Archive for November, 2005

He Had to Come!

Sunday, November 27th, 2005
This entry is part 1 of 4 in the series Christmas: Divine Design Causing Change

Read at beginning of service:


Psalm 8:1-9 (NIV)

1 O LORD , our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens. 2 From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise because of your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger. 3 When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, 4 what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? 5 You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. 6 You made him ruler over the works of your hands; you put everything under his feet: 7 all flocks and herds, and the beasts of the field, 8 the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea, all that swim the paths of the seas. 9 O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!

INTRODUCTION

Well, once again the hanging of lights, the change of store displays, and the yearly parades are an indication that once again Christmas season is upon us.

During this time of the year, doesn’t it seem like more people are interested in bargains than in the baby born in Bethlehem? How often do you see references to the birth of Christ when you are out shopping? But then again any such references just wouldn?t be politically correct would they? In an article on Belief.Net called “Out of this World”, Cal Thomas questions whether we should even keep Christmas anymore because the original cast of Jesus, Mary and Joseph has been “replaced by the road show of reindeer, winter scenes and elves…no room in the inn has been replaced by no room in the parking lot” (“Out of this World”, a column by Cal Thomas on Belief.net).

Concurrent with the secularizing of Christmas, there is a dangerous dismantling of biblical doctrine taking place in our culture today. Perhaps you’ve heard of the book called, The Da Vinci Code. I read it two years ago. The last time I checked, this fictional thriller has been on the New York Times Best-Seller List since April 2003. It was the topic of a prime time special on ABC and plans are underway to turn it into a movie that will be released in May 2006. I don’t have time to go into a complete critique of the book but suffice it to say that it is filled with historical inaccuracies, conspiracy theories, and blasphemous pronouncements. While the book is a work of fiction, the author very cleverly creates a character that serves as an “expert” on historical matters. The narrative is driven by the ancient quest for the Holy Grail, which in Brown’s universe is a search for Mary Magdalene’s tomb, which supposedly contains the true “gospel.”

I can’t even verbalize the scandalous premise of the book because it literally makes me sick to my stomach. It also grieves me greatly to know that millions of people are blindly accepting the author’s assertions. At its core is a rejection of the Incarnation. In what is really an old heresy that is just being recycled for modern times, Brown’s motive is to undermine the deity of Jesus Christ.

While we should lament the secularization of the season, and be alarmed by outright attacks on the core doctrines of Christianity, we must also admit that there is a rising tide of biblical illiteracy within the church. Gene Edward Veith, writing in a recent issue of World Magazine (12/6/03), quotes a Barna poll that contains some disturbing news:

26% of evangelicals believe that all religions are basically equal.

35% of evangelicals do not believe that Jesus rose from the dead.

50% of evangelicals believe that good works will get you to heaven.

While noting that these statistics it wouldn?t surprise me to learn that the Canadian picture would be much worse. One has only to look at the recent trend of “hot” issues in our society to understand this.

In another study from December 2003, I was stunned to read that according to research by the Barna Group, only 9% of born again Christians have a biblical worldview (www.barna.org, “A Biblical Worldview has a Radical Effect on a Person?s Life”).

As I process all of this, I hold to my faith and belief in the premise that the Christmas (the popular term for the biblical account of the incarnation of Christ) is really a crucial component of the Divine Design Causing Change. I’m struck with the realization that Christmas Changes Everything. We often tend to sentimentalize this season of the year when we ought to see the birth of Christ as the single most astonishing event in world history. All the elements of a Christian and biblical worldview are in the Christmas story. Because the coming of Christ altered history–literally, from BC to AD–we aren’t straining things to say, “Everything is different now that Christ has come to the world.” In the next few weeks, my goal is to help us lay a foundation for seeing Christmas as the basis for all that we believe. While I understand Cal Thomas’ frustration, I’m not so sure that we should change Christmas; rather, we should let the Christ of Christmas change us.

Quoting Isaiah 7:14, Matthew records a compelling fulfillment of prophesy in Matthew 1:23:

Matthew 1:23 (NIV)

23 “The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel”–which means, “God with us.”

In the midst of examining the amazing implications of Immanuel dwelling with us we must also admit that there is a mystery surrounding the manger. I think Paul had this in mind when he asked believers to pray for him in Colossians 4:3 so that he could “proclaim the mystery of Christ?”

Ravi Zacharias challenges us to “ponder the wonder” of what God has done for us: “wonder interprets life through the eyes of eternity while enjoying the moment, but never lets the momentary vision exhaust the eternal” (“Recapture the Wonder,” Page 20).

The book of Hebrews helps us ponder the mystery of Christ. In chapter 1, the emphasis is on the deity of Christ. Let me just read verse 3:


Hebrews 1:3 (NIV)

3 The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word?

In chapter 2, the focus is on His humanity. Jesus is fully God and fully man.

Please turn in your Bibles to Hebrews 2:5-9:


Hebrews 2:5-9 (NIV)

5 It is not to angels that he has subjected the world to come, about which we are speaking. 6 But there is a place where someone has testified: “What is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? 7 You made him a little lower than the angels; you crowned him with glory and honor 8 and put everything under his feet.” In putting everything under him, God left nothing that is not subject to him. Yet at present we do not see everything subject to him. 9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.

This passage describes both our dilemma, and our destiny.

Our Position (6)

The argument in verse 5 is that Jesus Christ is far superior to angels. In verse 6, the author is quoting from Psalm 8: “What is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him?”

The idea here is that in comparison to the Majesty of God, human beings are a mess. Why in the world would God care about us? The word for “man” here is the word that means “weak and frail.” Our lives are like a vapor, here one moment and gone the next. And yet, God is mindful of us, meaning that He remembers us. This is a covenant term, indicating that He is committed to us and because He is faithful, He will never forget us. We matter so much to Him that He can’t stop thinking about us and He can’t stop helping us. Job asked a related question in Job 7:17:


Job 7:17 (NIV)

17 “What is man that you make so much of him, that you give him so much attention,

The word, “care” in the last part of Hebrews 2:6 has a rich meaning. It literally means, “to go and visit.” Because God treasures His creation, He looks for ways to come and get close to us and to visit us with His blessings. That’s exactly what happened at the first Christmas. Because we are weak and wounded, we are in need of a visit from God. Zechariah uses this word in his prayer of praise in Luke 1:68:


Luke 1:68 (NIV)

68 “Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has come and has redeemed his people.

