[1Co 12:12-18 KJV]
12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also [is] Christ.
13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether [we be] Jews or Gentiles, whether [we be] bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
14 For the body is not one member, but many.
15 If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?
16 And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?
17 If the whole body [were] an eye, where [were] the hearing? If the whole [were] hearing, where [were] the smelling?
18 But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.
In this portion of scripture, we can see that we are all part of the Body of Christ and God has set the parts in the Body of Christ the way He wanted it to be.
Tell your neighbor “You have a part.”
This morning I would like to speak a message that believe the Lord has placed on my heart and the title of the message is “Who we are Where we are, why we are.”
- “Who we are.” (God created us uniquely)
We all have a part in the Body of Christ. God has a specific role for you and me in the Body of Christ.
God is the One who determines what part of the Body we are.
He created us and formed us to fit the part of the Body that He created us for.
We are all created uniquely. We are a Masterpiece. We are a Piece created by the Master.
You are a Masterpiece.
The scripture talks about God being the Potter and we are the clay.
The scripture also talks about how God knitted us together.
[Psa 139:13-14 NIV]
13 For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. 14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
We are all created uniquely.
We all have different personalities.
We have different giftings.
We have different skills.
We are fearfully and wonderfully made by God.
God made us with different personalities, different giftings, different eye colors, different heights and different fingerprints.
Some are left-handed and some are right-handed.
Some have this talent, and some have that talent.
No matter our personality, no matter our abilities, and no matter our physical make up, we are created for a purpose.
God has a unique place for you and I in the Body of Christ.
Some of us can play an instrument.
Some of us can write dramas.
Some of us can direct a movie.
Some of us can sing.
Some of us can host a tv show.
Some can teach.
Some of us can do graphics.
Some of us can run a business and on and on.
Regardless of what gifts we have, we all have a part in the Body.
The challenge for you and me is to know what part of the body we are.
The challenge for you and I, is to be who God created us to be.
You and I were created for a specific purpose.
Who are we in the body?
It is important to know who we are and what God has gifted us to do.
This allows us to focus on what God has gifted us to do and get better at that specific thing.
I was reading a few articles about people who made an impact in this world and how they made a difference.
One thing that stood out to me as I was reading these articles, is the individual who made the impact had focus.
They found something they were good at, focused on getting better at that one thing and used it to make a difference in the world.
Here are a few things that one article said that people who make an impact do.
They are willing to fail in order to eventually succeed. All successful people know that it doesn't come easy and they are bound to fail more than they will succeed at anything. They are willing to learn from each failure, as it will help them make better decisions that lead to success later. While many people give up after failing at something, a successful person will persevere.
They ask the right questions to the people who can deliver the right answers. Successful people know they need to solve problems by tapping their networks. They aren't afraid of emailing or calling the best person who can answer their questions. They are always prepared with the right questions and are always willing to help the other person out in return.
They are life-long learners who push themselves out of their comfort zones. While most people think that when they graduate college, they are finished being a student, successful people remain students. They are constantly learning new things and have new experiences. They aren't afraid to try new activities and to fail at them.
They create instead of just consume. While most people are busy reading emails, watching TV or listening to a podcast, successful people are creating new tools, presentations and coming up with ideas. They are the ones who are making things that other people need instead of being on the other end of the spectrum, consuming them.
They know who they are and their place in the world. Successful people are confident and can lead themselves, as well as others. They have their own vision and mission and seek to bring it to life on a daily basis. They also know who they aren't and don't waste time on things that they aren't good at or they aren't satisfied with.
So, it important to know who we are in the Body of Christ.
We are created uniquely. God created you and I with the personality that He wanted us to have.
There is no one like you.
When God made us, he broke the mold.
- Where we are.
We should be willing to be who God has created us to be right where we are.
We should be willing to function in what God has called us to do wherever we are.
[1Pe 4:10 NIV] 10 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God's grace in its various forms.
I think it is important to understand that just because we are not in full time ministry, doesn’t mean that God doesn’t have a plan for the skills and abilities that He has given us.
The scripture says to serve others. It doesn’t say only use it in church.
