Shaped For Significance

A young boy came to church one cold winter day to get out of the blowing snow. He had been trying to sell newspapers but not a single customer had passed by because of the weather. He slipped into the back of the church, just hoping to get warm and catch up on his sleep. Though the Sunday crowd was slim, the boy really paid attention to the sermon and was greatly moved by it. When the pastor was done, he called for the offering. The ushers went from row to row, and when the offering plate came to the boy, he stared at it for a while and then put it on the floor.

He then did something very strange and very beautiful. He stood up and stepped right into the offering plate. By then, all the people had turned around and were staring at the boy. When he looked up, he had big tears running down his face as he said, “Pastor, I don’t have any money because I haven’t sold any newspapers today. But, if Jesus gave His life for me, then I will gladly give my life to Him.” The person who has nothing to give but himself is able to give the greatest gift of all.

“And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way; bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience and joyfully giving thanks to the Father.”

Colossians 1:10-12

“In the shop of a blacksmith, there are three types of tools. There are tools on the junkpile: outdated, broken, dull, rusty. They sit in the cobwebbed corner, useless to their master, oblivious to their calling.

There are tools on the anvil: melted down, molten hot, moldable, changeable. They lie on the anvil, being shaped by their master, accepting their calling.

There are tools of usefulness: sharpened, primed, defined, mobile

They lie ready in the blacksmith’s tool chest, available to their master, fulfilling their calling.

Some people lie useless: lives broken, talents wasting, fires quenched, dreams dashed. They are tossed in with the scrap iron, in desperate need of repair, with no notion of purpose.

Others lie on the anvil: hearts open, hungry to change, wounds healing, visions clearing. They welcome the painful pounding of the blacksmith’s hammer, longing to be rebuilt, begging to be called.

Others lie in their Master’s hands: well tuned, uncompromising, polished, productive. They respond to their Master’s forearm, demanding nothing, surrendering all”

In the Bible, the word “service” and the word “ministry” is one in the same. Most people think of a minister as someone with formal Biblical training, but actually a minister is one who has a ministry. And one who has a ministry is simply a servant.

As we study Colossians 1:10-12, we are given four ways in which to please the Lord. Remember – He is the potter and we are the clay. He has created each of us in a special and unique way.

(v. 10) “And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way .

How do you please the Lord?

“And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way; bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience and joyfully giving thanks to the Father.”

1) by bearing fruit

2) by growing spiritually

3) by living powerfully

4) by thanking joyfully

Shaped for Significance

He has shaped each of us – not just for survival – not just for success - but for significance.

Three levels of living:

Level One – Survival

Level Two – Success

Level Three – Significance

Significant – important, meaningful; having a special, secret meaning.

SHAPE.

Spiritual gifts – What God has gifted you to do

Heart – What you are passionate about

Abilities – What you are good at doing

“You are the only person on earth who can use your ability.

Personality – How you do what God calls you to do.

Experiences – How the lessons you’ve learned yesterday prepare you for tomorrow.

1) Your giftedness is significant to the people of God

Spiritual gift – An ability given by God and empowered by the Holy Spirit that enables the believer to perform a function in the body of Christ with effectiveness.

On Christmas morning, I gave each of my three children different gifts. My children are unique and the gifts I give them are unique.