Referring to Jesus in Luke 7:16, the people were filled with awe and declared,

Luke 7:16 (NIV)

… “God has come to help his people.”

Not only are we frail, the phrase “son of man” indicates that we are fallen. This means that as descendants of Adam our very DNA is tainted by transgressions. Our position before God is one of insignificance because of our iniquities, and yet God’s purpose has always been to make us extremely important because we are made in His image.

God’s Purpose (7-8a)

Verses 7-8 tell us that we were created to rule over the earth. In rank, we are made just a little lower than the angels and God has crowned us with brightness and splendor. Our intended destiny is to have dominion over the earth. This goes all the way back to Genesis 1:28:


Genesis 1:28 (NIV)

Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”

We were made for greatness, chosen to serve as kings over creation. According to Psalm 8 and this passage in Hebrews, God has put “everything under our feet….

Our Problem (8b)

Friends, while we might have been made to rule, because of our rebellious hearts, our glory has faded. When we disobeyed, we died on the inside, and then we started dying on the outside. Instead of being conquerors, we are more like carcasses. G.K. Chesterton said it well,

“Whatever else is true, this one thing is certain–man is not what he was meant to be.”

(G.K. Chesterton)

Look at the last part of verse 8: “Yet at present we do not see everything subject to him.” The word “yet” communicates that this is not how things are right now but God has not changed His plan. The King James Version renders it this way: “But now we see not yet all things put under him.”

This leaves us feeling a bit unsettled because we know that while we can ride a horse and catch some fish, all of God’s creation is definitely not under our feet. Earthquakes, volcanoes, floods, fires, cancer, and death are a stark reminder that our world is out of whack. Mike Hays writes:

“Something has gone wrong. We know in our hearts that things are not right. There is an emptiness that we cannot fill. There is a sadness that cannot be escaped….an anxiety that cannot be stilled. We are drinking from the cup of chaos and confusion that our forefathers have handed down to us and the water is bitter” (“Paradise Regained,” www.sermoncentral.com).

We can heal and we can harm. We both educate and exterminate. We can overflow with humanitarian help and then explode in inhumanity to others. John MacArthur gives a good perspective on this:

“The earth was originally subject to man, and it supplied all his needs….then, tempted by Satan, man sinned, and his tempter usurped the crown. There you see the change in the chain of command. Man fell to the bottom, and the earth, under the evil one, now rules man….with all our modern technology, we must constantly fight against the earth for our survival”

(MacArthur, “Commentary on Hebrews,” Page 56).

And there’s one big thing we don’t have dominion over. Do you know what it is? It’s ourselves. Humans have never learned to subdue sin. It was unleashed into the human bloodstream by Adam and Eve and it continues to infect lives today. That’s the root of the human dilemma. We’re image-bearers of God and yet we’re marred by the magnitude of sin. In short, we’re a mess. Instead of living out our glory and splendor, we find ourselves in the gutter and in shame.

God’s Provision (9)

Is there any hope? Do we have anywhere to turn? Thankfully, Hebrews 2:9 gives us God’s provision:


Hebrews 2:9 (NIV)

9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.

That’s our challenge this Christmas season, and our only hope — we must see Jesus! We must gaze upon His glory, recognizing that the Son in the straw came in order to be crucified on the cross, and now He is crowned and reigning over the entire universe. Interestingly, this is the first time the author of Hebrews uses the name “Jesus” in the book. This would have immediately caused those from a Jewish background to think of the word “Messiah,” for that is what the name means. This title emphasizes His humanity. He is crowned with glory and honor and as such is the first one to be restored to the magnificent destiny of Psalm 8.

In the Book of Revelation there is a scene where John is mesmerized by the Majesty seated upon the throne of the universe while unbridled adoration and protracted praise is offered to the One who alone is worthy. In Revelation 5:2, a mighty angel then proclaims in a loud voice: “Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?” I like how Ray Stedman describes the scene

“A search is made through the length and breadth of human history for someone wise enough, strong enough, and compassionate enough to open the seals but no one can be found”

(Ray Stedman, www.pbc.org).

When John realizes that there is no one qualified to open the book with seven seals, which is the title dead to earth, verse 4 describes how he felt: “I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside.” In verse 5, he is told to stop weeping. In a phrase that brings us back to Hebrews 2:9, we read, “…See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.” In verse 6, John does what he’s told and gazes at the glorious one: “Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing in the center of the throne…he came and took the scroll from the right hand of Him who sat on the throne.”

Friends, its time for us to see Jesus! He alone has broken the barrier of sin and death. Stedman suggests that death does not simply take place when our heart stops beating. It includes uselessness, waste, and futility. Death has decimated the human race, and it all goes back to Adam and Eve’s deliberate disobedience of God’s command in Genesis 2:17: “But you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die.” In a real sense, death pervades all of life and our funeral is but the final straw.

Jesus took on the form of a man in order to taste death for us. The word “taste” has the idea of chewing on something so much that its flavor permeates the entire mouth. Jesus didn’t just smell death; He tore into wholeheartedly so that we might be set free. He faced death head on, and in so doing He took our place. He did all this, according to verses 14-15 in order to “….destroy him who holds the power of death, that is, the devil; and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.” We no longer have to fear death because He has conquered it.

Implications of the Incarnation

Let me mention three truths from Hebrews 2:9 that we must hold on to in the midst of our shopping and running around.

1. Jesus is Savior.

He was made a “little lower than the angels.” The Majesty was born into our mess, in a smelly stable, in an obscure village, unwanted by the world. He became like us in order to save us. This is further explained in Hebrews 2:17:

Hebrews 2:17 (NIV)

17 For this reason he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people.

2. Jesus is Substitute.

By dying in our place, He “suffered death.” In order to be fully human, he had to taste death. 1 Peter 2:24:


1 Peter 2:24 (NIV)

24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.

Only by dying could He give us life. Jesus experienced death in order to defeat it.

3. Jesus is Sovereign.

Jesus is “now crowned with glory and honor.” 1 Corinthians 15:45 refers to Jesus as the “last Adam.” He came to reverse the curse and is now ruling the universe. And one day those who believe in Him will share that glory with Him.

What we’ve been talking about so far gets right the heart of what happened at Christmas.

I want you to notice the first two phrases of Isaiah 9:6: “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given…” The Incarnation is found in this ancient text, written hundreds of years before the birth of Christ.

“For to us a child is born” This refers to the humanity of Jesus.

