The Man God Uses Series

The Man God Uses

Scripture: First Corinthians 1:22-29; Proverbs 29:25; Luke 6:38

This morning I want to speak to the men. June is the month when we celebrate Father’s Day and I have been led to talk to the men. Now ladies, while my messages will focus on the men, it is extremely important that you hear what the Lord is saying also as truly what I will share in essence applies to women also. Also, every man has a mother and the role that mother plays in the life of that son will directly impact the type of man he becomes. It is important that our young ladies and girls hear this message because they need to know what standard they should have when choosing someone to spend their time and potentially the rest of their lives with. The title of my message this morning is “The Man God Uses.” Again, I want to make this abundantly clear, while my sermon this morning is about the man that God uses; Scripture is clear – God uses women also so ladies in truth I am talking to you too. I could have titled the message “The Person God Uses” as God doesn’t look at the person’s gender but at the person’s obedience and commitment. God will use anyone who is willing to say “Yes” to Him and what He desires. But I want to talk to my brothers.

Several years ago the men’s ministry of the Church was reading the book “The Man in the Mirror.” This book addressed twenty-four problems that men face. It talked about solving our identity problems, relationship problems, money and time problems just to name a few. You see men have issues just like women do – except that we are more reluctant to talk about our issues than women are. So today, June 7, 2020 you can write down that Pastor Rodney V. Johnson said that he has issues. For those of you who know me you’re probably saying, “Finally! A true confession!!!” I want you to know that there is a man out there that God uses even while that same man is working on his issues. Let’s read our Scriptural text for this message. Turn with me to First Corinthians 1:22-29.

“For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: but we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumbling block, and unto the Greeks foolishness. But unto them who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men. For you see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God has chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty. And base things of the world, and things which are despised, has God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nothing things that are. That no flesh should glory in His presence.” (1 Corinthians 1:22-29)

Paul tells us in this text what kind of man that God uses. It is very evident that God’s measuring rod is different than ours for God has the ability to look beyond the flesh and see what is on the inside of man. We cannot do this as we judge based on the outer appearance of what is shown to us. I want you to see how many times Paul uses the phrase “God has chosen…” He says God has chosen “foolish things; weak things; base things; despised things; and powerless things.” These are the things that God has chosen which is opposite from what we would choose. He chooses what the world calls the foolish things to shame wise men. He chooses what the world calls weak things to shame the mighty. He chooses what the world calls base (dishonorable) things to confuse the exalted. He chooses what the world calls the despised things to humble the noble. And He chooses what the world calls the powerless things to bring to defeat things that are powerful. Why would God do this you ask? Because all of these things are the judgment of men based on what we see on the outside. But God looks at the new creation on the inside of us. When He looks at us, He sees what we’re capable of. He sees us as being strong because we don’t have to act contrary to what the Bible says. That is strength New Light! And there will be times when we will want to act out of our emotions, but God says we have the capacity to walk in wisdom instead. Here’s what we need to understand. The Bible says God’s ways are not our ways. It doesn’t say God’s ways can’t be our ways. You see New Light, because we are His sons and daughters, our ways can be God’s ways if we choose to allow them to be our ways. It goes back to what I said earlier about God not looking at the person’s gender but the person’s obedience and commitment.