Ep 466 | God Can Use You - Terry Osburn 7/17/22

When we think about the term of being used for something, one of

the things that happens is, it comes into our mind about

someone has used us to accomplish their betterment if

you want to say. You know, we've met have said

from time to time, will I got used in that and we didn't

intend to? So, in other words, we have to

let someone use us and God wants to use you today.

God wants to be able to use you for his benefit and for the

benefit of the gospel and for his glory, God has used many

people in our lives to influence us.

Maybe has both or one of our parents, maybe a friend, maybe a

spouse. A teacher, A co-worker, some

small act of kindness. Maybe it was simple, simply

listening to you and act of generosity.

Maybe they prayed for you. You asked, without you asking

for them to do. So the point is that there have

been too many times, and people who have done things that made a

difference or an impact in your life or my life and sometimes

it's the smallest thing that makes the difference.

And it doesn't have to be something that's huge.

Just sometimes a simple gesture, a simple acknowledgement, a

simple word, a simple act or kind deed, you can be that

influence. If you will, let God use you for

his will. And his glory today, God allows

you to be an influence for his purpose, he can use you right

now. Just the way you are at this

point in your life, not later on but right now some say, well,

I'm not a preacher, I can't preach or I can't teach.

I don't know the scriptures that well.

I'm not good at talking to people.

I'm shy. I'm an introvert.

Maybe later and so on. Well, what are you really good

at? And, you know, there are things

that some people are good at and other people just aren't that

good at and maybe you excel in one thing that you've really had

a passion for, and you do well in your life and ask yourself,

what are you really good at? Are you good at talking to

people? Maybe that's what it is.

Maybe you can help someone fix something that's broken at their

house. Maybe you're good with your

hands. Maybe you're good with

arithmetic and you can help them understand algebra or geometry

or something like that. Whatever it is.

Maybe you're just good at sitting simply sitting and

listening to someone else talk. Maybe you're good at that.

You know, there's sometimes a lot of people that are good

listeners and sometimes that a lot of people they're good

talkers and sometimes you have to find the one that works best

for you. Maybe it's in the simply just

sitting down and comforting. Someone that's going through

problems or troubles in their life and suffering or in sorrow.

Whatever your talent is God is behind it.

God gave you that talent. And God is the one that is

behind it, and he has blessed you with a talent that you can

be used for his purpose and for his glory.

But he doesn't bless us with talents or skills, just so we

can get noticed. Earn a lot of money in our jobs

that can be the result of a talent.

Absolutely, we may be good at certain things.

And by using those talents, we better ourselves and we better

our environment, but it's so much bigger than that.

God wants us to honor him with those gifts.

He wants us to be a good and faithful servant with our

talents Philippians 1 and 6 says being confident of this very

thing that he who has begun a good work in, you will complete

it until until the day of Jesus Christ, I want to focus on that

phrase. He who has begun a good work in

you. Paul is commending the

Philippian Brethren here, the Philippian Church, And he

stating that God uses the Christian to accomplish his

goals or his work. God will conduct our continue to

work in the Christian until the end of that Christians life or

whether Jesus Christ comes first.

You know, even the seven even the seven churches of Asia were

were admonished or they were disciplined.

If you want to say about what they accomplished and so we as

individuals want to be aware that today as well.

Well what is God's work in us? Are we here on this Earth?

Jim just simply for the amusement of God for his

Amusement is to see how we do with things in life.

No, we have talents and abilities to be used.

For God we all have a purpose. And we could study about The

Parables of the talents and that's a whole another lesson.

We're not going to talk about that this morning, but we are

going to talk about using the talents that we have.

How exactly God does want us to work for him.

How is that? Well, we want to notice three

things this morning that I want to go through.

And this is just probably scratching the surface, but I

believe that we can be used by God to bless others.

I believe that we can be used by God to build his kingdom.

And I believe that we can be used to be used by God to

glorify him. God wants us to bless us, bless

others, and be a blessing to others.

Number one, and first Peter, one there, excuse me, first, Peter

4, and verse 10. We are called to use the gifts

to serve others as faithful stewards of God.

As each one has received a gift Minister, it to one another as

good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

So each one of us has been given at least Gift.

One blessing. God has given us gifts and he

says to use that to minister to one another as good stewards of

the manifold grace of God, in other words, We've given a gift

or a blessing or as as one commentator says and endowment.

