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Sermon 9.18.2021 (Useful in God's Kingdom)
Sermon 9.18.2021 (Useful in God's Kingdom)
Introduction
This morning as we begin we have a statement and two questions.
Statement: I can be used by God.
This statement will be demonstrated as we go through Scripture this morning.
Question #1: Do I desire to be useful?
Question #2: Am I willing to be useful?
Keep these things in mind during the message today.
PRAY
Have you ever wondered if God can use you?
Maybe you have a history that makes you question your usefulness.
The usefulness of a tool is dependent on the task to be accomplished.
Meaning. I want the tool that is made for the task.
We are God's tools. He creates us to do a specific task that can only be accomplished as we are shaped and fashioned by
Him.
We are useful as long as we are shaped by God. The moment we resist Him, we lose our usefulness.
However, there is a bigger point I don't want us to miss here.
God is shaping and fashioning you and me for use.
Every single believer can and will be used by God for His purpose.
You are useful.
How do I know that?
Because God uses people even when everyone else would cast them aside or write them off as a lost cause.
As we dive into 1 Corinthians today, we will meet two men who were used by God contrary to everyone's expectations.
This letter comes from Paul and Sosthenes.
To fully understand the miracle that phrase represents, we need to know who these men are.
That's part of what we will do this morning.
Requirement #1…
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Romans 12:2 NKJV
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is
that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
This is where our minds are changed.
In God’s Word.
We learn that in Psalm 119:9 (S).
Psalm 119:9 NKJV
How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word.
As we are trained, as the Word of God is received into our lives, our minds are transformed.
All of us need this. We need to be transformed and the process of transformation requires that our minds be renewed
by the Word of God.
Before we come to Christ our thinking is messed up. Our theology is messed up. Our viewpoint is messed up. It needs to
be corrected.
That correction comes through the Word of God.
Observation #2…
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We see this in the life of Paul.
Turn to Acts 9:17-19, 26-27.
Acts 9:17–19 NKJV
And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus,
who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy
Spirit.” Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once; and he arose and
was baptized. So when he had received food, he was strengthened. Then Saul spent some days with the disciples at
Damascus.
Acts 9:26–27 NKJV
And when Saul had come to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, and did not believe
that he was a disciple. But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. And he declared to them how he had
seen the Lord on the road, and that He had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of
Jesus.
Ananias and the other disciples at Damascus strengthened and encouraged Paul.
Barnabas brought Paul to the other disciples and vouched for him.
This is where our hearts begin to change.
When we spend time with our brothers and sisters in Christ, God works on our hearts!
Sosthenes spent time with Paul. This fellowship had a transformative effect.
Some of the rough edges we have can only be smoothed through the abrasive means of fellowship.
Blind spots are revealed and rough edges exposed as we rub shoulders with the body of Christ.
Now, some of you are thinking that we can’t do that because we aren’t able to meet as often physically.
That’s simply not true.
As we interact through phone calls, texts, emails, and social media; rough edges and blind spots will be revealed.
We must have the courage, boldness and love to discuss these things with one another.
Once those areas are exposed, the potter goes to work.
Will you and I submit to the work of the potter?
So far we have learned two requirements for usefulness.
We must encounter God and we must experience transformation.
Requirement #3…
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Then he said, ‘The God of our fathers has chosen you that you should know His will, and see the Just One, and hear the
voice of His mouth. For you will be His witness to all men of what you have seen and heard.
The calling to be an apostle was a call to serve.
We will learn in chapter 4 that this calling as an apostle has meant suffering, rejection, and death.
It means giving everything you have in the service of others.
Paul was called by the will of God.
We are to serve because we have been called to it.
Look at 1 Corinthians 1:2.
We are sanctified and called to be saints, just as Paul was called.
Calling is not an accident, it displays intent.
We have been called by God to serve.
The potter made you a cup, or a bowl, or a pitcher.
Function. Serve as the potter commands.
Reminder #2…
Conclusion
A statement and two questions.
I hope that studying Paul and Sosthenes has helped us realize that all of us can be used by God.
Do you want to be used? Are you willing to be used?
As we consider the commitment we would make today, let me give you a few ideas.
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Personal: If I want to be useful, I must know the Lord, be Biblically trained, and begin serving. Are these ideas part of my
life? A commitment here might be a decision to trust Christ. Or, it could be a commitment to take a class or attend a
bible study or get involved in a particular area of ministry.
Friendship: God has given me my friendships on purpose. He has a plan for those relationships. A commitment here
could be recognizing God’s purpose in my friendships. Maybe be a mentor or get to the deeper things of life and
communicate a Biblical perspective.
Parenting: You are the perfect parent for your children. How do I know that? Because you are the parent God has given
them. As parents we will be held primarily responsible for the Spiritual training of our children. Are we doing our job? Do
our children know the gospel? Are we engaging them in service?
Marriage: For those who are married this is our first area of service. We are to serve on another. That is what God has
called us to. I cannot serve the Lord if my marriage is not what God has called it to be. Serve your spouse. What I mean
by that is not that we should cater to their every whim. What I mean is that we know the emotional, spiritual, and, yes,
physical needs of our spouse and we meet those.
Every single child of God can be used by Him.
That is why He has created us in Christ Jesus.
That’s what Ephesians 2:10 says.
Ephesians 2:10 NKJV
For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should
walk in them.
We were created in Christ Jesus to do good works!
This demands that we first know Christ.
If you have never trusted in Him, do it today.
It further demands that we have been Biblically trained to know and recognize what good works are.
If you feel unprepared, attend a Bible study, start taking classes. Get into the Word.
It finally demands that we get busy serving the Lord.
If you are not using your gifts, talents, abilities, and skills for Christ, today is the day to start.
Four statements and we are done.