LIFESONG – Singing our Part in a Song of Praise
Romans 12:1-8
INTRODUCTION:
The animals decided to get together to organize a school. They developed a curriculum of climbing, swimming, running, and flying. All animals were required to take all the subjects.
The duck was excellent in swimming, in fact better than the instructor. But duck’s grades in flying were only average. Duck’s running grade was very low because she was so slow. Since duck was so slow, she had to drop swimming, which she really enjoyed, to spend extra time running. Running caused duck’s web feet to be badly worn, so that by the end of the semester duck was only an average swimmer.
The rabbit was at the top of the class in running. Swimming, however was a challenge for rabbit; forced to stay after class to improve his swimming technique rabbit developed a nervous twitch in his leg muscles. Rabbit’s speed fell off because of this nasty muscle twitch dropping his running grade from an A to a C.
The squirrel was excellent in climbing, but always had in trouble in flying class. The teacher insisted that squirrel start on the ground and go up, but squirrel wanted to start in the treetops and fly down. Squirrel developed cramps in his legs from overexertion, and his grade fell in climbing, which he enjoyed, to a “C+.” His flying teacher gave him a “D” because he could not follow instructions.
The eagle was always being disciplined. For instance, in flying class eagle refused to meet his quota in wing flapping because he preferred to soar. In climbing class eagle beat everyone to the top of the tree but he insisted on getting there his own way – flying. In swimming class eagle refused to stay in the water; he would dive in but then immediately fly away. And in running class eagle appeared to outrun the class; the teacher discover eagle had been cheating because eagle’s running class followed flight class, so eagle’s feet never really touched the ground as he “ran” around the track. Because of eagle’s misconduct at animal school he was suspended for the rest of the school year.
What is the moral of the story? Each animal has its own natural abilities. The animals failed when forced to do something they were not gifted to do. Rabbits don’t fly. Eagles don’t swim. Squirrels don’t have feathers. Ducks look funny trying to climb trees.
What is true of the animals of the forest is also true for you and me. God has not made us all the same. Together we should discover our natural God given abilities and use them in the place God has given us to do it.
Our theme at Praise Assembly of God for 2006 is LIFESONG. We are to live our lives as a song of praise to God. Praise is more than just the songs we sing at church; PRAISE IS A LIFESTYLE. Praise and Worship is lived out in everything we do and say. Remember Paul told us in Romans 12 that we are to live our lives as living sacrifices which is our spiritual act of worship. The way you live your live from day to day is your personal LIFESONG of praise.
However, God has brought each of us together as His Church at Praise Assembly of God. God has not brought us here to sing in unison the same notes of the song. God has brought us together each with our own unique part to sing and play; together the combined melody of our LIFESONG is a symphonic harmony of praise and worship to our God.
But our LIFESONG will never be all that God designed unless we each sing our part. The ministry of Praise Assembly of God is not Pastor Greg’s solo performance; it’s not a duet with Pastor George and me. The LIFESONG at Praise is not just a quartet or small group ensemble. Our LIFESONG is a symphony of praise; it is a choir in which each one of us has a part to sing. “SINGING OUR PART IN A SONG OF PRAISE”
• Romans 12:1-8 (NIV)
[1] Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. [2] Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
[3] For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. [4] Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, [5] so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. [6] We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. [7] If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; [8] if 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.
As a church we are collectively called to sing a LIFESONG of praise to God. How do we do that? What does Paul teach us here in Romans 12 about singing our part in a song of praise to God? We will focus on four things, our P-A-R-T in a Four part Harmony:
P – Play Your Part
A – Attitude Adjustment
R – Right Relationship
T – Today not Tomorrow
P – Play Your Part
• Romans 12:6-8 (NIV)
[6] We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. [7] If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; [8] if 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.
Can I overstate the obvious? We are all DIFFERENT! Paul says we all have “different gifts.” I want you to notice a couple things about the different gifts we have been given.
1. GIFTs are GIVEN BY GOD!
Paul says we have different gifts “according to the grace given to us.” I like how the Message puts it: “Let’s just go ahead and be what we were made to be without enviously and pridefully comparing ourselves with each other, or trying to be something we aren’t.”
I will never be you, and you will never be me. So why should we compare ourselves with each other and boast about how much better we may be than someone else? Or why put ourselves down because we can’t do certain things? BE YOURSELF! BE WHO GOD MADE YOU TO BE! Gifts—your talents and abilities—are given by God; it is God’s grace at work in and through your life. You are who God made you; nothing more and nothing less.
2. GIFTs have an INTENDED USE.
I know it is hard to believe but some people actually just sit on their gifts and don’t use them. We could say that Paul was the first to say “JUST DO IT;” if this is your gift, then just do it! If your gift is prophecy, then speak God’s word. If you enjoy serving others, then serve. If you are an encourager, the encourage. If you have the gift of giving, then give generously. If it is leadership, then lead. If it is mercy then just do it!