By which we can go do good to others or used to contribute to

the welfare of others. And the basic idea of blessing

others carries over to talents. God doesn't give us anything

only for our own benefit. We are blessed so that we can be

a blessing if we are using our talents only for our own benefit

and we're selfish. And God is Not intending for us

to be. with our blessings, but to bless others as we have been

blessed, God wants us to use our talents and skills for the

benefits of others, notice in Galatians 6 and verses 7 through

10, do not be deceived, be deceived.

God is Not mocked for whatever a manso's that will he will also

reap for. He Who sows to his flesh, shall

of the flesh, reap corruption. But he who sews to the spirit

will of the spirit reap everlasting life.

And let us not grow weary while doing good for in due season, we

shall reap. If we do not lose heart,

therefore as we have opportunity, let us do good to

all especially to those who are of the household of faith.

So how can we put that into practice?

Well, we need to be aware of the of what is going on around us.

We need to be. We're aware of what other people

are going through as well. You know, we take care of

ourselves but when our self is taken care of, let's look at

what others need to be taken care of in their lives.

Not just always focusing ourselves but focus on the needs

of others, as well and Philippians 2 and verses 3 and

4. Let nothing be done through

selfish ambition or conceit but in lowliness of Mind, Let each

esteem others better than himself.

Let each of you look out not only for his own interests but

also for the interests of others.

You know, we've all heard stories and maybe read articles,

or books or whatever it is regarding how sometimes during

the Depression and during times that were really, really tough.

and people were poor, that sometimes the parents went

without eating to make sure that the kids were taken care of and

sometimes it's not always looking out for ourselves, only

maybe we have to suffer a little bit, maybe we have to sacrifice

a little bit of our own take our own time that we want to take

our own selfish interests that we want and instead look after

others and what they need and what they are in need of You

might ask well what can I do for others?

I need to take care of myself, but what can I do for others?

Well, ask yourself what have others done for you.

That was a blessing to you. I know there are several things

that people have done for me here in this congregation.

That has been a blessing to me. Well, what can I do then like

that? To be a blessing to others as

well? Maybe it's simply a phone call

of encouragement, a card or a note, or a letter.

Maybe you can run an errand for someone.

Maybe take one, someone a meal and you don't have to do that

only when they're sick, but maybe you can take them a meal.

Repair something for someone clean their house.

Visit the sick. Do a kind deed, pay it forward

to someone in line. Maybe that looks like they're

struggling or or do a kind deed like that.

Here's a good one. We can get off our phones and do

the work of God. Do something for God.

Instead of always being on our phones.

Here's another one. Be a better influence.

I was looking for examples on being a good influence and I ran

across this one, it's a Peanuts cartoon, it's shows Peppermint

Patty. Talking to Charlie Brown and in

which he said, guess what? Chuck the first day of school,

and I got sent to the principal's office, it was your

fault Chuck, Charlie Brown responds my fault.

How could it be my fault? Why do you say everything is my

fault? Peppermint Patty says you're my

friend. Aren't you Chuck?

Then you should have been some kind of a better influence on

me. Well, that's funny.

But the point is, how can we be a good influence on others?

How can we make an impact on other people's lives?

How can we better them? Instead of always, just saw.

So, let's look around at the needs of others and not always

be the one on the receiving end. Number two, God wants us to work

and build his kingdom and mark the 16th chapter and verses 15

and 16. The Great Commission was given

and he said to them, go into all the world and preach.

The gospel to Every Creature, he who believes and is baptized,

will be saved. But he, who does not believe

will be condemned. Also, First Corinthians 3 in

verses 5 through 11, who then is Paul and who is Apollo's.

But ministers through whom you believe, as the lord gave to

each one, I planted Apollo's watered, but God gave the

increase. So there then neither he who

plants as anything, nor he who Waters?

But God, who gives the increase now, he who planted, who plants,

and he who waters are one. And each one will receive his

own reward, according to his own labor.

For we are are God's fellow workers?

You are God's field, you are God's Building.

According to the grace of God, which was given to me.

As a wise. Masterbuilder, I have laid the

foundation and another Builds on it, but let each one take heed

how he builds on it. For no other Foundation.

Can anyone lay than that, which is laid, which is Christ.

Jesus, the point is that each one of us has an obligation.

If we have a talent, we have an obligation and maybe it's just a

simple word of Jesus to someone else.

Just as our brother that held us a meeting here, brother.

