Want God To Use You? Do This.

There is nothing more exciting and satisfying than serving the Lord and seeing Him work through you.  God wants this for every Christian.  John 15:8 says, "My Father is glorified by this: that you produce fruit and prove to be my disciples."  John 15:16 says, "I appointed you to go and produce fruit and that your fruit should remain."

If you want God to use you in a mighty way, then there are a few conditions you must meet.  God has to do a work in you before He will do a work through you.  Don't get me wrong.  God wants to use you right now, just the way you are, if you will just start serving Him.  But if you want to be a highly effective tool in the hands of God, then you must meet certain conditions.  These conditions are exemplified in the life of Stephen.  Stephen was a member of the early church, one of the first deacons, and the first Christian martyr.  His story is found in Acts 6-7.  There are EIGHT REASONS GOD USED STEPHEN.

ONE:  HE HAD A GOOD REPUTATION (Acts 6:3).  Before Stephen was appointed as a leader in the church, they made sure that he had a good reputation.  This means that all people, both inside and outside of the church, respected him.  He embodied the traits that make a man respectable.  He was a hard worker, honest, just, merciful, devout, a good citizen, and a good neighbor.  Without a good reputation people will not follow you or listen to you.

TWO:  HE WAS FULL OF THE HOLY SPIRIT (Acts 6:3, 6; 7:55).  This means that the Holy Spirit had complete control over Stephen's will.  He was completely surrendered and yielded to God.  This results in God's power flowing unhindered through your life.  Acts 6:8 says that Stephen was "full of power," and was "performing great wonders and signs among the people."  Being Spirit-filled doesn't mean getting more of the Spirit, but the Spirit getting more of you.  Then He can do great things through you.

THREE:  HE WAS FULL OF WISDOM (Acts 6:3, 10).  He knew His Bible.  He had a deep understanding of the gospel and of Christian theology.  If you want God to use you, you must study your Bible.  You must move beyond the shallow end of the pool and go deep.  God's word is our weapon (Eph 6:17).  Without it we are no threat to the enemy.

FOUR:  HE WAS FULL OF FAITH (Acts 6:5).  Stephen had confidence in God -- that He is who He says He is, and that He will do what He says He will do.  Faith gives you the strength to attempt the impossible, to endure trials, to pray and not give up, to sacrifice everything you have for the gospel.  Without faith it is impossible to please God (Heb 11:6).

FIVE:  HE WAS FULL OF GRACE (Acts 6:8).  In this context grace refers to the qualities empowered by God's grace -- Christlike virtues.  He was a man of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control.  He was a man of holiness, sexual integrity, humility, and sobriety.  He had a tamed tongue, a generous hand, and a surrendered wallet.  The graces adorn the gospel and attract people to Christ.  They foster unity in the church.  They provide a visible sermon of how Christians must grow. 

SIX:  HE WAS FULL OF POWER (Acts 6:8).  God wants to give you strength to accomplish the impossible, but that strength is only available to us through prayer.  In ministry you will encounter many obstacles than can only be overcome with prayer.  If you want to be full of power, you must be fanatical about prayer.

SEVEN:  HE WAS COURAGEOUS (Acts 7:51-53).  When Stephen was arrested and put on trial, he used the opportunity not to wiggle out of trouble, but to proclaim the gospel.  And he preached hard truths to a hostile crowd.  To be used by God you must be willing to stand firm in the truth, to defend the truth, to proclaim the truth even when it is hated and outdated.  You must be willing to proclaim the whole word of God, not just the parts that are politically correct. 

EIGHT:  HE WAS FORGIVING (Acts 7:60).  As Stephen was being stoned to death, he prayed for God to forgive his murderers.  What a man!  To be used by God you must have a tough hide and a tender heart.  You cannot hold on to bitterness, or take revenge.  People will hurt you, offend you, attack you, betray you, abandon you, reject you, mock you, and disappoint you.  You must stop seeing those people as enemies, and start seeing them as the mission field. 

"The Lord wants to use you for special purposes (2 Tim 2:21, ERV)."  The more you meet these conditions, the more God can do through your life.