Use Me: Paul - Rev. Roberto Chaple

Good morning church. Or let me say buenos dias. There you go. There you go.

Were there any series called use me beauty in the broken and this series

This sermon series is about how god uses ordinary people because you know, one of the things that really tough things about Christian leadership is that once you become a Christian leader, people tend to put you in an altar in a pedestal, right?

And then have some huge expectations and then think that you are perfect right?

And as we have been saying in this series you're you're not doing us any favor and you're definitely you're not doing yourself any favor either.

Because the Bible actually the book that we it's our normative scripture for our faith really presents people.

Mistake goes to work

Big names in the Bible. People will look for and we say, we want to be like them. Well, guess what? The Bible with this page is written the mistakes they made and how they really messed up sometimes.

Trying to serve god.

So this series try to really land it and bring it down to us like saying how god can use us even though we're broken human beings,

So god uses in this this is this is the take away from this got users ordinary people ordinary broken people

For his eternal purposes. Can you agree that? Can you say amen to that? God uses ordinary broken people for his eternal purpose and

The first Sunday we spoke about a good example of that which is Pedro. Do you remember Pedro? Pedro, right?

Right Pete.

He had a very rocky character. You know, got name him the rock. Probably because Jesus knew that his cards are was.

Our aspect of human development is actually sometimes the most underrated aspect of human culture. Jesus perform many miracles.

Are you with me? Miracles are happen in the moment. Healings in the moment. None of those miracles. How to do with a character?

It took Jesus 3 years.

To make him miracle on the carter of his disciples so was least be to say are you ready only these cycle ship and discipline can shave the human character,

So, yes, we're broken. Yes, we follow Jesus. Yes, god can use us but guess what? He wants to transform our character Pasovigo saying he wants to use you, he likes to wait,

The way you are but he doesn't want to leave you the way you are.

He wants to transform our characters. Peter is a prime example. He was impulsive, passionate, bold, courageous, blood, but still teachable. Tash your neighbor, you should be sleeping by this time until IU teachable.

Yeah are you ready Maria?

It sounds better in Spanish, right? Is it just me or you're good with that?

Maria right turn his history into a tool.

So Jesus cast it out not one not five seven demons either you know the number seven means totality.

Freedom freedom.

Follow work.

Even more loyal than the man who follow Jesus let's be let's be clear about that she was the first to see the recent Jesus and who she was the first to receive the great commission,

By the way, the great commission, the first one to receive that that were not at 12. Ascending. The first one to receive the great commission and tell the world that Jesus is recent.

She knew how to honor Jesus and she was always there like Pasoviki said she always showed up.

She was always there.

And here is a takeaway from that lead Jesus turn your story into a useful tool in the extension of his kingdom,

And now, today, we're going to talk about poll. Well, today, we're going to talk about poll, any guess how that goes in Spanish?

Any guess? Pablo. So, any Pablo in the house? Will you raise your hand if you're a problem in the house? Don't worry guys, I'm going to pick in you later today.

So god really redirects our passion which is what really happened,

We can be passionate about something but our discipleship process is a how god really redirects that passion into what he wants us to do

He was born in tarsus that was he was called Saul of Tarsus he was a Roman citizen citizen his parents were Jewish

He was raising in the his education was the best in in the in its time he was educated his call at the feet of Gamalio is on the way he goes in English,

Gamolio thank you pastor Gomolio he'll respected rabbi in Jerusalem now his names are interesting because he has the name

Of the first king of Israel oh by the way he was from the same tribe

Of the first king of Israel soul he was from the tribal benjamin so in other words Paul was not only respected due to his time he was also from the king's lineage.

Oh, he was not just anything, anybody. In his time. So, and then, his name was like Jesus changed his name. No, the bible wasn't saying that.

Jesus is not changing his name it was the equivalent like you say Peter Pedro Peter is an English pedro is

In Spanish it was the equivalent or his name would go in

In Roman Latin will go poll which means humble so he went from being so which is means desire to be pole which means humble. In other words, Paul was both

Royal heritage and humble kingdom leader.

If you want to know any cops or what Paul was. His really, really interesting.

He was a very very passionate man do you know anybody who's passionate about something?

American football right?

Who's passionate about something passionate about all cars passionate about collecting stuff, passionate about the garage, anybody familiar with that?

Does your altar, right? Well, you have all the or you got hidden in those glasses. Anyway, passionate about something but he invested his passion in the wrong cause. Does that sound familiar?

That how many times we find that we are passionate about things the probably we should invest that passion in something else.

