Lord, When Will You Use Me? By Dr. Dave Madenberg

"Lord, When Will You Use Me?"

How many of us have asked the question:  "Lord, when will You use me?"

How many of us have said to Him:   "Lord, I know whatever assignment You give to me is important.  The hands and feet are just as important to the body as the arms and legs, and the eyes and ears." (Talk about  'insignificant'  jobs)

Q:  "But, when will You use me?  Not only for cleaning the church, or serving food at a church function, or leading a home bible study. 'When will You place me in a position where I'm able to reach more people and  given greater responsibility?' "

In Isa 6: 1-3,  the prophet Isaiah describes a vision he had:  "I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple.  Above it stood seraphim; each one had six wings; with two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew.  And one cried to another and said:  'Holy, holy, holy  is the Lord of hosts; The whole earth is full of His glory!' " 

Before continuing, who are the seraphim and  'what role'  has God assigned them?  Besides having six wings, they're primarily associated with praising and worshipping God. They're also described as being messengers between God and man. 

Seraphim  are Heavenly beings who do God’s will and obey His commands.  Isaiah saw them standing close to God covering their faces and feet with their wings in His presence.  This shows us  just how holy God is.

Cherubim are known to have four wings and Seraphim six. Cherubim are higher in rank than regular angels but lower than the seraphim.  Seraphim are the highest ranking angels in the heavenly realm.

--So, just as God is holy, the Seraphim   must be holy  to stand in His presence.

--And, as God's people, we're also called to be holy.  In 1Pet 1:15-16, we read:

"...but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written,  'Be ye holy, for I am holy.' "

Having witnessed the Holiness of God in his vision, Isaiah said  in Isa 6:5, 

"Woe is me, for I am undone!  Because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips.  For my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts."  (Isaiah saw God)

Isaiah realized he was unclean and unable to stand before a Holy God, or serve Him  in the way  he was being called to serve -- until he was cleansed of sin. 

Then Isaiah says in verses 6-7,  "Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a live coal which he had taken with the tongs from the altar.  And he touched my mouth with it, and said:  'Behold, this has touched your lips; Your iniquity is taken away, and your sin purged."

So, after being cleansed of his sin, Isaiah heard the voice of the Lord  in verse 8 saying:  "Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?'

Then Isaiah answered:  "Here am I!  Send me."

Q1:  Would God have allowed Isaiah to serve as 'prophet of Israel'  if left unclean?  Speaking with unclean lips?  Speaking perverse words?  Behaving sinfully?

Q2:  Would the people to whom Isaiah was being sent to preach receive his words  if ... he spoke and behaved the same as they did?

Q3:  How can we expect God to call us to  'a greater work'  if we remain unclean:

-  Behaving  like the rest of the world:  Smoking, going to bars, using illicit drugs;  committing fornication and adultery; lying, cheating, stealing & defrauding others; viewing pornographic material; approving of, or engaging in sinful activities God considers an abomination such as homosexuality  (Lev 18:22, Lev 20:13, Rom 1:26-27, 1Cor 6:9-10)?

-  Allowing crude and filthy words to flow from our mouth?  Eph 4:29-30  tells us, 

"Let no corrupt (filthy) word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.  And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God (with filthy language or dirty jokes), by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption."

1Tim 5:22 says: " ... (do not) share in other people's sins; keep yourself pure."

1Thes 4:3-7, "For this is the will of God, your sanctification (holy and set apart): that you should abstain from sexual immorality; that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, not in passion of lust, like the Gentiles (unbelievers)  who do not know God ..."  "For God did not call us to uncleanness, but in holiness."

1Jn 3:3  describes how we must purify ourselves just as God is pure.

Yet, some believers who continue to engage in these sinful activities ask:  "Lord, when will You use me?"  Seriously?

But, assuming we're  not guilty  of these types of sinful activities: 

--What if  we continue to judge others:  By their looks, their behavior, or through gossiping about them?

--What if  we harden our heart toward the needy because  we just don't feel like sharing our possessions with them?  Those truly in need. Not those who try to take advantage of our kindness. 

--What if  we harbor roots of bitterness, unforgiveness, anger, envy, jealousy, or any other rotten fruit, causing our heart to be hardened?  Phil 4:8 tells us: 

"Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things."

In other words, focusing on things that are good, positive, and honorable, rather than focusing on negative things. 

