How to be Used of God
INTRO: What do you think of when you think of a person who can REALLY be used of God?
- A dynamic personality?
- Someone who always seems cheerful?
- Someone who never meets a stranger?
- A young person?
- An older person?
- Highly trained?
Do you ever think of someone who:
- Cries regularly?
- Gets depressed?
- Has mood swings?
- Isn’t a confident person?
- Has no training?
- Is young?
Do you think of yourself?
If you thought first of someone who is dynamic, cheerful, outgoing, and older, then you probably never would have picked out the man we’re talking about this morning!
Here’s what I want you to do this morning with these pieces of paper. At the beginning of the sermon here, I want you to write down all the reasons you can think of that God COULDN’T USE YOU on this piece of paper. In other words, finish this sentence: God can’t use me because: ______.... Whatever comes to your mind, put it down while I’m preaching.
Jeremiah was a melancholy.
Melancholy: People who feel things very deeply. Although they tend to be creative, they aren’t usually very confident. They are perfectionists, and may be prone to mood swings. Extreme melancholies may cry often, and suffer from depression.
CHECK OUT THIS MOOD SWING:
JER. 20:11 But the LORD is with me as a mighty terrible one: therefore my persecutors shall stumble, and they shall not prevail: they shall be greatly ashamed; for they shall not prosper: their everlasting confusion shall never be forgotten.
12 But, O LORD of hosts, that triest the righteous, and seest the reins and the heart, let me see thy vengeance on them: for unto thee have I opened my cause.
13 Sing unto the LORD, praise ye the LORD: for he hath delivered the soul of the poor from the hand of evildoers.
14 ¶ Cursed be the day wherein I was born: let not the day wherein my mother bare me be blessed.
15 Cursed be the man who brought tidings to my father, saying, A man child is born unto thee; making him very glad.
16 And let that man be as the cities which the LORD overthrew, and repented not: and let him hear the cry in the morning, and the shouting at noontide;
17 Because he slew me not from the womb; or that my mother might have been my grave, and her womb to be always great with me.
18 Wherefore came I forth out of the womb to see labour and sorrow, that my days should be consumed with shame?
BUT GUESS WHAT? God used Jeremiah (1:3) In the time of the GREATEST of national emergencies, he searches out the “crier.” Maybe God selected Jeremiah because of hi extreme personality.
Why could God use Jeremiah?
1. He was listening when God spoke.
4 ¶ Then the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
What might God be saying that you need to be listening for?
- Might he be putting an idea for ministry on your heart?
- Might he be telling you to encourage a friend or a co-worker?
- Could it be that God is asking you to prepare for full-time ministry?
- Could it be that God wants to tell you to witness or invite a friend to church?
You want to be used of God? Listen for his voice!
So, what is God’s voice going to sound like? Well, it probably won’t boom out from the heavens. Often, God’s voice is located in the things he helps us to see & notice.
- Peter and John noticed the lame man in Acts 3 – they heard the voice of God.
- Jesus noticed the blind man, and Jesus was “led by the Spirit”. He heard the Voice.
- Philip, in Acts 8 saw the man riding in the chariot trying to understand the Bible he was reading, and he heard the voice of God.
BUT WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE TODAY?
- Kevin and Elizabeth saw Esther Jones in her time of need – they heard the voice of God.
- Esther noticed the manager at CiCi’s pizza, and she’s supposed to be here in the service tonight. She heard the Voice.
- I wish I had been around the church longer, and I would know more instances. BUT THAT’S WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE IN REAL LIFE!
- What about that gas station attendant?
- What about that checkout clerk?
- What about that co-worker?
- What about that calling program Pastor Darrell will be starting soon? (Sorry, just had to get my plug in!)
- ARE YOU LISTENING? What might God be saying?
2. He was willing to be used if he was God’s choice.
5 "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations."
6 Then said I: "Ah, Lord GOD! Behold, I cannot speak, for I am a youth."
7 But the LORD said to me: "Do not say, ‘I am a youth,’ For you shall go to all to whom I send you, And whatever I command you, you shall speak.
8 Do not be afraid of their faces, For I am with you to deliver you," says the LORD.
9 Then the LORD put forth His hand and touched my mouth, and the LORD said to me: "Behold, I have put My words in your mouth.
What things are you writing down? Are you thinking of reasons why God can’t use you?
- I’m shy?
- I’m young?
- I don’t have training?
GOD SAYS: Nah. Don’t say that.
YOU MIGHT SAY: BUT GOD SAID THAT TO JEREMIAH, NOT ME!!
Are you God’s choice for ministry?
- Eph. 2:10, 2 Tim. 1:9 - You ARE God’s choice for ministry! Every member of his family is a minister of His grace!
- THE QUESTION IS: Since you ARE God’s choice, are you willing to be used?
3. He saw what God saw.
11 ¶ Moreover the word of the LORD came to me, saying, "Jeremiah, what do you see?" And I said, "I see a branch of an almond tree."
12 Then the LORD said to me, "You have seen well, for I am ready to perform My word."
What does God see that you need to be seeing?
- What does he see in your abilities?
- What does he see at the place where you work?
- What potential does he see in the people that you meet from day to day?
- What potential does he see in this church?
- What part does he see you having in this church as we move forward?
Jeremiah was used of God, because he saw what God saw. If we can get on God’s page and see what He sees, we’ll be used by God too!
ACTIVITY: Take out a 3 X 5 card, and write on it every reason why God can’t use you. God can’t use me because:. . . Then take it and burn/throw away the card!
WHY DID I HAVE YOU TEAR IT UP?
What we call emotional baggage/scars, God calls potential.
What we call impossibilities, God calls opportunities.
