As a child I loved Christmas and I loved birthdays,
and not just my own birthday
because there were plenty of gifts around.
Gifts are an important part of life.
Birthdays and Christmas were times of us ripping off the paper to discover the gifts we had been given.
Then we’d play with them, use them and have fun with them.
And often not by ourselves but with others.
In fact many of the things we receive are often best used with others.
You get more enjoyment out of kicking a ball with someone else or playing dolls not by yourself.
But birthdays and Christmas are not the only time gifts are prevalent in our lives.
In fact our entire life is about receiving and using gifts from God.
Benefiting from God’s gifts.
Unfortunately as adults we often lose interest in receiving and giving gifts.
We come up with weird ideas that we are grown up and no longer need gifts.
And I wonder some times whether Jesus’ comment that we should have faith like children,
also applies to our attitude to his gifts.
Most children have far greater appreciation than many adults when it comes to faith,
and as disciples it is not just helpful but also important to really appreciate the gifts God has given us..
And today’s reading from Ephesians 4 verses 1 to 16
Highlights how we are to view and use our gifts.
It also highlights that we should see and treat gifts as important.
The first thing that is helpful to recognise is that
Even though we don’t all have the same gifts,
that all gifts come from God.
Now for those of us who have been living as Christians for many years this is not a new revelation.
However there are some religions and some people think not of one god
but multiple gods.
So if you want to have children they aim to please a fertility god,
But if they want a good crop it is another god.
It is easy for us to think that if there are different gifts, there are possibly different gods.
And through St Paul God reminds us that all gifts come from Him.
In verses 4 to 6 we hear
4 There is one body and one Spirit— just as you were called to one hope when you were called— 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
7 But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it.
11 It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers
Every gifts and everything has its origin from God.
And our different gifts are all from the same God it doesn’t mean we need to be in conflict because of our different gifts.
Some people gain a purpose for their life by only looking at the gifts they have and develop a life around these gifts.
As a result they often mix with similar people.
At best they think the way they approach life is correct…and the way others approach life is weird.
But they often put themselves in opposition to people who are different from them.
And so as a result we tend to see our differences as a problem
as causing disunity.
But that is only because we focus on who we are with our gifts.
But the scriptures are constantly reminding us that our unity doesn’t come from what we do or from us mixing with people who are like us.
Our unity comes from God.
And that God has given us the gifts to complement each other.
And verse 2 and 3 of today’s reading gives us an insight of how to express Christian Unity is by using our gifts together as Ephesians 4:2-3 says
Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.
And this leads us to the next important point in relation to our gifts.
Secondly the reason God gives us gifts is for the the purpose of building up the Body of Christ so that each of us mature into Christ.
Reading from verse 12
12 They are to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
Who we are, what our likes are, what we are good at, what our natural inclination is given to us primarily for the purpose of building up the Body of Christ.
The truth is we need each other.
The gifts you have are not just to enhance your life on this earth.
In fact if that is all you are using them for,
you are misusing them and not allowing them to be used for their full potential,
the potential God gave them to you for.
Your gifts are to enhance the lives of others.
Rick Warren in the Purpose Driven life puts it this way, “Our purpose in life is always found in being in relationship with others.”
God has placed people in our lives, so that He can bless them through us.
And so your involvement in church is not just for your own benefit,
but to enhance other people’s lives.
So when God speaks to you through
your bible reading,
your small group time,
a sermon,
having a relationship with another Christian
don’t just think of yourself.
Think also of others.
My biggest bug bear is when I hear people in the church saying I just want the church to provide me with comfort.
Experience tells me more often than not is that is all they want from their involvement in the church.
And soon as God does anything else in their lives through the church they get upset.
The truth is yes Christ does bring comfort….
Earlier in the service you received that comfort when God’s forgiveness was announced to you.
Comfort that even though I am a sinner…I am forgiven
Yes as a church we do need to proclaim God’s comforting word….
But it doesn’t stop there.
Being a disciple of Jesus Christ,
is about not just receiving comfort for yourself and not worrying about anyone else…
that is plain selfishness…
Being a disciples involves receiving comfort from God
and being equipped to help others so you can be involved in sharing God’s comfort to them..
So ask yourself…
Not just what is God saying to me?
But what is God giving me so I am able to help others?
Also as a church we need the diversity of gifts God has given us.
The New Testament lists over 20 specific Spiritual Gifts
All of which are needed in the church.
If you are interested in discovering or confirming your spiritual gifts please put a note on the message pad and put it in the offering bowl with your name on it.
And in 1 Corinthians we are encouraged to excel in those gifts that build up the church.
Being a church that expresses a diverse range of gifts not only helps us reach a wide range of people,
but it also helps reveal God’s wide approach to various situations that may occur.
For one church tells the story of a gentleman who slipped over and fell to the ground on some new steps.
One person came to him and said “are you alright, can I help you up?” that’s mercy
Another came and said, “what is hurting? Here is some ice for that area?” that’s healing.
A few days later another person said let me show you how to walk down those steps they are a bit tricky…..that’s teaching
Some one else saw the accident happen and looked at the steps and saw they were very slippery….so went to the property team .and said unless we put a non slip on the steps someone else is likely to slip down them…and we could be sued…..that is probably prophecy…
Can you see how God uses different people responded to the same situation differently…
And all of their responses are applicable and helpful
Also using our gifts in building up the Body of Christ….
Involves growing in the full maturity of Christ…
Verse 12 says
15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.
And growing in maturity of Christ is a lifetime journey.
It is a lifetime event
Unfortunately some people think they have done Sunday School and Confirmation and they have learnt everything they need to know about God.
And yet people who take their lives seriously with Jesus, see the scriptures as the living word
A word that is constantly speaking to their changing lives and changing situations.
And as a result they are constantly discovering new things about themselves, how God see them, about God and others.
A few years ago I made an off the cuff comment about a passage that I read at least 20 times that for some reason I had missed a part of a passage previously,
after the service a lady around at 70 who had been a Christian all her life,
said that happens to me weekly
I am still learning more about what it means to be a follower of Jesus
And finally being part of the church
we benefit from God’s gifts either
because God has given them directly to us
or we receive the benefits those gifts bring through another person.
So lets be thankful for all the gifts God has given us that we can experience through the church
Let us pray
Amen
