1 00:00:00,600 --> 00:00:03,680 This is City Post Church. We're about three things. 2 00:00:03,960 --> 00:00:07,040 Build equipped and send all under the. 3 00:00:07,040 --> 00:00:10,240 Lordship of Jesus Christ, a small church plant in Fort 4 00:00:10,240 --> 00:00:12,400 Worth, TX. Who decided to do things a 5 00:00:12,400 --> 00:00:15,800 little differently? Adoramos Ayesu cristo. 6 00:00:16,560 --> 00:00:18,920 I love City Post because of the people. 7 00:00:19,320 --> 00:00:21,960 It's where I belong. We truly preach the word. 8 00:00:22,120 --> 00:00:24,680 I love City Post because of the community we've been able to 9 00:00:24,680 --> 00:00:28,720 build to do ministry like Jesus for light to push back darkness. 10 00:00:30,040 --> 00:00:44,740 This is City Post podcast, so we see that this idea of being 11 00:00:44,740 --> 00:00:49,620 called to a task is not foreign, is not new. 12 00:00:50,660 --> 00:00:57,260 So it comes with the territory when we become followers of 13 00:00:57,260 --> 00:01:01,600 Jesus. I check I don't know the 14 00:01:01,600 --> 00:01:06,720 languages I should do language courses after retirement, but 15 00:01:07,680 --> 00:01:13,040 the word for calling in Hebrew and in Greek, they don't have 16 00:01:13,040 --> 00:01:16,480 different words. So the context of the sentence 17 00:01:16,480 --> 00:01:21,400 will give you the meaning. In the New Testament, the call 18 00:01:21,600 --> 00:01:25,600 to salvation is obvious. So when you read in Ephesians, 19 00:01:25,600 --> 00:01:31,800 when you read Paul, this call to how is called to is referring to 20 00:01:31,800 --> 00:01:36,720 this call to salvation. But the context will tell you if 21 00:01:36,760 --> 00:01:41,760 you are called to wait, ask to do something for the Kingdom or 22 00:01:41,760 --> 00:01:45,200 if he's talking about salvation in Hebrew, the same thing. 23 00:01:45,200 --> 00:01:49,960 It's just one word, but the context gives you and it's very, 24 00:01:50,000 --> 00:01:54,120 very clear when you read particularly the Old Testament 25 00:01:54,160 --> 00:01:59,840 about this particular people who were called by God to do a 26 00:01:59,920 --> 00:02:04,520 particular task. So that sets the stage for us to 27 00:02:04,520 --> 00:02:08,160 understand when we say I have a calling from God. 28 00:02:08,680 --> 00:02:13,040 So when we talk about having a calling from God, the word means 29 00:02:13,240 --> 00:02:19,360 to ask or invite to announce as an authority or this strong 30 00:02:20,240 --> 00:02:23,280 inner sense that you have to follow a vocation. 31 00:02:23,800 --> 00:02:29,200 So this is going to give you a window to the answer to the 32 00:02:29,200 --> 00:02:34,920 question, how do I know? This urge that you will feel as 33 00:02:34,920 --> 00:02:41,240 you serve the Lord is a key in identifying a particular calling 34 00:02:41,240 --> 00:02:50,120 in your life. So just as with God's will, I, I 35 00:02:50,120 --> 00:02:53,640 didn't find this, I use the terms that made sense in my 36 00:02:53,640 --> 00:02:56,600 head. So there is a general call and 37 00:02:56,600 --> 00:02:59,920 then there is a particular a particular call. 38 00:03:00,160 --> 00:03:04,880 So we have a general call in our lives and it's that call to 39 00:03:04,880 --> 00:03:12,400 salvation. But also we have what happens in 40 00:03:12,400 --> 00:03:15,880 our lives, what has gold called us to be or to do? 41 00:03:15,880 --> 00:03:20,960 Because we have relinquished our lives. 42 00:03:21,000 --> 00:03:26,120 And we decided in churches to give my life to Jesus. 43 00:03:26,160 --> 00:03:30,000 So when you relinquish your life and you say I'm going to follow 44 00:03:30,040 --> 00:03:36,280 Jesus, there is a call that comes with that and is a general 45 00:03:36,320 --> 00:03:39,320 course. So we are all as followers of 46 00:03:39,360 --> 00:03:43,880 Jesus called to something. So I'm going to give you a 47 00:03:43,880 --> 00:03:45,880 verse. You have to use your Bible. 48 00:03:45,880 --> 00:03:50,920 You have to find what is the call in your card and then go 49 00:03:50,920 --> 00:03:55,120 over there and stick it wherever the the task is. 50 00:03:55,400 --> 00:04:00,280 OK, they are they can you help them? 51 00:04:07,520 --> 00:04:17,000 I there was a time in my life when I was a new believer that I 52 00:04:17,000 --> 00:04:20,279 like dancing. I like dancing salsa, merengue. 53 00:04:20,800 --> 00:04:23,520 So Barbara doesn't like dancing very much. 54 00:04:23,520 --> 00:04:28,040 And I remember one time that there was something and I was 55 00:04:28,040 --> 00:04:31,520 thinking, hi, I wish we could, you know, I would love to go 56 00:04:31,720 --> 00:04:35,080 dance, blah, blah, blah. Even in reading in my Bible I 57 00:04:35,080 --> 00:04:37,840 got that verse to keep my eyes and things above. 58 00:04:41,680 --> 00:04:47,600 So it is OK I still dance. I still dancing my my 4 by 4, 59 00:04:47,760 --> 00:04:55,600 but so as followers of Jesus, we are called to to do all these 60 00:04:55,600 --> 00:04:59,240 things. So you cannot say I haven't been 61 00:04:59,240 --> 00:05:00,920 called. I don't have a calling. 