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“What God Says About the Kind of People He Uses”
I Corinthians 1:26-31
(Apollo 13) On the way to the USA’s 3rd moonwalk, an oxygen tank
explodes, making a moon landing impossible and the return flight home one
of the most grueling experiences imaginable. Cutting off all the systems to
save power and almost freezing to death in an unheated space module,
struggling to improvise a carbon dioxide filter to keep from asphyxiating.
When it came right down to it duct tape saved the lives of the astronauts.
Surrounded by million-dollar equipment that was virtually useless 
something common and ordinary made the difference between life and
death. Illustrates how God works: Moses had a rod – a stick became a
mighty weapon of God. David had a sling – not armor, sword or spear.
God takes ordinary foolish things of the world to confound the wise.
Jesus was born in a stable… lowly birth; parents “nobodies.” You don’t
have to be somebody to be used by God. I Corinthians 1:26-31 shows
the kind of people God uses and why. Begins with a…
I. Reminder of Who We Are 26Brothers, think of what you were when
you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not
many were influential; not many were of noble birth. Paul reminds us of
the kind of people that God has called to Himself. Think back to your life
before your conversion. Doesn’t say “not any” but “not many”  we
can all identify…
A. Not Many Intellectual  not many well educated or geniuses –
disciples: Acts 4:13 When they saw the courage of Peter and John
and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were
astonished and they took note that these men had been with
Jesus. No seminary degrees, formal training programs.
B. Not Many Powerful  influential, politically powerful. They
had little or no clout in society. Christianity has always been a
“grassroots” movement; “bottom up” not “top down.”
C. Not Many Prominent  of noble birth; upper class – many
slaves and working class. There were few culturally and socially
prominent members in the church. What society thought was
unimportant God saw as valuable. Not condition of life  calling of
God, drawing people to Himself, not depending on wisdom, power or
heritage. God called them not because of what they were but in
spite of what they were  ordinary people – sinners. No one is too
sinful for God to reach out and save them. In your lost condition,
God called you! Why does God use ordinary people?
II. Reminder of Why We Were Called 27But God chose the foolish
things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of
the world to shame the strong. 28He chose the lowly things of this
world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify
the things that are, 29so that no one may boast before him. God has
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chosen from the world those who seem foolish and those who seem
weak and helpless so that He might put to shame the wise and powerful by
showing how temporary and insignificant as to salvation their
achievements are. It’s not about intelligence, power or position. He
calls everyone…
A. To Receive God’s Grace 27But God chose the foolish things
of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the
world to shame the strong. The word shame  confound. The wise
of this world can’t understand how God changes sinners into saints,
and the mighty of this world are helpless to duplicate the miracle.
God shows that those who seem to be important can accomplish
nothing for their own salvation. He gives us grace…
B. To Show God’s Power 28He chose the lowly things (opposite
of noble – slave class) of this world and the despised things
“counted for nothing”  branded with contempt; —and the things that
are not (nonexistent people) —to nullify the things that are, “chose”
deliberate and free action of God’s gracious will. God chose the
foolish, the weak, the lowborn and the despised to show the proud
world their need and His grace. The lost world admires birth, social
status, financial success, power and recognition. But none of these
things can guarantee a successful, fulfilling life. God is able to take
ordinary people and do extraordinary things in the world though
them (rebellious teenagers, broken homes, alcoholics, addicts 
restored). He does this…
C. To Show God’s Way 29so that no one may boast before him.
No one can take credit for what God has done in their life  He
gives salvation. Christians come from all the edges of society:
intellectually, socially, politically and culturally to show God’s way. His
power is shown in weakness. God is not impressed with our looks,
social position, achievements, natural heritage or financial status. The
most powerful force in first century Corinth was not the political
power of Rome not the cultural heritage of Greece, but the gospel
of Jesus Christ, which had gathered the church. It’s the same today.
III. Reminder of God’s Work in Our Lives 30It is because of him that
you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—
that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. 31Therefore, as it
is written: “Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.” Every believer is “in
Christ”  we all share this vital union and its accompanying power;
who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, God’s wisdom
illustrated in each of our lives:
A. Justification: Guilt is Gone  our righteousness, our
standing before God  justified, declared righteous in Christ. Jesus
took our sin upon Himself. Liberated  free from guilt and shame of
the past. He had made us right with God  personal relationship.
B. Sanctification: Being Made Holy  our… holiness
“sanctification” set apart to belong to God and serve Him. He has
made it possible for our growth in grace in the Christian life. We are
being shaped into the image of Jesus Christ in our lives now.
C. Redemption: Future Confidence  and redemption set free
from sin, the devil, hell and the grave because of the price Christ paid
for us on the cross. We don’t know what the future holds but we
know who holds the future! Eternally secure and can live with
confidence.
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God’s wisdom shown in your life! Three tenses of our salvation: we
have been saved from the penalty of sin; we are being saved from the
power of sin; and we shall be saved from the presence of sin. Every
believer has all these blessings in Jesus Christ. We draw meaning for
our lives from our common relationship with Christ. Ordinary people
doing extraordinary things because of our Almighty God!
Therefore, as it is written: Jeremiah 9:23&24 “Let him who boasts
boast in the Lord.” Because of God’s gracious provision of salvation in
this way, all praise must go to the Lord.
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God can use anyone… even you! He designed you to accomplish His
purposes in your life and in the lives of others.
The world says: “Run faster, jump higher, try to make something out
of yourself… be a somebody.” God says: “I’ve made you who you
are, let me live my life in you to change the world.”
You don’t have to be somebody to be used by God. You just have to be
available to Him; and believe Him (duct tape). God doesn’t want us to
depend on ourselves. God uses broken vessels.