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You can make a difference
Introduction: People are ambitions in life. If you ask children what they aim to be, they say doctor, engineer, pilot etc. As a small boy I was fascinated by the Kerala State Transport buses. The conductor signals the stop and start with a bell attached to a rope. My grandfather used to make big church bells, and I took a small bell, hung it in the window of our bedroom, tied a string to it, and stretched it all the way to the hall. Then I would take this bus in my imaginary drive from Trivandrum to Eranakulam, all the way picking up and dropping passengers. One day my uncle came to me and asked me, “Shine what is your aim in life?” “I want to be a conductor” I said. What I told as a 5-year-old boy was a spiritual gift hidden inside me. When I grew up I worked many jobs but nothing interested me, finally when I became a pastor in 2004 I found it satisfying. In fact, I am doing the same thing I did as a 5 year old. Those days I took people in my imagination from one destination to another. Now, I am a conductor for God, leading people in the bus to heaven; nurturing & teaching God’s people in the house of God.
God created you with a purpose. To fulfill God’s purposes He has given you spiritual Gifts.
Title: You can make a difference Series: Ephesians Ephesians 4:7-13
This morning we are going to study about spiritual gifts. We are going to identify our gifts today. We are also going to see how we can make a difference using our God given gifts.
Life is like a jigsaw puzzle. What you did yesterday may not have any connection with what you are doing today. What you are doing today may be completely different from what you are going to do in the future. I know of a man who was born a slave, grew up as a king. All of a sudden he was in the desert doing nothing. Then he became a shepherd for 40 years. His name is Moses. Finally he led God’s people out of Egypt. If you study the life of Moses carefully, God prepared him through every circumstances of joy and pain for the great ministry God intended in his life.
Our lives too are the same. Sometimes we do not know why we go through problems, sickness, pain, & rejection. We do not have an easy answer for all our troubles. But if we put all the pieces of our life together with wisdom we will know what happened yesterday, our today, and what is going to happen in the future all add up to make us the person God wanted us to be. Through all the process of joy and crushing we develop spiritual gifts. What may seem like a jigsaw puzzle is a perfect blueprint in the hands of God.
All is gifted and are gifted differently.
1 Corinthians 7:7 But each man has his own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that.
God decides what He gifts you.
1 Corinthians 12:11 Mes All gifts have a common origin, but are handed out one by one by the one Spirit of God. He decides who gets what, and when.
We are gifted because of God’s grace, not due to our merits.
Ephesians 4:7 7But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it.
When did God give us spiritual gifts?
Ephesians 4:8 8This is why it says: "When he ascended on high, he led captives in his train and gave gifts to men."
Jesus gave us spiritual gifts when he went to heaven after his death. Read Ephesians 4:8. This section is a quotation from Psalm 68:18 18 When you ascended on high, you led captives in your train; you received gifts from men, even from the rebellious— that you, O LORD God, might dwell there.
The Psalm describes a king’s conquering return. In the OT times after a king wins a battle he brings the surviving enemy solders as prisoners of war. People would gather on either side of the road and the winning king would parade the prisoners of war showing them that he has won on their behalf. People would praise the king. Some plunder from the enemy nation will be given as gifts to people and the winning soldiers and people in turn gave gifts back to the king.
In the NT Paul refers to Jesus as the king who conquered sin, death, and grave on the cross. The Bible says Jesus Christ on the way to heaven gave gifts to men.
Ephesians 4:8-10 8This is why it says: "When he ascended on high, he led captives in his train and gave gifts to men." 9(What does "he ascended" mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions? 10He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.)
Paul says before Jesus ascended to heaven He descended. After death Jesus first descended to the lower parts of the earth. He descended into hell or Hades.
Jesus said Matthew 12:40 "For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.”
Why did Jesus go into the heart of earth? Hell is in the earth. Philippians 2:10 In the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth. Who is under the earth? Hell is under the earth.
The OT saints were held in a place called paradise. The wicked people were held in a place called Hell. People in hell could see the people in the paradise and vice versa, but no one could travel to either place. If you know the parable of the rich man and Lazarus both died and went to Hades but were on different sides of Hades separated by a large gulf. One is a place of torment where the people without Christ go. The other is the temporary holding place of OT saints. The rich man was in the place of torment, Hell and Lazarus was on the side of comfort called Abraham’s bosom.
All of the believers who died before Jesus Christ could not go directly to heaven because Jesus had not yet died for their sins. The blood of Jesus was not yet shed. So when they died, they went to the good side of Hell. Jesus after his death went and preached to them and led them from paradise into heaven.