62 00:05:00,920 --> 00:05:04,400 I don't know. No, no, because the Bible and 63 00:05:04,480 --> 00:05:11,320 you know, that's just a sample. If we really read carefully, we 64 00:05:11,320 --> 00:05:17,800 can list plenty more. So let's consider I am doing the 65 00:05:17,800 --> 00:05:23,560 wrong clicking. OK, so when we talk about a 66 00:05:23,560 --> 00:05:29,880 particular code, like a particular task, God calls us to 67 00:05:29,880 --> 00:05:35,600 obediently serve. So there is no excuse. 68 00:05:35,600 --> 00:05:41,480 You cannot say I don't serve because I, I don't have a 69 00:05:41,480 --> 00:05:44,720 calling. Oh, I still don't know what God 70 00:05:44,720 --> 00:05:47,200 wants me to do. That's a wrong attitude. 71 00:05:47,760 --> 00:05:51,040 There is a law that God has already called us to do. 72 00:05:51,400 --> 00:05:56,720 So when we are thinking about this particular task that God 73 00:05:56,720 --> 00:06:02,960 may have for us, we know that when he calls us, he will equip 74 00:06:02,960 --> 00:06:08,040 us. So this is when there is a task 75 00:06:08,040 --> 00:06:12,920 in the Kingdom, a task in the church that God calls us 76 00:06:12,920 --> 00:06:17,360 particular we know we can trust that he will equip us. 77 00:06:17,640 --> 00:06:25,440 How do I know that? How do I know that God equips 78 00:06:25,920 --> 00:06:32,440 those he calls Yeah. And we see, you know, for Noah, 79 00:06:32,560 --> 00:06:37,040 he gave him a plan for Solomon. There was a lot of work that 80 00:06:37,040 --> 00:06:39,520 David did it. No one went. 81 00:06:39,920 --> 00:06:44,680 Even with all the excuses that we have learned about Moses, God 82 00:06:44,680 --> 00:06:48,520 will equip us. So he promised to be with us. 83 00:06:48,760 --> 00:06:54,960 So there is really no excuse. This takes us to the issue of 84 00:06:54,960 --> 00:06:59,040 gifts. The only way that we can really 85 00:06:59,040 --> 00:07:05,360 know how am I serving the Lord in a particular area is through 86 00:07:05,640 --> 00:07:08,680 the gifts. And this church is evidence of 87 00:07:08,760 --> 00:07:14,240 giftedness and how everyone is working according to his or her 88 00:07:14,240 --> 00:07:17,120 gifts. We see how this is working and 89 00:07:17,120 --> 00:07:21,720 it is working great. So there are three passages, 90 00:07:21,720 --> 00:07:27,720 basically 2 that give the list of gifts, spiritual gifts and 91 00:07:27,720 --> 00:07:31,680 that one is First Corinthians 12 and Romans 12. 92 00:07:32,200 --> 00:07:35,880 Ephesians is a great passage, but these are, I don't think 93 00:07:35,880 --> 00:07:39,200 that these are gifts. These are positions like 94 00:07:39,200 --> 00:07:43,160 offices. So for this you need particular 95 00:07:43,160 --> 00:07:49,520 gifts to be able to do this. Now we are not going to discuss 96 00:07:50,320 --> 00:07:57,320 theological things, and so I summarize the basic gifts that 97 00:07:57,320 --> 00:08:00,360 we will see. I believe that there are some 98 00:08:00,360 --> 00:08:04,160 gifts that have ceased because they had a purpose in the book 99 00:08:04,160 --> 00:08:07,800 of Acts and that purpose has been fulfilled. 100 00:08:07,840 --> 00:08:11,520 I am not saying that that the Holy Spirit can give it to 101 00:08:11,520 --> 00:08:16,360 someone and use it. I am saying that in contemporary 102 00:08:16,360 --> 00:08:22,080 culture, I believe that there are some that are not as 103 00:08:22,080 --> 00:08:26,440 prevalent as others and Paul says that we have to seek that 104 00:08:26,600 --> 00:08:31,120 he has a list and he says we have to seek the greater the 105 00:08:31,120 --> 00:08:36,880 ones who verify the church. So I made if you look at at the 106 00:08:36,880 --> 00:08:41,679 gifts that are that Paul identify there is a word of 107 00:08:41,679 --> 00:08:45,880 wisdom, word of knowledge, faith, healing, miraculous 108 00:08:45,880 --> 00:08:51,080 powers, prophecy, distinguishing between spheres, discernment, 109 00:08:51,560 --> 00:08:53,600 speaking in different kinds of tongues. 110 00:08:53,600 --> 00:08:58,280 That's languages and the interpretation there is 111 00:08:58,280 --> 00:09:03,720 prophesying is not telling the future is preaching God's word, 112 00:09:03,720 --> 00:09:08,440 proclaiming God's word, knowing God's message and communicating 113 00:09:08,440 --> 00:09:12,920 God's will to people, serving, teaching encouragement or 114 00:09:12,920 --> 00:09:15,840 exhortation, giving, leading mercy. 115 00:09:17,160 --> 00:09:24,360 So what I want us to do, OK, there are some guidelines if you 116 00:09:24,360 --> 00:09:28,600 are wondering about gifts, there are some guidelines in Scripture 117 00:09:28,600 --> 00:09:33,000 about the gifts. Corinthians was a problematic 118 00:09:33,000 --> 00:09:37,040 church and a lot of the guidelines you find in 119 00:09:37,320 --> 00:09:41,800 Corinthians because police addressing the abuse and misuse 120 00:09:42,080 --> 00:09:44,920 of some of the gifts. But these are the guide, the 121 00:09:44,920 --> 00:09:50,760 guidelines as we find them in the text regarding the gifts, 122 00:09:51,160 --> 00:09:54,680 the Spirit distribute the gifts. You don't seek the gift. 123 00:09:55,240 --> 00:09:56,840 The Spirit will give you the gift. 124 00:09:57,200 --> 00:10:03,040 Now you may have a talent and natural inclination that will 125 00:10:03,680 --> 00:10:07,040 strengthen that, that will accompany a gift or that will 126 00:10:07,040 --> 00:10:13,640 become a gift. OK, like Eric, he can play any 127 00:10:13,640 --> 00:10:15,760 instrument. That's a talent. 