Various scripture, God uses individuals to bring about His purposes - Needing a Vision for Personal Ministry

I. God uses individuals: To stand for Him

A. The Lord sees the deceived world Ezekiel 22:26-29

(ESV) Ezekiel 22 26 Her priests have done violenceto my law and have profaned my holy things. They have made no distinction between the holy and the common, neither have they taught the difference between the unclean and the clean, and they have disregarded my Sabbaths, so that I am profaned among them. 27 Her princes in her midst are like wolvestearing the prey, shedding blood, destroying lives to get dishonest gain.

28 And her prophetshave smeared whitewashfor them, seeing false visions and divining lies for them, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord God,’ when the Lord has not spoken. 29 The people of the land have practiced extortion and committed robbery. They have oppressed the poor and needy, and have extorted from the sojourner without justice.

1. The Lord unveils the need to Ezekiel

2. Priests – religious leaders embracing the world in this time of judgment on Israel

3. Princes – govt leaders destroying lives

4. Prophets – giving false messages as if they were from God

5. People – taking advantage of others

B. We muststand with the truth Ezekiel 22:30

(ESV) Ezekiel 22 30 And I sought for a manamong them who should build up the wall and stand in the breach before me for the land, that I should not destroy it, but I found none.

1. The Lord seeks for someone to stand in the gap – stand between a sinful world and God. ----- found none

2. Will use Ezekiel, but ultimately Christ

Needing a Vision for Personal Ministry because

II. God uses individuals: To see as He does

God uses Moses to deliver people in slavery.

A. The Lord cares Exodus 3:7-10

(ESV) Exodus 3 7 Then the Lord said, “I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters. I know their sufferings, 8 and I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land to a good and broad land, a land flowing with milk and honey, …

1. The Lord reveals His heart for the people of Israel in Egypt

2. People hurting everywhere

3. People in bondage

4. The Lord plans to deliver them

B. We must care enough to go Exodus 3:7-10

(ESV) Exodus 3 9 And now, behold, the cry of the people of Israel has come to me, and I have also seen the oppression with which the Egyptians oppress them. 10 Come, I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring my people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.”

1. Asks Moses to hear and see the need like the Lord sees the need

2. Desires to deliver through a person

Needing a Vision for Personal Ministry because

III. God uses individuals: To use their sovereign design

God uses Jeremiah to warn a people soon to receive judgment.

A. The Lord equips for the role Jeremiah 1:4-5, 9

(ESV) Jeremiah 1 4 Now the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 5 “Before I formed you in the wombI knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.” 6 Then I said, “Ah, Lord God! Behold, I do not know how to speak, for I am only a youth.” 7 But the Lord said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am only a youth’; for to all to whom I send you, you shall go, and whatever I command you, you shall speak. 8 Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you, declares the Lord.”

1. The Lord had a plan for Jeremiah – from before birth

2. No need to be afraid or feel inadequate

3. The Lord designed Jeremiah for that plan

B. We must use that design Jeremiah 1:6-8, 10

(ESV) Jeremiah 1 9 Then the Lord put out his hand and touched my mouth. And the Lord said to me, “Behold, I have put my words in your mouth. 10 See, I have set you this day over nations and over kingdoms, to pluck up and to break down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant.”

1. The Lord will empower Jeremiah

2. Need only to go and speak for Him

Needing a Vision for Personal Ministry because

IV. God uses individuals: To pursue His calling Acts 9:15

God uses Paul to take the message of the gospel to people who are far from God.

A. The Lord chooses the role Acts 9: 3-4, 15

(ESV) Acts 9 3 Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. 4 And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” … 15 But the Lord said to him (Ananias), “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel.

1. The Lord reveals Himself to Paul

2. The choses the role to be played by Paul

3. The Lord desires Paul to go and speak in His name

B. We must live out that purpose Acts 9:15

(ESV) Acts 26 15 … And the Lord said, ‘I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. 16 But rise and stand upon your feet, for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you as a servant and witness to the things in which you have seen me and to those in which I will appear to you, … 18 to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’

1. Paul had to respond – to god

2. The agent by which others will see / gain light / freedom from the power of Satan / receive forgiveness / find a place with Him

Needing a Vision for Personal Ministry because

V. God uses individuals: To represent Him

God uses Isaiah to take a message to a people who have wandered from God.

A. The Lord shares the need Isaiah 6:8a

(ESV) Isaiah 6 1 In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; … 8 And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” …

1. Isaiah sees a vision of the Lord in His majesty

2. The Lord shares the need – for someone to go and represent Him

B. We must hear and respond Isaiah 6:8b

(ESV) Isaiah 6 8 And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here I am! Send me.”

1. Isaiah volunteers

2. Isaiah is willing to go