BBH

The Baptist Bible Hour now comes to you under the direction of Elder Lacerre Bradley, Jr. This is Lacerre Bradley, Jr. inviting you to stay tuned for another message of God's sovereign grace. I want to thank those of you who have written and made a special donation during this time of challenge.

The summer months always seem to present a particularly difficult period for us. And if you're one who has not been able to help, but really you desire to do so, I hope you will do it this week. Our address is Baptist Bible Hour, Box 17037, Cincinnati, Ohio 45217.

I encourage you to visit our website where you can read The Baptist Witness and also it's possible to make a donation there. In one of our recent messages, we looked at several of the one-anothering passages in the Scriptures, which guide us in the interaction we're to have with others. The Christian life is not to be lived in isolation or to be so self-centered that we're failing to fellowship with others, pray for them and seek to help them.

Well, someone may say, that's just not me. I don't have the ability to be always thinking of others and trying to minister to them. And today I want to tell you, you can be used in God's service in spite of your weakness, because God uses the weak and that is our message today. I want us to look at 1 Corinthians chapter 1 verse 26. For ye see your calling brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble are called. But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise, and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty, and base things of the world, and things which are despised hath God chosen, and things which are not to bring to naught things that are, that no flesh should glory in his presence. God uses the weak. So we want to think about three things as we look at this portion of scripture. First of all, God's method.

He uses weak things. Secondly, God's purpose that no flesh should glory in his presence. And third, God's blessing that we are enriched by him to be able to serve. God's ways are in vivid contrast to man's thinking. Human reasoning puts great emphasis on education, social status, political influence, wealth, and we have to be careful not to be influenced by the thinking of the world. That's why we're to constantly have our minds renewed, that we are not giving in to the philosophies that are prevalent in our time. So when we look carefully at ourselves, if our eyes are open to see our failings, we recognize our sins, our shortcomings, we can easily become discouraged. Say, I can't imagine that God would ever use me effectively in his service in any capacity.

I'm just a nobody. But when we begin to look at what scripture reveals, that is in fact the kind of people God uses. Those disciples that Jesus invited to come eat with him on the shore that morning were nobodies from the standpoint of the world's observation.

They were fishermen by trade, a tax collector. They were not the leaders among the Jews religion. They hadn't received the kind of education that people would have considered to be essential for somebody who was going to be a leader in religion.

They were weak, struggling individuals. And somebody might say, well, why would God use such a motley crew to advance his cause and get the church off the ground, so to speak, and have the gospel being circulated around the world? But that's exactly the way we find over and over in scripture that God operates. We think of some Old Testament examples. You remember that Gideon had an army of 32,000.

He was going out to fight the Midianites, and God says, you have a problem. Your army's too big. That would tend to be a bit discouraging to a military leader. I would think that the man in charge would like to have as many possible in his ranks. But the more men there, the greater the sense of security, the greater feeling of confidence that we're going to win. But God says you have too many. And ultimately, as you know, the number was reduced to a mere 300.

How can 300 men possibly stand against this invading multitude? Well, Gideon said, I want you to take trumpets. I want you to take lights. I want you to take something with which to cover the lamps. And we're going to divide into three companies of 100 each. And at the given signal, you blow the trumpets.

You break the pitchers so that the lights shine, and you're standing out there in the darkness holding a light and sounding the trumpet. And that really didn't sound like a plan that any sophisticated military leader would ever have advised. But Gideon's trust was in the Lord, and God was at work. And those Midianites evidently had had quite a party the night before and were suffering the hangovers that were a result. And they got up in a state of confusion when they saw the lights, hearing the horns that awakened them, and see the lights out of the wilderness.

And they made the assumption that Israelites hired out help. And so they began to swing their swords, and the only people they hit were those of their own number. And Gideon and his little band won the victory. Not because they were large, because they weren't. Not because they were skilled fighters, they weren't. But they won it because God uses weak things to bring about a victory. We can see that when David, the shepherd lad, comes to visit his brothers who were a part of the army, and they had been listening day after day to the challenges of Goliath, who asked that anybody, pick out your bravest man, send him out here to fight with me, I want to bring this thing to an end, and I will demonstrate my ability to make short work of him. None of those brave soldiers had been willing to go. And David said, I'll go.

Now that sounded like an absurdity initially. How could this young boy possibly stand up against this giant? After some bit of persuasion, Saul says, well if you're going, you need to put on my armor.

And David says, I haven't had any experience with your armor, I can't take that. My hope is in God. The battle is the Lord's. He sustained me when I killed the lion and the bear with my own hands.

I've had experience, but my experience has been with my God, and I'm trusting him. And here goes this young boy. Anybody looking at the scene would say, this is going to be over in just a minute. Hate to see a young man waste his life like this. The life's going to kill him on his short order.

But it didn't happen that way. One smooth stone, striking the giant in the forehead until he falls flat to the earth. And David takes Goliath's own sword and cuts his head off. David believes the battle is the Lord's.