128 00:10:16,000 --> 00:10:22,320 But God has given him this gift for worship that really God has 129 00:10:22,320 --> 00:10:26,760 equipped him for the ministry of worship. 130 00:10:26,880 --> 00:10:29,560 The gifts are given for the common good. 131 00:10:29,600 --> 00:10:33,680 So it's not for your own benefit. 132 00:10:34,000 --> 00:10:41,200 It's not so you become Mr. or Mrs. Special or because then if 133 00:10:41,240 --> 00:10:45,240 you feel superior than others, then you violate one of the 134 00:10:45,240 --> 00:10:49,680 general gifts calls that are to consider others better than you. 135 00:10:50,520 --> 00:10:53,640 The gift distributes as he determines. 136 00:10:54,400 --> 00:10:58,120 I do know that every believer gets at least one. 137 00:10:58,320 --> 00:11:07,920 No believer is without a gift. Why yes, the Spirit dwells in 138 00:11:07,920 --> 00:11:10,920 you and you play a role in the body. 139 00:11:11,960 --> 00:11:16,720 So you play a role in the body either for the Lord will equip 140 00:11:16,720 --> 00:11:21,000 you for that role. The church may be edified. 141 00:11:21,000 --> 00:11:24,080 That's the purpose, to edify the church. 142 00:11:24,120 --> 00:11:27,760 If you feel that the Lord has called you to something and it 143 00:11:27,760 --> 00:11:32,240 doesn't edify the church, or if we hear someone that says the 144 00:11:32,440 --> 00:11:36,280 Lord has called me to do this or that, and everything is 145 00:11:36,480 --> 00:11:39,480 essential and fighting achievement, forget it. 146 00:11:39,480 --> 00:11:41,640 That's not it. That's not it. 147 00:11:41,960 --> 00:11:44,320 It's for the edification of the church. 148 00:11:44,320 --> 00:11:51,040 And Paul admonishes us to excel in those gifts that build up the 149 00:11:51,040 --> 00:11:56,720 church. OK, in Romans 12, there is this 150 00:11:56,720 --> 00:12:02,440 guideline to always, never lack sin in exercising your gift. 151 00:12:03,400 --> 00:12:07,360 Gifts come, I have discovered late in life. 152 00:12:07,400 --> 00:12:11,120 I honestly thought that I was going to be a youth minister 153 00:12:11,120 --> 00:12:16,520 until I die. And then I discovered through my 154 00:12:16,640 --> 00:12:20,480 lovely daughter Leanne, who has the gift of discernment and word 155 00:12:20,480 --> 00:12:24,000 of wisdom, that God works in seasons. 156 00:12:24,800 --> 00:12:27,920 And it is so true. It is so true. 157 00:12:28,280 --> 00:12:35,720 But for a while I struggled with with this notion about you know, 158 00:12:35,720 --> 00:12:41,160 what has God called called us to do so God will work in seasons. 159 00:12:41,440 --> 00:12:44,440 God, God will work to supply needs. 160 00:12:44,560 --> 00:12:48,440 But the point is that you will obey, that you will serve the 161 00:12:48,440 --> 00:12:52,400 Lord right there where He has placed you for the time He has 162 00:12:52,400 --> 00:12:56,040 placed you. And then if there is a changing 163 00:12:56,040 --> 00:13:00,880 plan, He will let you know that you have accomplished your your 164 00:13:00,880 --> 00:13:04,080 task and there is another task to accomplish. 165 00:13:04,440 --> 00:13:10,080 Usually it's going to be in the same area of giftedness, but we 166 00:13:10,080 --> 00:13:15,760 are going to see how general or specific this can be in 167 00:13:15,760 --> 00:13:20,440 efficiency. 4, you see, of course, is Paul writing, but the 168 00:13:20,440 --> 00:13:25,840 guideline is to equip God's people for works of service. 169 00:13:25,880 --> 00:13:31,560 So when we exercise our gifts, the gifts are done so we can 170 00:13:31,640 --> 00:13:37,280 equip this model of discipleship having people working with us. 171 00:13:37,440 --> 00:13:41,200 We want them to discover their gifts and through our example 172 00:13:41,200 --> 00:13:46,720 and our leadership be equipped. The importance of multiplying 173 00:13:46,720 --> 00:13:52,640 the Bible study leaders because as the groups grow, we're going 174 00:13:52,640 --> 00:13:57,440 to need leaders. So that's the idea we want to be 175 00:13:57,440 --> 00:14:01,560 equipped and we equip each other that there is some repetition 176 00:14:01,560 --> 00:14:05,120 because it's Paul writing that the body of Christ may be built 177 00:14:05,120 --> 00:14:08,440 up. Then we reach unity in in the 178 00:14:08,440 --> 00:14:11,920 faith and knowledge and that we mature. 179 00:14:12,920 --> 00:14:19,320 You exercise your gift, you will grow and you will mature and 180 00:14:20,200 --> 00:14:25,560 it's going to get better and we are expected to grow in every 181 00:14:25,560 --> 00:14:30,280 area of our faith and of our life when we exercise our gifts. 