So that's very familiar and that was Paul. He was passionate. He was just passionate for the wrong reason and passionate for the wrong cause.

His conversion was pretty dramatic.

You know he was he was going to the mascot riding on his horse and then he fell off the his horse. Amen?

No you're not reading your Bible. Okay. The Bible doesn't say that he was writing.

The bible said are you awake thank you the bible says that he was going to the mascus and he fell to the floor,

On the presence of god. So, he was not writing on the on the horse. Anything like that. It gentile.

Receive the revelation call Anna and I as receive a revelation there in the mascus he was a christian comfort there in Damascus he receive a revelation to receive that guy he was hiding from,

To find people like Annaiah's.

Receive the revelation to receive him,

Welcome him and these are the words that god spoke to this guy who was actually hiding from Paul and now we're still by god. To go. I'm praying for Paul.

Add 915. But the lord said to Annaiah bro just go.

Get over it.

If you want to be an instrument in my hand is the way I do it this is where I send you and most of the times you're not going to like it.

Go. Because this man Paul Pablo is my chosen.

Instrument. Wait a minute. That doesn't get up.

This guy are hiding from you were telling me is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the gentiles. And they're kings.

And to the people of Israel. Lord this is your word. As we proclaim it may it be a blessing for us. As it transforms our culture. Into being more like you in to following you more obediently.

In the name of Jesus. Amen. You know,

Paul is very interesting his story because he's called an apostle right?

Now when we already had that figured out the years later but at the beginning that was they were figured that out because as far as I know there were only 12 apostles right?

And by the way there was an opening there was an opening in the apostles right after Judas left the picture left the table there wasn't opening and the guy that was selected was in Paul.

Paul did not qualify for the job.

According to the standards it had to be somebody who hot walk with jesus seems the early days that he was in Galilee and there was Matthias,

Watch now please.

Have you ever been told you're not going to make it? Have you ever been told no this is not for you. Ministry is not for you with that rocky character.

With that passion you have for all things ministry now is not for you so there wasn't opening I'm totally not qualified for it. So.

This is the really tricky point and interesting point about Paul.

Jesus had said that those who followed him would do even greater things.

That he did.

But still the 12 apostles wanted to put Jesus in a capsule put jeez on it in a square produce us in a closet and really keep him there a jewish blossot and really keep him there how do we do it

He had to be like this and then pause and really paul really really fine.

Really finds what knowing Jesus is all about.

Because then Paul did not know what Jesus personally and when Jesus was walking on earth the incarnated Jesus but he knew Jesus through Jesus' spirit.

So, guess how we know Jesus? Guess what? We know Jesus like pole knew Jesus.

So Paul got got was like raising poll like telling the apostles god you keep the 12 at 12 and all that but I gotta raise somebody

Who's going to tell the next generations of Christians that anybody who through faith can get to know me through the power of the holy spirit,

As well as you knew me,

So, that is Paul. Paul is somebody who did not walk with you to the 3 years he was here in his public ministry but through the holy spirit, he got to know Jesus.

Now this is very interesting because the 12 apostles the early church had something that is similar to Mayor League Baseball are you ready.

You're not going to love it.

So here is a guy that wasn't had a I mean what's the joys was not was not part of the first 12 and came and really knocked it out of the park,

And you guess what happened in MOB baseball? Are you familiar with that? Baseball wasn't invented by Americans and guess what? The highest paid baseball player is a Dominican and the best player in MLB is a Japanese.

So, here is Paul. He was not the 12 and trust me, he was the best player.

He was the best player in the team and by the way any of those players are a cardinal fan. Where is my good friend Dave around here?

Any of those needed the highest paid know they had the biggest cardinal man I'm sorry it's it is what it is okay,

Some interesting things about Paul.

And see which one you will identify with. Alright. He was a radical thinker. Can you say with me radical thinker? He went from bounty hunter, bounty hunter to bible author.

You know he was always on the cutting edges.

Where do you place yourself in ministry?

Because Paul was always positioning himself on the edge of what he was doing,

When he was prosecuting when he was a Jewish he was not just sitting saying that it is right to persecute Christians he was persecuting Christian,

And then when he became a Christian he was not just sitting saying that the gentile should be evangelized he was evangelizing the dentiles. Himself. So he was a radical thinker.

He turns sermons into letters and then god turned his letters into scripture.

That's what Paul was. He preached so long. The even somebody fell off a window as he was preaching.

