Use Me for Your Pleasure Lord — E.A. Johnston

The Impossibility of Partial Christianity

Jesus said, I will go along the Calvary Road carrying my cross, but I won't be nailed to it, it's bad enough. I was whipped and spit upon and mocked, I don't have to get up on the cross, I've suffered enough.

And when the Roman soldier pounded the first nail into his trembling hand, he said, enough, I need my other hand free so I can at least wipe the burning sweat and blood out of my stinging eyes. After all, I have a right to do that at least.

Did he say that? Yet that is the very brand of Christianity that many of us live, partial Christianity. We will give Christ only so much of our lives and retain the rest. We want to hold on to the things that give us pleasure.

After all, we have a right to do that, don't we? But Jesus did not give himself partially to the cross. Listen friends, for when they crucified the Lord of Glory, they did so because he willingly submitted to his cruel tormentors, because he'd already surrendered his will to the Father in Gethsemane.

When he cried out in anguish and hot tears, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee. Take away this cup from me. Nevertheless, not what I will, but what thou wilt. And that's the theme I'd like to touch on today, friends, that true Christianity is not a partial surrender of our lives, but rather a whole and utter surrender to a sovereign.

Eternal Regret and Total Surrender to Christ

I want to make a statement, friends, that you can take with you into eternity. Are you ready? We will regret what we hung on to here when we stand before him there. Listen, friends, comfortable Christianity is not found in my Bible.

Rather, it's a throwing everything away for Christ and the gospel. It's a gambling of your life away so others can be saved. Christ gave his all on Calvary's bloody cross. How can we hold back anything from him?

Lord Jesus, you held nothing back at the cross. How can I hold anything back from thee? You shed your precious blood and died so I could live. How can I hold anything back from thee? You suffered both the shame and the pain of Calvary.

How can I hold anything back from thee? You died for my wretched sins and gave me life. How can I hold anything back from thee? You loved me with everlasting love. How can I hold anything back from thee?

On Calvary's cross, you gave your all, holding nothing back for me. The title of my message today, friends, is Lord Use Me for Your Pleasure. And my text can be found in the book of Isaiah in chapter 53.

You can turn in your Bibles there now, friends. You know, it used to be at Christmastime in this country that society never had a problem with baby Jesus because a baby in a manger is just a harmless and helpless thing.

Society used to celebrate Christmas because it wasn't threatened by baby Jesus. But today, in our perverted and God-hating society, they won't even tolerate the baby Jesus anymore. America killed off Christmas.

I think during this time of year, friends, we believers should examine why Christ came into the world and we should examine our own lives in light of eternity. I want us to read our text as found in Isaiah 53, for it is a vivid picture of the Christ who bore our sins.

Christ's Sacrifice and Redemption from Sin

Every one of us deserves hell. Now, some of you don't think so. But you do deserve hell, brother, even if you are the chairman of the deacons. But because of Christ's sacrifice on Calvary, we shall not fall under the curse of the law if we submit to the grace of the gospel.

Our sins were laid upon Christ when He was made sin, a sin offering for us. And He redeemed us from the curse of the law by being made a curse for us. I really believe, friends, that most of us don't have a proper sense of what Christ did on Calvary's bloody cross.

For if we truly did comprehend it as we should, then we wouldn't live as we do. Our lives would be completely different. Our goals in life would be completely different. Our attitude towards sin would be completely different.

And our view of God would be completely different. I want to take the time now, friends, to revisit that bloody cross and the Savior who died there as a means of humbling ourselves before our time of prayer today.

Our man-centered gospel of our day gives us a false view of what true Christianity really is. And that's why so many Christians today are struggling with areas in their lives that they should have put on the cross a long time ago.

We need a deeper sense of Christ on the cross. We need a higher view of the Almighty on the throne. And we need a more honest view of our own wicked hearts. Come with me now, friends, as we go to Isaiah 53.

Isaiah 53 and the Suffering Servant

And may we humble our hearts together as I read us a striking passage of God's holy word. Who hath believed our report? And to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed? For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant and as a root out of a dry ground.

He hath no form nor comeliness. And when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. He is despised and rejected of men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from him.

He was despised and we esteemed him not. Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows. Yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions.

He was bruised for our iniquities. The chastisement of our peace was upon him. And with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray. We have turned every one to his own way. And the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

He was oppressed and he was afflicted. Yet he opened not his mouth. He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb. So he openeth not his mouth. He was taken from prison and from judgment.

And who shall declare his generation? For he was cut off out of the land of the living. For the transgression of my people was he stricken. And he made his grave with the wicked and with the rich in his death.

Because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth. Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him. He hath put him to grief. When thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed.

He shall prolong his days. And the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand. He shall see of the travail of his soul and shall be satisfied. By his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many.

For he shall bear their iniquities. Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great. And he shall divide the spoiled with the strong. Because he hath poured out his soul unto death and he was numbered with the transgressors.

Living for Christ Instead of Self

And he bared the sin of many and made intercession for the transgressors. I have a photograph of Leonard Ravenhill's gravestone. And on it are engraved the following words. Are the things you were living for worth Christ dying for.

And then there's a scripture reference to 2 Corinthians 5 .15 which states,. And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them and rose again.

I have been reexamining my own life recently, friends, and I have made a fresh surrender to Christ for the rest of my days here on earth. I wrote a little poem which reflects my heart's desire. Let me finish this message by sharing with you that little poem that I wrote from a burning heart.

A Prayer to Be Used for God's Pleasure

It's entitled, Use Me For Your Pleasure, Lord. And it is my prayer, friends, that if there is someone here within the sound of my voice who has been living a lie or has been giving Christ only part of your life, if you've been holding on to something that you know God hates and you desire a deeper intimacy with Christ Jesus and a more useful life for him, then I hope these words will help you some, friend.

Here now is that little poem. Use me for your pleasure, Lord. My life I will not keep. My rights and claims I give to thee. For your life you gave for me. Souls are dropping into hell each hour of the day.

Let the allotted time left to me be spent for Christ today. Though hell is hot and burns with fire, to shed your blood was your desire. To save the sinner from God's wrath, you gave your life on my behalf.

My life is yours and not my own. Let it be poured out before thy holy throne. And on that day of judgment time, let my life be jewels that shine for Jesus Christ, my Lord and King throughout eternity, will I sing.