182 00:14:31,520 --> 00:14:36,720 Now the question is, how do I know in first Corinthians 12, 183 00:14:37,320 --> 00:14:42,040 this is the order that Paul gives because of the issue in 184 00:14:42,040 --> 00:14:46,640 Corinthians. So he he put we, he put them in 185 00:14:47,200 --> 00:14:51,600 what he considers his priorities, the ones who build 186 00:14:51,600 --> 00:14:58,200 the church first. So with the gifts, there are 187 00:14:58,200 --> 00:15:02,520 some dangers that we have to work and avoid. 188 00:15:02,840 --> 00:15:05,560 There is the danger of arrogance and pride. 189 00:15:07,680 --> 00:15:11,160 If we have to keep each other accountable, when we see a 190 00:15:11,160 --> 00:15:14,560 brother or sister that the gift is getting to their head, we 191 00:15:14,560 --> 00:15:19,960 have to lovingly say brother, sister and mother, you know, 192 00:15:20,360 --> 00:15:25,240 keep it down a notch. There is a danger of misuse and 193 00:15:25,240 --> 00:15:27,960 abuse. I have a friend who is a 194 00:15:27,960 --> 00:15:33,000 licensed counselor and she tells me the damage that pastors do on 195 00:15:33,000 --> 00:15:38,080 people because of Muse and abuse of their authority and they just 196 00:15:38,080 --> 00:15:42,240 because they are the preacher or the pastor, there is a danger of 197 00:15:42,240 --> 00:15:45,480 division or disunity when people start. 198 00:15:45,480 --> 00:15:47,520 That was the problem in Corinthians. 199 00:15:47,520 --> 00:15:50,800 I belong to Paul. No, I belong to so and so. 200 00:15:50,800 --> 00:15:53,600 No, I belong to Apollo. No, I speak this. 201 00:15:53,600 --> 00:15:56,440 So I am great at you. You don't do this, but I do 202 00:15:56,560 --> 00:16:00,880 this. So it's good to know this 203 00:16:00,880 --> 00:16:05,200 because when we see it happening, do we say no, no, we 204 00:16:05,200 --> 00:16:08,360 talk about this, this, this is not from the Lord. 205 00:16:08,360 --> 00:16:12,840 We'll have to address it. There is a danger of burning 206 00:16:12,920 --> 00:16:17,640 out. How? 207 00:16:19,600 --> 00:16:23,600 How is this a danger? How will this happen? 208 00:16:23,960 --> 00:16:28,440 That in exercising your gift using the guidelines, you end up 209 00:16:28,440 --> 00:16:32,560 burned out? What happened along the way? 210 00:16:35,960 --> 00:16:39,160 Yes yes, you're doing it on your own strength. 211 00:16:40,120 --> 00:16:42,600 It becomes a task, it becomes a job. 212 00:16:43,120 --> 00:16:46,840 You are pleasing people, you are impressing people is suddenly 213 00:16:46,840 --> 00:16:52,120 you lost track of who is your motivation and and who is behind 214 00:16:52,120 --> 00:16:55,440 your. So this idea of burning out is a 215 00:16:55,440 --> 00:16:58,800 reality. Pastor Gabe can he has 216 00:16:58,800 --> 00:17:01,840 experienced not that he has burned out, but in dealing with 217 00:17:01,920 --> 00:17:08,079 pastors in pastoral work, we see this and it happens when you 218 00:17:08,680 --> 00:17:13,240 stop abiding, when when you stop, you stop praying. 219 00:17:13,240 --> 00:17:17,480 And it is a it is a change is very smooth. 220 00:17:17,480 --> 00:17:21,280 You suddenly don't stop and you say, Nah, I'm going to rely on 221 00:17:21,280 --> 00:17:24,520 myself. You know, I know, I know how to 222 00:17:24,599 --> 00:17:26,480 do this. It's very sweet. 223 00:17:26,599 --> 00:17:30,440 But there is a danger of false teaching because of the other 224 00:17:30,440 --> 00:17:36,160 ones misinterpretation and the unhealthy focus on experiences. 225 00:17:36,600 --> 00:17:42,920 And that happens with the, I call them spectacular gifts. 226 00:17:43,080 --> 00:17:47,320 But if he goes to your head, you took a detour. 227 00:17:48,120 --> 00:17:52,800 So how do I know? How do I know what is my gift? 228 00:17:53,880 --> 00:17:55,360 I'm going to tell you this story. 229 00:17:55,360 --> 00:17:59,600 First is trial and error. You have to try it. 230 00:18:00,280 --> 00:18:04,600 You have to try. I always said I have been in 231 00:18:04,600 --> 00:18:08,760 churches where they have very traditional and they had 232 00:18:08,760 --> 00:18:11,240 committees on committee. So a committee on committee 233 00:18:11,240 --> 00:18:14,520 person, they look at your committee, they look at the 234 00:18:14,520 --> 00:18:18,840 church, and they assign you your workers or the people who are 235 00:18:18,840 --> 00:18:24,640 going to live with you. I always rejected that because 236 00:18:24,640 --> 00:18:27,880 you don't know my ministry. You're not going to tell me who 237 00:18:27,880 --> 00:18:30,440 is going to come with me. I'll tell you who is going to 238 00:18:30,440 --> 00:18:33,840 work with me. So I would give opportunities 239 00:18:33,840 --> 00:18:37,560 for other people to come watch the youth ministry teach with 240 00:18:37,560 --> 00:18:40,280 me. And when it didn't work, I said, 241 00:18:40,280 --> 00:18:43,840 praise the Lord, this is not the one next. 242 00:18:44,360 --> 00:18:47,600 So trial and error. How do you know? 243 00:18:48,080 --> 00:18:51,720 You try one thing in ministry and you are miserable. 