GOD’S TOOLBOX
Introduction:
1. Every Christian is not only needed, but vital to God’s purposes for the kingdom; the church represents God’s box of useful tools for His purpose and glory.
2. When Jesus was about to leave the earth, he gave his disciples a mission. Acts 1:8 "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." In Acts 2 people from all over the known world were immersed into Jesus Christ. In Acts 8 they were scattered all over the world preaching the gospel. The gospel flame spread throughout the known world.
3. All of this happened through the dedicated men and women of the first century who put their lives on the line to do God’s will. 2 Peter 3:9 "The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance." Ephesians 3:10 "so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places." God has a mission - and he has a plan to use His redeemed people to accomplish that mission!
For your consideration, we present five priniciples from God’s Toolbox.
I. THE CHURCH IS GOD’S HOLY BOX OF TOOLS!
A. He uses his tools (your talents) to bless others (Romans 12:4-8)
B. He is not looking for special tools, but He uses them all - not leaving anyone out! (1 Corinthians 1:26-31)
C. He has assembled a variety of tools and placed them as he wanted them.(1 Corinthians 12:12-18)
D. He is currently using all available tools! Philippians 1:6 "And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ." 1 Thessalonians 2:13 "And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers."
E. He uses his tools to create other tools (2 Timothy 2:1-2 "You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, [2] and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.")
II. ARE YOU AVAILABLE FOR GOD’S USE?
A. Are you allowing God to use your talents in the context of the church? It is easy to fall into the rut of not being used. Being available to God means that you willingly use your abilities to bless others.
B. Do you tend to hold back because you feel that your efforts are too small or weak? God does not leave anyone out of His work! Dr. George Washington Carver was a believer in God and he said one day that he prayed, "Lord, teach me the secrets of the universe." He said God said to him, "George, that is too big a subject for you. I want you to take a peanut, that is more your size, and work on that." So he began to explore what was in the peanut, and now it is a matter of record that he found over 325 different uses for it. He revolutionized the technology of the South. God used that simple, humble believer to open secrets of the universe that he hid from everyone else. Remember how Jesus once put it, "I thank you, Father, that you have hidden these things from the wise and the prudent and revealed them unto babes," {cf, Matt 11:25, Luke 10:21}. Being available to God means that we have faith that He can take efforts that seem insignificant and use them in great ways.
C. Do you ever feel that since your abilities aren’t as advanced as you think someone else’s is that you are not needed? Each of us have opportunities that no one else has! Being available to God means trusting Him to use you in unique ways to accomplish His mission.
D. Do you ever find yourself waiting for God to use you? Jesus taught his disciples not to think they have to wait for the harvest! The harvest is ready! Being available to God means using each day to his glory.
E. Do you seek opportunities to share in the mission of God to save the lost? If we are surrounded by the lost, what would it take for us to commit to doing all we can to reach them? Being available to God means passing on the great news of salvation to all men and women all the time.
Conclusion:
1. The Blacksmith’s Shop by Max Lucado
In the shop of a blacksmith, there are three types of tools. There are tools on the junkpile:
outdated, broken, dull, rusty
They sit in the cobwebbed corner, useless to their master, oblivious to their calling.
There are tools on the anvil:
melted down, molten hot, moldable, changeable
They lie on the anvil, being shaped by their master, accepting their calling.
There are tools of usefulness:
sharpened, primed, defined, mobile
They lie ready in the blacksmith’s tool chest, available to their master, fulfilling their calling.
Some people lie useless:
lives broken, talents wasting, fires quenched, dreams dashed
They are tossed in with the scrap iron, in desperate need of repair, with no notion of purpose.
Others lie on the anvil:
hearts open, hungry to change, wounds healing, visions clearing
They welcome the painful pounding of the blacksmith’s hammer, longing to be rebuilt, begging to be called.
Others lie in their Master’s hands:
well tuned,uncompromising, polished, productive
They respond to their Master’s forearm, demanding nothing, surrendering all.
2. Church, you are God’s toolbox. The big question this morning is: Are You Available for His Use? He will use any and all … can He use you to accomplish His mission today?
