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Introduction:
There is a purpose in the fires of adversity (Illus: pottery is finished
only after being placed in the oven). We live in a day of casual
Christianity. The danger is that casual Christians become
compromising Christians. We want our lives to be comfortable,
the problem with that is that usually when you become comfortable
you end up lacking character. Our aim this morning is to show you
the qualities you must possess if you are to be used of the Lord and to
help you understand the fire that you are going through has a purpose.
What kind of person do you have to be to be used of God? One with:
I.
A CONSUMING ZEAL (V.13)
A. Consuming Desire To Do Right.
"Followers" = speaks of a consuming desire to do good. We get our
word zealot from this word and it means to "burn with zeal."
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Doing good consumes you (it is not just a pastime).
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Your Christianity is not just one activity that is
a part of your life (something only done on Sunday morning). God places
this in your heart, soul, and bones!
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It is what Jeremiah had (expound).
The fire is not on the outside, it is on
the inside (bones). I need to have as much desire to do right as others
have to do wrong. I need to be as excited about going to heaven, as the
other crowd is going to hell. If you want to be used of God you cannot
be casual about your faith. Its bigger than you headache, backache, or
toe ache…it is a consuming fire!
B. Condemning The Decision To Do Nothing.
(Illus: I don't understand…after all that God has done…Ill do nothing!)
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Example of Peter, James, and
John in the garden with Jesus…"would you wake up"! (Illus:
should'nt have to pump up the saints…did you ever see that at a ball
game?)
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Id rather have to calm down a live saint than wake
up a dead one! No child of God ought to have to be begged to come to
church and worship God.
Who can harm you with this quality of
consuming zeal in you?
II.
A COURAGEOUS ATTITUDE (V.14)
How do I have this attitude?
A. Having The Right Focus.
Your focus has to be righteousness and
the only one righteous is Jesus!
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If you focus is on anything but Jesus Christ, you
are going to live a life of fear because everything you have your eye on
can be taken away from you!
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You have fear because you dont
have faith and you dont have faith because you dont have the object of
faith in view which is the Lord Jesus Christ.
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"Happy" = prosperous
B. Don't Give Into Fear.
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"Troubled" = don't let anyone intimidate you…stand
up for Jesus!
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What is the worse that can happen? (Jesus has
removed the sting of death!)
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Get your eyes off all the distractions and get
them on Christ and be filled with faith and dont let the devil back you
up one bit.
III.
A CONSECRATED HEART (V.15a)
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Being used by God for God will cost you something.
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Christianity is not a surface thing. Saved on the
inside and work outside.
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Some will say the cost is too high. Others will
consecrate their hands, feet, their minds, because they first
consecrated their hearts to the Lord!
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How do I know if I have a consecrated heart?
(Illus: Well follow our master. The worlds going one way and Jesus is
going another way…which way are you going?)
III.
A CONVINCING TESTIMONY (V15b)
Out of that experience comes a testimony.
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Always ready to give a defense concerning your
faith in Jesus.
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What is the hop that is in me (expound).
IV. A
CLEAR CONSCIENCE (V.16-17)
"Conscience" = to know with. The
umpire of the soul…that inner voice that helps us to understand right
and wrong. Its like a window that lets light in.
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My conscience is sensitive and correct when exposed
to the light of Gods Word.
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But it is dull and seared when smudged by sin. If
you want God to use you you'll need a conscience that is clear so that
no one could accuse you or you will have a restlessness that will divide
your affection and attention and rob you of a passion for God.
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(V.17) When I've got a clear conscience and I'm
suffering…if my conscience is clear I wont doubt God! Because I know I'm
not suffering because I've sinned…I'm suffering only because God has
permitted it and if God is allowing me to suffer with a clear
conscience…God is up to something in my life! So I wont have a negative
attitude about my circumstances, Ill go to bed and say my life is in the
hands of God!
Conclusion:
Are you useable? Well always have those casual Christians around us, but
are you a committed, sold out surrendered saint that God can use to make
a difference in this world for the glory of God.
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