“THE PEOPLE GOD USES”

Preached by Rev. Ed Brouwer at The Gathering Place, Osoyoos

Pulpit Series Volume 21, Issue 19     October 16, 2011

Over 150 years ago, Henry Varley said, “The world has yet to see what God can do with and for and through and in a man who is fully and wholly consecrated to Him.”

I don’t know about you, but I want to be a person God can use.  The Lord is still looking for men, women, boys and girls that He can fill with His Spirit and use to make a difference for Jesus.

God is on the lookout today for people who will be:

Quiet enough: The person God uses must be still and know that He is God.

Psalm 46:10  “Be still, and know that I am God.”

Quiet not only in voice but spirit.  We live in a world that more and more is verging on all out hysteria.

The human race is bordering a nervous and mental breakdown.  But we, the children of God, must not catch the spirit of the age.  We must counteract the spirit of craziness.

Many an Elijah had to learn the lesson of the still, small voice.

I Kings 19:10-13  “And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts.. . And God told him stand on the mount and, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the earthquake: And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice, when Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went and stood in the entrance of the cave.”

Brave enough: An old conductor stood at a gate in a railroad station on a bitterly cold night, leisurely punching tickets while restless passengers stamped their feet and grumbled.

“You are an unpopular man tonight, conductor,” said one as he passed the gate.  The old conductor replied, “There is only one man with whom I am interested in being in good standing, and that is the superintendent of this railroad.”

The person God uses needs something of that spirit today.

• willing to accept the risks
• willing to accept the ridicule

“The fear of man brings a snare.” 

Proverbs 29:25

Honest enough: I say “honest,” because I believe it to be plain dishonesty to press upon others advice that you yourself have never taken.

“Cursed be he that does the work of the Lord deceitfully.” 
Jeremiah 48:10

“To hear the Word and not do it is to deceive ones self.” 
James 1:22

No sermon is so powerful as the individual’s life,
and without it, the testimony of lip is
but sounding brass and clanging cymbal.

God is on the lookout for people whose heart is perfect toward Him.

Will you be quiet enough to hear Him, brave enough to proclaim Him and honest enough to obey Him?

If we are ever used in this life, it will be because we a leaning upon Him and His resources for our strength and provision!

GOD USES COMMITTED PEOPLE!

They are committed …
        In spite of the obstacles
                In spite of the opposition

Do you want to be that kind of person?  I do!

Regardless of what it costs in time, energy or reputation,
it will be worth it to be used of the Lord.

Wherever you may be right now, you can become a person God uses for His glory.

Let’s determine to pay the price to be that person for the glory of God!

Act 9:1-2  “And Saul, yet breathing out threats and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.”

Act 9:10-18  “And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and the Lord in a vision said, “Ananias”? And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord. And the Lord said, Arise, and go to the house of Judas and ask for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he is praying, And has seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight. Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem: And he has authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on Your name. But the Lord said, Go your way: for he is a chosen vessel, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel… And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared to you, has sent me, so that you may receive your sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost. And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received his sight. He arose, and was baptized. Saul stayed a few days with the disciples which were at Damascus. And right away he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.”

A moment of honesty:
In order for me to be the kind of person God uses, I need to change the following things in my life.....