Do you hear that? Sometimes people say that we preach long here and we get reminded every single week of that. That's got nobody has fallen of a pew here, okay?

Yeah you send the bible he preached long so long sermons are biblical everybody.

Okay. So, jail.

So jail do you know what he jail what's for Paul he was a radical thinker Jay Jale was writing retreat,

People go to the mountains or to the ocean to the un one of those ocean front cabins and people use the oh that's my ride and retreat Paul use a jail sale to write letters,

That's how radical he was. So, another thing is number two, he was addicted to adrenaline.

Yeah. He was a dictator in. Now, if he didn't involve stones or snakes, he wasn't interested.

Leave you know Paul's story you know that stones are naked are literal okay that's not an analogy he was missionary by day I'm pre some breaker by night,

Breaking into freezing a night he was stoned and then she showed up the dozen say what's next,

That was four. If it wasn't non-controversial topic, he would not preach about it.

He liked preaching about controversial topics.

So probably we should start preaching some more controversial topics. That's a good way to feel the sanctuary, right?

Express their opinions after the sermon. Trust me, they will, okay?

He was in trouble with everybody around him. He was in trouble with a Jewish, with Romans, with the Greeks, you name it.

He was in trouble he was adrenaline addict always into something new always into something exciting and by the way he was so addicted to adrenaline that he was okay for him to live with a thorn in his flesh,

Now after now this July 24 it will be 32 years of research that I have been doing

And after 32 years of research I have concluded that Paul's thorn in the flesh is that he was married to a Cuban.

Can you shut down the streaming now can you mute that and put like a beep or something there,

Anyway, my wife is preaching a local home by the way. Hubbilly married. For the glory of God.

Through God's grace.

She would say Dito, right?

Hey talk a lot did he?

Pablo Paul talked a lot. Do you know any poll that talks a lot? No, would I be you don't? Barbara?

Yeah she's saying yes okay Denise,

Anyway Peter refer to him Peter refer to Paul as a man of many words.

Yes that's a way Peter calls him second Peter 315 and 16 his letters were long just imagine if Paul had an email,

Just imagine that.

And they start by saying real quick,

And then you see it is 10 minutes long,

And they start eight stars real quick. So, Paul would be one of those. His letters were long. Josie imagine that.

Good turn the prison obscurity into appreciating opportunity that was Paul,

He was the kind of pressure that ride before 2 hours before he finished preaching he would say and one last thing.

That's Paul. I don't think about poise. He could not work behind the desk. Trust me that.

He was not the kind of preacher that would do well in his office. He was definitely a field officer. Always going for something out there.

Either persecuting believers or evangelist or evangelizing unbelievable that he was always out there doing something.

He preferred open hair preaching. He the rather work at a synagogue at a prison cell or a living room. But definitely not behind the pulpit.

His ministry, his ministry had more miles than a crown victoria. Can you believe that?

You know what they say about crown victorious? Crown victorious don't retire.

Don't die. Crown Victoria's don't die. They just retire in Florida.

So his ministry had a lot of miles he put a lot of miles on his crown victorious for the highway,

He was pragmatic and analytic he was resource oriented get the job done he was not waiting for somebody else to go do it he will go himself into it,

He was a deep thinker always explaining things he could solve a church crisis and write a letter about it all before lunch,

He was he would do that. He turned grace into a name. Can you believe that?

He spoke about grace now who even co assure the name of people named Grace as well,

He could plan a church and write his bylaws his book of discipline on the road.

He was all in with Jesus. And trust me, he was not shy about it.

This is Paul we just sang some of those some of this verses are with that really reflects how committed he was with Jesus,

All things. Passed away. What all things? What?

No. I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live but Christ lives what? In me. To live is Christ and to die is.

Sacrifice he was all in.

Disciples.

So committed to the people he discipled.

That he would ride letters to them and thanks for that because it is because of that that we have a new estimate.

As well. He wants us to teach you. He went to synagogues squares homes just to have evangelist the conversations.

He didn't just go anywhere he aimed at cities that have synagogues.

Because in those synagogues he could start evangelist the conversations and preachers. He would not that trust me.

Look at me this probably you would not agree with me get over it read your bible you will find it he would not evangelize anybody he would target influencers.

Because he knew that is he could get an influencer to come to Jesus all the people that around him will come to Jesus as well,

So, that was Paul. He was a strategic mindset. He was really, really feral in the way he preached the gospel.

He had a lot of notes imagine if he had Microsoft XL he will have a spreadsheet for for everything he was doing he was very strategic,

Another thing good thing about Paul is Paul is the kind of person that could sell could sell ice in Alaska.