What gifts has God given to you that could be used to build His Kingdom at Praise Assembly of God? Perhaps you are using your gifts at work and never even thought about how God could use your talents to be a blessing to others. Are you willing to take whatever gift you have been given and use it as God desire?
Gifts are Given by God and have an intended use, but some of us are not using our gifts because other people get in our way or hinder us from doing what God designed us to do.
3. GIFTs should be not-FORBIDDEN BY OTHERS.
Two words stand out in what the Holy Spirit directed Paul to write; in these three verses “LET HIM” is repeated seven times. On the one hand it is an encouragement for the individual to use their gift (so ladies it could just as easily say “LET HER.”) But on the other hand these words are an admonition to others in the church to let people use their gift. LET HIM—LET HER; God gave people gifts to be used so don’t stand in their way but let them use the gifts God has given.
It may be you are held back because you are afraid of the critical spirit the people around you have. Folks we are not to forbid the use of individual gifts with a critical spirit; keep your opinion to yourself. If you can’t say something nice, then don’t say anything at all! We are to build up and encourage others not tear them down. (I’ll have more to say about this when we get to the “A” in PART-“Attitude Adjustment.”)
Gifts are God given, have an intended use and should be not-forbidden because:
4. GIFTs are TRAINABLE.
Trainable does not mean gifts are pulled by a locomotive or steam engine. Gifts can be DEVELOPED and IMPROVED. Paul said our gifts should be used “in proportion to [one’s] faith.” God does not expect you to use your gifts in proportion to my faith or Pastor George’s faith. God wants you to use your gifts in proportion to YOUR FAITH. Faith is not idle or stagnate; faith GROWS!
• Colossians 2:7 (NLT)
Let your roots grow down into him and draw up nourishment from him, so you will grow in faith, strong and vigorous in the truth you were taught.
Jesus said with faith the size of a mustard seed you can move mountains; nothing will be impossible for you (see Matthew 17:20). Why did Jesus compare faith to a mustard seed? Why not compare it to a pebble or a grain of sand? A mustard seed CAN GROW! A pebble or grain of sand is lifeless; as it is today so it will remain. But the mustard seed of faith grows; it will develop over time.
Your gifts are TRAINABLE. Your gifts will improve as you use them.
ILLUSTRATION: I have been in the ministry now for seventeen years; working like Pastor George as a youth pastor for six years and pastoring for eleven. I figured out that I’ve now prepared and preached nearly 1,400 sermons. I think I’ve had a little bit of practice; I think over seventeen years I have developed and improved a little bit in my ability to communicate God’s word. Now how many of you would agree that it is not fair to compare my preaching with that of Pastor George who still has less than a year’s experience? While he may not preach like I do he does a good job, and more importantly he is developing his gift. Pastor George is learning; his gift is TRAINABLE. I’m glad Pastor Dave gave me the opportunity to preach using my gift in proportion to my faith. And I’m glad we can let Pastor George develop his gifts too. Some might even say that I still have a few things to learn and still have room to grow. That’s why I’m taking such a great risk tonight by letting Susie preach; she is going to do such a great job you will want to hear her all the time instead of me! She has been one of my best teachers.
Satan knows God has given each of us gifts and one way the devil keeps us from using our gifts is FEAR. Fear of failure, fear of not doing good enough, fear of not doing it right, fear of what other people will think.
How do we overcome fear within the Kingdom of God? WITH LOVE! Perfect love casts out fear (See 1 John 4:18). Through our love for one another we should encourage one another to develop our gifts, to improve in the use of our abilities to further God’s kingdom.
PRAISE A/G SHOULD BE A SAFE PLACE FOR YOU TO DISCOVER AND DEVELOP YOUR GIFTS!
We need you to play your part in the song of praise we give to the Lord. Our ministry is STRONGER WITH ALL OF US than only some of us. Play your part! Some might argue saying, “But Pastor a chain is only as strong as it’s weakest link.” That’s not true in this church because we are united together in love with each other and with Christ, and when you are united with Jesus then even in your weakness you are made strong (See 2 Corinthians 12:7-10).
We are stronger with all of us playing our part.
A – Attitude Adjustment
• Romans 12:2-3 (NIV)
[2] Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. [3] For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.
If we are going to sing our LIFESONG to God then some of us will have to get rid or our stinkin’ thinkin’! We are not to think like the world our minds are to be transformed, to be renewed in the manner of our thinking.
What is the attitude adjustment we need? How should our thinking be changed? It is a big but necessary shift. Put simply our thinking is transformed from being SELF-CENTERED to being OTHERS-CENTERED!
Look again at what Paul tells us in verse three. None of us should think we are better than others. Instead we are to think of ourselves with sober judgment and in according to the MEASURE OF FAITH GOD HAS GIVEN.
I am nothing more and nothing less than what God made me to be. God has given me a measure of faith and I am to use my gifts in proportion to the faith God has given me. You are nothing more and nothing less than who God made you to be.
If God made you and God made me, then how can we say we are better than others? We are the way God made us!