244 00:18:53,200 --> 00:18:55,840 Great. Praise the Lord, that's not the 245 00:18:55,840 --> 00:18:57,560 one. Move on. 246 00:18:58,200 --> 00:19:02,560 You have such a great time. You have such a great joy. 247 00:19:02,920 --> 00:19:05,320 You're looking forward to do this again. 248 00:19:07,920 --> 00:19:13,200 You're on the right track. So trial and error is some 249 00:19:13,200 --> 00:19:16,760 variable because it's a win win situation. 250 00:19:17,360 --> 00:19:20,520 The other one, there are spiritual gifts inventories. 251 00:19:20,560 --> 00:19:24,640 They have inventories that are very specific and lengthy and 252 00:19:24,640 --> 00:19:28,360 they have, I have one at home that is very is for use. 253 00:19:28,360 --> 00:19:31,920 So it's very summarized and very general. 254 00:19:31,920 --> 00:19:36,840 But if it's well now, the confirmation from others, people 255 00:19:36,840 --> 00:19:41,600 from the church, mature believers will come to you and 256 00:19:41,600 --> 00:19:44,480 say, give you a chance, give you an opportunity. 257 00:19:44,760 --> 00:19:47,160 Do you want to help me with the kids? 258 00:19:47,160 --> 00:19:53,880 And then, wow, this is great. So people will come to you. 259 00:19:53,880 --> 00:19:57,560 People will come and say, you know, I think that you, you did 260 00:19:57,560 --> 00:20:00,080 this great. That decoration that you did 261 00:20:00,080 --> 00:20:03,000 with the balloons for BBS was so wonder. 262 00:20:03,120 --> 00:20:06,480 That is affirmation and confirmation that you're doing 263 00:20:06,480 --> 00:20:10,360 something right to accomplish, to accomplish a task. 264 00:20:10,880 --> 00:20:14,640 That God has for you in the Kingdom through the local body 265 00:20:15,520 --> 00:20:19,680 and prayer. Pray you pray Lord, what do you 266 00:20:19,680 --> 00:20:23,480 want me to do? But if you. 267 00:20:25,440 --> 00:20:29,800 Ian Bounds wrote quite a bit on prayer and one of the things 268 00:20:29,800 --> 00:20:33,800 that Ian bound says that when you pray about something, you 269 00:20:33,800 --> 00:20:36,640 need to be willing to be the answer to your prayer. 270 00:20:38,000 --> 00:20:41,840 So Lord, I'm praying for people to give for India. 271 00:20:47,520 --> 00:20:51,800 So when you pray, Lord, you know, help show me, show me. 272 00:20:51,800 --> 00:20:55,560 Then you have to be open for opportunities and you have you 273 00:20:55,560 --> 00:21:00,880 cannot say no when someone comes and inviting invite you to do 274 00:21:00,880 --> 00:21:04,240 something. So let me tell you part of my 275 00:21:04,240 --> 00:21:09,160 testimony when we came to know the Lord in I came to know the 276 00:21:09,160 --> 00:21:13,440 Lord 1983 Robert came to know the Lord 1984. 277 00:21:13,440 --> 00:21:18,160 So by summer 1984. We are as we are established as 278 00:21:18,160 --> 00:21:21,760 new believers in this independent fundamental artist 279 00:21:21,760 --> 00:21:24,280 church. He was was a great church. 280 00:21:24,280 --> 00:21:29,040 They did a great job discipling us and then before we developed 281 00:21:29,040 --> 00:21:32,840 spiritual blinders, the Lord moved us to His own Baptist 282 00:21:32,840 --> 00:21:36,320 Church. So I am a new believer. 283 00:21:36,640 --> 00:21:39,360 The only thing I know is the Bible. 284 00:21:39,360 --> 00:21:42,200 I am reading this Bible and I love it. 285 00:21:42,640 --> 00:21:47,480 And when the pastor, we come visit our house, oh I love it. 286 00:21:47,480 --> 00:21:51,080 I loved it. Everything about church, you 287 00:21:51,080 --> 00:21:54,240 come to church 3 * a week, We go to church 3 * a week. 288 00:21:54,240 --> 00:22:01,720 You will give 10%, we give 10%. So the IT was a small Spanish 289 00:22:01,720 --> 00:22:04,040 mission from an English speaking church. 290 00:22:04,280 --> 00:22:09,120 And I see in the bulletin the pastor's wife, Stella, Stella 291 00:22:09,120 --> 00:22:13,120 Quintero, she was about to give birth and there is this 292 00:22:13,120 --> 00:22:16,600 announcement that she needed help doing the bulletin. 293 00:22:18,240 --> 00:22:24,800 And one Sunday I see the, the, the Annuncia, IE even the next 294 00:22:24,800 --> 00:22:28,000 Sunday. And I am thinking, I look at the 295 00:22:28,040 --> 00:22:33,120 bulletin and I'm thinking I can do this then, you know, I think 296 00:22:33,120 --> 00:22:37,320 I waited a whole month hoping that maybe someone will come and 297 00:22:37,320 --> 00:22:39,040 say a link with you. But no. 298 00:22:39,400 --> 00:22:44,000 So I talked to Robert and I went to the pastor and I started 299 00:22:44,000 --> 00:22:48,600 doing the bulletin. We were at the church until 87 300 00:22:49,800 --> 00:22:55,640 then we the Lord moved us to First Baptist phone panel and we 301 00:22:55,640 --> 00:23:01,080 were there until I was going to say 1 thousand 1995. 302 00:23:01,680 --> 00:23:08,240 OK, that's like 11 years. So I calculated 52 Sundays plus 303 00:23:08,960 --> 00:23:15,080 revival special location, about 50 bulletins a Sunday. 