Hey good sale eyes in Alaska and start a church with a customers.

He could do that could sell ladies winter boots in Florida and tell them that it is guts for us to wear them,

He was so confusing that was Paul he could convince Baptist to dance or Pentecostal to take notes but would do that.

If it wasn't the 21st century. Acts 26, 28, talks about helpers, we use Paul was.

King Agripa. Says Paul, you almost persuaded me.

To accept Christ so he was so persuased but don't worry about that 200 years later.

200 a year laters king agree but was almost persuaded but 250 years later king constantine was finally persuaded,

And you know why was that? Because of Paul's legacy.

He almost persuaded King Agripa but because of his legacy 250 years later.

Another Roman Emperor was finally persuaded and Christianity was finally not persecuted by the Roman Empire but was really accepted.

By the Roman Emperor himself.

He wrote part of the New Testament amen oh wait no it's not just part he wrote almost half of the New Zealand.

48% of the new testament he wrote,

He has been a trending topic even before there was social media. And his sermons are his scriptures are even quoted nowadays. Gaze what we're doing today.

Vixen of his legacy is that he would not really,

Find how his how far his legacy would would work and that's a key thing about highlighting god users sometimes we worry where so much so resolve oriented that we lose track of really got how can got how god can use us.

I don't think Paul had in mind how far god would use it and actually accept Jesus.

Everybody else in the bible i don't think they knew how far god would take what they did,

I don't think any per any any leader in the bible that got rose would really have in mind at that time back then what god would do through them.

So if you see the places they where the people they served and the challenges they faced you will find that they're not much different than us.

Sometimes we are so much worried about the result and we just have to stop worrying about that be faithful about god be available to god and god will do great things with our legacy,

Just as he did with Paul. You see, you don't have to be perfect. You should have to be available.

Hey Facebook to his kingdom. And here's the take away for you today. You are readiness. Can you say with me readiness?

You're readiness. I'm faithfulness. Can you say faithfulness? Determine the extent of your effectiveness.

You're readiness and faithfulness is what determine the extent of your faithfulness. And here's the thing, there is a reason, there's a difference between being willing and being available.

Sometimes you are willing to do something it means that you agree that it is the right thing to do right that's your willing to do it yeah I would do it but then there is a difference between willing and being available with it at the time of,

Sometimes you say no I can't. Now I can't do it now. And here is the thing Paulard was Paul was not only willing he was available.

He was saying yes sign me up for that. So you see?

The sad truth is are you ready? If you like the sermon this far, you're not going to like it going forward.

Trust me. The sad truth is that churches have many willing but just a few available.

90 volunteers for VBS. Only 55 available.

Crickets.

In the house. So, it's not the question, the poll poses for us. The god wants to use us. Is that if we're willing? Is are we available?

And yeah let me tell you the good news the good news is there's some people take their vacation time to serve God,

We got some of them in Ireland right now.

Serving them and they say I did not take vacation time for all the things this year I'm using up all my vacation time to go to Ireland,

So, that is what been available. Looks like Paul. Right there. God knows you better than anybody else.

Better than you know yourself. And still he wants to use you.

That's the that's the truth. So still you might think like you might sound like Sarah you know what Sarah said oh lord I'm too old.

I know there's no old people here in the house right?

I know that's Sarah back there or still you my do your excuse my be all or like Moses I don't like a speaking in public.

Pastor we need to make more testimonies get people up here. And then you will hear their excuse. Oh no pastor Vicky Paso Roberto. I don't like speaking in public. Anybody sign up for that team.

So giddium would say I'm doing significant I have family issues. Nobody else has family issues here not. Amen.

Okay. Or like Jonah, sometimes you would say, I'm too hateful. You are saying me to please repentance to the people I hate the most on earth.

Like Elijah Elijah and to burn out I have hot enough of these church thing.

Maybe you say that or maybe like Jeremiah you would say I'm too young. Sounds familiar? Anybody say hm yeah. I've said that.

All like Isaiah I'm too unclean I'm a man of a clean leaves in other words a man of fall mouth.

That's why I said or like Mary I'm not worthy of that oh like Thomas I'm too rational,

Or like Paul hey wait I'm too good for that.

Evangelism thing.

So maybe that's our excuses as long as excuses that we have but listen this is a wall the way Paul ended up saying.

What is more I consider everything a loss. Because the surpassing war of knowing Jesus. For the for who's sake, listen, I have lost all thing.