And he saw it fulfilled successfully. Now if I were to ask for a show of hands, how many here believe the battle is the Lord's? I feel sure every hand would go up. But then if I asked, how many times do you forget that if there was honest confession, an awful lot of hands would have to go up. That there are days, times, and circumstances when we forget about that. If somebody approached us and asked the question, we've got it straight in our head. We'd say, yes, the battle is the Lord's. But we go on fretting and worrying and scheming and trying to figure things out according to our own ingenuity or trying to accomplish the victory in our own strength.

It doesn't matter what your situation is. It doesn't matter what the conflict in your life, what the burden that you're carrying, what your desire for the future of the church may be to understand the battle is the Lord's is essential. That crew that didn't have an impressive history, that had numerous faults and failings, were the ones to whom the Lord gave the commission and said, Go ye therefore to all the world, preaching the gospel, baptizing, making disciples, teaching them to observe whatsoever things I've commanded you. But you see, they were not going to be successful because of their impressive education, because they were orators, because they were philosophers, because they were men that were highly regarded in the communities where they lived.

That was not the case. They were going to be successful because the Holy Spirit of God was going to descend on them on the day of Pentecost and fill them with power that they did not have of themselves. And that's exactly what transpired. In the book of Acts chapter 4 verse 13, we read the assessment of their enemies. Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marveled and they took knowledge of them that they had been with Jesus. It didn't mean they literally were ignorant. They were obviously men of great wisdom.

And they were growing tremendously at this very time in their experience. And as God continued to bless them and they continued to grow, they were men of great influence and power where God gave them a hearing, preparing hearts to receive the message. But the enemy looked on them and said, they're unlearned men. They haven't been to our school.

They're ignorant fishermen. But they were still amazed. They saw the boldness of Peter and John and they marveled. They took knowledge of them that they had been with Jesus. Something about what they observed in their conduct, in their spirit, in the miracle that had here been performed, they identified them with Jesus.

That's an outstanding testimony, is it not? Do you think if somebody in your neighborhood or where you work or where you go to school were to be questioned about you, do you think that person observing you would say, they're a follower of Jesus? I can tell by the way they talk. I can tell by the way they live. I can tell by their attitude. They're a follower of Jesus.

Oh, that we might have that kind of a testimony. And then by the time we get to the 17th chapter of the book of Acts, these who were considered but ignorant and unlearned men of the blessing and power of the Holy Spirit had accomplished great things. Because it says Acts 17, 6, the latter part of the verse, These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also. There was a great stirring under their ministry. They had had an impact on the religious world, the political world. They've turned things upside down. They've come preaching this gospel and it's made a difference. It's changed people's lives. It's caused people to leave pagan religions and follow Jesus.

They've turned the world upside down. Now if you were told today, there's a great need in our time for powerful gospel preaching. We long to see a real revival, an awakening. To see people return to some of the humble approach that was more apparent in years gone by.

That many people in society recognize there is a God and had respect for the Bible even if they didn't personally embrace it all. We'd say, I'd like to see a turnaround. How are we going to accomplish it?

One of the minds of many people is going to take some strategic planning. It's going to require getting together groups of very influential men and figure out what kind of a program we can embark upon. That wasn't the key to success with these men. They were men of prayer. They were men of deep devotion. They were men who were walking with Jesus on a daily basis.

And they turned the world upside down. We want to see an impact in our day. We're not going to get it through political clout, through signing petitions and marching in marches of protest.

Using some of the methods that many perceive to be so necessary. It'll be because of our walk with Jesus Christ and our dependence upon the power of the Holy Spirit. As the evidence of His grace has lived out in our lives and the gospel is preached in power.

That which is weak. God's purpose. Our text in 1 Corinthians chapter 1 gives us the purpose that no flesh should glory in His presence. That's God's purpose.

I'm not going to have man boasting glory in his own accomplishments. Now, certainly that's true in the matter of salvation. As we look at those latter verses of that 1 Corinthians chapter 1. After saying that no flesh should glory in His presence. He says, but of Him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, righteousness, sanctification and redemption. That according as it is written, He that glorith, let Him glory in the Lord. How is it that you're in Christ?

Not as a result of an action on your free will. It is of Him. Of Him are ye in Christ. And He is made unto us wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, redemption. It's in Him that we have everything that we need.

He is our salvation. So, as it is written, He that glorith. You can't glory in your good works. You can't glory in your conduct. You can't glory in anything that you have done or are or plan to do. But, He that glorith, let Him glory in the Lord. No place for any boasting. No place for anybody to take credit to themselves. Say, well, the Lord saved me, but of course I did my part.

Just what part would that be? If man is dead in trespasses and in sin, if he's a fallen, corrupt sinner, just what's he going to contribute? No place to glory in his presence.

And furthermore, there's no place to boast in the matter of service. Doesn't mean, well now, I'll give the Lord all the praise for saving me. I know I never would have been saved if He hadn't rescued me. If He hadn't come to me and drawn me and brought me to Himself, I never would have been saved. But since that time, I've been a devoted, dedicated follower. And I feel like I've made some real sacrifices.