“To us a son is given” This refers to the deity of Jesus.

A child was born in Bethlehem and a son was given from heaven. Do you see the distinction? God the Father gave His eternal son, who was born as a child. What a mystery! He was begotten not made. Here’s another way to say it. The Majesty came down into our mess in order to make us into a mosaic of His grace. God entered our world in flesh and blood so that He might save us from sin and deliver us from death. The God up there came to join us down here.

Our ultimate problem is that there are at least two gaps between God and us. First, God is so far above us that if He is to be known, He must take the initiative to reveal Himself to us. This is the gap of separation. The second one is the gulf that our guilt has created. We are unable to counter our sins and satisfy God’s justice on our own. Friends, listen. God came near when He sent His son to visit our world and He provided forgiveness for sins when His Son died as our substitute.

He was just like us . . . and yet, He was nothing like us.

He walked among us . . . and yet, He came from God above.

He grew up in Nazareth . . . and yet, the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.

He is our friend . . . and yet, He is our Savior and Lord.

Little children love him . . . and yet, He baffles the greatest minds.

He was called “son of Mary” . . . and yet, He is given by God.

A mother went Christmas shopping with her two children. She spent many hours looking at row after rows of toys and everything else imaginable. After countless cries from her children asking for everything they saw on the many shelves, she was exasperated as she finally made it to the elevator.

When the elevator door opened, there was already a crowd inside. She pushed her way in and dragged her two kids and gifts with her. When the door closed, she just couldn’t take it anymore and shouted, “Whoever started this whole Christmas thing should be strung up and shot.” From the back of the elevator came a soft voice, “Don’t worry; we already did that when we crucified Him!” For the rest of the trip down the elevator was so quiet you could have heard a pin drop.

CONCLUSION

There are at least 4 responses that we can have this morning.

  1. We can complain about how our culture has secularized Christmas.
  2. We can lament the loss of doctrinal truth.
  3. We can let Christmas change us by recapturing the wonder of the Majesty coming into our mess.
  4. We can receive the gift of Jesus.

We don’t have to shop for the perfect gift because its already been given. God wrapped His gift in swaddling clothes and said to the whole world, ‘This is my Christmas present to you. Will you receive Him?”

In a book called, “Life Is Commitment,” J.H. Oldham writes,

“There are some things in life, and they may be the most important things, that we cannot know by research or reflection, but only by committing ourselves. We must dare in order to know. Life is full of situations to which I can respond not with part of myself but only with commitment of my whole being.” (Life is Commitment, J.H. Oldham)

As C.S. Lewis has said with penetrating insight,

“The Son of God became a man to enable men to become sons of God.” (C.S. Lewis)

I don’t want you to miss this. It’s possible to skate right through this season and overlook Immanuel. It’s not enough to just hear the message. It’s not enough to just know a little about the real meaning of Christmas. You must receive Jesus by faith in order to be saved from your sins and to be set free from the fear of death. Listen to these penetrating words from Hebrews 4:2:


Hebrews 4:2 (NIV)

2 For we also have had the gospel preached to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because those who heard did not combine it with faith.

You must dare in order to know. The only way the message of Christmas will have value to you is if you combine it with faith. Are you ready to receive Him right now? I dare you to do so.

Tags: ,
Posted in Christmas, Sermons, Sunday Morning Service | 1 Comment »

Using the Blessing to be Blessed

Sunday, November 20th, 2005
This entry is part 4 of 4 in the series Improving Your Serve

Read at beginning of service:

1 Peter 4:7-11 (NIV)

7 The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray. 8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 9 Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10 Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms. 11 If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.

INTRODUCTION

A man from out east had always dreamed of owning a cattle ranch and had finally saved enough money to buy his dream spread in Wyoming. His best friend flew out to visit and asked, “So, what?s the name of your ranch?” His buddy told him that he had a really hard time coming up with a name that he liked. He and his wife couldn?t agree on what to call it so they settled on, “The Double R Lazy L Triple Horseshoe Bar-7 Lucky Diamond Ranch.”

His friend was really impressed and then asked, “So where are all the cows?” To which the new rancher replied, “We had quite a few?but none of them survived the branding!”

(from Brian Bill?s message, “Using What God Has Given”)

As we?ve been focusing on some ways that we can improve our serve, I want to suggest this morning that it?s possible to get so caught up in what we call our spiritual gifts that we might not survive servant-hood. The key is not so much to identify what we have but to use what we?ve been given.

1 Peter 4:10 (NIV)

10 Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.

Please turn in your Bible to Matthew 25:14-30. We started this series with the words of Jesus about servant-hood and now we?re going to conclude with His teaching about our responsibility to use what He has given us.

Let?s set the context. This parable comes in the section of Matthew?s gospel where Jesus is giving an answer to the disciples? question about His Second Coming in Matthew 24:3:


Matthew 24:3 (NIV)

3 As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. “Tell us,” they said, “when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?”

Jesus warns them to be on guard so that no one will deceive them and helps them understand that once He leaves, He will come again. He challenges them in Matthew 24:44 to be ready because the Son of Man will come at an hour when He is least expected.

Matthew 24:44 (NIV)

44 So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.

In chapter 25, Jesus compares His coming to the eastern custom of a bridegroom arriving in the middle of the night. He concludes by saying in 25:13:


Matthew 25:13 (NIV)

13 “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.

Chapter 25 ends with the separation of the sheep and the goats. Sandwiched in-between is the parable of the talents.

Notice verse 14:


Matthew 25:14 (NIV)

14 “Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, ?

The word “again” indicates that Jesus is using yet one more parable to explain future events. The man going on a “journey” is Jesus.

As we walk through this powerful passage this morning, we?ll see Seven Stewardship Lessons.

SEVEN STEWARDSHIP LESSONS

1. What we have is not ours.

Verse 14 continues by saying that this man who was getting ready for a journey, “?called his servants and entrusted His property to them.” It was common for wealthy men to take long journeys. Before they would leave, they would arrange to have someone pick up their mail and feed their pets. But even more than that, they would often delegate the control and multiplication of their wealth to trustworthy employees. They were expected to bring a return on what had been handed over to them. Given the uncertainties of transportation in those days, the time of return for even a well-planned trip was often open-ended.

There was no doubt in the minds of these servants that the property and money still belonged to the master. They were the possessors, but not the owners. Their job was to manage what they were given. Likewise, we must remember that everything we have has been given to us and is not really ours anyway.

