THE KIND OF PEOPLE GOD USES

Text- Acts 2:41-47

Acts 2:41-47 Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.   42 They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.   43 Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles.   44 All the believers were together and had everything in common.   45 Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need.   46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts,   47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. (NIV)

Introduction

Today within many churches we find a very rapid growth.  Sunday school attendance is increasing in some churches, worship service attendance is going up along with many other services.

Yet what can we attribute this growth to?  Is God the one who is causing this growth or is man causing the growth through various programs and gimmicks that he has devised?

I am sure that in many cases God is causing the growth and blessing his people because of their faithful witnessing to the lost.  But I am also sure there are some churches still relying on gimmicks instead of God’s plan and purpose.

Here in our text we are told how the church in Jerusalem grew by the thousands.  It is believed that this church may have had as many as 500,000 people.

Why did it grow so large?  It’s because they relied upon God’s plan and purposes.  It’s because God used people who were committed to His purposes.

God is looking for people to use, and if you can get usable, he will wear you out. The most dangerous prayer you can pray is this: 'Use me.' - Rick Warren

God uses those who have a heart for him and desire to be used.  An example of this is the Apostle Paul.  God used him to spread the Gospel to the known world during his day and time, baptize people and establish churches.

2 Corinthians 2:14 But thanks be to God! For in union with Christ we are always led by God as prisoners in Christ's victory procession. God uses us to make the knowledge about Christ spread everywhere like a sweet fragrance. (TEV)

This evening I would like for us to look at the kind of people God uses to grow his church.