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
Most faithful not necessarily most gifted most given to God The boss said to the employee, "How long have you been working here?" “Since I heard you coming down the hall.”
3. Given FOR OTHERS
Gifts given by God and to God but in community Vs 5 NCV
In the same way, we are many, but in Christ we are all one body. Each one is a part of that body, and each part belongs to all the other parts.
Which part would you like to do without?
All parts are important, needed and desired.
What if my thumbs decided they wouldn’t work because I put a ring on this finger, but not on them? I’d be pretty clumsy!
What if my hand wouldn’t help my foot when I accidentally set refrigerator on it because I spent $100 to cover my feet, but only $20 on gloves for my hands?
Church is body of Christ & each of us are various parts of that body, as every single part of my physical body essential for me to be a whole and complete person,
even though all of them don’t get equal credit or honor.
Body of Christ is not to be handicapped if God’s purpose is to be accomplished & body to grow, everyone of you who are members of body are absolutely essential & important. Nobody is a nobody in Christ’s body. Each one has gifts use to make Christ’s body whole, complete, functional.
A Reason TO TEAM UP Christlike service done willingly, joyfully, happily. Not grudging or resentful. Not accompanied by litany of all things you giving up in order to serve. It doesn’t involve a long recitation of how much it’s costing you to serve, just to make sure people appreciate you Christlike service is given gladly, w\out reservation; service comes from a heart of love. Means we are choosing to do something we don’t have to do.
When we forget ourselves, we do things that are remembered
Have a Proper Estimate of Self honest evaluation of who you are and what God has given you Listen to Vs 3-5 “I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself w\sober judgment in accordance w\measure of faith Just as each of us has 1 body w\many members, & members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form 1 body, & each member belongs to all others.” Also means must be willing to be forced out of comfort zone Be willing to try new things see how it goes learn
Each of us belongs to one another. I might be strong in the area of my gift, but weak in areas where others have been gifted. But you’ve got to make up for my weaknesses I must minister to others out of my strength, & depend upon ministry of rest of the body in my areas of weakness.
Did you know you belong to the person sitting next to you? We’re on same team each of us playing different roles. Don’t get puffed up by your own importance & don’t take yourself out of the game by thinking you don’t matter. We need each other because we belong to each other. Rom 12 talks about us having understanding and working together, Love from the center of who you are;
man who was driving on New Circle Rd in rush hour traffic when he got a call from his wife on his cell phone, “Honey, you need to be careful driving home because I just heard on the news that there’s a dork driving in the wrong direction on the same road you’re on.” To which the husband responded, “It’s not just one; there are hundreds of them!”
3 Benefits to being mobilized for ministry. You will be FRUITFUL. Jn 15:5: “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit.” Develop\deploy spiritual gifts, see fruit. You will be FULFILLED. Ps 138:7: “The Lord will fulfill His purpose for me.” There is nothing more satisfying than to be used by God. God wants to do amazing things in\thru us Church will be FORTIFIED. Eph 4:12 spiritual gifts given “so that the body of Christ my be built up.” Churches strong church because people use your spiritual gifts church
· Commit to personal growth through fully expressing your surrender to God.
· Commit to this local body through a proper estimate of yourself.
· Commit to ministry by completely engaging in service.
Vessels in MINISTRY Work inside the church, leading Bible study, working on committee, helping with TBC project MISSION What we are doing to reach world outside church We must exercise each of these muscles
Imagine WHAT COULD BE AT TBC Why aren’t we doing more?? God has not sent the right gifts or they are not being shared When we serve, tap into rich reservoir of God’s blessings. Not easy though, involves a cross
L.O.V.E like Christ
being Vessels of Service
Romans 12:1-5 Jay Davis Robison January 22, 2006
4. Given
God has given each of us the ability to do certain things well Vs 6 NLT
A Reason
S-
H-
A-
P-
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5. Given
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—and place it before God as an offering. vs 1 The Message
A Reason
What you
But what you
6. Given
In the same way, we are many, but in Christ we are all one body. Each one is a part of that body, and each part belongs to all the other parts. Vs 5 NCV
A Reason
Vessels in M
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Imagine
