"Building a Church Through Outreach"
Make Me Useable
ELCOG 4/22/07
Text: Isa. 6:8
Tonight I want to touch just a few more points to follow up the week’s revival. I use to pray. "Lord, please use me". It is a real desire for me to be used by God. I want to be an instrument in His hands. I want to be a man that he can send. But in the last few years, I have changed my prayer. It’s no longer, "God use me", but rather, "God, Please make me usable." I now understand that God desires to use me. God’s plan is to use me, he is looking for people to send. He is looking for people he can trust to deliver His word. Who can He send? Will you cry out…"here I am, send me"?
If we are going to be used in reaching the lost; whether it is in street ministry or missions, we must first be willing to say, "Here I am send me." In order to be used you must be willing to go. You must be willing to obey. Hold nothing back. Give God your all. God deserves better than just your
left-overs. He deserves everything that you have got. God offered us His best and His all and we should be willing to do the same. If you really want to be used then be willing to say…..Send me!
If you want to be used - till the ground.
Matt. 13:18
18Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower.
Matt. 13:19
19When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.
Matt. 13:20
20But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it;
Matt. 13:21
21Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.
Matt. 13:22
22He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.
Matt. 13:23
23But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.
In this passage we see a very complex reason for people not being used. The ground is not prepared. Hearts are not ready to receive a word that can remain. They want a word, they hear a word, they receive a word, but they can not maintain a word. They can not progress in their walk because the word of God can not take root to grow because they have not prepared the ground. We must be willing to work in our lives and remove the stones and the thorns. We must be willing to cut the vines that choke out our hope and let the word of God live.
Take notice of verse 23; those who prepared their hearts for a good seed and receives a good word that person bears fruit in abundance. If you want to be used, then prepare your heart for a word that can bring forth a harvest.
Next, if you want to be used you must worship.
John 4:23
23But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.
John 4:24
24God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
Worship brings you into the area of acceptance. Worship helps you to hear the voice of God. It brings you to a place to say yes.
Be a hearer and doer of the word!
James 1:23
23For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:
James 1:24
24For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.
James 1:25
25But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
Sanctify yourself. To sanctity means that you are setup for service. How can we be sanctified?
John 17:17
17Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
Eph. 5:26
26That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
Heb. 13:12
12Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate.
1 Pet. 3:15
15But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
Allow God to take the hindrance out of your life. He wants to make you usable. He desires to use you, but you’ll have to do your part. Prepare your hearts, worship and allow the word to sanctify your hearts. God is ready to put you to work. God is calling. He is asking, "Who can I send?" Will you go? Will you say here I am?