Bread of Life Voice

Bread of Life Leader’s Training

Date: Saturday, 17th Sept 2022

Topic: The Man God Uses

Minister: Bro. Lotanna Ezeukwo

Introduction:
Man in this context is a generic term which comprises both man and woman. God can use anybody, God’s decision to use man is a privilege beyond description. If he had decided to use anything, he would have done it differently, whoever understands and appreciates this is a stepping stone to working other things with God.

David looking at himself was so marvelled how God stooped so low to use man. Psalm 144:3, Psalm 8:3-6 told us; “Who is man that you take knowledge of him, the son of man that ‘re mindful of him.?”

It sounds too good to be true that God cannot do anything without human instrumentation. Why is it that presently, it seems as if the devil is getting stronger and God weaker? But in reality, is it true? No, the devil despite his power, before God is highly insignificant.

The operation of the devil in our world today is because the Lord permitted it for a while (Revelation 20:1-2). In Psalm 115:16, God decided to give the rulership of this world to men, but why is the devil in charge? It is because we have surrendered to the devil our rights. This is why the right instruments ‘re going into oblivion.

In Ezekiel 22:30 – God sought for a man to stand in the gap so that he would not destroy man, but unfortunately, he found none. This is the greatest tragedy and genesis of our problem. Until someone somewhere approaches God and say to him, “Lord, here I am” – God cannot act.

Our major business is to enforce the will of God on earth. 1Timothy 2:4 said it is the will of God that everyone would be saved, but Romans 10:14-15 says – “how can they believe in him whom they have not heard, and how can they hear if no one preaches to them?

Hear this; in as much as God cannot act without human instrumentation, He does not use anyhow person. God is choosy.

If not for Daniel, the Israelites would have exceeded the 70 years of slavery. Daniel said – he read in the book that my people is going to stay in slavery for 70 years, and I decided to seek the face of the Lord. Because of this, their years of slavery was reduced by 2 years, they started going back at 68 years.

*Usable Instruments*

In as much as God is interested in using man, not all men are usable. 1Timothy 3:10. God cannot interact with something that is not worthy of his presence. 1 John 1:5-6 says – this is the message which you have heard, that God is light and in him there is no darkness, anyone who claims to work with him but dwells in darkness is a liar. God cannot be deceived, he cannot reduce his standard because of human being, for his standard is very high. God wants us to bear fruits, fruits that will last. We ‘re called to be leaders, not be under the control of circumstances.

For one to be a usable instruments, these are the things required of us and the cost to bear.

1. You must make purity of life a must.

Habakkuk 2:4 says – the eyes of the Lord is too Holy to behold iniquity. 2 Timothy 2:19-21 explicitly stated it; the foundation of the Lord/standard of God remains sure, With an inscription written boldly, the Lord God knows those who ‘re his, and anyone who names the name of the Lord must depart from iniquity. In a large house there ‘re vessels of different materials, some ‘re made of gold, silver, wood and clay, some ‘re for noble purposes and some for ignoble use. Anyone who cleanses himself for the Lord’s use becomes instruments of God’s will.

How to protect or maintain purity of life

a. Try everything you can to protect your mind which thoughts proceed from, the battle is in the mind. People might look at you as being naive, archaic, primitive and weird but because we know the value of what we have and carry, we accept these names calling.

b. Be mindful of careless words. Jesus made it plain that everyone must give account of every godless words that proceeds from their lips. Ephesians 4:29. Your words have the capacity to make or mar you.

c. Purity in deeds. Matthew 5:16 says – let your light so shine in the world that people will see and believe. One of the soldiers testified about this at the Calvary seeing the signs and wonders proceeding from Jesus at the hour if his death – This is truly the son of God.

Without purity of life, your prayers amount to nothing. If God cannot tolerate sin in his son, he cannot tolerate it in man.

2. You must remove pride.

Human pride forces God to remove relationship. James 4:6 says – God resists the proud but gives Grace to the humble. Isaiah shouted after his encounter in chapter 6 vs 5 of the prophetic book, his language changed and he humbled himself. You can’t have an encounter with the Lord and still remains the same. It can never happen. Beware of title in the Christendom, it has the ability, capacity and capability to dethrone a man. Jesus was called good teacher, he sharply rebuffed it and gave the glory to his father – “no one is good except God”. Ephesians 2:8 says it is by Grace that we ‘re saved so that no one can boast of it.

3. You must be a sacrificed material (Romans 12:1)

God cannot take you by force unless you offer yourself willfully. The greatest problem we have is that we have come to serve God but not ready to give up all. Ananias and Sapphira kind of service. God cannot use you unless you give your all. We have many Christians but lack the sacrificed members.

4. You must get rid of worldliness (James 1:27)

We have two sets of people on earth. Those with the nature of God and those with the nature of the world. Our world is getting more churchous, but lack the power thereof. The greatest achievement you can make as a child of God is being free from the corruption of the world. How free are you from the corruption of this world? We ‘re no more different from the people of the world. The same value they place on worldly things is the same value we attach to them too. Romans 12:2 says – do not conform yourself to the standard of this world, but be ye transformed by the renewal of your mind, for by this you will know what is good, pleasing and acceptable to God. The world has their own standard and they differ from ours. The world has a pattern different from our own pattern. Our only worry should be about the one who will judge this world. We were all born carnally, but when we were baptized, we !became consecrated, people set apart.

5. You must have the spirit of service Mark 10:43-45

The way to greatness is the ability to serve. Jesus said, if anyone wants to be great, then he must serve others. Ephesians 4:11 listed the offices for every Christian but the very purpose of these office gifts is for service. Don’t put a charge on this things, freely you received, and freely you must give (service). When we serve freely, we are placed on God’s payroll.

6. You must be devoted (Romans 12:11)

Devorion means Readiness and willingness to work. God does not waste resources on those who ‘re not devoted. Romans 12:11 says – serve the Lord with a heart full of devotion. Those who ‘re usable ‘re those who ‘re committed to the task.

7. You must maintain constant communion (John 15:4-5)

Without deliberate endeavor, one will loose focus with heaven. For one to enjoy great communion, he must devote quality time with God. John 15 vs 4-5 says; cut off from me, you can do nothing.

8. You must be faithful in the little (Luke 16:10)

Whoever that is faithful in the little will be given big one. Faithful in the little means that no job or assignment given to you by God no matter how small it is, is insignificant. Do them with every thing in you, do them diligently.

9. You must have private and public victory (2Timoth 2:24-25)

This means that we were all born dependent, when we achieve independence, then we have won private victory. In the spiritual sense, when we have conquered spiritual dependence, like dealing with anger, jealousy, pride etc, we have achieved private victory. But this is not enough, when you have attained the point of working with people without agitation, then, you have won public victory. That’s when you work with people without being the source of problem to the people. When you have achieved both private and public victory, you become usable by God.

10. You must be courageous

Courage is a necessary tool to work with the Lord. Cowardly does not go well with God. That’s why Revelation 21:8 says that all cowards will go to hell fire. The only difference between Josiah and his predecessors (Joash, Jehoshaphat, Uzziah etc) is courage. He was able to bring great reformation in Judah which actually helped to extend reign if Judah before exile.

Conclusion:
God is looking for men to use! You have failed severally, disappointed severally, but do you want to continue in this failure? God is looking for me!!