After Isaiah had been cleansed and answered the Lord,  'Here am I!  Send me,' God  commanded  Isaiah in Isa 6:9-10: 

"Go and tell this people:  Keep on hearing, but do not understand;  Keep on hearing, but do not perceive."  "Make the heart of this people dull, and their ears heavy, and shut their eyes.  Lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and return (to God) and be healed."

Q:  How can we criticize others by saying, "You keep on hearing the preaching, but  still don't understand what God expects of you,"  when we ourselves hear, yet  don't understand?

Q:  How can we say to them, "You keep on seeing, but do not perceive" ...  when our eyes don't see clearly enough to perceive what God instructs us in His word?

Q:  How can we advise someone, as it says in Eph 4:29,  "Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth,"  when we continue to curse or tell dirty jokes,  even blaspheme God, when we become angry?

Q:  How is it we can tell others not to judge, yet we continue to point the finger?

Q:  How can we advise someone  to forgive and not hold a grudge,  even quoting  Eph 4:26,  "Be angry, and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your wrath."  

Yet, one night, we have a heated argument with our spouse and stop speaking, and for days holding a grudge?

Q:  How many of us if wronged by someone, do what  Prov 24:29  says not to do:

"Do not say, I will do to him just as he has done to me;  I will render to the man according to his work."   In other words, taking vengeance on him will be sweet!  

But, God says He will avenge.  That, vengeance is not ours to take.

Jesus instructs us in Matt 5:39,  "But I tell you not to resist an evil person.  But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also.  And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two."

And in verse 44, Jesus says:  "But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven ..."

Q:  How can we tell others:  'Remove that speck in your eye,' when we haven't yet  removed the plank from our own eye. 

Q:  How can we preach against the sin of adultery and fornication  when we hold lustful thoughts in our own heart?  Secretly viewing  pornography  on the internet or a magazine hidden under the mattress.

Not too long ago, I asked the Lord  when  He would use me for a greater purpose, saying like Isaiah:  "I'm here, Lord!  Send me."  

And this is what I believe I heard the Lord speak to my spirit, truly humbling me:

Q:  When will you step back and trust God to deliver you from your trials, rather than looking to your own ability to deliver yourself?

Q:  When will you stop leaning on your own understanding, and trust the Lord with all your heart?  In all your ways acknowledging Him to direct your path?

Q:  When will you stop calling on Egypt (the world) for help?  God called you out of  Egypt as He called Israel:  "Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord." 

So, why return?  Why continue looking to the world for counsel rather than fully trusting God for the answer?   Isa 30:1-2 says:   

'Woe to the rebellious children,'  says the Lord.  Who take counsel, but not of Me.  And who devise plans, but not of My Spirit, that they may add sin to sin; Who walk to go down to Egypt, and have not asked My advice, to strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharaoh, and to trust in the shadow of Egypt." (I'm trusting Trump and his cabinet to save America. No!)

Then verse 7, "For the Egyptians (the world) shall help in vain and to no purpose."

Only God's help is with purpose and for our good.  Rom 8:28  declares:  "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose."

Q:  When will we stop saying: 'I'll figure it out' rather than trusting God to figure it out for us through prayer?

Q:  When will we be obedient to what's written in 2 Cor 6:14-18,   

"Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers.  For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness?  And what communion has light with darkness?  And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever?  And what agreement has the temple of God with idols?  For you are the temple of the living God.  As God has said: 'I will dwell in them and walk among them.  I will be their God, and they shall be My people.' " "Therefore, come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord.  Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you.  I will be a Father to you and you shall be My sons

and daughters, says the Lord Almighty."

Q:  When will we finally decide to  separate ourselves   from sinful activities and   people who try enticing us back to Egypt, so we touch again what's unclean after  being cleansed and delivered from it?  God's word says this in Prov 26:11,   "As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his foolishness."

Eph 5:11-12 says,  "And have no  fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret."

2Jn 10:11 says:  "Do not greet him or share in his evil deeds."

Q:  When will we stop being so busy building our own kingdom and pursuing our own will, that we neglect building God's kingdom and pursuing His will?

Q:  When will we say to our heart: 'Make way for the desires of God's heart.'

In Matt 6:33, Jesus tells us: " seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and (then) all these things shall be added to you."