I consider them what? Does he say that?

Your kid will look at your mama's dad in the Bible. Yeah. I consider them garbage so that I will so that I may gain.

Christ.

So, Paul lived in the edges. Before Jesus, he was willing to kill for God. And then Jesus came and now he was willing to die for God.

Do you see what being a Christian means? Being a Christian is not about killing or persecuting other Christians.

Did you hear that? Turn off the news and listen more to the Bibles.

Bing Christian is not about prosecuting others your neighbors is not about persecuting other Christians is about position on yourself with them and allow yourself to even dive with them and for them if it gets to that,

That is what Paul is all about. I told you, you're not going to like it. Because we like so much our news, right?

So, this is what Paul was happening. He lived on the edges and if you have time later, great second Corinthians 11 verses 23 through 28. You will see what really living on the edges really means.

2 Corinthians 11:23–28

Do you feel like you feel like you're leaving on the edge maybe leaving you would say passoverto today I see you speaking I'm leaving on the edge of divorce,

I'm leaving on the edge of bankruptcy. I'm leaving on the edges of sanity.

I'll probably end living in the edge of death because of diagnostic I got.

Listen to what god tells you if you're living on the edge like Paul this is what god is telling you you are my chosen,

Instrument. Hey, you listen. The voice of god, not my voice, in your spirit, in your heart today.

You are. My children.

Instrument yeah and I look into a like Alisa did I say her Alisa whatever you say you know we say his name wrong come here Lisa is that what like to invite Alicia because she,

Is she has been gut shows on instruments,

And yeah, her life has not been perfect. Have you had a perfect life? Can you say that to Mac? No, I have not. Did you hear that? Okay. Just see Paul was very proud of his spiritual son, Timothy.

And new hope is very proud of our next generation aren't we?

New hope is very proud of Elisa and she will bring her testimony as we close this sermon today. Thank you, Lisa. Thank you.

Good morning New Hope my name is Alyssa Harris if you don't know I sing a peon stage on Sunday mornings and my grandparents are Barbara and Michael he in my dad is Jeffrey Harris and,

They are the reason I'm here today. They're the reason I'm standing in front of you giving my testimony. But anyway.

My faith journey started when my parents split up and my dad and i moved in with my grandparents.

During this during this period of my life I experience confirmation and I begin to understand who god is.

If you don't know what confirmation is it's a series of studies that are youth go through so we can learn more about god and get confirmed in our church.

Confirmation was the climax of my faith though because i surrendered my life to god that year,

I began to feel his radical loves and ways i could never understand and I never known before. As i grew closer to god, more challenges came my way.

That same year i went through a situation with my mom and it was very tough. I vividly remember every night I would get on my knees and pray and beg god for the situation to be resolved.

I knew that i could only get through it though with god's help and in those moments of solitude and prayer i felt god's presence the most,

That's also where I found my love for worship. I started to learn more on the piano and I found my voice,

And as I began to discover more Christian music I discovered a song called Oceans by Hillsong United,

And in this song they repeat this chorus which says and I will call upon your name and keep my eyes above the waves when oceans rise my soul will rest in your embrace

For I am yours and you are mine. And during this season of my life, i would always return to this song and declare that I belong to Jesus and no one else.

Where should we came my chosen instrument and it became the place where i could escape my problems and simply sit in god's presence,

Worship wasn't just something I did on Sunday mornings it became a part of my daily life.

And as i surrendered my life to god and trusted him with my journey everything started to change the situation with my mom was resolved and i began to grow,

My dad and grandparents encouraged me to pursue my faith and because of their support I am who I am today,

Since then i have had the opportunity to go on several mission strips where I have truly learned how to be the hands and feet of Jesus and mission trips have shown me how powerful the love of god is.

I have had various opportunities to lead worship here at New Hope as well and now I attend a Christian university in Lakeland Florida called Southeastern University where I am studying music education,

This is a place I can go to grow not only spiritually but academically. God is also blessed me with a great community here at New Hope.

It was here that i began to learn how to live boldly for Christ. In my testimony is just the beginning of my story.

I know there will be more challenges ahead but i trust that the same god who has brought me this far will continue to lead me,

Lastly I want to leave you guys with this verse from Proverbs chapter three verses five through six it says,

Trust in the lord with all of your heart and lean not on your own understanding and in all your ways submit to him and he will make your past straight,

God has a plan for all of us and we must choose to trust him always. And as I reflected on my testimony, I realized god is still directing my path and wherever god sends me, I will follow.