Title: “Where Do You Fit In?”
Text: Romans 12: 4-8
Over the last several weeks, we have been going over the Motivational Gifts that God has placed within the Church. I can’t stress this enough, “God wants us to pursue the Gifts that He has placed within the Church.”
1 Corinthians 12: 1 says, “Now concerning Spiritual Gifts Brethren, I don’t want you to be Ignorant.” I’m not trying to be mean, but many times we are ignorant of the Gifts that God has placed within the Church & it has to break God’s Heart.
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We have the mentality, “Well, if God wants me to have one of these Gifts, then He will give it to me.” God wants the Church to operate in the Gifts of the Spirit, but we’ve got to seek after the Gifts.
Over the past several weeks, we have seen that God has placed many gifts within the Body, so that the Body would function correctly.
We have been talking about the Motivational Gifts & as soon as we are finished with Romans 12, we will go over to 1 Corinthians 12 & see the Manifestation Gifts that God wants to see in Operation in Every Church.
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I don’t know if you realize it or not, but the Body of Christ needs you. 1 Corinthians 12 says, “All of the members of the Body are important & all of the members have a Function.”
Did you know that the Backbone of the Church is made up of “Ordinary People” doing “Ordinary Things”? Please turn with me in your Bible’s to Exodus 17: 8-15.
The Children of Israel were Fighting a Battle against Amalek. Moses was on top of the Mountain with His Hands Lifts towards Heaven, with the Rod of God in His Hand, while Joshua was in the Valley Fighting the Enemy!
There is a message in this Story. It took everybody pulling together to win the Battle. The Job of the Leader was to keep them Lifted up in Prayer to God!
Aaron & Hur were on the Top of the Mountain with Moses their Leader. But you are going to see that they had a Job to do. When they did their Job, it made a difference.
1. When Moses’ Hands Were Up, Israel Won
the Battle in the Valley.
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When the Pastor is able to do the Job that God has called him to do, it is going to make a tremendous difference in the Body. The job of the Pastor is to Equip the Saints for Ministry.
-To Spend Time in the Word.
-To Spend Time in Prayer.
-To Cast Vision for the Church.
2. When Moses’ Hands Got Heavy and They
weren’t Lifted up, Israel Lost the Battle.
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It didn’t take Aaron & Hur very long to notice what was Happening. They noticed that when Moses’ Hands became heavy & they would drop down, Israel would lose the Battle.
3. Aaron & Hur Supported the Hands of the
Hands of their Leader.
They realized that when they supported the hands of their Leader, that Israel began to Win the Battle. There are many battles that are being Lost Today because no one is willing to Lift of the Hands of their Leader.
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This is the message that I am trying to get across as we study the Motivational Gifts. You might not be the Leader in the Church, but when you support the hands of the Leader it is a very vital role.
-I thank God for S.S. Teachers.
-S.S. teachers, pastor your class.
-I thank God for Nursery Works.
-Minister to those Babies in the Nursery.
-Thank God for our Greeters.
-Make people feel welcome in the House of God
-Thank God for those that drive a Van.
-Thank God for those who lift up the Hands.
-There are many parts to the Body.
-But all of the parts are Important.
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You might be thinking, “But pastor, I want to do something important.” God’s word says, “If you give someone a cup of water in My Name, you have done it unto Me.”
Quit looking for the Big Ministry & just be Faithful to what God has called you to do. The theme statement of Servant Evangelism is, “Small Things Done With Great Love Will Change the World.”
Matthew 27:55
“And many women who followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering to Him, were there looking on from afar.”
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-I don’t think they were Counseling Jesus.
-I don’t think they were Healing Jesus.
-I don’t think they were Preaching to Him.
-But they were ministering to Jesus.
In the Book of Acts, the Church was growing so fast that they appointed Deacons. The Deacons weren’t there to tell the pastor what to do, they were there to help the pastor, so he would be free to do the work of the Ministry.
Stephen waited on Tables! I don’t think he thought, “You know, when I get done waiting on these tables & taking care of these little needs then I’ll do an important ministry.” He looked at what he was doing as Ministry.
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Luke 16: 10
“He that is Faithful in that which is Least is Faithful also in much; & he that is unjust in the Least in unjust also in much.”
If we are not careful, we get so busy looking for that Big Ministry that we miss the “Everyday Ministry Opportunities” that God has placed in our Pathway! Jesus didn’t look for a Big Ministry, He was just a Lover of People.
I. The Gift of Giving.
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Some of you are Thinking, he’s getting ready to take an Offering. He’s going to be talking about Money tonight & the people who Give! Giving is an Act of Worship!
Giving- To give over, to Share or Impart.
Do you know that there are people in this Body that give Monies far beyond their Tithe & they don’t even realize that they are Serving the Lord?
-They give of their Time.
-They give of their Talents.
-They give from their Resources.
-And they don’t even Realize they are Serving…
Proverbs 11: 25
“The Liberal Soul shall be made Fat; & he that watereth shall be watered also himself.”
Giving might be called the Gift of “Special Sharing.” It might be called the Gift of Support. This Gift is not Restricted to just the Wealthy People of the Church.