WhiIe preparing this message, I realized the  word  'I'  is the smallest word in the English language,  but carries with it  the  greatest amount  of  'pride.' (Lucifer's remarks in Isa 14, the five 'I's)

After asking the Lord  when  He would use me for His greater purpose, if I've ever heard Him speak,  I heard Him ask:  "When can you ride a wild stallion? "

A:  Only after he's been broken. Broken of:

-Stubbornness, self-will and disobedience. 

-After  the stallion learns to trust his rider to guide and protect him from danger along the way, such as poisonous serpents and scorpions. 

-After the stallion understands the rider intends only good for him, and not harm.

The horse  must trust the rider to guide him properly down an unfamiliar path. And the rider  must trust the horse to be obedient and walk sure-footed.

God desires to use  for His greater purpose  those who obey and are cleansed of:  

Pride, stubbornness, selfishness, unforgiveness, bitterness, anger, resentment,  desire for vengeance, and disobedience to God's commands. 

Most of us have learned  in our walk of faith,  obedience brings blessing  but disobedience brings disaster.

1Jn 2:4 says,  "He who says, 'I know Him,' and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him."   

And Titus 1:16,  "They profess to know God, but by their actions they deny Him ... and disqualified for every good work."  But, still they ask:  "Lord, when will You use me?"

So, how does God 'break us' like that wild stallion, so we're ready to be used for His greater purpose?  By allowing us to experience trials and bake in His  'furnace of affliction.'  Isa 48:10,  

"Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver;  I have tested you in the furnace of affliction. For My own sake, for My own sake, I will do it ..."

"The KJV says,  "I have  chosen you  in the furnace of affliction." 

Prov 25:4 says, "Take away the dross from silver, and it will go to the silversmith for jewelry."  The silver will be ready to be made into jewelry after purified.

Samuel Rutherford, a Scottish pastor and theologian in the 1600's  said:  “If the Lord calls you to suffering, do not be dismayed. For with it he will provide a deeper portion of Christ.”

Too many believers complain  when finding themselves in the midst of a trial. They complain the trial is too overwhelming, too inconvenient, too hard.  (Like the Israelites in the wilderness)

They lose sight of the trial's purpose:  For our good. To refine and make us ready for God's use; Purified as gold and silver until God sees Jesus' reflection in us.

Jas 1:2 says,  "My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.  But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing."

Ps 119:71,  " It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I may learn Your statutes."

And Heb 12:11,  "Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it."

I found a website called, Faith in Motion, where this was quoted:  "When a silversmith purifies silver, he never takes his eyes off the furnace, because the silver will be injured if the fire gets too hot, even to the slightest degree, or if it stays too long. But if he takes the silver out too early, it won’t be purified. So when the silver is in the fire, the smith stays totally focused so that nothing distracts him. He carefully watches the silver, waiting for the right moment to take it out. And how does he know when it is just the right moment?  He knows the silver is pure when he can see his face reflected in it."

And another question we ask of God, and pray for on Monday nights :  "Lord, when will You send us the gifts  to be used  in Your service?"

Again, the answer is:  When we allow God to break us;  when we allow Him to remove  the dross in our life without complaining;  when our heart is cleansed of the rotten fruit; when  we show the Lord  He can trust us with His gifts; That, we'll use them for what they're intended, rather than to feed our pride by saying,  'Look at the gift God gave me!'  'Look at what I can do!'

More questions:

Q1:  Do we obey God's commandments or merely treat them as suggestions? 

Q2: Do we love God enough to  fully submit to His will through obedience?

Or, are we stubborn and disobedient? If so, we're being sinful and rebellious. The bible says in 1Sam 15:22-23,

"Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams." "For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolotry."

Def:   An idol is anything that comes before God. So, stubbornness  is idolatry because it places our desire first, and God's desire comes second.

Q3:  Do we lay down our desires for others?  Or, would we rather have others  lay down their desires for us, that our selfishness and self-will prevail?

So, as we examine what  lies within our heart, do we continue to ask:  "Lord, when will you use me?  When will You send down Your Gifts?"

Or, would it be better to pray:  "Lord, please cleanse me of my sin." "Prepare my vessel to be an instrument in Your service."

So, then, what kind of people must we be, to be used by God for His greater purpose?

1)  The kind of people who are washed by the word. Eph 5:26 says:  "... sanctify and cleanse ... with the washing of water by the word ...,"

Meaning:  As we hear, and read, and receive God's Word, we allow it to transform our heart and mind to the obedience of Christ. 

