The Life that God Uses
(Part 1)
Romans 6:13
Introduction – For the next few Sunday mornings we are going to be asking ourselves the question, “What kind of life does God use?” It would be easy for us to try to simply answer the question by saying that God uses lives that are surrendered. But to be honest there probably isn’t a clear-cut answer an answer to that question as we might think—it might just be that God is looking as much at a lot of little things as He is the big things like total surrender. So if we are going to try and identify those characteristics that God finds usable we may to look a bit deeper than we think.
We have to do an sort of internal inspection. And brethren as we do that inspection—it really matters little where you think you are spiritually, what’s really important is what God knows you to be from His own inspection of your life. And so what we are going to be trying to do in the next few weeks is to try to help and encourage each other to stop relying on what we think is right for us, and start following God—the One who knows what’s right for us. I believe that in doing so we will come to live a life that is usable to God.
This morning we are going to the control functions of our lives. What I mean by that is, who is really in control in several specific areas of your life. Because being unwilling to yield control to Christ in even one of these areas, can and will keep you from being able to be used effectively by God.
Specifically, we are going to look at three general areas of life where the need for control is paramount, and in each of these areas, we’ll let God’s Word show us exactly how under control we really are. The areas that we will consider this morning are our minds, our actions and our words, and finally our reactions and responses. Remember, in each area we’re asking ourselves “Who is in control” in this part of my life?
I. Who is in Control of My Mind
One of the great fallacies that we have to come to grips with If we’re going to follow Jesus is the attitude that says, “What I think about anything or anyone is my business, because it effects no one but me.”
As a part of this church fellowship everything that you say and everything that you do has a direct and immediate impact on everyone else in this church.
Let me explain what I mean…When someone suffers in this church we all suffer a bit with them. And when someone finds joy we all celebrate with them, don’t we?
Why then do we believe that what we think, or the attitudes we hold in our hearts make no difference?
If it’s true that our thoughts and attitudes don’t matter then we have to be careful…We have to be careful never to angry for fear that we might slip and let someone else see how we really feel. We have to be careful never to get to close to others either because we might reveal more than we really want to.
And ultimately we have to be satisfied living a life of utter hypocrisy—because we have covenanted together to be one body in Christ, and yet when we show no control over our thoughts and our attitudes being one with one another is impossible.
An uncontrolled mind is symptomatic of a heart that has not been yielded to God.
In Jesus’ day it seemed as if he was always having
confrontations with the Pharisees—and normally those
confrontations came because they forgot that God sees
every little thing about our lives.
In Luke 11:39 – 40 Jesus said,, “you…clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness. You foolish people! Did not the one who made the outside make the inside also?”
When you offer your heart to God, He takes control of your thoughts and attitudes as well.
A person whose heart is right before God…Cannot remain angry to the point of bitterness against
their brother, but will be quick to seek forgiveness and restoration. Cannot be indifferent about the needs of those around them.
I have heard Christians justify themselves in not helping someone because they saw the actions that led to the crisis, and said that they if they hadn’t made so many dumb choices they wouldn’t be in the mess they are in. Boy, I’m glad Jesus doesn’t feel the same way those so called Christians do.
If we want to be used by God, we must let Him take control of our mind. Unless we do, by our very nature we will give foothold to the devil.
II. Who is in Control of My Actions and Words
In this area we are once again talking about issues of the heart. In Luke 7:35 the Bible says, “And wisdom is proved right by all her children.” In other words what really proves you are wise is not your words, but what your words give birth to.
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if the way we are here was the way are out there? Here we call each other brother and sister. Here we ask God to bring blessing others. Here we display love and forgiveness. But it’s not always that way is it? Sometimes brothers and sisters are at odds with each other, aren’t they.
Sometimes we would rather God would get someone
instead of blessing them. And sometimes instead of displaying love and forgiveness we are at the ready to criticize and condemn.
Do you think that God doesn’t notice when we’re harsh and judgmental? Do you really think that God doesn’t care when from our mouths He hears worldly filthy, or constant criticism of those He loves, and from our lives He sees acts that betray our commitment to Him?
If you want to be used of God, that which comes forth from you, your words and actions need to reflect your genuinecommitment to and love for Christ.
If we are going to be used of God we have to find some consistency. What we say and who we really are has to be the same. The only possible way for you to find that kind of consistency is by allowing Christ to take control of your words and actions just like He has taken control of your heart.
You do not have it within you to gain full mastery over your actions and your words (I am going to explain why in just a moment), none of us do. We must give our actions and our words to Christ and allow
Him to bring them under control.
III. Who is in Control of My Reactions and Responses
Do you all remember the story of Jesus overturning the money changers tables and cleansing the temple? On that day Jesus was hot—these people had profaned the very place that God had made holy and Jesus didn’t like it, not even a little bit.
Have you ever noticed the differences between when Jesus was mad and when you are mad?
He had a righteous reason for His anger—we sometimes get mad for no reason at all. His anger didn’t lead to sin—far too often ours does.
We might do well to remember that that “the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.” James 1:20
What I hope you are beginning to see is that our responses and reactions to the circumstances of life say a great deal about our character. And only those of the right character will be used of God.
John Wooden, the legendary UCLA basketball coach, once said that men should be more concerned with their character than even their reputation. He went on to say that your character is what you really are, and your reputation is only what people think you are.
Well without a doubt God knows who you really are, doesn’t He? He knows when we say things without thinking, and He also know the pain that we sometimes inflict when we do.
I want you to know that I am preaching to myself today, because this is probably one of my weakest areas.
I wish I were more like Stephen who glorified God even while he was being stoned. Or more like Paul who when cast in prison sang praises to God.
I recently came across the story of Bruce Goodrich an incoming freshman who was being initiated into the cadet corps at Texas A & M University. One night, as a part of the initiation, Bruce was forced to run until he dropped—but he never got up. He died before he even entered college.
A short time after the tragedy, Bruce’s father wrote this letter to the administration, faculty, student body, and the corps of cadets at the university: “I would like to take this opportunity to express the appreciation of my family for the great outpouring of concern and sympathy from Texas A & M University and the college community over the loss of our son Bruce. We were particularly pleased to note that his Christian witness did not go unnoticed during his brief time on campus.”
Mr. Goodrich went on: “I hope it will be some comfort to know that we harbor no ill will in the matter. We know our God makes no mistakes. Bruce had an appointment with his Lord and is now secure in his celestial home. When the question is asked, ‘Why did this happen?’ perhaps one answer will be, ‘So that others will consider where they will spend eternity.’”
If there is acid in your heart, acid is going to spill over from time to time. If there is godliness—it will be seen just as clearly.
Conclusion – The life that God uses is one that is under control. But not our control, His. Can you honestly say this morning by your thoughts and attitudes, by your words and actions, and by your reactions and responses that you are someone that God can use, because you are under His control?
