The Seed Blog: Now Hiring: Apply Within

How many people would honestly like to be one of the Christians whom God is able to use powerfully in this life? 

Most would say, "Yes!" However, most Christians are simply living a spiritual life of mediocrity at best, living a more moral life than others and attending church, but all in all, not accomplishing a lot for Christ; not actively seeking and pursuing His will daily.

Spiritually speaking, would you leave a void if gone? Let me ask you another question: If you truly know God is real, and you realize He is your reason for living, and you recognize all He's done for you, what significance does your life hold if you are not actively working to be His servant in this life? What is the lasting value of anything else you ever accomplish if you have not done His will? Philippians 3:7-8, 13-14. The truth is that some do have a longing to be more for God, but they just don’t feel worthy or capable, or they honestly just don't know how. How to be that someone God will choose to do His work; how to draw closer to Him; how to begin to hear His will; how to see and feel His Hand moving in powerful, even supernatural ways? First of all, there is not one single person in this room today whom God cannot use powerfully. It's not only that He can use you, He wants to use you. It's not only that He wants to use you, He is waiting to use you right now. Ephesians 2:10. It is not just a possibility that God might use you someday;
it is His desired Plan for you. The formula is not as complicated or out of reach as most think. As a matter of fact, there is a type of person which God is absolutely "guaranteed" to use. Are you interested in the job?
Let's take a few moments today to review the resume of a perfect candidate for hire in God's Kingdom. First Requirement: Heart. Many feel as though they are too sinful, unlearned or incompetent to be used of God. So, they go on with their lives as normal. Many honestly, feel a life given towards service to God would be too hard and deeply involved. So, they go on with their lives as normal. And others feel that focusing on serving God in life would be less fun, and less fulfilling than the things they spend their time doing now. So, they go on with their lives as normal. And still others feel that one day, when they are more prepared and less busy, they might be that person God uses, but not right now. So, they go on with their lives as normal. The end result: the vast majority of Christians go on living their lives as though they were completely our own, and that is exactly why most of us cannot be hired for work in the Kingdom—because nothing changes if nothing changes. Salvation is His free Gift to you, but having a deeper and more intimate walk with Him—being one whom He will anoint and use in His work—requires a purposeful choice and a dedicated life. It will not happen by chance, or automatically; it is something that must be pursued with desire. Think about it: if you owned a hospital, would you dream of hiring a doctor that didn't really want to put much time into this position, and had never officially studied medicine yet, and couldn’t care less about helping people, but sure would like the big money. Almost any job requires knowledge, training and daily dedication in order to be qualified. Why does work for the King of the universe deserve less than your job? Your school work? Your hobby? How is finding your place in His plan and equipping yourself for that work of less importance? How does the eternal destination of precious people He died for deserve less attention? John 12:26. (Are you where Christ is in this world?) Jesus has never anointed or used anyone who was not given in passion and action to the task. Look at previous employees: Abraham left his land and possessions to work for God. Elisha gave up his work and burned his assets, literally to get a job. The disciples left their careers and reputations behind to study with the Master. Paul left power, position, security and money to work for Christ (see Romans 1:1: bondservant). On the road to Emmaus, Jesus would have continued on had the disciples not insistently compelled Him to stay with them. They all saw something of such worth and importance in the act of serving God. They built their lives around doing so. First and foremost, being used of God requires a heart that says, "I must be used of Him, no matter the cost!" Jesus is not begging and hoping that we will make ourselves available for His Work. He is waiting for us to show Him how badly we want to serve Him before we will be used. Until we can see this Truth; until we have this desire—don’t apply for the job.
Second Requirement: Humbleness. It is the simplest and yet most elusive thing for our generation to attain. We are so hung up on the life we think we deserve in our own worth, that we cannot focus on the worth and needs of others. We are so hung up on our accomplishments and abilities, that our ego keeps us focused more on what people think of us, good or bad, than actually seeking God's will in that moment, and then actually doing it for His Glory only. If doing the work of Jesus means seeking His Glory, showing His power and love to the world, and showing, by example, how true love means a decrease in self—how is that accomplished by having constant thoughts about what people think of you and a constant desire to show what you know and what you can do? Who's glory is that seeking? How are these things accomplished by being so concerned about you that you show absolutely no true concern for those to whom you could minister? The self-centered attitude most walk in daily steals the soul's ability to even truly assess the pain or needs of those around you. How do you possibly feel or show a desire to love someone else selflessly, when you are in constant competition with them or others? Set yourself free by forgetting about yourself completely, and then just genuinely let it be about them. Did Moses' education and position help him in serving God? No, so why are you so hung up on yours?