304 00:23:15,920 --> 00:23:18,600 I did some bulletins. I don't remember if I did the 305 00:23:18,640 --> 00:23:21,960 bulletin in Templo because I remember going to Kinko's. 306 00:23:22,240 --> 00:23:28,760 But the point is that one one answer to announcement answer to 307 00:23:28,760 --> 00:23:33,040 an announcement in this bulletin as a new believer, so I think I 308 00:23:33,040 --> 00:23:39,160 have make over 30,000 bulletins in my in my life one answer to 309 00:23:39,160 --> 00:23:42,920 this small announcement. The same thing happened with 310 00:23:43,000 --> 00:23:45,840 helping the pastor's wife with the kids. 311 00:23:46,720 --> 00:23:51,240 There is this you know, and I am thinking my kids are there. 312 00:23:51,240 --> 00:23:53,880 Let me see. And I tried it. 313 00:23:53,880 --> 00:24:00,160 And the piano. OK, so this is another story. 314 00:24:00,200 --> 00:24:04,160 I learned to play piano. My mom loved performing. 315 00:24:04,200 --> 00:24:09,080 I hate performance. I am a very background person. 316 00:24:09,400 --> 00:24:12,040 I don't want to call attention to myself. 317 00:24:12,040 --> 00:24:13,920 I like to work in the background. 318 00:24:13,960 --> 00:24:20,320 I don't need to be recognized. So plus, have you ever have you 319 00:24:20,320 --> 00:24:24,760 ever seen the movie? Is it Mozart? 320 00:24:25,160 --> 00:24:31,280 No, it's not Mozart Amadeos. What is what is the name of is 321 00:24:31,440 --> 00:24:36,360 it Mozart? Mozart versus what is the arch 322 00:24:36,360 --> 00:24:42,440 enemy? No, no, the guy that went crazy, 323 00:24:42,520 --> 00:24:48,400 Well, you have to see the movie. The point is, the point is that 324 00:24:48,400 --> 00:24:50,920 I remember I learned to play the piano. 325 00:24:50,920 --> 00:24:56,000 I have a good ear, so I learned to play by ear and I would do it 326 00:24:56,200 --> 00:25:01,680 for my own entertainment. I am not a, you know, I don't 327 00:25:01,680 --> 00:25:04,120 go. No, I am very mechanic. 328 00:25:04,120 --> 00:25:09,560 Very, very limited. Well we were in our church in 329 00:25:09,560 --> 00:25:12,800 Florida. They got the Oregon that had 330 00:25:12,800 --> 00:25:16,800 instruments. It was very easy to follow. 331 00:25:16,800 --> 00:25:21,080 The problem was that the the worship leader didn't know what 332 00:25:21,080 --> 00:25:25,040 he was doing. When you are using, when you are 333 00:25:25,040 --> 00:25:28,560 using this organ, you have to follow the Oregon. 334 00:25:28,560 --> 00:25:34,160 The Oregon cannot change the pace, cannot go faster or you 335 00:25:34,160 --> 00:25:38,400 program it. But it was bad and it was a 336 00:25:38,440 --> 00:25:41,880 nightmare. More than once I stopped the 337 00:25:41,880 --> 00:25:47,080 service so they could go with the organ because it was awful. 338 00:25:47,080 --> 00:25:50,040 It was bad. It was a small church, so I have 339 00:25:50,160 --> 00:25:53,120 the freedom. So I hated it. 340 00:25:53,440 --> 00:25:57,800 Every time they would ask me to play the piano, I hated it. 341 00:25:57,800 --> 00:26:01,240 I hated it making a mistake. It was awful. 342 00:26:01,240 --> 00:26:04,840 I would pray for someone to come and play the piano. 343 00:26:05,320 --> 00:26:09,240 The Lord answered me. Because in Templo I play for a 344 00:26:09,240 --> 00:26:11,160 while. And then the Lord brought this 345 00:26:11,640 --> 00:26:15,680 seminary student that he was, you know, super. 346 00:26:15,680 --> 00:26:21,400 And I went back to. So I have experience exercising 347 00:26:21,640 --> 00:26:27,720 a talent that was not a gift. I had a talent, but I it was not 348 00:26:27,720 --> 00:26:31,640 a gift. No by a million plus the 349 00:26:31,920 --> 00:26:36,880 heartburn it was. But I also experienced the call 350 00:26:36,880 --> 00:26:40,760 to use ministry. That has been the greatest thing 351 00:26:40,760 --> 00:26:45,680 ever and the joy. I tell you my preparation for 352 00:26:45,680 --> 00:26:49,720 the kids class every Sunday is the highlight of my week. 353 00:26:50,120 --> 00:26:52,800 I praise the Lord, I say just me, OK? 354 00:26:54,720 --> 00:26:59,600 I love, I love it, I love it. You know, whoever comes, it does 355 00:26:59,600 --> 00:27:02,720 not matter. I am ready, I am ready. 356 00:27:03,000 --> 00:27:07,920 So that's how you know that you have a gift and that you are 357 00:27:07,960 --> 00:27:12,760 exercising it accordingly. So with every gift that the Lord 358 00:27:12,760 --> 00:27:18,240 will give us, we see how easily the gifts, how versatile the 359 00:27:18,240 --> 00:27:20,960 gifts can be in its implementation. 360 00:27:21,640 --> 00:27:26,400 So you, you cannot say, well, it is wrong to say I'm not doing 361 00:27:26,400 --> 00:27:31,600 anything because I haven't determined or discerned of my 362 00:27:31,600 --> 00:27:35,560 gift because we all all all know all the things that God has told 363 00:27:35,560 --> 00:27:38,840 us to do. But in discovering your gift, 364 00:27:40,200 --> 00:27:44,720 trial and error and you're, you know, you have inclinations. 365 00:27:45,040 --> 00:27:49,720 Now there is a difference between gifts and talents and 366 00:27:49,920 --> 00:27:54,760 but you know, once you are like born with them and the other 367 00:27:54,760 --> 00:27:58,400 ones are spirit given, but they work together. 