The great Italian violinist, violist, guitarist, and composer, Niccolo Paganini willed his marvelous violin to city of Genoa on condition that it must never be played. The wood of such an instrument, while used and handled, wears only slightly. But set aside, it begins to decay. Paganini's lovely violin has today become worm-eaten and useless except as a relic.
Paul calls us, “God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”
Jesus calls us, “You are the light of the world…”
As we look forward to this new year, we must only look back long enough to recognize the areas we need to change. Our past should never dictate who we are only should help develop who we can become.
So, as we begin to evaluate our role as a church, remember that God does not call the qualified, He qualifies those He calls. A good example for us is Gideon.
Judges 6:12-14 – “The angel of the Lord appeared to him and said to him, “The Lord is with you, you mighty warrior.” 13 Gideon answered him, “But sir, if the Lord is with us, why then has all this happened to us? And where are all his wonderful deeds that our ancestors recounted to us, saying, ‘Did not the Lord bring us up from Egypt?’ But now the Lord has cast us off, and given us into the hand of Midian.” 14 Then the Lord turned to him and said, “Go in this might of yours and deliver Israel from the hand of Midian; I hereby commission you.”
God knew who Gideon was to become and called him to take action. Once Gideon became willing to follow Gods call, God used him powerfully. Just like Gideon, we do not have to have great power or knowledge for God to use us. If we commit ourselves to serve Him, God will open doors before us.
I. God’s Invitation
A. Feed on His Word
1. Give us this day our daily bread…
a. We must eat of the spiritual food to feed the soul
b. Christ said, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.” (Matthew 5:6)
2. 1 Peter 2:2 – “Like newborn infants, long for the pure, spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow into salvation…”
3. To be fed, there must be a hunger to satisfy the need
4. When was the last time you were hungry for God’s word?
B. Apply His Word
1. James says, “But the one who peers into the perfect law of liberty and fixes his attention there, and does not become a forgetful listener but one who lives it out – he will be blessed in what he does.”
2. The blessed one is the one who listens to the Word of God and lives it out (Applies the word)
3. If the Word of God is not applied to the heart, there will be no desire to do what the Word says
4. God tells Moses, “You shall put these words of mine in your heart and soul, and you shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and fix them as an emblem on your forehead.” (Deuteronomy 11:18)
5. Parents, you must impress them to your heart so that your children can see you live the Word out before them.
6. Jesus said, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!” (Luke 11:28)
C. Become Passionate for His Word
1. You become what you love
2. “Sometimes the smallest things take the most room in your heart.” – Winnie the Pooh
3. “Our wants and longings and desires are at the core of our identity, the wellspring from which our actions and behavior flow.”
(Smith, James K. A. You Are What You Love (p. 2). Baker Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.)
4. Psalm 119:20 – “My soul is consumed with longing for your ordinances at all times.”
II. God’s Expectation
A. Share His Word
1. God does not expect His Word to sit idle
2. Isaiah 55:11 – “…so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and succeed in the thing for which I sent it.”
B. Be a Doer of His Word
1. There is one thing to know what the Bible says while doing what it says is something more
2. It is going to be those who are doing what God says who will hear from Him, “Well done…”
3. Jesus says, “If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.”
4.
C. Don’t Kid Yourself
1. “For if any are hearers of the word and not doers, they are like those who look at themselves in a mirror; for they look at themselves and, on going away, immediately forget what they were like.” (James 1:23-24)
2. James uses the mirror imagery for the purpose of getting the church community to examine themselves
3. Failing to consistently examine our hearts will only lead to deceiving ourselves as we are “okay”
4. Constantly being fed without exercise is only destroying the body (whether physical or spiritual)
III. God’s Adjudication
A. God judges the hearts of men
1. “…for the Lord does not see as mortals see; they look on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”
2. Our heart will determine the fruit that is produced
3. Jesus said, “Thus you will know them by their fruits.”
B. God sees through well intentions
1. James says you can’t look at someone in need and then do nothing “what good is that?”
2. “For you need endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised. For yet “in a very little while, the one who is coming will come and will not delay; but my righteous one will live by faith. My soul takes no pleasure in anyone who shrinks back.” God is interested in your obedience; not your intention to be obedient.” (Hebrews 10:36-38)
3. “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.” (John 14:15)
C. God will hold each of us accountable
1. Reminder: what we do here on earth in the physical is for eternal glory
2. We have to display our faith in God by showing it through what we do
3. “For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is also dead.” (James 2:26)
IV. Being Involved, Being Connected
A. What is your passion?
1. God does not make mistakes when it comes to placing people right where they are
2. God gives exactly what one needs to do what He calls them to do
3. Everyone’s passions are different
4. Maybe you do not know for sure
a. Ask God to reveal those gifts to you
b. Ask Him to help you develop them.
c. Be sensitive to ways in which you might receive further training in your area of talent
5. We have forms for you
a. Maybe you have never completed a passion inventory
b. Maybe your passions have changed
B. The Church works when we are working
1. Remember: God does not call the qualified, He qualifies the called
2. Don’t wait until you are an expert.
3. Part of the way to become an expert is to start using your talents for God’s purposes
C. God never stops working
1. God only rested from His creative work
2. Jesus said, “My Father is still working, and I also am working.”
3. God will not give you a talent and then fail to give you opportunities for discovering, using, developing, practicing and perfecting it.
4. God created us to join Him in the good works He has prepared beforehand so that others may come to know Him through Jesus Christ
“You will never feel good about your life until you are functioning in the sphere for which you were created; For example, birds in the air; fish in the water; man in a close fellowship with his creator.”
