BACKGROUND:
Shortly after David's encounter with Nathan... the child became terminally ill. Despite David’s intense fasting and prayer the baby died within a week. Only then did David cease his mourning, wash, worship, and eat, contrary to custom and much to the amazement of his servants. David’s response is classic: While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept.... But now that he is dead, why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? David attested to the irrevocability of death—its finality renders further petition absurd. I will go to him, David said, but he will not return to me. This reflects his conviction that the dead cannot return to life as it was. Rather it is the living who go to the dead.
Eventually another son was born to David and Bathsheba, one who bore a double name. Called Solomon (“peace”) by them, the Lord... through Nathan named him Jedidiah (“loved by the Lord”). In the meantime, the Ammonite war went well for Joab. He had all but captured the Ammonite capital, Rabbah, having taken the royal citadel and the city’s water supply. And now, in order that David might gain the credit for its fall, Joab urged the king to lead the final assault himself. This David did.
SO WHAT? (what will I do with what I have read today?)
As we study scripture we come to the conclusion that God is looking for people to use. And he is looking for people that He can bless, honor, use in great ways. What are the kind of values that make a difference in our lives so that God can use us? 2 Chronicles 16:9 (LB) says, “For the eyes of the Lord search back and forth across the whole earth looking for people whose hearts are perfect toward Him that He can show His great power in helping them”
I love David, because he is us. Even with all his faults and failures, he is a great example of a person God use. Acts 13:22 (NIV) says this about David - "After removing Saul, he made David their king. He testified concerning him: 'I have found David son of Jesse a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.'" Would to God that could be said about us - that we did everything the Lord asked us to do.
I want to share with you six qualities that God looks for in people that He can use.
#1.GOD IS LOOKING FOR HOLY PEOPLE.
Hebrews 12:14 says, “Make every effort to live in peace with all men, to be holy for without holiness, no one will see the Lord.” That’s pretty clear. Without holiness no one will see the Lord. And this is sadly lacking today in our lives, this emphasis on holy living.
When you are filled with the Holy Spirit, you want to be holy. You want to be like God. If you’re going to be like God, if you’re going to be like Christ, you’ve got to learn to be holy.
#2. GOD IS LOOKING FOR SURRENDERED PEOPLE.
Richard Baxter said “A surrendered life in the hands of a holy God is a fearful thing.” God is looking for surrendered or submissive people. The Bible word for “surrender” when we surrender our total selves to God is the word is the word “broken” or “brokenness”. God uses broken things, broken vessels because that represents something totally surrendered to God. It was a divine principle. When Jesus fed the 5000 it says He took the bread, He broke it, He blessed it and then He used it. That is a divine principle that we see all through scripture.
God takes us, He breaks us, He blesses us and then He uses us. So the principle of brokenness is the principle of total surrender to God, where we say, “God, whatever You want, that’s what I want to do with my life. Whatever you want me to do.” Psalm 51:17 David says, ”It is a broken spirit You want, remorse and repentance. A broken and contrite heart, O God, You will not ignore.” Jeremiah 4:3 “Plow up the hardness of your heart otherwise the good seed will be wasted among the thorns.” God uses broken things.
#3. GOD IS LOOKING FOR BELIEVING PEOPLE
People of faith. People who believe God’s word and they act on it. Hebrews 11:6“And without faith it is impossible to please God because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.” Romans 14:23 “Everything that does not come from faith is sin.” So obviously God uses people of faith.
What did you do this week that didn’t require faith? I did a lot. And the Bible says whatever is not of faith is sin. If you don’t do it in faith, it’s wrong. God is looking for people who believe Him. We limit God so much by our unbelief. Most of us have a faith that tries God rather than trusts God. You’ve never really believed God until you’ve attempted something in your ministry that can’t be done in the power of the flesh.
#4. GOD IS LOOKING FOR FORESIGHTED PEOPLE.
That means people who not only believe but they look toward the future. God is doing what you expect in your life and He’s doing what you have your eyes on. God says, I want to use people who have their eyes on eternity, having eternal values. Colossians 3:2 “Set your mind on things above not on things that are on the earth.” Living Bible: “Let heaven fills your thoughts. Don’t spend your time worrying about things down here.” Some people say, “He’s so heavenly minded he’s no earthly good.” That can be true, but I also know people who are so earthly minded they’re no heavenly good. Have your values right. Take the long look. Have perspective. Live your life in light of eternity. I think the message that needs to be heard today by the Christian church Is there is more to life than just here and now. Most people are only interested in what Christ can do for them here and now. There is more to it than just here and now. If we’d just wake up to that! “Set your affections on things above. Lay not up for yourselves treasure on earth.”
#5. GOD IS LOOKING FOR PERSISTENT PEOPLE
People that He can use in a tremendous way that never give up. They don’t get discouraged. They’re diligent, persistent, determined. They hang on. Paul says, I press on. I don’t give up. Galatians 6:9 says “And let us not get tired of doing what is right for after a while we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t get discouraged and give up.”
#6. GOD IS LOOKING FOR LOVING PEOPLE
This is the number one trait of the New Testament Christians. “See how they love one another.” 1 John 4:7-8 (Living Bible) “Let us practice loving each other. For love comes from God and those who are loving and kind show that they are the children of God and that they are getting to know Him better. But if a person isn’t loving and kind, it shows He doesn’t know God. For God is love.”
Do you really love people? Do you love people the way that Jesus loves people? That is the basis for ministry. Somebody has said, “Sympathy is when you say, ‘I’m sorry you hurt.’ Empathy is when you say, ‘I hurt with you.’ But compassion is ‘I’ll do anything I can to stop your hurt.’” If you study the life of Christ it says “He was filled with compassion.” He said, “I’ll do anything I can to stop your hurt even if it means going to the cross. He was moved with compassion.
I encourage you. I implore you - decide to be a person that God uses. Put these foundational principles to practice in your life. I love you guys stay faithful. Stay the course.
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