And I'm certainly a step ahead of where a lot of people are. Now, if you find yourself becoming extremely irritated at people that you feel are not living up to the standard you maintain in their Christian service, it may be that your vision is a little distorted. You're seeing their failures. You're making your observations on what you can actually see with your eyes.

It may be a lot behind the scenes that you don't see, things that you don't know about. But when you make that kind of a judgment, it may indicate that you don't have a clear sight of yourself. To see that although I've tried to sincerely serve the Lord, I'm not entitled to any certificates or plaques to put on my wall because I've done such a wonderful job. To see that though I've gone through some struggles and I've tried repeatedly to come before the Lord and acknowledge my failings and to do better, I still in many ways have failed terribly. Who would dare say, well I feel like I have devoted myself to the study of the Scriptures exactly to the degree that I should have.

I couldn't have improved on that a bit. Or who could possibly say, my prayer life is 100%. I know that I pray as often as I should, as diligently as I should, pray about the things I shouldn't pray for, pray in faith.

In every category we'd have to admit we come far short. And in whatever area you have done something that is worthwhile, even in that you cannot boast, you have to know that it was by His grace that you did it. And that's what Paul says in 1 Corinthians 15 10. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain, but I labored more abundantly than they all.

Now somebody said, well it looks like Paul's boasting a little bit here. Paul's just stating the fact he had labored more abundantly than any, but look, he's not taking credit to himself. He says, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. So whatever thing you may have accomplished in your service to the Lord, you have to say, it was the grace of God in me.

If you have prayed effectively, you'll have to go there to Romans 8 and say, well the Spirit of God was directing me because I didn't know what to pray for as I should have, but He makes intercession with groanings that cannot be uttered. If I've been able to effectively minister to others, it's been because of His grace enabling me to do it. And that brings me to the third consideration, God's blessing, that we are enriched by Him.

To 1 Corinthians chapter 1 where we started. In the verses preceding our text, it says in the fourth verse, I thank my God always on your behalf for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ, that in everything ye are enriched by Him in all utterance and in all knowledge. God's blessing upon these who are weak. The weak would not be useful, could not serve to His honor if it were not for the blessing that God bestows upon them. And so, He says in speech, He blesses His people, not just ministers of the gospel, but any of His people. He will bless them, enriching them, enabling them to speak His truth as it ought to be spoken.

Now the second thing in this Corinthian passage is that in everything ye are enriched by Him in all utterance, in speech, and the second thing, in all knowledge. Sometimes you may make the excuse, well I just don't know enough. People may ask me questions that I can't answer. I want to tell you, I've been preaching a long time, but it's not hard for somebody to ask me a question that I can't answer.

And when I can't, I tell them. I'm not going to stumble around and give some kind of a vague, useless answer to pretend that I know something that I don't. Nobody's got the answer to everything. So there's nothing wrong with admitting sometimes this is something I don't know.

Maybe I can find it out, but I don't know at this moment. But we all need knowledge to be able to speak the things of God. Paul prayed to that end for the church at Colossae and also for the church at Ephesus, but in Colossians chapter 1 verse 9, he says, For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding, that ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God. No matter how much knowledge of God you have at the moment, you need more. And Paul is praying that you're going to be increasing in the knowledge of God. So we're enriched by Him. We are enabled by Him. John 15 5 says, Without me ye can do nothing.

And Philippians 4 13 says, I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. So you say, I'm just a nobody. And sometimes people keep going to that. Well I'm just, I'm not worth anything. I don't know much.

Nothing worthwhile that I can do. And that's not true. Because although in ourselves we are a nobody, in ourselves we are unable to do that, which would be to the honor and glory of God. God uses weak things. And that means you and you and you and you, God uses weak things. In your own sphere of influence, in your own life, wherever you are, whoever you contact, you can be used to the glory of His name. Enriched by Him in speech and knowledge, enabled by Him and empowered by Him. Ephesians chapter 3 verse 20, Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think according to the power that worketh in us, unto Him be glory to the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen. The power that worketh in us. You say, I'm weak. You are. You say, I just don't feel like I can do much.

You can't. But you can by His empowerment, by His enabling grace, by Him working in you and you abiding in Him. God uses weak things.

So don't feel hopeless. God uses that which is weak to the glory of His name. O weak and worthless though I am, I have a rich almighty friend. When we recognize our own weakness and see how greatly we must depend upon the Lord and the blessing of His Holy Spirit and all that we seek to do in His name, we can be reassured to know that God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound those that are mighty. Let us trust in Him and move forward with confidence as we rest upon the power of the Holy Spirit to serve Him effectively. Till next week at this same time, may the Lord richly bless you all. From hell with blood, and by His power my close control, He found me wondering far from God, and brought me to His chosen home. Each is my heart, I want supplies, and says that I shall shortly be. In from within, above the skies, O God of bread, is Christ to me.