2)  We must be a people who place God's will before our will, caring more about building God's house rather than our house; dying to self desire while living for His desire.

3)  A people without spot or wrinkle,  blameless  before a holy God; a people led by God's Spirit rather than the  'spirit who is in the world.'

4)  A people, as it says in Ps 15:  " ...who walk uprightly, and work righteousness, and speak the truth in his heart; he who does not backbite with his tongue, nor does evil to his neighbor, nor does he take up a reproach against his friend, in whose eyes a vile person is despised, but he honors those who fear the Lord; he who swears to his own hurt and does not change; he who does not put out his money at usury (giving loans to people and charging interest), nor does he take a bribe against the innocent.  He who does these things shall never be moved."

And then those who do this will ask God:  "Lord, when will You use me?"  "When will You give me Your gifts?"

The answer is found in 1John 5:14,  "Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.  And we know that if He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him."

So, as we approach God  in prayer, we're confident if we ask according to His will, He hears us and we'll receive what we ask. As we pray for things that align with God's promises, we're  assured  He will answer in accordance with His divine plan and in His timing. 

As it says in 2Pet 1:3-4,  "...as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness ... by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature(godliness),having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust." 

"The lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, and the pride of life,"  as it says in 1Jn 2:16.

So, is it in God's plan to use His people?  Yes, absolutely.  God empowers His people to fulfill His purposes, using  'the obedient'  as His instruments. 

1Jn 5:3 tells us: "For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome."  (And for our own good)

And Phil 2:13 says:  "For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases Him."  (NIV)

While preparing this message, I found a note dated 1/25/2019.  I think it came from a book I read but can't remember the exact source.  But, it says and appropriate to this word:

"Unless I am willing to give up everything for God, including all my possessions, I cannot be a vessel to perform miracles."  Jesus didn't even have a pillow or bed.

If we want God to use us for His greater purpose and give us His gifts, we must:

1) Submit completely to Him - body, soul, mind and spirit.

2) Be ready to live just as we pray: 'Not my will, but Thy will be done.'

3) We must be willing to go through trials and 'the fiery furnace of affliction' without giving up or complaining, despite how hard the trial may be:

God is the silversmith and we're the silver being purified.  God knows when it's time to take us out of  the 'refining fire.'  Do we trust Him to do that while we're baking in the fire?

4) We must believe the Holy Spirit residing in us will help us. God says in Ps 32:8,

"I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye."

5)  We should make people hungry for God -- by allowing them to see our fruit and how God changed us, especially during these times of uncertainty when they're searching for answers.

And, during the times we fall short, God still remains faithful and merciful: 

Lam 3:22-25 says: "Through the Lord's mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not.  They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness, 'The Lord is my portion,' says my soul, Therefore I hope in Him!  The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him ..."

Ps 86:5,  "For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, and abundant in mercy to all those who call upon You."

Ps 78:38-39,  "But He, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity ... For He remembered that they were but flesh."

And 1Jn 1:9,  "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (Like Isaiah - the coal to our lips.)

So, when we ask:  "Lord, when will You use me?"  "When will You send down Your gifts?"  When we:  

1) Remain sanctified and holy, cleansed of sin.

2) Die to self and obey God's commands. Paul says in 1Cor 15:31, 'I die daily.'  Paul died to self-will daily.

Even though we may have a  desire to do something: Golf, fish, go to a picnic; if our desire interferes with God's desire for us to attend church, or a bible study, or whatever -- God's will must come first. Our desire can be fulfilled another time. 

3) Stop being double-minded, mean-spirited, and perverse in words and actions.

4) Put on the mind of Christ. Ask God for His heart. Trust the Lord with all our

   heart, and lean not on our own understanding.

5) Separate ourselves 'spiritually' from Egypt and unbelievers. 2Cor 6:14,

"Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers.  For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness?  And what communion has light with darkness?"

6) Be willing to 'pray the price' to see God move in our lives.  And above all,

7) Place God first in all that we do, in all that we are:  Love Him with all our  heart, mind, soul, and strength.             

Then, not only will God use us for His greater purpose and His glory, He will say to us  as He says in  Ps 91:14-16, 

"Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him;  I will set him on high because he has known My name.  He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him;  I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him.  With long life I will satisfy him, and show him My salvation."

Let it be so, Lord.   Amen.