These are common scenarios that many men face.  Often these men feel there is no way God can use them.  Their pessimistic, negative attitudes and indecisive actions leave them feeling helpless and hopeless.  However, there is hope for these men.  If Jesus could use Philip, then He can certainly use them.

           Philip was a fisherman before Jesus called Him to be a disciple.  Philip was not Jesus’ first disciple, but he was the first one that Jesus specifically chose.  Andrew and John found Jesus and brought their brothers, Peter and James to Him.  However, Jesus sought out Phillip and asked Philip to follow Him.  

           Philip was the last person you would ever expect Jesus to choose as a disciple.  He was an indecisive man who ran from responsibilities and decisions.  He never faced a decision head on.  Either he let the matter slide and refused to deal with it, or he took the situation to someone stronger in character and let them handle it for him.  This was a weakness for Philip.  However, he knew this was a weakness, and he felt no need to be a fake or a phony.  If he knew he couldn’t handle it, he took it to someone who could.    He never just sat down and surrendered.  He often took his impossible situation to Jesus and asked Jesus what to do.

            Philip struggled with having faith.  He was more of a worrier.  His natural tendency was to look at the situation and see the odds stacked against him.  He was a pessimistic man.  Everything seemed overwhelming and impossible.  Take for example the story told in John 6.

           Jesus was in the countryside teaching the people.  As the day grew late, Jesus asked His disciples about how to feed the multitude of people.  Jesus specifically singled out Philip and asked him what they should do.  Jesus was testing Philip to see if he could overcome his pessimistic tendencies.  In true Philip form, He told Jesus it was impossible to feed that many people. He failed the test.

            However, Jesus didn’t condemn Philip for failing. He simply used the failure to show Philip His power and His ability to overcome an impossible situation.  When Jesus fed the people, Philip saw nothing was impossible with Jesus.  His faith was bolstered, because the next time there was an impossible situation, Philip didn’t shrink in despair.  Instead, he took it to Jesus.

           This is what all of us need to do.  We can’t let our natural pessimistic, negative nature  keep us from fulfilling God’s purpose for our lives.  Instead of saying that can’t be done, we need to go to God and ask Him how He is going to help us get it done.  The Bible says that God’s strength is made perfect in our weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9).  We need to put our trust in God to help us finish what He has started and called us to do.  God did this with Philip, and He can do it with you. too. Maybe like Philip you need to stop relying on your own abilities and start leaning on God.  Faith is the key to accomplishing anything in God’s Kingdom.  Philip learned this lesson and God used Him mightily for His Kingdom. 

           Philip went on to be a great evangelist to the Gentiles.  He led thousands to Christ.  What use to be impossible to Philip was now a way of life, all because he began to put his trust in God.  The same is true for you.   If God could use Philip, He can certainly use you.