Psalm 24:1 (NIV)

1 The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it;

Haggai 2:8 (NIV)

8 ‘The silver is mine and the gold is mine,’ declares the LORD Almighty.

He has the rights, and I have the responsibility. He is the Master and I am the manager. I am the servant; He is the sovereign.

Have you allowed this basic principle to permeate your personhood? You don?t really own anything. Everything belongs to the Lord. Until we recognize this truth, we will not be good managers of what has been entrusted to us. Our days are in His hands. Our gifts and abilities are on loan from Him. Our money is an “advance” from the Almighty. Our houses, cars, clothes, and every possession we have doesn?t belong to us. We really don?t own anything.

2. We?re given what we can handle.

In verse 15 we see that the master gave some talents to three of his servants:


Matthew 25:15 (NIV)

15 To one he gave five talents of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey.

We need to pause here in order to recognize that this word “talent” is different from our present-day understanding. A talent was a measure of weight as used in Revelation 16:21:


Revelation 16:21 (NIV)

21 From the sky huge hailstones of about a hundred pounds each fell upon men?.

A talent was also used to indicate a very large sum of money. Its value varied depending on whether it was copper, silver, or gold. While commentators differ on the exact amount, most agree that it would take an ordinary laborer almost twenty years to earn just one talent. To put this into our economy, using a minimal hourly wage, a talent would be the equivalent of about $330,000.

While we?re focusing this series on the discovering, developing, and deploying of spiritual gifts, this parable has first reference to how we invest our money. It has a secondary application to how we use our God-given talents and supernatural abilities.

That reminds me of two men who crashed their private plane on a South Pacific Island.

One of the men brushed himself off and proceeded to run all over the island to see if they had any chance of survival. When he returned, he rushed up to the other man and screamed, “This Island is uninhabited and there is no food or water. We?re going to die!”

The other man leaned back against the fuselage of the wrecked plane, folded his arms and responded, “No we?re not. I make over $100,000 a week.” The first man grabbed his friend and shook him. “Listen, we?re on a deserted island. We?re doomed!”

The other man, unruffled, again responded. “It?s OK, I make over $100,000 a week.” Mystified, the first man, taken aback with such an answer again repeated, “For the last time, I?m telling you that we are lost. It doesn?t matter how much money you make because there?s no one around to help us.” Still unfazed, the first man looked the other guy in the eye and said, “Don?t make me say this again. I make over $100,000 per week and I tithe 10%! My pastor will find us!”

(From the message, “Using What God has Given” by Brian Bill)

Let me put you at ease this morning. I?m not going to preach about tithing except to say that if you make that many shekels a week, I?d track you down somehow too!

Let?s go back to the story. The Master gave the first servant five talents, which was about $1.6 million. The second guy received two talents, or approximately $660,000. And the third steward got one talent, or $330,000. Even though there?s a big difference between five talents and one talent, the guy who received one talent still had a lot of money. That reminds us that God gives out of His abundance to us!

I want you to notice that each servant received talents “according to his ability.” Your responsibility is tied to your ability. This is very interesting. God?s kingdom purposes do not operate according to what is “fair” but according to what is best. In 1 Corinthians 3:5, after challenging believers to be united by not breaking into subgroups who follow different leaders, Paul writes,


1 Corinthians 3:5 (NIV)

5 What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe–as the Lord has assigned to each his task.

Did you catch that? Each of us has been assigned a task. It?s our job to be faithful to what He has given us to do.

You have what you have because God gave it to you. And He expects you to manage His gifts within the boundaries of ability that He has wired into you. As we learned last week from 1 Corinthians 12, there are different kinds of gifts, service, and workings, and the Holy Spirit distributes these responsibilities “to each one, just as He determines.” God entrusts different stuff to different people according to His sovereign purposes. In other words, He knows what we can handle. Our job is to be faithful with whatever amount we have to work with. Do we trust that God knows more about us than we even know about ourselves?

3. We must invest what we?ve been given.

Verse 16 tells us that the man who received five talents went


Matthew 25:16 (NIV)

? at once and put his money to work and gained five more.

He didn?t waste any time but immediately went to work on his investment strategy and doubled his master?s portfolio. The guy who got two talents did the same thing; only the text doesn?t say he went to work “at once” like the first guy did. We do know that he worked hard however, because he also doubled his master?s money, ending up with four talents.

Verse 18 describes the different approach of the third servant:


Matthew 25:18 (NIV)

18 But the man who had received the one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.

Even though we don?t read about any specific instructions for what to do with the money, the first two guys went to work and multiplied their investment. The one-talent guy was a slacker who went off and buried his blessing. The practice of hiding valuables in the ground was quite common back then. It was one of the safest?and least profitable?ways of protecting possessions.

Because Antonio?s voice was high and squeaky, he did not make the tryouts for the Cremona Boy?s Choir. When he took violin lessons, the neighbors persuaded his parents to make him stop. Yet Antonio still wanted to make music.

His friends gave him a hard time because his only talent was whittling. When Antonio was older he served as an apprentice to a violinmaker. His knack for whittling grew into a skill of carving and his hobby became his craft. He worked patiently and faithfully. By the time he died, he left over 1,500 violins, each one bearing a label that read, “Antonio Stradivarius.” They are the most sought-after violins in the world and sell for more than $100,000 each. Antonio couldn?t sing or play or preach or teach but his responsibility was to use his ability, and his violins are still making beautiful music today. (from “Using What God Has Given” by Brian Bill)

Our potential is God?s gift to us. What we do with it is our gift to Him. Zig Ziglar has said,

You are the only person on earth who can use your ability. ? Zig Ziglar

Are you investing what you?ve been given, regardless of how much it is? Or, have you buried your blessing and kept it hidden from others?

4. A day of accountability is coming.

None of us want to be audited by the CCRA, but we will all be audited by the Almighty! We?ll have to give an account for how we?ve used what we?ve been given. Look at verse 19:


Matthew 25:19 (NIV)

19 “After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them.

Jesus is coming again and there will be a day of reckoning. While most of us believe this in our heads, we don?t always live with eternity in our hearts. If we would think more about His return, we?d be more focused on making an eternal return on our investments. Romans 14:12:


Romans 14:12 (NIV)

12 So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God.

It was the duty of servants to always bear in mind that the master would be returning and would settle his accounts with them.

