Larry & Janet share about Presents Jesus gives to us. Today, "Spiritual Gifts."
We are sharing the same message, in each our own way. Larry is at the Praise Chapel Rancho Cucamonga Campus and Janet is at the Living Hope Family Church Campus.
”I will gladly spend and be spent for you.” 2 Corinthians 12:15
"In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. 7 If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. 8 If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly" (Romans 12:6-8 NLT.)
"Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God's grace in its various forms." (1 Peter 4:10(TNIV).
What is MINISTRY?
Using the GIFTS God put inside me, to do the work God set before me, to bless the people God put around me, through the Spirit God put within me, you were created for this.
”Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them" (Romans 12:6 NKJV).
“Pay close attention to how you live. Make good use of every opportunity you get. Find out what the Lord wants you to do” (Ephesians 5:15-17).
1. Using your Gifts: Has a STOP factor.
Matthew 20:30-34 NLT, Two blind men were sitting beside the road. When they heard that Jesus was coming that way, they began shouting, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!”31 “Be quiet!” the crowd yelled at them. But they only shouted louder, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!” 32 When Jesus heard them, he stopped and called, “What do you want me to do for you?” 33 “Lord,” they said, “we want to see!” 34 Jesus felt sorry for them and touched their eyes. Instantly they could see! Then they followed him.
To truly give you have to stop!
2. Using your Gifts has a SEE factor.
Hellen Keller (Blind, deaf at a young age, went on to be nominated for the noble peace prize).
“The only thing worse than being blind is having sight but no vision."
Luke 7:12-15, A funeral procession was coming out as he approached the village gate. The young man who had died was a widow’s only son, and a large crowd from the village was with her. 13 When the Lord saw her, his heart overflowed with compassion. “Don’t cry!” he said. 14 Then he walked over to the coffin and touched it, and the bearers stopped. “Young man,” he said, “I tell you, get up.” 15 Then the dead boy sat up and began to talk! And Jesus gave him back to his mother.
3. Using your Gift has a CROSS factor
1 Corinthians 19:9-23 MSG, Even though I am free from the demands and the expectations of everyone, I have voluntarily become a servant to any and all in order to reach a wide range of people, religious non-religious meticulous, moralists loose living, immoral, the defeated, the demoralized, whoever I didn't take on their way of life. I kept my bearings in Christ, but I entered their world. And I tried to experience things from their point of view. And I become just about every sort of servant. There is in my attempts to leave those that I meet into a God's saved life. And I did all of this because of the message. I just didn't want to talk about it. I, I wanted to be in on it.
2 Corinthians 12:15, ”I will gladly spend and be spent for you.”
4. Using Gifts has an OBEDIENCE Factor
EX: Jesus Example: “Not my will but Your will be done.”
5. Using your gifts has a SENDING factor!
Romans 10:13-15, For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!”
6. Using your has a Gifts REWARD Factor
God rewards the workers.
Mark 9:41, “I tell you that truth, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to Christ will certainly not lose his reward."
1 Corinthians 15:58, "Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain."
Philippians 2:9-10 NLT, “Because of this, God raised him up to the heights of heaven and gave him a name that is above every other name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
Matthew 25:21 NLT, The master was full of praise. “Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!”
Larry & Janet Neville