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  USEFUL TO GOD
  by David Brainerd
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Summary: David Brainerd's sermon emphasizes the importance of humility
and reliance on God's grace in ministry despite feelings of
unworthiness.

Topics: "Divine Empowerment", "Personal Humility"
Scripture References: Job 42:6, Ezekiel 36:26, 2 Corinthians 12:9, Philippians 4:13, 1 Peter 5:6

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DESCRIPTION
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David Brainerd reflects on his unworthiness and struggles with feeling
vile and inadequate to preach the gospel, expressing a deep sense of
repentance and self-abhorrence. Despite his inner turmoil, he
acknowledges his need for God's special help to be faithful in his
ministry and experiences God's goodness and enabling power during a
challenging preaching session. Brainerd's journey highlights the
constant battle between personal unworthiness and divine empowerment in
serving God.

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CONTENT
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"Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes" (Job 42:6).

Tuesday, October 26. (At West Suffield) Underwent the most dreadful
distresses, under a sense of my own unworthiness. It seemed to me I
deserved rather to be driven out of the place than to have anybody treat
me with any kindness, or come to hear me preach. Verily my spirits were
so depressed at this time (as at many others) that it was impossible I
should treat immortal souls with faithfulness. I could not deal closely
and faithfully with them, I felt so infinitely vile in myself. Oh, what
dust and ashes I am, to think of preaching the gospel to others! Indeed
I never can be faithful for one moment, but shall certainly "daub with
untempered mortar" if God do not grant me special help.

In the evening I went to the meetinghouse, and it looked to me near as
easy for one to rise out of the grave and preach, as for me. However,
God afforded me some life and power, both in prayer and sermon, and was
pleased to lift me up and show me that He could enable me to preach! Oh,
the wonderful goodness of God to so vile a sinner! Returned to my
quarters and enjoyed some sweetness in prayer alone, and mourned that I
could not live more to God.

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Source: https://sermonindex.net/speakers/david-brainerd/useful-to-god/
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