There are many people who are using their giftings for the Lord that are not in full time ministry.
Let me give you a few examples:
There are many people who have the gift of running a business and are business owners, but they are not in full time ministry.
There are many people who have the gift of teaching and are teachers, but they are not in full time ministry.
There are many people who are involved in ministry, such as ushers, children’s ministry, worship team, newcomers, and so on, but they are not in full-time ministry.
Just because we are not in fulltime ministry doesn’t mean that we can’t use the skills and abilities that God has given us.
We can be who God has designed us to be right where we are at.
It may be at your school.
It may be at your job.
It may be at your home.
It may be at your business.
It may be at the university.
I think it is important to know that one doesn’t have to be in full time ministry in order to fulfill what God has created us to do.
God has placed a call upon our lives, and we should be willing to fulfill that call right where we are at.
We should be willing to make an impact right where we are at.
Speaking of using our gift and making an impact, right where we are at, let me tell you a little bit about Shammah.
Shammah is not someone that you hear preached about a lot, but he focused on what he had and was used of God.
He was used of God to bring about a great victory.
Let’s read it.
[2Sa 23:11-12 NIV]
11 Next to him was Shammah son of Agee the Hararite. When the Philistines banded together at a place where there was a field full of lentils, Israel's troops fled from them.
12 But Shammah took his stand in the middle of the field. He defended it and struck the Philistines down, and the LORD brought about a great victory.
There was a time when the philistines were coming up against the people of God and the Bible says that Shammah stood his ground.
He took one thing he was good at and used it faithfully.
Even though you might not be a preacher, God can use what you have to bring about a great victory.
You might not do this, or you might not have that, but God can use what you and I have to bring about a great victory. If we are willing to use what we have right where we are at.
We all are part of the Body of Christ.
I wrote raps when putting in work…
You are preparing where you are, for the open door that is to come.
Luke 16:10 New International Version (NIV)
“Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.
Many people miss out on opportunities, because they don’t prepare where they are now, for where they want to go.
They wait for opportunity, but don’t prepare while waiting.
Opportunity is right in front of you.
Let me put it this way. Opportunity is right where you are at.
We can build the work ethic and the skills where we are at , while we are waiting for the open door.
We should be willing to use what God has gifted us with right where we are at.
God created you and I with the gifts and talents that He wanted us to have.
We should be willing to use those gifts and talents where we are at.
- Why we are.
Not only should we know Who we are.
Not only should we use what we have where we are.
We should also know why we are gifted. We are gifted to make an impact and further the Gospel.
The question may be.
How do I use my giftings and abilities for the Lord when I am not in full time ministry?
Well the challenge is to use the platform that our gifts and talents have opened for to build the kingdom and further the Gospel.
Am I saying you have to go to work and preach to everyone?
No but I am saying that we can use the door that our gifts and talents opened up to make an impact on lives and let our light shine.
If God wants to use our platform to spread the gospel, then we should be open for that when the opportunity arises.
We look at our platform as an opportunity to build the kingdom.
We can use our platform to make an impact for the honor and glory of Jesus.
God can use my platform to further His Kingdom.
It is like when Peter let Jesus use his boat.
Peter was fisherman, but he let Jesus use the platform that God had gifted him with to further the Gospel.
Peter let Jesus use his platform that he had set up with his giftings to reach people.
[Luk 5:1-3 NIV]
1 One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, the people were crowding around him and listening to the word of God.
2 He saw at the water's edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets.
3 He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat.
Our gifts and talents opened the door for the platform and God can use it to further His Kingdom.
We all have a part in the Body of Christ and God has gifted us to make a difference in the lives of people.
- It might not be a sermon that you preach at your job, but it can be ministering to an employee.
- It might not be a sermon at your business, but it might be caring for a Family in need.
- It might not be a rally at your school, but it might be ministering to a friend.
- It might not be a rally at your university, but it might be starting a bible study on campus.
There is not limit on how God can use us as part of His Body.
We all have a role to play and that is to further the Kingdom.
- Who we are
- Where we are
- Why we are.
If you would like to hear more sermons go here.