God Can You Use Me?

 

Matthew 6:24-6:24 How many of you really want to be used of the Lord?

INTRO. – Everyone serves someone or something and of course, it should be the Lord. Not money and not some other person. Everyone at one point in his or her walk with God has wanted to be used but sometimes we don’t like the appointment that God gives us so we choose to do nothing.

This message God use me is a message that will try your Spirit and see how much you really want to be used, it will challenge your obedience to God and just where you stand with the Almighty. So when I am through this this subject your response to it will not only let God but also it will let me know if you really want to be used of God.

Matt 23:11-14 But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant. And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted. But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.

Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For ye devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation.

A lot of people want to start at the top but the blessed start at the bottom and wait for God to promote them. But this message is about you and me. Are we useless or useful in this world? And useful to whom? Obviously, we should desire to be useful to God in this world.

ILL. “When it comes to the Christian life, the stakes are high. Things like heaven, hell, and eternal reward. You and I get only one chance on earth to live a life pleasing to our Master.

No starting over and no reincarnation. We have been given life and breath to prove our faith and demonstrate what we believe.

Mark 14. When the woman poured expensive perfume on Jesus’ head, some people at the banquet thought she did a stupid thing.

But Jesus rebuked them harshly and said, “Leave her alone… she did what she could do… and I think it’s beautiful.” I identified with the woman. I feel like I have often done stupid things in my service to the Lord, Am I doing this right? Is this pleasing to God?

She did what she could (But she did something, she didn’t just keep what she had, she used on Jesus.)

Have you done what you could? Or could you do more in the realm of Christian service? I think we all could do more. I don’t think there is a single person who is doing his or her all for Christ on earth.

What kinds of things can we do to serve the Lord? Basically, our service is divided into two different parts or two different areas: in the church and outside the church.

Inside the church: we can teach a SS class, play a musical instrument, sing a solo, give a testimony, serve communion, read a scripture.

Help with physical stuff around the church like replace light bulbs, repair plumbing, vacuum the carpets, and sweep the floors. Can you do any of these things for the Lord?

Outside the church: we can witness for Christ in order to lead someone to Christ and be saved. We can minister to the poor and needy through giving. We can minister to the neglected and lonely like widows in a nursing home. Mow the yard, or just pick up paper on the parking lot.

James 1:27 “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.”

God put us on earth to be used by Him in service! We can’t do everything but we can do something and we all need to figure what that something is.

I think most of us know what we should do or what we can do to be of service to the Lord. It seems that motivation is what we need. We need something to kick us into gear to get going.

ILL.- It’s like the old farmer who was encouraged to go to Agriculture school. He replied, “What for? Already I ain’t farmin as good as I know how.” MOST OF US KNOW HOW. We just need motivation to get going and do the work.

Why are we suppose to serve the Lord? Here is some motivation for us.

1- We serve because it’s what Jesus did, we serve because it demonstrates love we serve because it pleases God

Matthew 20:26-28 “Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.” If Jesus did it, it must be right.

I Peter 2:21 “To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.” So we should follow in His steps.

Acts 10:38 How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.

ILL.- In Birmingham, Alabama, many years ago, lived a Presbyterian pastor, James Bryan. Throughout the city he was known as “Brother Bryan.” There were many preachers stronger in pulpit oratory, but none preached better sermons than he did with his life. Like Jesus, he went about doing good.

It was a common thing for him to come home on a cold day without his overcoat. He had given it to some poor man who had none. One spring day he was driving a horse and buggy through the countryside. He saw a farmer standing in the field. It was time for his spring plowing, but his only horse lay dead. Brother Bryan unhitched his horse and gave it to the man. Then he walked home. How many of us would have done that?

 

It was fitting that when his biography was written it was called A Sermon in Shoes. Of all the commentaries on the Scriptures, good examples are still the best. No matter how good any human being is and there are plenty of good examples for us to follow, the greatest of all is Jesus.

We will never go wrong if we follow His example of humble service.

He knew how to live better than anybody and it wasn’t a life of luxury.

It was a life of service. It wasn’t about how much he could keep but how much he could give away.

1 John 3:17-18

But whoso hath this world’s good and seeth his brother have need and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? (He is talking about being greedy and looking out for your own selves and no one else.)