Did David serve God better as a successful King or a lowly, last-born shepherd boy? So, why do you have to be on top to serve? When was Joseph most useful to God? Favored son or 2nd rate slave? After becoming a nobody in prison. Who did Christ choose as His closest disciples? Rich? Educated? Holy? No, blue-collar, uneducated nobodies. John wrote some of his greatest works as an old, uneducated ex-fisherman stuck on a prison island of exile (Patmos), and forgotten. But, all of these men had one thing in common in their service to God: they had a deep, real understanding (not a fake face) that they had nothing of themselves worth giving to a King, and they had to rely completely on God for all that would be accomplished. You are of priceless worth to Christ, but in His Grand Scheme of getting things done—in terms of your great importance and ability, you are nothing special. He gave you what you do have, and He's given others much more. He uses you simply to grow you in love and faith—period. Be joyful and thankful for any chance you have to serve, not arrogant. 1 Corinthians 1:26-31; 1 Timothy 1:12.
Third Requirement: Righteousness. You must cultivate a mindset that hates and resists sin, and truly seeks after God's Righteousness. If you just suppress and toy with sin—keep it an arm's distance away—you will always be distracted and dominated with thoughts of your sin, rather than having the ability to focus on God's plan. You will never care for others as you should if they are being used for your pleasure, or hated because of selfishness or annoying you in your arrogance. There is a fresh desire to beat sin when, instead of just putting sin away, it is replaced with something better. A chance to draw close and be used in service to God. James 4:7-8.
Fourth: Walking In Truth And Prayer. A very, very common reason Christians say they are not ready to be used of God si because they say they lack knowledge in His Word. For one thing, God can use the newest of Christians when they simply, honestly tell of their experience so far—what He has done for them, where He brought them from—just as the new convert who was possessed in the graveyard. Just be available to serve and love from the heart. But in honesty, unless you just got saved very recently, why is this even your excuse? Why don't you know more? Isn't that the same excuse you had last month? Last year? If you are serious about your work for Christ, why haven't you done something about it? Don't just read to get through the Bible in obedience—no wonder you get bored and burned out. Read to really know Him in the pages; read to learn His ways, His will, His plan. Then it will come alive because you will actually see how it is applicable to your life. You will actually be concerned for what you are reading. And when you pray, get past your set pattern of what you need in your life. Pray to learn what you need to work on in righteousness. Pray to learn what He is doing around you—He'll reveal it. Pray to learn what you need to do for those around you. James 1:5; Psalm 32:8. Then your prayer life will come alive with relevance as you pray for needs and direction in service to Him, knowing you are praying in His will.
Fifth: Act. None of this will help you to serve God unless you are ready with a heart of obedience. If you are serious, you must be willing to step out in faith and actually do His will when you learn it. John 10:27. That means walk where it is uncomfortable; attempt what you know cannot be done alone; follow when it makes no sense, or is seemingly even detrimental to your plans. Make plans, big and small, based around His work—not your work. And most importantly—this is where it all comes together—after doing all of these things, walk in constant and real understanding that He is there with you always. Romans 8:14. Leading and empowering as you go. Trusting Him moment by moment for the love you need; the strength; the patience; the will, above all else, knowing that He is not only willing for you to work with Him, there and then. He is anxious and desiring to work through you always. When you are showing genuine desire and humility, His answer is always YES. Being used of God will not just happen by mistake, it is a choice that you pursue actively and passionately; a choice you make daily by forgetting about self and focusing on others; that you prepare expectantly for through prayer, study and a pursuit of righteousness; a choice you make by stepping out when called.
Will you decide to become more than a mediocre Christian? It is a choice that requires your whole life, but it is the biggest, most important pursuit of your life. How can we say we love God if we can look around at the condition of this world and not desire to be involved? Luke 10. God says He wants you, what is your answer?