"Any Old Bush Will Do As Long as God is in it."- Wesley Paul

"Any Old Bush Will Do As Long as God is in it."


Several years ago, I was in Mauritius preaching at a church. There in the pastors office were large posters of Reinhard Bonnke and another great evangelist. As I gazed upon it, I heard my ego whispering, "wouldn't it be great to be like these guys? Preach to such large crowds?" The thought of such grandeur and notoriety, I am sure at some time or other makes every evangelist salivate. Sometimes, we let such ambitions feed our ego and run after such glory. In all our sincerity, many of us believe that if we work hard enough and pray long enough, then we'll be successful. That same evening, after preaching my heart out, I saw very little or hardly any fruit. Needless to say I was very discouraged and disillusioned. I shared my frustration with the host pastor. Being the godly man that he was, he reproved me by pointing me towards humility and brokenness. It was a hard on my hearing, but good for the soul.

The following day I picked up a book by Luis Palau in which he related a remarkable story of how God dealt with him about the same issue. In his own words, Palau explains what happened…

And this was my situation when I came to the United States in 1960 to further my biblical studies. I had big dreams I wanted to see quickly accomplished. My impatience led me to rely on my own power, not on the Lord's.

During one of the last chapel services before Christmas break, our speaker was Major Ian Thomas, founder of the Torchbearers in England. Major Thomas's theme was "Any Old Bush Will Do, As Long As God Is in the Bush."

He pointed out that it took Moses forty years in the wilderness to realize he was nothing. God was trying to tell Moses, "I don't need a pretty bush or an educated bush or an eloquent bush. If I am going to use you, I am going to use you. It will not be you doing something for Me, but Me doing something through you."

Major Thomas suggested that the bush in the desert was likely a dry bunch of sticks that had hardly developed, yet Moses had to take off his shoes. Why? Because this was holy ground. Why? Because God was in the bush!

I was like that bush. I could do nothing for God. All my reading, studying, asking questions, and trying to model myself after other people was worthless. Everything in my ministry was worthless unless God was in me! No wonder I felt so frustrated: Only He could make something happen.

When Major Thomas closed with Galatians 2:20, it all came together: "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."

I realized the secret to being a successful ambassador for Christ was depending on the indwelling, resurrected, almighty Lord Jesus Christ, and not on myself. God was finally in control of this bush!

I had tremendous peace because I realized I didn't have to struggle anymore. How sad that I had wasted eight years of my life trying to do everything in my own power.

I could relate to Palau's testimony, having immigrated from India at a young age like him, pursued similar education at a Bible college, I could hear him talking right to my heart. God got through to me. I heard God saying, Wesley, don't try to be someone else you are not, I can use any old bush. I got it! I don't have to be Bonnke, Billy Graham or any one else. Just be Wesley. What a peace! Nothing to prove, no one to keep up with. What a relief! Finally, God got through to me.

The following day I asked the pastor to take me to the beach, there on the sandy sea shores of Africa, I asked God to bury Wesley. The ego, the pride and all that goes with human ambition. I chanted the mantra of the apostle Paul, "I am crucified with Christ, it is no longer I who live…" I have not stopped praying that prayer. What happened in Africa serves as a constant reminder to crucify and bury the flesh. I cannot do what I do in the flesh, neither can you. As long as he is in the bush, you and I will be fine. "Not I but Christ living in me," says the apostle Paul. Our inner source is Christ. He is enough. He gives us our sense of worth and dignity. I am his servant, an ambassador of Christ. Therefore, you and I don't have to prove ourselves to anyone. He will use us. He knows where we are and what we are. He is just looking for a bush. O, Lord I want to be that simple bush. Use me!

For further encouragement, Read Exodus 3:1-4:17, the account of God's appearing to Moses in the burning bush.

In prayer, tell God you are willing to be His servant.

Wesley Paul
wesleypaul1@hotmail.com