That is why Jesus after he rose up from the grave said to Mary Magadlene in John 20:17 17Jesus said, "Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet returned to the Father.
Now what about the others on the torment side? They’re still there. People who die now without Christ also go to this place, Hell. They will be there until the Great White Throne Judgment. Then the books will be opened the question asked. Did you accept my Son Jesus Christ? Then those names not found in the Book of Life will be cast into the Lake of Fire.
I know this is not a comforting thought… but it’s a warning. Oh I hope every one of you here believe on Jesus Christ. May our friends and relatives believe on Jesus Christ and be out of hell. Hell is a reality… but friends… It can be avoided only through Jesus.
(I gave you a small picture of hell just needed for today’s message. The reality of hell is much more. If you want to know more about hell please sms or email me, I would be happy to share my notes with you.)
When Jesus died and led the OT saints to heaven He went as a conquering king and He gave gifts to men.
Every one of you has received these Spiritual Gifts.
God wants you to understand your spiritual gifts and operate on those gifts. You cannot imitate my gift as a pastor unless you have a pastoral gift. I cannot imitate your gift unless I have it.
Illustration: Have you see some churches where the believers are just like the pastor. They walk, talk, dress, & preach like the pastor. This is called gift colonization. I do not want our church to be like that. You are made and gifted differently, so operate your gifts differently.
One of the most miserable and defeating places to be is to do a job that you do not like, to serve in a position and setting that you do not belong to. You feel very uncomfortable because it does not fit your personality or character. That is not your gift. Then all you do is work without satisfaction. Illustration/joke When you start operating in your God-given gift you will find life more meaningful and satisfying just like my bus conductor experience.
List of spiritual gifts?
1 Corinthians 12 4-11 4There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men.
7Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 8To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. 11All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines.
Ephesians 4:11 11It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers
1 Corinthians 12:28 28And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of administration, and those speaking in different kinds of tongues.
Romans 12:7-8 7If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; 8if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.
1 Corinthians 7:7-8 7I wish that all men were as I am. But each man has his own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that. 8Now to the unmarried and the widows I say: It is good for them to stay unmarried, as I am.
1 Peter 4:9 9Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.
Spiritual Gifts: Wisdom, Knowledge, Faith, Healing, Miracles, Prophesy, Discernment, Tongues, Interpretation, Apostle, Evangelist, Pastor, Teacher, Helps, Administration, Service, Encouragement/Exhortation, Giving, Leadership, Mercy, Celibacy, & Hospitality.
There are so many spiritual gifts and you have at least one of these gifts, some have more than one gift.
How to know my spiritual gift?
If you are very good at doing something it is an indication of a spiritual gift. What comes to you naturally? What happens in your life when there is a need placed before you? Do you like to administrate? Do you like to help? Do you like showing mercy? Do you like to caution people? These are all indications of God given gifts.
Illustration: Suppose let us say we are walking down the stairs and I slip and fall and I am lying down in pain. Immediately you surround me and I want you to look at the reactions of our members:
Someone says, “Oh! Pastor are you okay? Oh I know how you feel, so sad of you. Gift of mercy.
Someone says, “Come on Pastor. Don’t let that hold you back, why are you sitting there, get up.” Gift of exhortation.
Someone else comes and just does not bother me. He looks at the stairs and railings and walks up and down the stairs holding the staircase railings finding out what is the problem with the stairs. Gift of Administration.
Someone else comes and looks at me and says, “Look at me closely. This is the proper way to use the stairs, next time hold on tightly and walk.” Gift of teaching
Someone else will come and say pastor in Jesus name get up and walk. Gift of miracles.
Someone else will laugh and say pastor your fall was very funny to watch. I too have fallen so many times and still I am fine. They just can’t stop laughing. Gift of encouragement.
Someone will take me on their arms and come down. Gift of serving others.
Someone else will take and take me to a hospital and pay my bills. Gift of giving.
I pray this does not happen to me. But if you look carefully on how you respond to a given situation on a repeated basis you will find out your spiritual gift.
Once you understand your spiritual gift keep on exercising your gift even if people are not noticing it. Keep on doing it so good that people will eventually notice it and appreciate you. Finally, God’s purpose for you will be revealed through your spiritual gifts.
“What God called you to do he has already gifted you, what God has gifted you is God’s calling in your life.”
God wants you to understand your gifts and make use of it. 2 Timothy 1:6 6For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands.
When we use our spiritual gifts life will suddenly become more meaningful and we begin to enjoy what we do. You will make a difference in this world as you begin to fulfill God’s purposes utilizing your spiritual gifts.
I hope you receive it today. Amen and God bless you!
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