Elias said, maybe it's knocking on a door till you tell them

about Jesus telling. Person that you meet about Jesus

when you have the opportunity. But we are building God's

Kingdom. We are the only ones building

God's kingdom and it is through his ability and his power that

he's given us to go into all the world and preach the gospel.

And to take the gospel to those that are lost in sin.

That is our responsibility if that's our talent.

We need to use that talent to build God's Kingdom.

At a minimum it's our individual responsibility to do in our part

to tell others about Jesus and build his kingdom.

Number three, whatever we do is all for the glory of God.

God made us all different. but together all of us make up the

kingdom and First Corinthians 12, All compares the body of

Christ to the human body. Each of us being unique but

together we make the body complete and Christ is the head

of the body, Ephesians 5, and verse 23.

So everything we do points back to him because he directs it

all. Listen to what the Apostle Paul

says in this chapter, starting with verse 12 and will read

through verse 27, for as the body is One and has many members

but all the members of that one, body being many are one body

body. So also is Christ.

The human body is one body. There's not two separate bodies

here. This morning, our physical body,

but it's composed of various members, it's composed of two

arms and two legs. If we have both of those, it's

composed of a chest area, a head and neck, the fingers, and all

these different things, but it all makes up the hole.

They all have different and distinct and separate functions,

but they harmoniously work together to accomplish, what is

good for the body verse 13. For, by one Spirit, are we all

baptized into one body? Whether Jews or Greeks, whether

slaves, or free and have all been made to drink into one

spirit for, in fact, the body is not one member but many.

He talks about many, and he talks about one, we all are many

members, but we are one body of Christ.

We are all baptized into that one body.

And when we become a part of that body, Then there is no

difference between us. We are all individual Christians

within the body. There is no Brig, no, German

Jew, nor Greek, excuse me. There's no difference between us

because we are all one. Verse 15, if the foot should

say. Because I am not a hand, I am

not of the body is it? Therefore not of the body and if

the ear should say, because I am not and I am I therefore not of

the body. Am I not of the body?

Is it therefore not of the body? Excuse me, verse 17, if the

whole body were an eye, where would the hearing, if the whole

we're hearing? Where would the smelling Where

would be the smelling the idea is that all the parts of the

body are useful for their purpose and plan in their proper

place? And it would be really

ridiculous for us to require something of our hand that are

hand. Can't do.

My hand doesn't smell. Well, it might smell if I've got

it into something, I shouldn't have, but my hand doesn't smell,

it doesn't smell like my nose does and I don't knows is not

able to turn a ranch like my hand will.

So each of us have our own individual abilities in Christ.

But if we all want to be a hand, the body can't function.

If think we all want to be a nose, the body can't function

because we need all the individual parts and we need

every individual member of the body of Christ, with your talent

that you have to take your part in the body and do your part in

the body. Paul goes on to say in verse 18,

but now God has set the members. Each one of them in the body,

just as he pleased. God gave you your talent.

You know, there are things in life that I wish.

I had a talent for I see people paint pictures and draw things

and have the talent, the artistic ability to draw things

and I wish I had that talent. But you know what?

I don't And other people just do it without any effort.

And I can't do that, but they're good at that.

And use a Christian have a certain talent in the body of

Christ that you're good at and I may not have that Talent.

And we can't always be. A best preacher.

Maybe we're able to get up though and do a chapter study or

a lesson or a five-minute talk or whatever.

It may be a new our part. And maybe that's all we'll ever

do. But maybe we'll get better and

better and better as we use that talent, to better ourselves, and

be able now to do something that we didn't do in the past, the

thing is to use the talent that's given to you.

But God is the one that gave you that Talent.

He has set the members, each one of them in the body, just as he

pleased. Verse 19.

And if they were all one member, where would the body be?

First 20. But now, indeed, there are many

members, yet one body and the eye cannot say to the hand.

I have no need of you nor again, to the head head, to the feet.

I have no need of you. Those that are maybe the most

noticeable guess cannot say to those that have different gifts

that there's no need for them. You know, some may think within

the church that, well, the church just really can't use me.

The congregation really can't use me, I really don't have the

talent. I don't have the talent that

Does to be able to teach like Frank does.

So I'm really have no good. No, that's not it.

That is not what he's saying here.

He's saying you have a talent and your talent is just as

important as anyone elses, You may want that talent, but God

gave you the talent that you have.

Verse 22. No much rather.

Those members of the body, which seem to be weaker are necessary.

The parts of the body that are indicated here.

