Gifted - Part 4

Introduction

Ecc 3:1 NIV There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven

Whatever you were born to do God has assigned a season for it to be done

• That season is the duration of your life

You were born…

• On purpose – for a purpose – to fulfil your purpose
• God has given you gifts to fulfil your purpose

Your gift is non negotiable

God is not making you up as you go along

• Didn’t put your life to a vote
• Gods gifts are irrevocable , without repentance

Rom 11:29 NIV for God's gifts and his call are irrevocable.

The specifics of your plans may change as your purpose unfolds but your purpose is permanent

You were saved to finish your assignment on earth

We will be judged according to what God wanted us to do not what we did

Don’t respond out of fear but love

• E.g. children if we neglect them there will be serious consequences
• Don’t neglect them because of that but because you love them

Last week talked about discovering your gifts

• Starts with the WHO not the DO
• Listen to your HEART not your HEAD
• Responding to the NOW not the WOW

1. Humble yourself

Php 2:5-8 NIV Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: (6) Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, (7) but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. (8) And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death even death on a cross!

Not just about ABILITY but AVAILABILITY

• Yes it is about gift and calling – not a right to exclusivity

All kinds of tools for all kinds of jobs

• e.g. bang a nail in without hammer – rock – shoe
• The point is – the nail needs to be driven in
• Did the best you can with what you had

Can’t build church with spiritual snobbishness

• Serving is a gift for all of us

If you can – we might just ask you to do it

• E.g. Deacons in Acts 6

About Gods kingdom first not yours

2. Back yourself

As you begin to find out what your passions are – Back yourself

1Sa 17:34-36 NIV But David said to Saul, "Your servant has been keeping his father's sheep. When a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock, (35) I went after it, struck it and rescued the sheep from its mouth. When it turned on me, I seized it by its hair, struck it and killed it. (36) Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God.

• Don’t talk yourself out of it
• Don’t let others talk you out of it

God let other people put things on you

• Fashion industry – make everyone a size 6
  • Can't wear small things on a big frame
  • Can't wear small things when you have a big calling

David – choosing a stone instead of a sword

• E.g. Birds have feathers because they were born 2fly (elephants don’t)
• E.g. Louie Armstrong
  • Applied to go to music school but failed the audition
  • Cried at first due to disappointment
  • “I know there’s music in me and they can't keep it out”
  • Became one of the greatest jazz artists ever
• Wright brothers
  • Told by father they would never fly
  • Invented the aeroplane
• Martin Luther King Jr.
  • Assassinated for his stand against injustice and racism
  • 43 years after death – brink of first African-American president

Who do you think you are?

Joh 8:49-53 NIV "I am not possessed by a demon," said Jesus, "but I honour my Father and you dishonour me. (50) I am not seeking glory for myself; but there is one who seeks it, and he is the judge. (51) I tell you the truth, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death." (52) At this the Jews exclaimed, "Now we know that you are demon-possessed! Abraham died and so did the prophets, yet you say that if anyone keeps your word, he will never taste death. (53) Are you greater than our father Abraham? He died, and so did the prophets. Who do you think you are?"

3. Educate yourself

A mans gift makes way for him – not his education

Pro 18:16 MKJV A man's gift makes room for him, and brings him before great men.

Education can't give you a gift but it can help develop it so that it can be used and maximized

Fan it into flame the gift of God that is in you

• It is there but we must develop it
• E.g. seedling in the ground needs watering

Find out what you enjoy doing and learn to do it so well that people will pay you for doing it (Phil Pringle)

Don’t be lazy

• E.g. loved art at school – learnt signwriting
• Study Year of your life – theology – worship and creative arts
• E.g. dance group – business opportunity

If you are intelligent but not exercising your gift you will more than likely end up being poor and dissatisfied

If you are educated but have not developed your talent you’re likely to be depressed, frustrated and tired

4. Re-invent yourself

Change is here to stay

• To continue being effective we had to continue to change

“There is nothing so stable as change.” Bob Dylan

• E.g. signwriting
• Learnt how to do it – then computerized lettering came in
• E.g. Macca’s selling apples – healthy choices
• E.g. Henry Ford – see notes

Henry Ford "Any customer can have a car painted any color that he wants so long as it is black."

What works today may hinder you tomorrow

• Bronze snake

Num 21:8-9 NIV The LORD said to Moses, "Make a snake and put it up on a pole; anyone who is bitten can look at it and live." (9) So Moses made a bronze snake and put it up on a pole. Then when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, he lived.

• Hezekiah had to be destroyed

2Ki 18:3-4 NIV He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, just as his father David had done. (4) He removed the high places, smashed the sacred stones and cut down the Asherah poles. He broke into pieces the bronze snake Moses had made, for up to that time the Israelites had been burning incense to it. (It was called Nehushtan.)

Mission v Method

• Mission unchanging methods changes
• Closed fist issues – virgin birth – blood of Jesus
• Open hand issues – style – music

As a church must continue to re-invent ourselves

• Video screens – to reach an audio visual generation
• Every church contextualizes
  • Issue is “what year” & are you doing it well

Not making the gospel relevant but showing the relevance of the gospel

Conclusion

• Fan into flame the gift of God that is in you