God Can Use You! Part 2

Clutch Student Ministries Pastor Jordan Biel 09.06.2006

Last week we took a look at the lives of 1.) Tamar and 2.) Rahab and how God used their screwed-up, not-so-pretty lives for His glory! These sinful women were in the lineage of the Messiah, Jesus Christ!

This week we are going to look into the lives of a few more individuals – people who are unlikely, imperfect, and broken – yet willing to allow God to take their mess and make a masterpiece of art.

Subject of Study Gift/Ability Weakness Success

1. Mary A Belly / Availability Social Status/ Reputation Jesus’ Birth

It doesn’t matter who you are, God Can Use You!

You know the story of Christmas. God sends an angel to speak to a virgin named Mary – the angel kinda freaks her out – being he’s a huge, bright angel – something she’s never seen – the he really freaks her out by saying this:

^“1You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus. ³²He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David, ³³and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever; His kingdom will never end.” Mary’s like ³⁴“How will this be… since I am a virgin?”

Many youth ask the same thing today… “How can this be, I am only a …, I am only a ….?”

How?

³⁵The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.”

That’s how you’re gonna do it, not in your strength, but in God’s.

… “You will receive power, when the Holy Ghost has come upon you” You receive – instantly the power and authority necessary to be His voice to the world.

God gave me this revelation about 3 weeks ago – it just appeared so clear to me the correlation between Mary, the mother of Jesus and us.

Mary, having the Holy Spirit overshadow her gave her the ability to bear Jesus – to reveal Jesus to the world. In the same way, when the Holy Spirit of God overshadows us we reveal Jesus to the world – we bear his name and we can’t really hide it! When you’re pregnant, everybody knows pretty soon! When you’re carrying a child, people can see it! When you’re inhabited by Jesus, people can see it!

The reason we pray for you to receive the Holy Spirit is not just so that you can be filled and be “Pentecostal” but so that you may have to power to be God’s voice of truth.

We see that Jesus sent out the disciples with the power of the Holy Spirit to be the voice of truth to the world. He didn’t send them out to be “Pentecostal.” He didn’t send them out just to show people that God can give you goosbumps. He sent them out with the Holy Spirit’s power for a reason. WHY? To be a witness – to be a person that was there when it happened and is willing to tell you about it.

If you believe in Jesus and if you’ve received His Spirit, you are sent! You are a “Senticostal.”

You are not Pentecostal if you are not sent, because if you are sent by Jesus with the message of Jesus, it’s because of Pentecost – the day in which God poured out His Spirit on 120 people in a room.

If we want to make the most of our 24 hours a day – if we want to be used by God, we must understand that the Holy Spirit is the #1 resource given to us by God to do just that.

Mary dared to believe that though she was unlikely, God was likely to do miracles.

Though she was unable alone, with God, she was able. Without God, it was impossible, with God it was possible.

Without God in our lives, nothing that will endure time is possible, but With God, we can make an impact on people’s lives that will last throughout eternity! Throughout eternity! That’s amazing!!!!!

“With God now in my life, I can live just how He intends. With God I can have a reason to live.

With God I now have a hope. With God I’m never alone. With God I can do all things!”

- With You Song by Jordan Biel / InnovateRecords

Regardless of who you are or what you’ve done, God Can Use You!

ILL> Funny Story of my embarrassment – getting diarreah while leading worship…

If God can use me with all of my mistakes, God can certainly use you!

The Lord is searching for someone, somewhere to dare to believe in Him to use their life.

The Lord is searching for someone to say what Mary said: “Here I am, whatever it is.. I am the Lord’s servant.” “I’m here, God”

God is not impressed with your ability, but is looking for your availability.

Are you available to God to use you or not?

Usually, the Lord uses the most unlikely instruments to do great things through to show that it is His strength and not the persons - to show it is the hand of the Lord and not the ability of man.

ILL> Esteban and his guitars – when he plays that cheap machine made, $100 guitar, it sound awesome! He’s playing all this “flamenco” stuff – all these ridiculously sick riffs and you know what, though the guitar is cheap – the music sounds incredible!

WHY? The quality of the music depends more on the musician than it does on the instrument.

APPLY> In the same way, when God, the master musician orchestrates things and uses you, it sound great! Not because your outstanding, but because He is outstanding. Yes, we need to offer God our best, but when you feel inadequate, when you feel as if you have nothing to offer, God will often surprise you and use what least expected in a great way to glorify Him!

God wants to use you with your unique gifts – however insignificant they may seem to you.