In the PARABLE OF THE WEDDING BANQUET Jesus said that the self-important will arrive and take the best seats at the table, so that everyone there will notice them. Unfortunately when the bridegroom arrives he will come to those who see themselves as better than others and move them to another table. Jesus tells us, “Don’t take the best seat.” Instead we should take the lowest position, then when the bridegroom comes he will come and say, “Friend why are you sitting here? Come on I’ve got a better seat for you.”
• Luke 14:11 (NIV)
For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."
Now let’s get real practical on this point. Is there anyone here that is too good to work in the nursery and change a baby’s pooppy diaper? The only requirement for working in the nursery is to love babies. I noticed our nursery schedule the other day. We need some of you to be willing to help in there. The same is true for our PRE-SCHOOL CHILDREN. It takes a little more gifting to work with toddlers and teach them a lesson about loving God, but we have people who can help you develop that gift. None of us are too good to love our children and teach them about Jesus.
It is easy for those us who have “up-front” ministries to think we have the important jobs, and for those with “behind the scenes” ministries to think their job isn’t important. Every ministry is important.
Singing our part in the LIFESONG of praise to God is a four PART harmony. Each of us need to be willing to PLAY OUR PART; we all need an ATTITUDE ADJUSTMENT, and:
R – Right Relationships
• Romans 12:4-5 (NIV)
[4] Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, [5] so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.
We need to understand our relationship to one anther within the church. Paul uses the human body to help us understand our role within the church. We each have one body, but the body is made up of many different parts. the same is true for the body of Christ, the Church. There is ONE BODY, with many different MEMBERS.
Right relationships means we maintain UNITY WHILE EMBRACING OUR DIVERSITY.
How does this relate to our LIFESONG of praise? We have but ONE SONG to sing; it is not our own song. Together we sing a song of praise to God. But what makes this song beautiful is that we each have a different part in the song. No two parts are exactly the same. But when we join our different and unique parts together into the one song of praise that God has given us to sing as His church, then it is a beautiful song of praise and worship to our God.
Satan would like to do anything he can to keep us from having right relationships. It has been said many time, “Satan does not fear a large church, he fears a united church.”
• Matthew 18:19-20 (NIV)
[19] "Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. [20] For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them."
Jesus says when we agree together the Father will hear our prayer and will answer us. But we need to understand the full force of what Jesus is saying. In Matthew 18 Jesus is not teaching us about the power of united prayer; He isn’t teaching about prayer at all. Instead the context of what Jesus is teaching deals with how to handle division within the church. Jesus is telling us how to handle conflict with the people sitting around us today.
THE REAL FORCE of what Jesus says here about united prayer is to understand it’s not just when two or three join together at the church. The real power of united prayer comes about when those who have been at war against each other drop their grievances and forgive on another. When unity is maintained as Jesus has taught, then nothing will be impossible.
ILLUSTRATION: Did you know people can have conflict with their pastor? There was a time when Kim had been hurt by her pastor (that’s me for those who aren’t sure). It would have been easy and even justified in the eyes of many for her to have left our church and moved on. But instead she was willing to do what Jesus said to do. She showed me my sin against her. Today there is unity between us. And when we agree in prayer God listens!
• 1 Corinthians 11:27-29 (NIV)
[27] Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. [28] A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup. [29] For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself.
Singing our part in the LIFESONG of praise to God is a four PART harmony. Each of us need to be willing to PLAY OUR PART; we all need an ATTITUDE ADJUSTMENT, we need to maintain RIGHT RELATIONSHIPS and:
T – Today not Tomorrow
• Romans 12:1 (NIV)
Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship.
I URGE YOU; don’t put it off this is the time for us to sing our LIFESONG of praise; now is the time for us to lift our voices together!
ILLUSTRATION: After World War II, a group of German students volunteered to help rebuild an English cathedral that had been severely damaged by German bombs. As work progressed, they became concerned about a large statue of Jesus, whose arms were outstretched and beneath which was the inscription: “Come unto Me.” They had particular difficulty trying to restore the hands, which had been completely destroyed. After much discussion, they decided to let the hands remain missing and changed the inscription to: “Christ has no hands but ours.” (John MacArthur Jr.)
The work of Jesus Christ in the world is in the hands of those who belong to Him. In that sense, He has no hands but our hands, no feet but our feet. The Lord commissioned His earthly ministry to His followers, saying, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you” (Matt 28:20) (John MacArthur Jr.)
I have often said, “The best days for our church are still ahead of us.” That’s true, but it will only happen if we all do our part TODAY. TODAY IS ALL WE HAVE TO LIVE FOR THE LORD.
Are we willing to join our voices together as one in our LIFESONG of praise to God? It is a Four part Harmony:
P – Play Your Part
A – Attitude Adjustment
R – Right Relationship
T – Today not Tomorrow
LIFESONG – Getting Rid of the Sour Notes, Staying on Key in a Song of Praise
LIFESONG – Following the Conductor in a Song of Praise.
