The Apostle Paul calls us Jars of Clay (2 Corinthians 4:7). As followers of Jesus we must allow the Word of God to fill us with it's message of Truth and Grace. In this way, we become a "vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work" (2 Timothy 2:21).

Tuesday, August 22, 2017

Offering - August 20, 2017 sermon


By Pastor Greg ...


How exciting it is to think that God would equip us to accomplish His work in this world.  Who could imagine that the Almighty would consider using broken and imperfect people to continue the work Jesus began while He walked this earth.
What exactly comes to mind when you think of Spiritual Gifts?  In my younger days, I would think Pastor, Deacon, Sunday school teacher, or Church Leader.  These individuals were indeed gifted by God.  But what I didn’t realize at the time was many others gifted people were working behind the scene.  I just didn’t know it.
Many people today feel the same way I did.  Too many individuals in the church don’t realize that most of God’s Spiritual Gifts build up the church in the background; they are seldom noticed, but take them away, and the local church struggles to fulfill the Great Commission (Mathew 28:19-20).
Take the gift of Administration, for example.  These people bring order to the work of the church.  Ministries become more effective and efficient because of these people.  Or consider the gifts of Faith, Giving, and Helps.  These servants of God support the work of others in the church.  So does the gift of Hospitality and prayer.  Without these gifts, a church loses its ability to be warm and welcoming; to be a place where a person feels genuine care.
Yes, most of the gifts mentioned in the Bible build up the Church in a quiet, subtle way.  But without them, a church loses its ability to effectively minister in the world.
I remember discovering this after I took my first Spiritual Gift.  I found out that I had been gifted with the capacity to discern truth from error – right from wrong.  All along I had been thinking my ability to sense the presence of evil was something weird.  Who knew it was a gift from God.  But Paul says it is a gift.  1 Corinthians 12:10 says God gifts some individual to “Distinguish spirits.”
Spiritual Gifts are not limited to leadership roles within the church.  Many of them function in the background, bringing cohesion to the work of the church; they are the glue that holds things together.
A Spiritual Gift is a unique ability the Spirit gives a believer (1 Corinthians 12:7).  It is an empowerment from God given to Christians to build up the Church (Ephesians 4:12).  And every believer receives at least one.  However, there is a fascinating side to this whole Spiritual Gift assessment that is often overlooked.  You see, God is also involved in our lives from a very early age, guiding and directing our interests and our passions in life.  We learn in Exodus 31:1-6 that God begins working in someone’s life at a very early age.
Let me tell you about two men; Bezalel and Oholiab.  As God is instructing Moses on how to build the Tabernacle – the sacred Tent where they worshipped God – the Lord mentions these two men.  Both had been gifted by the Spirit with wisdom, abilities, and expertise that would be used to craft this Tabernacle.  He says:
Then the Lord said to Moses, “Look, I have specifically chosen Bezalel son of Uri, grandson of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. I have filled him with the Spirit of God, giving him great wisdom, ability, and expertise in all kinds of crafts. He is a master craftsman, expert in working with gold, silver, and bronze. He is skilled in engraving and mounting gemstones and in carving wood. He is a master at every craft!
“And I have personally appointed Oholiab son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, to be his assistant. Moreover, I have given special skill to all the gifted craftsmen so they can make all the things I have commanded you to make[1] (Exodus 31:1-6).
Yeah.  When we think about Spiritual Gifts, we never think of a carpenter or an electrician.  That’s a trade someone learns.  The ability to solder two copper pipes is an acquired skill; someone teaches an apprentice how to do this.  It’s not a Spiritual Gift … at least that’s what we think, but God says otherwise.  The Lord says, “I gave them this wisdom; I gave them this ability; I helped them become experts in their field.”  And if this was true then, I suspect it is also true today.
Think about these two men.  Did they suddenly learn how to work with these precious metals?  Did they wake up one morning and suddenly know how to hammer and shape gold?  Of course not.  Like you and me, they were inclined to work with their hands when they were younger.  They had a desire within them to become craftsmen; to become a carpenter, a tinsmith, or a blacksmith.  They found personal satisfaction in construction work.  And as their skill developed, God gave them the wisdom to master their craft.  And eventually, their gifts become an offering to God.
From our younger years, God begins to nudge us in a direction that is related to our calling.  He helps us develop our skills and abilities so that one day they might become an offering as well.  We use our skills for His glory.
Just like Bezalel and Oholiab, God has poured His Spirit into you, giving you wisdom and abilities that can be utilized in the Kingdom of God.  Sure, some Spiritual Gifts cause an immediate change in a person’s life.  We see this in the New Testament.  Others, however, happen gradually; the gift develops over time.  God works in the background, igniting certain passions and interests.  He guides your life; He enhances your skills and abilities, so they might be used for His glory and for the good of the Church.  He is working in your life, helping you become the you He wants you to be.  And one day, your skills and abilities become an offering to God.
As King David considered who he had become – the King of Israel – he looked back from his humble beginning as a shepherd boy.  And as he turned his heart toward God, he realized that the Lord had been guiding his life from the start.  He turns to God and says, “You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed[2] (Psalm 139:16).
Perhaps God has done the same thing in your life.  Perhaps God is guiding your passions and interests right now, working in the background of your life; preparing you for something glorious tomorrow.  When the moment to use your skills for the Lord presents itself, give Him the glory by making them an offering.


[1] Tyndale House Publishers. (2007). Holy Bible: New Living Translation (3rd ed., Ex 31:1–6). Carol Stream, IL.
[2] Tyndale House Publishers. (2007). Holy Bible: New Living Translation (3rd ed., Ps 139:16). Carol Stream, IL.

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