368 00:27:58,400 --> 00:28:03,440 The Lord is not going to assign you a gift that goes against if 369 00:28:03,480 --> 00:28:07,360 you already he need you in your mom's womb. 370 00:28:07,880 --> 00:28:10,840 So I know that you're going to have this talent. 371 00:28:11,280 --> 00:28:18,360 So when we see the list of gifts in the Bible, this this art 372 00:28:18,400 --> 00:28:24,560 categories, because then we have like specific things like 373 00:28:24,560 --> 00:28:31,200 decorating or painting or, I don't know, praying. 374 00:28:31,240 --> 00:28:34,080 I didn't put the prayer ministry because it's part of the 375 00:28:34,080 --> 00:28:38,400 pastoral ministry. But there are so many specific 376 00:28:38,400 --> 00:28:42,360 things that you will learn to discover. 377 00:28:42,360 --> 00:28:48,440 Where is the best place for me to exercise this gift that the 378 00:28:48,440 --> 00:28:52,920 Lord has given me? That's when you decide. 379 00:28:53,200 --> 00:28:57,000 Like Connie. Connie has found her way into 380 00:28:57,040 --> 00:29:01,480 the youth ministry. She has a heart, she's curious. 381 00:29:01,600 --> 00:29:04,560 She has let me try it. I want to know what this is 382 00:29:04,560 --> 00:29:08,680 about. So she has done exactly right in 383 00:29:08,680 --> 00:29:14,000 discovering the place for ServiceNow. 384 00:29:15,800 --> 00:29:20,120 These are the last words in Jeremiah 29. 385 00:29:20,120 --> 00:29:24,200 I can relate to this verse. Jeremiah is saying. 386 00:29:25,720 --> 00:29:27,720 He says, I will not mention his word. 387 00:29:27,760 --> 00:29:32,680 You know, he had a he had a hard time with the people hearing his 388 00:29:32,680 --> 00:29:34,520 message. He was rejected. 389 00:29:34,680 --> 00:29:37,440 He's the weeping prophet Pobrecito. 390 00:29:37,600 --> 00:29:42,320 But he says when I consider I'm not going to tell them any 391 00:29:42,320 --> 00:29:44,720 longer, I'm not going to say anything else. 392 00:29:45,160 --> 00:29:51,320 He had this fire inside of him that did not let him quit. 393 00:29:52,520 --> 00:29:56,600 So there Amaya, 29, he says I will not mention his word or 394 00:29:56,600 --> 00:30:01,640 speak anymore in his name. His word is in my heart like a 395 00:30:01,640 --> 00:30:05,320 fire. So you have this thing inside of 396 00:30:05,320 --> 00:30:10,320 you that doesn't let you not serve in that area. 397 00:30:11,600 --> 00:30:17,800 And Hebrews 11/27, speaking about Moses, he says by faith 398 00:30:18,160 --> 00:30:22,200 Moses left Egypt not fearing the King's anger. 399 00:30:22,440 --> 00:30:26,080 He persevered because he saw him who is invisible. 400 00:30:26,600 --> 00:30:32,200 I think if you want to know how to persevere in exercising your 401 00:30:32,200 --> 00:30:36,360 gift, you see Him who is invisible. 402 00:30:38,200 --> 00:30:42,520 You don't care about the King's anger, you don't care about 403 00:30:42,520 --> 00:30:46,040 opinions, you don't care about difficulties. 404 00:30:46,040 --> 00:30:49,240 Why? Because you see Him who is 405 00:30:49,240 --> 00:30:53,280 invisible, you know that He has given you this gift. 406 00:30:53,680 --> 00:30:56,120 That is one of the keys to persevering. 407 00:30:56,440 --> 00:31:01,040 Hebrews 12123 is one of my preferred passages. 408 00:31:01,080 --> 00:31:04,320 The author of Hebrews tells us we throw off everything that 409 00:31:04,320 --> 00:31:07,400 hinders and the scene that will tangle. 410 00:31:07,400 --> 00:31:10,240 Also, we are called to live holy lives. 411 00:31:11,160 --> 00:31:14,760 We want to be a vessel of the Holy Spirit. 412 00:31:15,080 --> 00:31:18,840 He's the one doing the world, but we want to be a feed vessel. 413 00:31:19,280 --> 00:31:22,280 OK, Then we run with perseverance. 414 00:31:22,280 --> 00:31:27,760 This is not a short race. This is a super long marathon. 415 00:31:28,080 --> 00:31:32,000 So we run with perseverance and then we fix our eyes. 416 00:31:33,240 --> 00:31:38,120 We keep our eyes on Jesus. Once we move our side to other 417 00:31:38,120 --> 00:31:45,040 people words, I don't know, whatever we lose it. 418 00:31:45,040 --> 00:31:49,760 We lose it to persevere in exercising and being faithful in 419 00:31:49,760 --> 00:31:54,040 ministry. Dealing with people is hard. 420 00:31:54,400 --> 00:31:59,400 That's why the body of Christ is such a wonder that we being 421 00:31:59,400 --> 00:32:08,800 imperfect with all our you know that he loved us and we belong 422 00:32:08,800 --> 00:32:12,960 to Jesus and we follow him and we work together and we love 423 00:32:12,960 --> 00:32:20,120 each other. This is great, but we can annoy 424 00:32:20,200 --> 00:32:23,560 each other, you know, it's like any family. 425 00:32:23,680 --> 00:32:28,680 So we fix our eyes on Jesus and we know that he paid the 426 00:32:28,680 --> 00:32:32,160 ultimate price. He went to the cross, He had his 427 00:32:32,160 --> 00:32:34,840 eyes on the price. We do the same. 428 00:32:35,120 --> 00:32:40,160 So if you're wondering how do I know my specific goal, identify 429 00:32:40,160 --> 00:32:43,840 your gift, pray about it, trial and error. 