apostle Paul shows us a better way. Shipwrecked on the island of Malta, cold and rain-soaked, Paul wasn’t in a synagogue preaching or planting a church. He simply picked up sticks to help start a fire. That small act of service led to a sequence of events that opened doors for healing, witnessing, and ultimately ministering to the entire island.
Faithfulness in the small things creates the path for God to do great things. The moment we choose to act, no matter how insignificant the task seems, we are stepping into divine purpose. The call is not for grandeur, but for obedience. Whether it’s greeting someone at church, helping in the nursery, or praying for a neighbour, God delights in our willingness to do what we can now.
2. Opportunities Multiply Through Faithfulness
Paul’s small act of gathering sticks didn’t just help warm the group. It drew attention. When a viper latched onto his hand and he suffered no harm, the people watched and wondered. This opened the door to meet Publius, the island’s chief, and eventually minister to many others.
Faithfulness has a multiplying effect. Serving with excellence, no matter the size of the task, puts you in places where God can use you more. Like Svea Flood, the missionary who shared the gospel with a single 12-year-old boy in the Congo, we may never see the ripple effect of our faithfulness in this life. But God does. That one child later became the seed of a revival that transformed an entire village.
No act of service is wasted in the hands of God. Whether you’re sweeping floors, teaching a child, or handing out gospel tracts at a toll booth, God uses faithful people to reach the world.
3. You Are Placed Where You Are to Serve God
Wherever you find yourself today (your church, your neighbourhood, your workplace) is exactly where God has positioned you to serve Him. Paul didn’t want to be in Malta; he was en route to Rome. But instead of lamenting where he wasn’t, he ministered faithfully where he was.
Every Christian is a missionary in their current location. There is no higher calling than to be faithful with the responsibilities God has already given you. Whether it’s ministering on foreign soil or helping run the sound booth at church, your work for God carries eternal significance.
Being used by God doesn’t require a pulpit, a passport, or a polished résumé. It simply requires a heart willing to say, “Yes, Lord,” and hands willing to pick up sticks.
Conclusion
The Christian life isn’t about chasing greatness, it’s about choosing faithfulness. You don’t need a title or a talent to be used by God. You just need to do the next right thing. The sticks are in front of you. The opportunity is now. Your mission starts here.