-Thank God for the Widow’s Mite.
-Thank God for the Boy’s Loaves & Fishes.
-These stories are in the Bible for a Purpose.
-A lot of people know how to Receive.
-But God Teach us to Give!
-The Bible says, “Give & it shall be…….”
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II. The Gift of Giving goes beyond Money.
1. You can give by Sharing Material Things,
like Food or Clothing.
When we get a lot of extra stuff around the House, I say to Gail, let’s have a Rummage Sale, so we can make some Money! She says, “I would rather give it to Someone!”
Luke 3:11
“He answered & said to them, “He who has two tunics, let him give to him who has none; and he who has food, let him do likewise.”
We have people who do this all of the Time;
-They bring groceries to put in the Pantry.
-They give away clothes.
-And they don’t even realize they Worshipping.
2. You can give by Sharing Spiritual Things.
Romans 1:11
“For I long to see you, that I may Impart to you some Spiritual Gift, so that you may be Established.” (I like that!)
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3. You can give by Sharing your Finances
with Someone.
I am convinced that many times we don’t understand why God gives Men Money. The Word of God says, “And you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you the Power to get Wealth.” (Deut. 8:18)
-Not just so you can build a Bigger House.
-Not so you can drive a Shinnier Car.
-But so you can be a Blessing to Others.
-So we can Evangelize a Lost World.
-God help us to see that!
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I am convinced that it is God’s Will to Purchase the Snapp Property, so we can continue to Grow. And I am also convinced that we are able to Pay for it in Full at the End of the Year.
But we are going to have to be willing to Give. This Church is here today, because a few people several years ago where willing to Give. I thank God for Givers & I pray for Stingy People!
4. You can Give by Sharing of Yourself.
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1 Thessalonians 2: 8
“So, affectionately longing for you, we were well pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God, but also our own lives, because you had become dear to us.”
Gail for the last several months would go to School every Tuesday & Spend time with a Little girl by the name of Storm. She would help her to read.
-She Learned to love this little girl.
-She taught her more than reading.
-She let her know that someone cared.
-She ministered to this little girl.
-You don’t have to go to Africa to Minister.
4. You can give by Sharing the Gospel.
Sharing the Gospel has to go beyond the Walls of this Church. Sharing the Gospel is more than Preaching. It is doing Practical Things to Touch Someone!
III. Abraham is a good Example of a Giver.
1. He was called, “ The Friend of God.”
James 2:23
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2. God could trust Abraham with his assets.
Genesis 13: 2
“Abraham was very rich in Livestock, in Silver, & in gold.” (But he called upon the name of God. He was an Altar Builder.)
There was Strife between Lot’s Herdsmen & Abraham’s Herdsmen, so Abraham said, “Lot if you choose the land to the Left, I’ll take the land to the Right, but you choose. He Trusted God to take care of Him. If you aren’t careful, your Assets can control you!
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3. Abraham was known for his Liberal Spirit.
-He didn’t have to help Lot.
-It was God who spoke to Abraham.
-But Abraham cared about Lot.
-And God took care of him.
4. Abraham was ready to help others when he
saw a need. Genesis 14
When Lot was taken captive by the Enemy, Abraham went with 318 of his trained servants & rescued Lot from the Enemy.
5. Abraham had to problem with Tithing.
Genesis 14:19-20
“And he blessed him & said: “Blessed be Abram of God Most High, Possessor of Heaven & Earth;
“And blessed be God Most High, Who has delivered your Enemies into your hand.” And he gave him a tithe of all.”
6. Abraham wanted God to receive all of the
Glory in his Giving.
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Genesis 14:21-23
“Now the king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give me the persons, & take the goods for yourself.”
“But Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I have lifted my hand to the Lord, God Most High, the Possessor of Heaven & Earth.
“That I will take nothing, from a Thread to a Sandal Strap, & that I will not take anything that is yours, lest you should say, “I have made Abram rich—“
IV. The Profile of a Giver.
1. Gives freely of money, possessions, time,
Energy & Love to Others.
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2. Loves to give Quietly without other people
knowing about it.
3. He wants to feel a part of the work that
he gave to.
4. They are Delighted when their Gift is an
Answer to Prayer.
5. Gives mainly by the Leading of the Holy
Spirit.
6. They give to Support & Bless Others or to
Advance the Kingdom.
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7. They have the Ability to handle their own
Finances with Wisdom.
8. They depend upon their Spouse’s Council to
Confirm the Amount.
9. They have a strong belief in Tithing and
Offerings.
-These people aren’t Selfish.
-They understand the Principle of Tithing.
-Tithing isn’t a suggestion in the Bible.
-The Tithe is to go to the Storehouse.
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10. They manage their money well and they are
Industrious.
11. They know that their assets come from God
& they give God the Glory.
12. They are Sensitive to the Needs of Others.
V. The Pollutions Areas of the Gift of Giving.
1. They may try to manipulate people.
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2. They may give their children to much.
3. They may want to Control the Work or the
Person.
4. They may use Financial Giving to get out of
other Responsibilities.
