The Kind Of People God Uses

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.