GOD CAN USE YOU

1 Corinthians 15:1-10

1 Corinthians 15:9 For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.

Paul shows us some tremendous things about what the attitude of the Servant of God must be. People of our generation are losing sight of what God can use them to do.

We come up with all of these excuses of why God can’t use us.

Here are some common excuses I have heard through the years:

• I have only been saved a little while; I’m still a young Christian.

• I don’t know enough of the Bible yet.

• I am too busy; I have other obligations I must fulfill.

• There are better people than me out there.

• I have a wicked past; preacher, you don’t know the things that I have done.

• I can’t talk to people; I’m an introvert. I have always that even introverts like to talk about things that are important to them.

I. The Servant of God must be humble

One of the plights of fundamentalism has been and still often is, pride. Pride in numbers, pride in our ability, pride in our accomplishments, in our titles; pride in our buildings; and on and on. These things mean little.

If these things meant spirituality or godliness or equaled the blessing of God – then we would have to constitute that church not far from here that is running a couple thousand people is blessed of God and pleasing God because they have many people in church.

We would have to constitute that if we have a beautiful building with ornate fixtures that we are blessed of God. Listen, I have been in many places, the church with the fanciest edifice in located in the prime location of town is the Catholic church.

If it is by ability, some of the most gift men and women, who could sing like angels, write music, are in Nashville, Motown and Hollywood. But ability does not constitute blessing.

When I was in Bible college, I was with guys that had ability. There were a couple of guys that were handsome, could sing, could preach with perfect diction and style, they were athletic, I played on the basketball team with one such fellow, he worked hard on the court, but he had a problem – he was proud in his abilities.

The Servants of God must be humble. Listen, a humble servant will have a true and real estimation of his own self-worth. Paul had that understanding. Listen if I am wise, I’m going to realize that the only worth that Mark Sage has, is what he gives to the Lord.

Paul said a couple of significant things here in the scripture.

A. He was the least of the Apostles

Paul was actually the most educated of all of the Apostles of Christ. There was no one in all of Jewish society or priestly society that could surpass the training and education that Paul had.

But Paul said, I am the least.

1. Less than a group of fisherman

– Andrew, Peter, James and John

• He was saying he that he was less worthy than a group of sailors, now we would all admit that is low, Amen!

2. Less than a publican

– Matthew was a publican

• Basically, less than tax collector, a betrayer of one’s country in the Jew’s eyes.

3. Less than a doubter

– Thomas

A fellow who lacked faith in the Risen Lord Jesus Christ,

He was less than all of these.

B. He said he did not deserve his position or title

I do not deserve the title

John 1:26 AV

John answered them, saying, I baptize with water: but there standeth one among you, whom ye know not;

If John the Baptist, whom Christ said is the greatest man ever born, if he is not worthy to even unlatch the sandals of Christ, you and I like Paul are also unworthy of any title or position we have.

The best that we can say at any moment of our life and ministry is “WORTHY IS THE LAMB.”

C. He admitted his sinful condition

His chief sin was that he persecuted the church and individual Christians.

You may not have committed that sin, but your sin is ever as real to God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul was going to deny his sin, cover it up, or act if it was not a big deal, it was a big deal. He also did not try to glorify it. Or say, tell some kind of story you would tell at bar to impress everyone and then qualify it with, but I wasn’t saved yet, I didn’t know any better. Paul never glorified his sin.

For you and I to see God using us – we need to admit who are we are and what we need to do about it.

1 Timothy 1:15 AV

This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.

We need full disclosure. Now the Bible says nothing is hid from God, this is true:

Hebrews 4:13 AV

Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.

II. It is God’s desire to use you

Yes, even you. He wants to use everyone in here. He wants to work through you to reach people.

A. Satan desires to sift you

Luke 22:31 AV

And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:

You see, our carnality puts us into one of two places - these two places are areas where Satan loves to keep us.

1. To focus on self

Pride is selfish.

Pride loves self. Satan can breaks us down by appealing to our sense of worthiness and rights.

We are not useful in our pride.

2. To waste your usefulness

Sin puts us in a position where we are wasted and useless to God and his service. Sin chews you up and spits you out and that which is left over is disgusting to look at. You see, that is what we often see in ourselves. To be honest, that is a good estimation of our worth.

B. God can make something of the broken pieces of our lives

In spite of our arrogant pride and our wasted condition, God still wants to use us. He wants to take that busted, broken and worn vessel and remake it. He wants to make something meet for the Master’s use.

2 Timothy 2:21 AV

If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.

III. Always depend on the grace of God

1 Corinthians 15:10 (AV)

But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; ...

The scripture says: “yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.”

Let’s be honest tonight, anything good about us tonight, is by the grace of God. I may not have many good qualities, but any good that is in Mark Sage tonight is because of the Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Corinthians 3:5 AV

Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God;

Philippians 2:13 AV

For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

John 15:5 AV

I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

IV. God’s Servant must give all of himself

Paul says in the end of v.10, “but I laboured more abundantly than they all:”

Paul was not saying that he was better than all the other apostles, but he without a doubt gave all of himself to God without reserve. He says he labored more than all of the rest of them.

Why do you think that is? Well, the Bible teaches us a couple of basic principles of life that can be applied to Paul right here.

A. You have been forgiven of much

Luke 7:41-47 speaks for the creditor who had forgiven two men of what they owed, one owed a lot, one a little. Jesus said in:

Luke 7:47 AV

Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.

B. You have been given much

Luke 12:48 (AV)

...For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.

Whether you have been given much or you have been forgiven much, the result should be to give yourself that much more diligently and wholeheartedly to the Lord Jesus Christ who has saved your soul and given you many precious gifts.

Worry not about what you could have been - be concerned about who you can be for God now and as you grow.

Let Him use You:

Admiral Mcraven said in his Book the Hero Code:

“I believe history will show that success is not a function of brains or brawn, of talent or intellect, of skill of resourcefulness, but of perseverance. Genius without resolve is just another passing person with a bright idea. Athletic powess without determination is just another talent wasted. The world is full of men and women who amounted to nothing because they gave upon their dreams: because they didn’t have the guts, the determination, the will power to keep going-not matter what. But history is equally replete with heroes who fought through the challenges, persevered and made a difference.