People God Use
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Are you ready?
Are you ready?
Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour.
And a man lame from birth was being carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple that is called the Beautiful Gate to ask alms of those entering the temple.
Seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked to receive alms.
And Peter directed his gaze at him, as did John, and said, “Look at us.”
And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them.
But Peter said, “I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!”
And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong.
And leaping up, he stood and began to walk, and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God.
And all the people saw him walking and praising God,
Inside everyone of us is a desire to be obedient to God and to be used in His plan
we were created and even exist to please God!
“I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my prophet to the nations.”
From before the beginning of our existence God had a plan and purpose in store for us
This verse should be claimed by every born-agin believer!
You are truly a “prophet” to the nations
And then he told them, “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone.
For we are God’s [own] handiwork (His workmanship), recreated in Christ Jesus, [born anew] that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us [taking paths which He prepared ahead of time], that we should walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live].
The truth is that God must first “in” us before He can work “through” us
For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.
As God works in us our priorities change and our fulfilment is in Him and not in the things of Him!
That brings us to the preparation process
For who has despised the day of small things? For these seven rejoice to see The plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel. They are the eyes of the Lord, Which scan to and fro throughout the whole earth.”
You see the task before them was insurmountable! The temple was in ruins! It would take forever to complete the work so God gives Zechariah a message for Zerubbable
Then he said to me, “This is what the Lord says to Zerubbabel: It is not by force nor by strength, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.
Nothing, not even a mighty mountain, will stand in Zerubbabel’s way; it will become a level plain before him! And when Zerubbabel sets the final stone of the Temple in place, the people will shout: ‘May God bless it! May God bless it!’ ”
Then another message came to me from the Lord:
“Zerubbabel is the one who laid the foundation of this Temple, and he will complete it. Then you will know that the Lord of Heaven’s Armies has sent me.
Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin, to see the plumb line in Zerubbabel’s hand.” (The seven lamps represent the eyes of the Lord that search all around the world.)
Those who desire to be used of God must be willing to do the unasummable things first!
Those things that bring no fame or glory but will ultimately lead to the praise of God’s name!
The Apostle Paul was a theological giant in his day, surely he would be able to jump right in and start ministry!
But even before I was born, God chose me and called me by his marvelous grace. Then it pleased him
to reveal his Son to me so that I would proclaim the Good News about Jesus to the Gentiles. When this happened, I did not rush out to consult with any human being.
Nor did I go up to Jerusalem to consult with those who were apostles before I was. Instead, I went away into Arabia, and later I returned to the city of Damascus.
Then three years later I went to Jerusalem to get to know Peter, and I stayed with him for fifteen days.
Do you see it again? “but before I was born” and 3 years alone
It didn’t end there, Paul was not accepted and spent another 7 years in Tarsus before Barnabas takes him to Antioch!
God is not in a hurry!
There is lots of work to be done in preparation for His service!
The wilderness experience isn’t only for you to see God’s provision but more importantly…what is in YOUR heart!
And you shall remember the whole way that the Lord your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments or not.
The refining process of God works in 5 basic areas of spiritual power
First, your life! Your life is a reflection of the inward change taking place
The only letter of recommendation we need is you yourselves. Your lives are a letter written in our hearts; everyone can read it and recognize our good work among you.
As it is always said, preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary use words!
Second are the words that come from your mouth
A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. What you say flows from what is in your heart.
Your words can bring healing, restoration, hope, comfort, love, they can also bring death to a wounded person’s life!
Like apples of gold in settings of silver Is a word spoken in right circumstances.
Thirdly your service - the outward expression about the inward conviction
Now someone may argue, “Some people have faith; others have good deeds.” But I say, “How can you show me your faith if you don’t have good deeds? I will show you my faith by my good deeds.”
Our works do not save us but they do show that we are saved! It is as simple as a glass of water
If anyone gives you even a cup of water because you belong to the Messiah, I tell you the truth, that person will surely be rewarded.
Fourth is your money - it is about what you are investing in the kingdom of God!
Money is the closest thing to freedom but it is also the closest thing to captivity!
“No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money.
Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple. If you do,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, “I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won’t have enough room to take it in! Try it! Put me to the test!
The people thought that if they just had more money they could ride out the storm but God was very clear about the issue!
“I am the Lord, and I do not change. That is why you descendants of Jacob are not already destroyed.
Ever since the days of your ancestors, you have scorned my decrees and failed to obey them. Now return to me, and I will return to you,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. “But you ask, ‘How can we return when we have never gone away?’
“Should people cheat God? Yet you have cheated me! “But you ask, ‘What do you mean? When did we ever cheat you?’ “You have cheated me of the tithes and offerings due to me.
You are under a curse, for your whole nation has been cheating me.
But when you give to someone in need, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing.
Give your gifts in private, and your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.
Last and the most important are of Spiritual power…Prayer
Service is important but it is limited in local! I can only be in one place at one time
Prayer however in not limited in location!
I can be in Pittsburgh, Blantyre, Jeddah, Beijing, Cape Town and Tokyo all in the same night!
By prayer we can change the course of history or simply commune with our God! It is the foundation upon which every great move of God was built!
As we start this series, take some time to grade yourself on where you are in relation to these five areas.
Remember that God is in the process of creating something good in you
For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.
and that He will see them through
And I am convinced and sure of this very thing, that He Who began a good work in you will continue until the day of Jesus Christ [right up to the time of His return], developing [that good work] and perfecting and bringing it to full completion in you.
Lets pray