If you are not serving God’s agenda on earth, I want to assure you that you are automatically serving the agenda of the other guy. There is nothing like “I am not serving God, I am not serving the devil, I am just serving myself.” But let me shock you, there is nothing like sitting on the fence on this matter. If you think you are serving yourself, the Bible says Satan is the god of this world so, you are indirectly serving him. Satan is also the god of self; anything that does not worship or glorifies God. 2 Corinthians 4:4 (KJV) tells us:
“In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.”
Daniel 11:37 tells us as well that “He shall regard neither the God of his fathers’ nor the desire of women, nor regard any god; for he shall exalt himself above them all.” Anything that will nor worship God or give glory to His Holy name is a spirit of Antichrist. So, if you think you are in this world, and you aren’t serving the purpose of God, you are simply serving the purpose of the devil. It is as simple as that.
There is absolutely no person that is out-rightly self sufficient. Each and every individual gets his or her inspiration from somewhere, and it can either be from God or the devil. Joshua told the children of Israel in Joshua 24:15, it says: “And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”
It is important that you submit yourself to the agenda of God so that you can be useful unto Him. And that is why we are considering this topic: The Men and Women that God Uses.
20 But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor. 21 Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work.
2 Timothy 2:20-21
God doesn’t just use anybody. If God uses anyone and anybody, then I believe He has the capacity to convert the over 7 billion people on earth today for His purpose and assignment. The fact that this isn’t so simply means that there are certain men and women God is looking out for on earth that would execute His agenda. No wonder apostle Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 1:26-29 that:
26 For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. 27 But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; 28 and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, 29 that no flesh should glory in His presence.
The call of God is a sacred call and it is a Holy calling too (2 Timothy 1:9). Haven said all these, who then are the men and women that God uses in His agenda? Who can qualify for the Master’s use? The Bible has shown us that not many wise according to the flesh are called, and not many noble are called too. So, who are the people that God is looking for?
Number One, the first category of people God is looking for are those who have purged themselves of the things that could hinder them from being found useful by God. Verse 21 of 2 Timothy 2 tells us “Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work.” So, what were the things apostle Paul was referring to that people should cleanse themselves from? Let us examine them. Colossians chapter 3, from verse 5-8 tells us:
“Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, 7 in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them.8 But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth.”
You are to purge yourselves of these things if you are ever going to be relevant in God’s agenda and purpose on the face of the earth.
Listen to Podcast: The Men and Women That God Uses: How To Remain Relevant In The Agenda of God On Earth
Number two, God uses men and women who have separated themselves. 2 Corinthians 6:17, apostle Paul wrote:
Therefore
“Come out from among them
And be separate, says the Lord.
Do not touch what is unclean,
And I will receive you.”
Separation is key if we are ever going to be relevant in God’s agenda. No wonder the first instruction God gave to Abraham was to leave his father’s house and land. God needed to separate him first from his father’s gods and idol worship before God can use him. Separation connotes two things in the Scriptures. It means first to be separated from whatever it is that is contrary to the mind and purpose of God. Romans 12:2 tell us “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”
Secondly, it means to be separated unto God. The first thing Jesus did when HE called His disciples was not to send them out immediately, but to first and foremost be with Him. Mark 3:14 showed us how: “Then He appointed twelve, that they might be with Him and that He might send them out to preach.” Notice He didn’t send them out to preach immediately before coming to be with Him. So, God uses men and women who have separated themselves, first and foremost, from the things that can hinder them from being useful to His agenda and then are separated unto Him. Did we get that?
Number three, God uses men and women who would stick to his commandments and execute it unwaveringly. See what Isaiah 46:11 says:
Calling a bird of prey from the east,
The man who executes My counsel, from a far country.
Indeed I have spoken it;
I will also bring it to pass
I have purposed it;
I will also do it.
God is looking for those who will execute His will until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ. God isn’t looking for those who would keep His commandments for a season, and then start to do as they like. He is not looking for men like Saul who would not take His word with all seriousness or with partial obedience. He is looking for men and women who would execute his commandment to the letter. In 1 Timothy 6:13-15, apostle Paul had this to say to Timothy:
“I urge you in the sight of God who gives life to all things, and before Christ Jesus who witnessed the good confession before Pontius Pilate, 14 that you keep this commandment without spot, blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ’s appearing, 15 which He will manifest in His own time, He who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords,”
Number Four, the men and women that God uses are those who follow Him closely. Following God usually takes us through the narrow path and not the broad way and that is why you will discover that not many people are found on that route. In Matthew 4:18-20, the Bible says:
“And Jesus, walking by the Sea of Galilee, saw two brothers, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. 19 Then He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” 20 They immediately left their nets and followed Him.”
In other words, Jesus was telling them that although what you have known all your life is how to fish, but there is a greater purpose bigger than just catching fishes, come follow me and catch men into the kingdom. No one can follow God and be useless. The apostles, although they left their various professions to follow after Jesus, they were never useless. They became household names that billions of people across the globe read about in the Holy Scriptures. In following God, there is a making.
Perhaps you are out there wondering what your life is all about. Perhaps you don’t even know why you are existing on this planet earth anymore. Why not follow God today and let Him mould and shape you into His plans and purpose for you. It is in serving God that you can find meaning for your life. Outside God, life is meaningless. But in God, life is meaningful and purposeful as well. God is a purposeful God, and He gives purpose to everyone that follows Him.
I believe you have been blessed!
[Centre for New Dimension Leadership]
