Being Vessels Of Service

L.O.V.E like Christ

being Vessels of Service

Romans 12:1-5 Jay Davis Robison January 22, 2006

It started early this morning as people rolled out of bed

For some it started a little after 5 as they got ready

Our Praise team was here at 8:45

SS teachers worked all wk gave it 1 more look raring to Go

See part of loving like Christ

Is being a Vessel of service

Today we want to honor one of those vessels

All of us have something to contribute to good of church

Talk about being vessels of service, means we have gifts

1. Given BY GOD

God has given each of us the ability to do certain things well Vs 6 NLT

Underline it remember it, EACH OF US

All around you are people who are gifted

Delight to watch them in action

A Reason TO CELEBRATE you have been given gifts

Rom 12 it’s important that you not misinterpret yourselves as people who bring this goodness to God.

No, God brings it to you. Only accurate way to understand ourselves is by what God is & by what he does for us, not by what we are or do for him and what we do for him.

Many ways different from each other how God designed us. Devoted follower of Christ understands & celebrates variety Explain what you are given by God acrostic S-H-A-P-E

S-PIRITUAL GIFTS (1 COR 12 1 PET 4 EPH 4)

What you do, means God’s spirit poured into each of us

Over & over again Bible says people empowered by Spirit

Anointing and empowering our lives

H-EART (YOUR PASSION)

We are drawn to certain needs in the world

Can do nothing about it, just are interested in it

A-BILITIES (TALENTS)

You have God given abilities

P-ERSONALITY (HOW YOU DO IT)

How we approach life, how we communicate

No good or bads to it, personalities just are

Different because that is given by God

E-XPERIENCES (SPIRITUAL RESUME)

What we have gone through in life

The good and the bad, God will use both

I’m shaped different than you and you’re put together

Differently than I am, that’s a good thing

We reach different people bring uniqueness to body

Celebrate diversity we a rainbow, no why no like me

SHAPE is why gifts not just given by God should be

2. Given TO GOD

Listen to Message version of Rom 12:1

So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, & walking-around life—& place it before God as an offering.

KJV present your bodies a living sacrifice, Paul referring

to burnt offering animal brought to God expressing devotion, totally consumed by fire on altar

God isn’t interested in burnt animals today, God looking for

people sold out to Him living sacrifices, not dead offerings.

Someone said problem with living sacrifices is that they sometimes crawl off the altar

Our normal everyday ordinary life before God

A Reason TO SURRENDER

We are not our own we live for God

Present is a now and for always verb

Accountable to God purpose and meaning God wants us

Interesting Paul doesn’t say, “In light of God’s grace” but instead focuses on mercy. God’s grace is demonstrated when we get what we don’t deserve, whereas God’s mercy what keeps us from getting what we do deserve.

We no longer live for selves are changed people

Red Cross volunteer assembling supplies for African nation Biafra, came across a box with a strange note on it. “We have recently been converted & because of our conversion we want to try to help. We won’t be need to use these again.

Can you use them for something?” Inside box were several Ku Klux Klan sheets from disguises. Sheets were cut into strips for bandages to bind wounds of Africans changed

Standing in the offering plate illustration

Offerings given to God were to be best people had

We are to offer to God our best. When we give best to God

“spiritual act of worship.” Worship is day to day for Christ

Some of you facing some incredible temptations right now.

Feel yourself being pulled to conform, to go along w\crowd Don’t give in! We are to be transformed by renewed minds

Why it matters so much what put into mind, music, words

TV shows people around these produce outlook on life

The will of God is an active encounter

We learn God’s will by doing. Giving mind and body for God We tend to focus God’s will on what our job where we live but God is more interested in our transformation.

What you HAVE IS NOT IMPORTANT

But what you DO WITH WHAT YOU HAVE IS

Jesus in Parable of the Talents stresses # of gifts and talents we have is not important what we do with them is