Friends, Jesus is coming again! Let?s be faithful in doing whatever He gives us to do. He?s invested something in you, and one day He?s coming back to claim it. Your job may be big or small, but whatever it is, do it to the best of your ability and you?ll be ready for your audit. Wouldn?t it be terrible to be ashamed and unprepared when Jesus comes back? 1 John 2:28:


1 John 2:28 (NIV)

28 And now, dear children, continue in him, so that when he appears we may be confident and unashamed before him at his coming.

Serve in light of a future reckoning.

It would help us to get in the habit of asking the question, “How will my money management, or this decision to serve or not serve look on the day of accountability?”

5. What we do with what we have reveals our view of God.

As we come to verses 20-25, we see that the man who had been given five talents brought five more with him. The language is insightful here. He says,


Matthew 25:20 (NIV)

?’Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.’ ?

The word “see” means, “Behold” or “Look!” He was eager to invest what he had been given and now he?s excited to show the master what He had done. He?s bubbling with enthusiasm and thoroughly thrilled. He couldn?t wait to present what he had done because he wanted to please the owner.

The man with the two talents approached this time of reckoning with the same anticipation and excitement. The master is thrilled with both of them because they demonstrated responsibility for their ability. He says the exact same thing to both of them: “Well done, good and faithful servants! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master?s happiness!” The master increased their resources after they had proven themselves faithful. Jesus said a similar thing in Luke 6:38:


Luke 6:38 (NIV)

38 Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

These two faithful servants received:

Affirmation: “Great job! Well done. I appreciate your good work and your faithfulness.”

Promotion: “Since you?ve done so well with what I?ve given you, I?m going to give you even more responsibility and opportunity for growth.”

Celebration: “You?ve made me very happy. Let?s celebrate together!”

The phrase, “well done” can be translated, “excellent,” or “wonderful.” They were faithful and were called good because they had a right view of the master. Likewise, when we see God for who He is, we will want to be faithful and we?ll focus on doing good things. God is looking for faithful people, for those who properly manage their resources for kingdom purposes. And, when we?re responsible for what we?ve been given, we?ll be given even more responsibilities. I picture a smile on Jesus? face when He says, “Come and share your master?s happiness!”

The one-talent guy came a bit more reluctantly to the master and said in verse 24: “?I knew that you were a hard man?” Notice that the first words out of his mouth were about himself: “I knew.” We could translate this as, “I always knew.” The other two guys kept the focus on the master when he returned: “Master, you entrusted me.”

This third guy had a wrong view of the master and had his mind made up even before he received his talent. He looked at him as someone who was hard and harsh, instead of loving and gracious. A.W. Tozer was right when he said that what we think about God is the most important thing about us. If we view God as a tyrant then we?ll filter everything through this lens. Some of you may be secretly angry with God because you think He did something, or didn?t do something that you think He should have. As a result, your view of Him is skewed. Your preconceived notions prevent you from seeing Him as a God of grace, and as a result you refuse to serve Him with what He?s given you. When we blame God we end up burying our blessings.

A faulty view of God can also lead to excuses. In verse 25 this man declares that the reason he didn?t do anything with what he had been given was because he was afraid. His fear paralyzed him and so he decided to play it safe. He hid the money to make sure it wouldn?t be lost. And he accomplished exactly what he set out to achieve: nothing. Like the saying goes, “If you aim at nothing, you?ll hit it every time.”

A wrong view of God always leads to fear: “So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground?” A right view of God always leads to faith. If you?re struggling with fear today, the best antidote is to further your understanding of the character of God and ask Him to grow your faith. Courage is not the absence of fear. Courage is moving ahead in spite of your fears. I think the first two guys were probably a little afraid as well, but because they knew the master?s character, instead of being frozen by fear, they stepped out in faith.

Let?s look at the differences between the two servants who served and the one who took a dive.

The first two were determined to make a profit; the third was afraid risk a loss.

The first two were willing to work hard and take risks; the third made no effort and took no risks.

The first two received the gift; the third buried the gift.

The first two wanted to advance the master?s domain; the third had no interest in what mattered to the master.

The first two viewed the money as an opportunity; the third guy saw it as a problem.

The first two allowed the master?s gift to change their lives; the third refused to let the gift touch his life.

The first two invested; the other one wasted.

The first two saw a blessing; the third guy saw a burden.

The first two knew the master; the third guy had no clue.

6. What we have we must use or what we have we will lose.

Verse 26 reveals that the master saw right through the flimsy excuses of the servant when he said,


Matthew 25:26 (NIV)

26 “His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed?

The word “wicked” means “evil, hurtful, and malicious.” In other words, the master is saying, “You?re lying. In your heart, you are a selfish and lazy bum. If you really wanted to do something, you would have put my money in the bank. I see right through you.” These are pretty strong words. God will judge not merely for doing wrong, but for not doing right!

The man was wicked because he deliberately misrepresented both his master and himself. He falsely accused the master of being harsh and he lied when he said in verse 25: “See, here is what belongs to you.” He actually owed his employer not only one talent but also whatever it would have earned had he been faithful. Amazingly, instead of owning his guilt, he behaves as if the master should have given him credit for having been so cautious.

Wickedness and laziness partner together to keep many people from full surrender and service. In the original, this combination of terms is unforgettable because they rhyme. While the other two servants were busy and working hard, this selfish sluggard dug a hole, little realizing that he was digging it for himself! A selfish heart coupled with an unwillingness to do anything about it, will take many people on the path of destruction that can lead to the place of weeping and gnashing of teeth.

We all have an element of laziness in us. And, our culture seems to be set on slothfulness as well.

I?m convinced that laziness is extremely dangerous to our spiritual lives. When we think we can put something off until later, we will eventually discover that it will one day be too late.


Proverbs 6:9 (NIV)

9 How long will you lie there, you sluggard? When will you get up from your sleep?

Proverbs 10:5 (NIV)

5 He who gathers crops in summer is a wise son, but he who sleeps during harvest is a disgraceful son.

Proverbs 13:4 (NIV)

4 The sluggard craves and gets nothing, but the desires of the diligent are fully satisfied.

Hebrews 6:11-12 (NIV)

11 We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, in order to make your hope sure. 12 We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.

Because this third guy did not use what He had been given, He lost it according to verse 28:


Matthew 25:28 (NIV)

28 “‘Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents.

It?s the “use it or lose it” principle. Friend, don?t hold what you have. Develop it, compound it, and multiply it by using what you?ve been given.