He calls weaker are referring to those parts of the body that are

not seen and noticed everyone sees my face.

Everyone sees my head, my ears, my ears do apart.

My hands. Do a part, my legs do a part,

but you don't see my lungs, and you don't see my heart and you

don't see my brain. And so someone may say well

those are the weaker, things will know they don't do anything

physically. Other than the heart keeps me

going and the brain keeps the heart going and the lungs.

Keep me breathing oxygen into my body.

You don't see those things but they're very very essential

parts of the body. And there are also enclosed

within the body, they're covered and they're protected by the

skeleton around them. My brain is within my skull and

it's protected when I take a hammer sometimes.

And, and miss something, and smack myself.

Not that I'm really pointing at my head.

But you know, we bump our head into something.

I've been under that car, work on that car, and turn around and

hit my head so hard. And that thing didn't move one

bit, but it protected. My brain right here, and put a

big cut on my head. Lay on my chest and it doesn't

hurt my lungs. If I roll over on something

because this is protecting these, very vital, and important

parts of my body. And each member here, even

though they aren't able to do what the hand does even though

they maybe don't not be able to preach or may not be able to

lead a song like others do in the in the in the congregation

here. They're a very important part of

the body. Even though they're deemed as

weaker, he goes on to say. and verse 23 and those members of

the body, which we think to be less, honorable, On these, we

stole greater honor. and our unpresentable parts have greater

modesty but are presentable Parts have no need, but God

compose the body, having given greater on to though the that

part, which lacks it So, God is mingled all the parts together

to accomplish his goal. Every part is useful and every

part is suited to the harmony of the hole and God has arranged it

this way, God has intended for it to be this way.

In order to produce Harmony and to produce the body, functioning

the way that he wants it to and it cares for its own self as

well. so we bestow more abundant Honor on those parts of the

body, which require protection from the cold and heat and storm

in a sense of comeliness requires us to close and

conceal, a greater attention and care of which we bestow on those

parts of the body Barnes says First 25 that there should be no

Schism in the body Schism or sysm, whatever you call that.

But that, the members should have the same Care, One care for

one another want to notice that term, but there should be no

Schism or Schism in the body that the body might be United

and be one harmonious, whole harmonious whole That there

should be no separate interests. And that all the parts should be

equally necessary and truly dependent on each other and that

no member should be regarded as separate from the others.

If you're here and you don't think that you're you're a vital

part of the congregation. You're wrong.

You're a very important part of the congregation and you should

never consider yourself. An unneeded part.

You said that we should have the same care.

Whatever part of the body that is affected with disease or

pain, we feel deep interest in that members suffering.

You know, the congregation is good here with that.

When there's someone in need there are several that rush to

take care of that need. When someone has a problem,

there are several that come to the rescue with help.

Ready to help. And so that we should have the

same care for each other and we don't throw preferential care to

some and then not to others. We tear care for everyone in the

same way. Verse 26, and if one member

suffers all the members suffer with it, or if one member is

honored all the members Rejoice with it.

Now, you are the body of Christ and members individually.

So God wants you to use your unique role here in this

congregation. And in doing so you glorify him.

You're using the talent that God gave you and by doing that he

gets the glory, not you not me, God gets the glory because

you're using the talent that God gave you.

Colossians 3. And verse 17 says, and whatever

you do in word or deed do all In The Name Of The Lord.

Jesus giving, thanks to God the Father through him.

So whatever we do good in this life for others.

In this life, we do it for the benefit and to the glory of God,

God can use whatever you are, wherever you are in your life

right now. You think you may think well,

I've got time. I'll do it later.

But it's cool work with your friends, in the community,

whatever it may be. You have a purpose on this Earth

and that purpose is using the talent that you've been given to

glorify God, and let God use you in your life, not in a month,

from now, not a year from now, not a week from now, but right

now, God wants to use you. And we need to let him do that.

Be that Christian, and that influence in your family.

With your girlfriend, or with your boyfriend, or with your

wife, or your husband, your children, your grandchildren,

your coworker, your neighbor, whatever it may be, whatever it

is, use the talents to glorify God.

Maybe God can use you in the church as a leader as an elder

or as a deacon at some point. But God needs you and can use

you with whatever your talent is.

The more useful that you are, the more you can be used by God

in the more. Use your to the church and

accomplishing the glory and the will of God.

So let God use you this morning. We thank you for listening to

our podcast, put on by the Church of Christ at 22:15 plans.

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