Subject of Study Gift/Ability Weakness Success

2. Moses A stick Anger problem Israel’s Deliverance

What did the Lord give Moses to confront Pharaoh to set the Israelites free?

(Crazy examples) No! A stick! Not even a special stick! Just the same old stick that he had been carrying around for years. “Thanks a lot God; I’ve always had this… I thought you were going to give me something special.” We also often take for granted our own gifts & abilities in the same manner when the Lord calls us. “Thanks a lot God, I’ve always had this or been able to do that, big deal.”

The Lord replied to Moses: “Throw it down!” The staff then became a serpent! In the same manner, when we lay down our gifts & abilities before the Lord for His use, He will transform them into a mighty sign & wonder for His glory.

The Lord then told Moses to pick up the serpent. Ok, were all Pentecostals, we’re into crazy stuff: when the stick turned into a snake, we’d all be all into it, “Ooooooooh!” But when he said to pick it up I’d hit the door! I’m not into picking up any snakes! And where did God tell Moses to pick up the serpent? By the tail! Ok, I’m not into handling snakes because I’m not that “religious”, but if I were to pick up a snake, it’d be behind the head, so that it couldn’t bite me – certainly not the tail – that’s the most dangerous place! There is always a certain amount of risk in taking hold of God’s plan for your life.

How do you spell faith? R-I-S-K!

When we next read about the staff, Moses threw it down before Pharaoh. Pharaoh called in his magicians & enchanters and they also threw their staffs down and became serpents, however Moses’ serpent ate theirs! Satan always tries to imitate what God has to offer (drugs v/s Holy Spirit, etc…) however just like way Moses’ snake ate the others, the FIRE of God consumes anything that the enemy has to offer! Next we read about the staff at the Red Sea’s edge. The Israelites were trapped and the enemy was closing in fast. Moses prayed a very eloquent prayer, “Dear, Lord… we will not be afraid… You will deliver…” The Lord replied, “What are you crying to Me for!? – Do something!!!” I believe the Lord is saying the same today: “Stop Praying and DO SOMETHING! Some act of faith that I can honor.”

When God wants us to do something, we can’t tell Him, “Well, let me pray about it for a while – you know – long enough for me to forget about it.”

Don’t “spiritualize” your disobedience!

Telling God that you’re “going to pray about” something He’s asked you to do, really is pretty ridiculous when you think about it.

Moses raised the staff over the water and made a way of deliverance for many. Check out (Ex 17:8) – afterwards it no longer says “Moses’ staff” but “the staff of God.” As a believers today we are pressed with our backs to the wall with the enemy chomping at our rear ends, and the Lord is wanting us to take up those gifts & abilities that we have surrendered to Him to make a way of deliverance for an entire generation. Then it is no longer “my” gift or ability, but the gift & ability of the Lord – the ability and strength that He’s giving me.

Subject of Study Gift/Ability Weakness Success

3. David A rock , courage Lust, pride Israel’s Restoration

You know the story. God used this young kid David to defeat an army. And with what? A rock! The same thing that he had always used. David used his sling shot to defend the sheep and killed a lion and a bear with rocks – now God used his ability to defeat Goliath and ultimately defeat the whole Philistine army and restore the nation of Israel.

A little dude with attitude can go a long way if he believes in God to help him!

If God can use Mary with a belly, Moses with a stick and David with a rock – He can certainly use you with your gifts and abilities!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Remember, God is not impressed with your ability, but is looking for your availability.

Are you available to God to use you or not? When God calls you, does He get your voice mail all the time? – you know – your prearranged speech – “Well let me pray about it” or “Well, God just leave a message and when I get the time, I’ll call you back.”

ILL> Asking the Holy Spirit to open your ears to hear him everyday is like having good towers and good reception on your cell phone.

Nothing is worse then getting cut off on a phone call b/c you don’t’ get good reception –

Like using Spring in Kinsman – it just doesn’t work. You can have the plan, but if you don’t have the towers nearby, you’re not going to get reception and clear calls.

APPLY>In a similar way, when we take time to get close to God and ask His Spirit to fill us everyday, we will have good reception during the day and “clear calls”

Though we now realize that despite our past, and despite our lack of gifts, we can be used by God, are we even available when He calls?

Dan. 11:32 “But the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits.”

It doesn’t matter:

· How life’s ripped you off

· How you’ve taken things into your own hands

· Where you’re from or What you’ve done

THINK ABOUT IT

GOD WANTS TO Have a Relationship with You and partner with you to do great things for Him!!!

Are you available?

What are your strengths and abilities that God could use for His Glory?