7. What you do with what you are given will have bearing on what you RECEIVE in the next life.

In verse 29, we learn that those who are faithful with the little things will have an abundance, or excess:


Matthew 25:29 (NIV)

29 For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him.

Those who have given themselves in full surrender and selfless service will be given even more opportunities.

On the other hand, those who bury their blessings will face agony. Jesus concludes this parable by saying that the worthless servant will be thrown “outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” This description is used elsewhere to refer to hell. Those who don?t know God don?t serve Him. A lack of serving may indicate that a person has never been truly converted. That?s why Jesus referred to him as “worthless.” A believer has worth because of his faith in Christ. This servant lived in the house of the Master but didn?t know and love the owner.

A distinguishing mark of a true Christian is service and giving. A lack of service betrays a heart where Jesus doesn?t really live.

A Christian who is not using what God has given is a contradiction in terms. As you survey your servanthood quotient, and you conclude that you?ve buried your blessings, maybe you haven?t yet been saved. Do you want abundance or agony in the next life? Determine to know the Master and serve Him wholeheartedly.

Don?t hide the truth. Don?t bury it. Allow the greatest treasure, the greatest GIFT(!) of all ? Jesus Christ Himself to radically reform your life.

CONCLUSION

Stewardship is best defined as the use of God-given resources for the accomplishment of God-given goals. How do you line up with these seven principles?

What we have is not ours.

We?re given what we can handle.

We must invest what we?ve been given.

A day of accountability is coming.

What we do with what we have reveals our view of God.

What we have we must use or what we have we will lose.

What you do with what you are given will have bearing on what you RECEIVE in the next life.

Have you ever seen the “Antique Road Show” on TV? I like watching how people bring their stuff to the appraisers to find out how much it?s worth. Many times those who have lavish items come on the show thinking that they have a huge treasure. More often than not, they find out their treasure is a forgery or a duplicate and worth very little.

Then there are those who come with a small trinket or a painting that was up in their dusty attic. They?re just happy to be on the show. And, many times, these people discover that their item is worth far more than they thought.

The people who are hoping to hit it big with their extravagant item are a bit like we are when we think we can impress God with what we have. On the other hand, some of us think that we don?t have much to offer, but what we have is really a treasure from God himself. Our responsibility is to use our ability to invest in God?s kingdom purposes.

Jesus has placed His business into our hands and will return someday to judge our faithfulness. Are you partnering with Him or are you making excuses?

Tags: , ,
Posted in Sermons, Sunday Morning Service | No Comments »

Defrosting Your Spiritual Assets

Sunday, November 13th, 2005
This entry is part 3 of 4 in the series Improving Your Serve

Read at beginning of service:

1 Corinthians 13:1-13 (NIV)

1 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing. 4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. 11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. 12 Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. 13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

INTRODUCTION

A man from Illinois decided to travel to Wisconsin to go duck hunting. He shot and dropped a bird, but it fell into a farmer?s field on the other side of the fence. As the flatlander climbed over the fence, a diary farmer drove up on his tractor and asked what was going on. The hunter said, “I shot a duck and I?m retrieving it.” The old farmer replied, “This is my property and you?re not coming over here!”

Well, this made the hunter mad so he said, “If you don?t let me come over the fence I?ll call my Chicago lawyer and I?ll sue you.” The farmer smiled and said, “Apparently you don?t know how we do things up here. We settle disagreements with the Wisconsin three-kick rule. I?ll kick you three times, and then you kick me three times, and so on, back and forth, until someone gives up.”

The guy from Illinois like this challenge because he though he could easily take the old farmer. The Wisconsin Badger climbed down from the tractor and planted the steel toe of his heavy work boot into the man?s shin. The man fell to his knees. His second kick went directly to his stomach, knocking the wind out of him. The farmer then landed his third kick to the side of the hunter?s head. The disoriented man slowly got up and said, “Okay, you old codger, now it?s my turn!” To which the farmer responded, “Nah, I give up. You can have the duck.”

(source: Defrosting Your Spiritual Assets by Brian Bill)

Many of us battle over things as well. Sometimes we fight because of lack of information and other times we kick people simply because we want to. As we?ve been learning in the series I?ve been preaching called, “Improving Your Serve,” most of us default to our selfish settings instead of looking for ways to put others first. Three weeks ago we focused on checking our motives, preparing for problems, putting the needs of others first, and following the example of Christ. 2 weeks ago we learned that we must surrender our bodies, minds, and wills to God and have a proper estimate of ourselves before we can effectively serve. Then last week, we had a break from this series as Pastor Nancy preached. However, what she shared with us clearly had relevance to what we?ve already been hearing. In her message, “Have I caught You Napping?” she shared the story of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane and Peter, James and John who were sleeping while Jesus was praying. I couldn?t help but think as she was sharing her message ? how many of us are “sleeping” when God wants us to pray, or to serve? Jesus made a simple request of the three with him in the garden that evening, “Stay here and keep watch with me.” ? what request has God made of you and me?

Today, I?m going to continue speaking on the subject of spiritual gifts and their importance in our service. The whole topic of spiritual gifts has been a battleground for many years, going back to the church at Corinth. This tension can result from an overemphasis on certain gifts, or it can come because we like to pick fights with those who are wired differently than we are.

Before we jump into our text in 1 Corinthians 12, let?s set the context. The Corinthian church was beset with many problems and difficulties. The church was filled with division, arguments, lawsuits, and immorality. On top of that, there was confusion about marriage, food sacrificed to idols, worship, the Lord?s Supper, the Resurrection, giving, and spiritual gifts. In particular, some people thought they were more important than others because they had some pretty spectacular gifts. When Paul wrote this letter to the church he specifically addressed these issues.

Chapter 12 gives us six directives to help us defrost our spiritual assets.

Be INFORMED about Spiritual Gifts.

When we come to 1 Corinthians 12-14 we see that Paul wanted to make sure that they had a proper understanding about spiritual gifts. The church at Corinth desperately needed instruction on this topic, and so do we. Notice verse 1 of chapter 12,

1 Corinthians 12:1 (NIV)

1 Now about spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be ignorant.

This is a topic that is too important for believers to be uninformed about and it?s certainly too critical to fight about. John MacArthur writes,

No local congregation will be what it should be?until it understands spiritual gifts. (The Church, p. 136)

Let?s begin by defining what a spiritual gift is. A really good definition that I?ve come across is from Bruce Bugbee, founder and president of Network Ministries:

Spiritual gifts are divine abilities distributed by the Holy Spirit to every believer according to God?s design and grace for the common good of the body of Christ. (What You Do Best in the Body of Christ, p. 52)

It?s important to recognize that a spiritual gift is given by the Holy Spirit at conversion, whereas a natural talent is something we?re born with. While we must yield our talents and abilities to the Lord?s work, we must pay particular attention to unleashing our spiritual gifts for the good of the body of Christ.

