THE TYPE OF PERSON GOD USES
Luke 1:26-55
December 1, 2002 Pm
Is it by random selection that God picks people to use, or does God have a method?
The principles of the Bible teach us that "God is looking for people to use."
Look with me at Luke 1:26-55 ... (NKJV)
Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth,
27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary.
28And having come in, the angel said to her, "Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!"
29But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was.
30Then the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.
Mary teaches us three things to be type of person God uses:
1. GOD USES PEOPLE WHO DESIRE TO DO HIS WILL
When God said, "I want to use you,"
Mary did not say, "I’ve got a career to think about ... I’ve got my plans, I’ve my ambitions, what about my dreams...
She didn’t say "This really isn’t convenient for me ...
She didn’t say, "Uh, God, Can’t you get somebody else?"
Mary did not say no to God’s will --
Because she wanted God’s will for her life more than she wanted anything else.
That’s the first reason God chose her.
God could speak to Mary because Mary was listening.
She was tuned into God.
Luke 2:19 "Mary quietly treasured these things in her heart and often thought about them."
She had a habit of listening to God and God speaks to people who listen.
It starts with a desire.
God uses people who desire to be used.
2. GOD USES PEOPLE WHO DECIDE TO PAY THE COST
There is always a cost in following God’s plan for your life.
Mary decided she desired God’s will most of all.
Mary decided she would take the chance, to risk, to pay the cost.
Luke 1:38 "Mary said, `I am the Lord’s servant, and I am willing to do whatever He wants.
She had a choice -- and she chose to surrender to God’s will for her life..
For Mary the cost of saying "yes" quite high --
The first thing it cost her was her reputation.
She was a virgin.
She was engaged to be married to Joseph.
And now she is pregnant.
Mary sacrificed her reputation.
It cost her her comfort.
The Bible said Jesus had to be born in Bethlehem.
She’s in Nazareth.
Trusting God meant being nine months pregnant and taking a long ride on the back of a donkey.
Tonight we begin with the third thing Mary teaches us about being the kind of person God can use:
3. GOD USES PEOPLE WHO DARE TO TRUST HIS PROMISES
God uses people of faith because it does take risk, it takes courage to be used by God.
Courage doesn’t mean you’re not afraid.
Courage is not the absence of fear.
Courage is moving ahead in spite of your fear.
It’s facing your fear.
Another word for courage is faith.
Mary was a woman of deep faith.
She didn’t have all the answers but she did know who did and she trusted Him.
Mary was a woman who was not afraid of the supernatural.
She wasn’t afraid of miracles.
Luke 1:34-35, 37 (Living Bible) "Mary asked the angel `But how can I have a baby? I am a virgin.’
The angel replied, `The Holy Spirit shall come upon you, and the power of God shall overshadow you.
For every promise from God shall surely come true.’"
God uses people who dare to trust His promises.
God did miracles in Mary’s life.
You say, "Why doesn’t God ever do miracles in my life?"
Maybe it’s because you’re afraid He will.
Maybe you’re afraid of the supernatural.
You’re afraid, "If God does something supernatural in my life, I might lose the control" and that’s a scary thought.
May the rhe reason God doesn’t do miracles in your life is you don’t expect Him to.
You play it safe spiritually.
God uses people who dare to trust His promises.
Mary had every reason to be worried.
She’s going to carry this great responsibility.
But instead of worry, Mary worshiped.
Did you catch that -- instead of worrying, she worshipped!
In Luke 1 we have Mary’s song of worship.
Instead of worrying, she worshiped.
Instead of panicking, she praised.
Instead of succumbing to the pressure, she rejoiced in prayer.
I want to tell that to you that when you come upon situations where you think you’re in over your head.
You know you’re following God’s will but it’s scary.
Don’t worry -- worship.
Don’t panic -- praise.
Don’t buckle under the pressure, enojy the pleasure of prayer.
Anytime you’re afraid -- it means you’ve forgotten the promises of God.
Claim those promises.
Jesus said, "What is impossible with men is possible with God."
Mary’s cousin understood the third reason God chose Mary.
Elizabeth said, "You believed that God would do what he said. That’s why he has given you this wonderful blessing."
God uses people who desire His will, who decide to pay the cost for His will and who dare to trust Him.
If God can take a teenage girl, a poor peasant teenager, with no education and choose her to be the mother of Jesus Christ, don’t you think your excuse is pretty puny for why you’re not letting God have all your life?
Many of you have enormous spiritual potential, you just don’t see it.
I can see it.
God can see it.
You have enormous spiritual potential.
God has gifted you and talented you and given you health and freedom, a sharp mind and an education and talents and abilities.
He doesn’t mean for you to just use them on yourself.
One day you will stand before God and He will say, "What did you do with what I gave you?"
Are you willing to be used by God?
To say "God, anytime, anywhere, any place, use me.
Whatever it means.
If it means putting my agenda, my goals, my dreams, my plans, my finances on the line --
Then thats okay -- I want your will for my life more than anything else.
I cannot stand another day without being in Your will completely."
It starts with that kind of a desire.
It’s when you get to the place you say, "I can’t go on another day without Jesus Christ owning me completely and making me what He designed me to be in the first place.
Does that scare you?
The secret of overcoming the fear of the unknown is by focusing on what you do know.
What do we know?
We know God loves us,
God says we matter to Him,
God has our best interest at heart, He cares about us and He knows what will make us happy even more than we do.
That we know for sure.
It’s the Christmas season.
Let me ask you a very personal question.
What are you going to give Jesus for Christmas?
It is His birthday.
You’re buying gifts for everybody else but what can you give God?
You ask what do you give the person who’s got everything?
Some people are hard to buy for -- they have everything they want,
If they really wanted something else they would go buy it !
You may think that Jesus has everything.
No, He doesn’t.
He doesn’t have all of you unless you give it to Him.
My suggestion is that this Christmas as your Christmas gift to Jesus Christ, you say, "God, here I am.
All of me -- the good, the bad and the ugly.
Take it, break it and make it.
You form it and You do whatever You want to with it.
I am Yours in ’2003."
Are you tired of playing games with God?
Are you to the place you feel like you’ve got to sell out.
Is there a desire to say, "I want to be what God made me to be all along."
Follow me in this prayer,
"Dear Jesus, ..... I desire to do Your will.
More than anything else ..... that’s what I want ..... in my life.
I desire ..... to do Your will.
Lord, today ..... I am deciding ..... to pay the cost.
Whatever it takes, ..... whatever it costs, ..... whatever You ask me to give up
I am not satisfied ..... with second best.
I want to be ..... what You designed me to be.
I want ..... to be used by You.
I want ..... to feel Your presence ..... in my life.
Lord, I trust Your promises.
What seems impossible ..... to me ..... is not impossible ..... with You.
Help me ..... to become a person of faith ..... and trust You ..... more each day
and to expect You ..... to work in my life. Amen." 4-6