18 My little children let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in-deed and in truth.

Talking about God isn’t proof you know him but following the example laid before us by the Lord and others.

Luke 22:27 “For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves.” Christ came to serve not to be served.

We should be involved in serving others in some form because we are commanded to do it and because Jesus did it.

II. WE SERVE BECAUSE IT DEMONSTRATES LOVE

Galatians 5:13-14 “You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. The entire law is summed up in a single command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

What are the two great commandments that Jesus gave? To love the Lord God with all your heart, soul and mind and to love your neighbor as yourself.

We are supposed to love God and love mankind. And we love people by being a servant. Someone wrote: – A lot of people are like a wheelbarrow—not good unless pushed.

– Some are like canoes—they have to be paddled. Some are like kites—if you don’t keep them on a string they fly away.

– Some are like footballs—you can’t tell which way they’ll bounce next. Some are like a good watch—open face, pure gold, quietly busy and full of good works.

What type of person are you? Are you quick to work, serve and wait on others? Or do you have to be pushed and prodded? Or do you prefer for others to wait on you?

All Christians should serve one another in love! That’s what love does. Love serves others. Love doesn’t sit around, waiting to be served or waiting for others to do the job. THEY JUST DO IT!

A true servant is quick to demonstrate love by doing things for each other. By cleaning up spills carrying out the trash, sweeping not always expecting that to be someone else job.

Why does a mothers and fathers take care of their children support them? Because of love, why did Jesus come to the earth? The scripture tell it all

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

If what you do isn’t because you love God and because you love people all that you do is in vain!

Love serves others and not just your own mate or even your own family members. We serve others because our hearts have been touched by the love of God and we want to serve in love.

ILL.- Lorene Fancher was a member of the church. Lorene had a dry good, clothing store in town until she closed it. A young wife and mother who worked there contracted cancer. They did surgery but she needed chemotherapy treatments at the University of MO in Columbia. Guess who took her for those treatments, which were about 80 to 85 miles one way?

Lorene Fancher did. Was Lorene related to her? No, only in Christ. Lorene had a heart of love and a willingness to serve in love and that’s why she did it.

While some will go out of their way to give to others—some are storing up for themselves and refuse to reach out in love as Christ did and be a giver.

Matt 5:41-48 And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain 42 Give to him that asketh thee and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.

43 Ye have heard that it hath been said thou shalt love thy neighbor and hate thine enemy.

44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you and pray for them which despitefully use you and persecute you;

 

45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

46 For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? Do not even the publicans the same?

Romans 12:9-10 “Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.”

Romans 13:8 “Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law.”

1 Corinthians 13:13 “And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”

Ephesians 5:2 “Live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”

How many you would die for someone else? How many of you would go hungry to feed someone else?

And how many of us would go broke to make sure someone else had something?

III. WE SERVE BECAUSE IT PLEASES GOD

Anyone who serves Christ in righteousness, joy and peace is pleasing to God! Anyone who serves others is pleasing to God and righteousness, joy and peace make it even better!

There are people who will say I am broke but have money there are those that horde up for themselves and won’t even share with family. And there are those who are willing to make a sacrifice so that others may have at least something.

Illustration: when I was trying to evangelize in the 80’s there was time I had just enough gas to get to the church and we were low on groceries at home and we were hoping for a good offering to help us out. Then At the end of the service God would show me someone in need and speak to me to give all the offering to someone and I would.

Was God punishing me making me be in lack and my family? No he was trying me to see if I would obey his voice and be more concerned about others than myself.

Later I would find out that it was just the amount they needed to keep their gas or electric on or they were out of groceries, did I go hungry no God made men give unto me just as he promised in,

Luke 6:38…Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.

James 1:17 “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”

We’re all gifted by God! And the greatest gift of all, of course, is the promise of eternal life through the Lord Jesus!

I would say this is pretty good pay for no more than we do and since we are going to paid very well, we need to seek to please Him who gives to us! And one very good way to please Him is by being a servant to others!

And please remember: We don’t serve in order to be saved or get saved in heaven. We serve because we ARE saved and headed to heaven.

We just want to please Him who gives to us!

CONCLUSION….What about us? Are we just wasting away, not being used by God in some form? May it never be!

I Corinthians 6:19-20 “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.”

Since we’ve been bought and paid for, we owe it to God to honor with our lives in Christian service.