It is also important to acknowledge the difference between spiritual gifts and the “fruit of the Spirit” as listed in Galatians 5:22-23. Both the fruit of the Spirit and spiritual gifts are necessary for a life of servanthood, but they make different contributions.

FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT SPIRITUAL GIFTS

? Every believer should exhibit the fruit of the spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control)

? Every believer has different gifts given by God.

? The fruit of the spirit are character traits of believers that are the how we do things.

? Spiritual Gifts are unique, distinct characteristic abilities of believers that are the what in the things they do.

? Whatever your spiritual gift or gifts are the fruit of the spirit should be found in the carrying out of that gift

There are also some distinct “categories” of spiritual gifts in the New Testament. While there are many ways to categorize the gifts of the Spirit, I like the one suggested by Chuck Swindoll. He sees three gift groupings. Based on 1 Peter 4:11, there are two primary areas of distinction: speaking and serving. The third category would include the “sign gifts”.

Speaking gifts: Word of wisdom, prophecy, evangelism, pastor-teacher, and teaching.

Service Gifts: Administration, exhortation, faith, giving, helps, serving, and mercy.

Sign Gifts: Discernment of Spirits, Miracles, healings, tongues, and interpretation.

If you were to add up all the distinct spiritual gifts, you?d come up with about 20. Since each of the lists does not appear to be exhaustive, there may even be more. These gifts are found in four books of the New Testament: Romans 12, 1 Corinthians 12, Ephesians 4 and 1 Peter 4.

As we study this topic of spiritual gifts, it?s important to keep in mind that we?re commanded to do much of the things that are also listed as spiritual gifts. For instance, while some people have the gift of giving, all of us are to be givers of our resources to kingdom purposes. Likewise, we aren?t excused from our responsibility to witness just because we might not have the gift of evangelism.

The next directive Paul gives the Corinthian church is?

Be INFLUENCED by the Holy Spirit

In verse 2-3, Paul challenges us to be influenced exclusively by the Holy Spirit,

1 Corinthians 12:2-3 (NIV)

2 You know that when you were pagans, somehow or other you were influenced and led astray to mute idols. 3 Therefore I tell you that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus be cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.

When we come to the topic of spiritual gifts, our focus must be on the Giver, not on the gifts themselves. Unfortunately the Holy Spirit is often neglected in many churches today. Paul reminds us that before we were saved we were led astray by our emotions and false doctrines. Now that we are believers, the Holy Spirit empowers and energizes us for ministry.

Just as no one can confess the Lordship of Christ apart from the Spirit?s leading, so too, it is impossible to improve your serve without being led by the Spirit.

Galatians 5:25 (NIV)

25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.

The Holy Spirit blows like the wind through surrendered lives.

John 3:8 (NIV)

8 The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”

Let?s continue to allow him to move us into worship and the work of ministry.

Incorporate DIVERSITY in your understanding.

Paul next challenges his readers to incorporate diversity in their understanding of spiritual gifts in verse 4-6,

1 Corinthians 12:4-6 (NIV)

4 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6 There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men.

I want you to notice that the Trinity is involved with the giving of gifts: the Spirit, the Lord Jesus, and God the Father. While teaching about the Trinity is not the main point of this passage, these verses help us to see how the entire godhead is involved in the giving of gifts.

The key word in this passage is the word “different”. We all have different kinds of gifts, there are different ways to serve, and there are different workings. There?s not just one gift that fits all believers. The word “gifts” comes from the Greek, “charismata,” which is the root for the word “grace.” Grace gifts are those divine abilities distributed by the Holy Spirit. There are different kinds of “service”. This word speaks of opportunities for expressing our spiritual gifts in practical ways. The word “working” refers to the results or accomplishments that come when we use our gifts in meaningful service. Whether or not we are able to see the results, God does. We get the word “energy” from this Greek word. When we serve according to our giftedness, God gives us energy and we in turn energize the church through our service.

Philippians 2:13 (NIV)

13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.

Because God is at work within us, we can accomplish His purposes. The Corinthians had elevated the more spectacular gifts and were giving more attention to the spiritual superstars. Paul challenges them, and us, to incorporate diversity in our understanding. We minister differently because we?ve because we?ve been gifted differently. The same God is at work in us, but He customizes His work through us for His ultimate glory and the strength of the church.

Let me illustrate. We had a great celebration dinner at the Schaab?s last weekend with great food and fellowship. Now let?s supposed someone had dropped a plate full of dessert on the floor. This is how people with different gifts would respond.

Gift of prophecy: “That?s what happens when you?re not careful.”

Gift of service: “Oh, let me help you clean it up.”

Gift of teaching: “The reason that it fell was because it was too heavy on one side.”

Gift of exhortation: “Next time, maybe you should let someone else carry it.”

Gift of giving: “Here, you can have my dessert”

Gift of mercy: “Don?t feel too bad. It could have happened to anyone.”

Gift of administration “Barry, would you get the mop? Sue, please help pick this up. Pastor Nancy, could you get him another dessert?”

We?ve all been gifted differently and so we act differently and we serve differently. Friends, this church has every gift that is needed in order to function as a biblical community.

1 Corinthians 1:7 (NIV)

7 Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed.

This verse is written to the entire church at Corinth. Even with all it?s problems, this community of faith did not lack any spiritual gifts. Likewise, HPC has just the right amount of spiritual gifts! It makes me wonder what needs God is going to meet by placing you in this church!

I?d love to lose the clergy/laity distinction that is way too common in churches today. We?re all ministers and priests according to 1 Peter 2:9

1 Peter 2:9 (NIV)

9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

Pastor Nancy and I are your pastors but the priesthood is for all believers. In fact, our job, according to Ephesians 4:12 is

Ephesians 4:12 (NIV)

12 to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up

With a full ministry schedule, there is no way that Nancy and I can be at every single function, or be actively involved in all the ministries here at HPC. Here?s an exciting truth. You have permission to minister in this church! In fact, you are saved in order to serve.

Can we make a deal? Pastor Nancy and I will serve faithfully in our area of giftedness and responsibility if you will serve in yours. Can we shake on it?

IDENTIFY your Spiritual Gift

We?re to be informed about spiritual gifts, be influenced by the Holy Spirit, and incorporate diversity in our understanding. Next, we?re to identify our spiritual gifts. Look at verse 7:

1 Corinthians 12:7 (NIV)

7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.

The word “manifest” means to make plain. Spiritual gifts are given to make plain the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. This verse teaches us two things. First, every born again believer has been given the manifestation of the Spirit. Notice the phrase, “each one.” Every Christian has been given at least one spiritual gift. 1 Corinthians 7:7 makes the same point:

1 Corinthians 7:7 (NIV)

7 I wish that all men were as I am. But each man has his own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that.

Second, we?ve been given at least one spiritual gift for the “common good,” or profit of the church.

Ephesians 4:16 (NIV)

16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

Gifts are given so that they can be given in service to others so that the church will be fortified. Remember that gifts are received, not achieved. The gifts of grace are given to you so that as each part does its work, the church can be built up.

1 Corinthians 12:11 (NIV)

11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines.

If you need some help in figuring out your spiritual gift I?d love to meet with one on one. I?ve also put together an insert that references some online assessment tools that you can use. Examine the different gift lists in the New Testament and then experiment with some different ministries. The Holy Spirit will lead you because He is the one who gave you your gifts in the first place. Remember all these ?assessment tools? are helpful but the best way to discover your spiritual gifts is to serve!

IMPLEMENT your gift in Service.

While it?s important to identify your gifts, it?s not enough. Gifts are given to be used. Verses 12-30 describe how the church is like the human body, with each part playing a critical role in the functioning of the body. You?ve been given gifts and a key role to play in this church. Until each of us implement our gifts, our church will not mature in faith. Look at verse 14:

1 Corinthians 12:14 (NIV)

14 Now the body is not made up of one part but of many.

The foot needs the hand, and the ear needs the eye. Likewise, we all need each other. If you?re hoarding your gifts and not using them, the entire body is handicapped.

The church at Corinth had elevated some of the sign gifts and had relegated the “lesser” gifts to second-class status.

If Paul were to write a letter to us today, he would say something like this: “Brothers and sisters, say one of you owned a set of tools. Would you spend all your time counting them, naming them, organizing them, polishing them, and putting them on display? Would you not simply use them? So it is with the gifts of the Spirit: they are tools not to admire, but to use. They are not medals to be won, or trophies to be displayed, or treasures to be guarded. Use them! It is as you serve that God by His spirit will reveal the gifts He has given you” (Brian Bill?s adaptation from an article in Discipleship Journal by David Henderson, “Paul?s Letter to Midvale Church”)

1 Peter 4:10 (NIV)

10 Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.

Paul?s concern for young Timothy was that he not only be able to identify his gift, but that he would implement it:

1 Timothy 4:14 (NIV)

14 Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through a prophetic message when the body of elders laid their hands on you.

2 Timothy 1:6 (NIV)

6 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands.

Do you need to allow the Spirit to fan your gift into full flame? Are you burning bright for Him, or are you just flickering or smoldering?

A well-known conductor was holding a rehearsal one night with a vast array of musicians and a hundred-voice choir. While the mighty chorus sang out, the horns blared and the cymbals clashed. Sitting far back in the orchestra, the piccolo player thought to herself, “With all these loud instruments, it doesn?t matter what I do. They don?t need me.” And so she stopped playing. Suddenly the conductor stopped the music and looked right at the piccolo player and said, “It doesn?t sound right without you. If you don?t play, the concert?s off. We need you”

(quoted in “Defrosting Your Spiritual Gifts” by Brian Bill)

You?re needed in this church! Whether you?ve been a member for 20 or more years or you have recently started attending God has gifted you and brought you here and now He wants to use you. Don?t allow yourself to think you don?t matter. Nobody is a nobody in the body of Christ. No one can do everything, but everyone can do something.

INTENSIFY your Love

One of the lessons we can learn from the church at Corinth is this: having spiritual gifts does not necessarily make you spiritual. It?s possible for a church to have all the gifts that are needed, and for every believer to know what their gift is, and still miss the mark. In the last verse of 1 Corinthians 12, we?re reminded that there is something far greater than even our divine abilities:

1 Corinthians 12:31 (NIV)

31 But eagerly desire the greater gifts. And now I will show you the most excellent way.

While 1 Corinthians 13 is without doubt the best explanation of love ever written, we do a disservice to Paul?s intention when we only read it at weddings. This love chapter is sandwiched between a discussion of spiritual gifts in chapter 12 and chapter 14. Paul recognizes the dangers of defrosting our spiritual assets when they are divorced from love.

Notice the gifts that are listed in verses 1-3:

1 Corinthians 13:1-3 (NIV)

1 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.

After elevating the supremacy of love over every spiritual gift, Paul then describes how love should be the marinade that provides the distinctive flavor in our serving: “Love is patient, love is kind?” Then, beginning in verse 8, Paul contrasts the cessation of prophecies, tongues and knowledge with the never-failing aspect of love. Love will never fail or cease to exist.

I believe that ignorance related to spiritual gifts is not our basic problem. More basic is the problem of not desiring to strengthen other people?s faith by being patient and kind, by refusing to boast, by not being easily angered and by keeping no record of wrongs (see 1 Corinthians 13:4-6). Human nature is more prone to tear down, than it is to build up. We?d rather kick people than labor in love with them and for them.

We have just enough religion to make us hate, but not enough to make us love one another.

– Jonathon Swift

According to verse 7, a servant who loves “always protects, always trusts, always hopes, and always perseveres.” In other words, as we focus on living out the Great Commandment by intensifying our love for God and for others, then we will want to look for ways to defrost our spiritual assets and serve others. Spiritual gifts, no matter how exciting and wonderful, are useless and even destructive if they are not unleashed in love.

CONCLUSION

Let?s summarize the six directives that will help us defrost our spiritual assets.

Be informed about spiritual gifts

Be influenced by the Holy Spirit

Incorporate diversity in your understanding

Identify your spiritual gift

Implement your gift in service

Intensify your love.

What?s in your gift box? Open it and use what you?ve been given. Is it time for you to think outside the box? Allow the Holy Spirit to blow into your life and lead you into some exciting serving opportunities!

Tags: , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Sermons, Sunday Morning Service | No Comments »