430 00:32:45,040 --> 00:32:49,160 If you want to do an inventory, talk to Pastor Ricky, listen to 431 00:32:49,200 --> 00:32:52,600 the admonitions of others, but try try. 432 00:32:53,120 --> 00:32:55,720 And my last. This is this exercise. 433 00:32:55,720 --> 00:33:00,120 So in summary, God calls us to serve where we are. 434 00:33:01,360 --> 00:33:08,440 You you cannot say let me learn more about the Bible and then no 435 00:33:09,040 --> 00:33:13,160 golf course. I tell you our experience as new 436 00:33:13,200 --> 00:33:17,000 believers. We were new believers and Robert 437 00:33:17,000 --> 00:33:21,360 was the the teacher for the new believers class and he was a new 438 00:33:21,360 --> 00:33:26,880 believer. That's how he started. 439 00:33:27,480 --> 00:33:32,680 I was a new believer and I was just helping the the pastor's 440 00:33:32,680 --> 00:33:37,320 wife with the kids. But I am learning. 441 00:33:37,320 --> 00:33:41,200 I am I tell you, I thought it was amazing. 442 00:33:41,280 --> 00:33:47,520 We all have at least one gift when we engage in ministry and 443 00:33:47,560 --> 00:33:52,000 we use our gifts, we we the honor the Lord. 444 00:33:53,040 --> 00:33:56,000 And remember the parable of the talents. 445 00:33:56,080 --> 00:34:03,360 This is not talent like ability. This is Money, La Mina, but you 446 00:34:03,360 --> 00:34:08,880 are faithful in the few, yes, you're faithful with more. 447 00:34:10,199 --> 00:34:13,440 So you have been given something invested. 448 00:34:13,440 --> 00:34:17,199 Use it because you will be held accountable. 449 00:34:19,480 --> 00:34:24,080 Ricky is going to be held accountable at a higher level. 450 00:34:24,080 --> 00:34:28,880 And all of us who teach, we have a higher accountability. 451 00:34:29,840 --> 00:34:37,080 So we will give an account how well we did the pancakes and how 452 00:34:37,080 --> 00:34:42,760 wonderful was the dog document the Google Doc for and how well 453 00:34:42,760 --> 00:34:47,040 we let in worship and how much. So we are not accountable for 454 00:34:47,040 --> 00:34:50,360 the results. We are accountable for how we 455 00:34:50,360 --> 00:34:56,000 exercise the gift that the Lord has given us and I urge you, 456 00:34:56,199 --> 00:34:59,680 this is toll riding. Live a life worthy of the 457 00:34:59,680 --> 00:35:03,440 calling you have received. This has to do with salvation, 458 00:35:03,680 --> 00:35:08,880 but also I think it applies to that gift that God has given us 459 00:35:08,880 --> 00:35:14,560 to serve the role that we play. Live a life worthy of it. 460 00:35:14,720 --> 00:35:18,240 If a time comes in your life that you have been serving and 461 00:35:18,240 --> 00:35:23,440 you need a break, that is OK. You need to acknowledge that you 462 00:35:23,440 --> 00:35:25,800 need a break. That is perfectly fine. 463 00:35:26,640 --> 00:35:29,680 But the point is that you need to step back and see what 464 00:35:29,680 --> 00:35:35,880 happened, that I need this break and you know, take a Sabah, take 465 00:35:35,880 --> 00:35:42,160 some time to reconsider. The Lord will show you when we 466 00:35:42,160 --> 00:35:47,400 left the other church where we were serving, it was the last 467 00:35:47,400 --> 00:35:51,120 time that we did youth ministry officially like youth ministry 468 00:35:51,440 --> 00:35:55,120 because then we we have been praying for Ricky and we didn't 469 00:35:55,120 --> 00:35:59,360 know it was going to be CD Post. So we decided to support Ricky 470 00:35:59,640 --> 00:36:03,240 and everywhere we went, you know, we were just watching to 471 00:36:03,240 --> 00:36:07,520 see where the Lord wanted us. Also because we cannot run after 472 00:36:07,520 --> 00:36:10,920 we can reach all our lives is where the Lord wants us. 473 00:36:11,440 --> 00:36:20,120 So when CD Post was born, Ricky, I understood I the need is with 474 00:36:20,400 --> 00:36:26,560 Elenita Living because Ricky's preaching style, he reaches 475 00:36:26,560 --> 00:36:30,200 everyone, you know. It doesn't matter if you're a 476 00:36:30,200 --> 00:36:35,480 young teenager, you hear his preaching and he reaches 477 00:36:35,480 --> 00:36:42,200 everyone in the audience. But Elenita Living and Leah, you 478 00:36:42,200 --> 00:36:45,320 know, and Jacqueline Eveline Jackson. 479 00:36:45,600 --> 00:36:50,120 So that was where my eye was. You know, when I am looking for 480 00:36:50,120 --> 00:36:53,520 Lord, there is no place of youth ministry here. 481 00:36:53,840 --> 00:36:59,760 There is no need now and this is how you know praying and looking 482 00:36:59,760 --> 00:37:03,000 always keep your eyes open. Keep your eyes open. 483 00:37:03,000 --> 00:37:07,440 The Lord believe you and I am doing exactly what I have done 484 00:37:07,800 --> 00:37:11,120 when I do youth ministry except the locking. 485 00:37:11,240 --> 00:37:15,200 So I prepared as well as I prepared when I was leading 486 00:37:15,200 --> 00:37:18,600 youth ministry. I read as much as I can when I 487 00:37:18,600 --> 00:37:25,040 was doing youth ministry, but now plus my experience was my 488 00:37:25,040 --> 00:37:32,360 mom would say that it was solid. I don't know how how you 489 00:37:32,360 --> 00:37:37,040 translate solidarity like a female name when if you don't 490 00:37:37,040 --> 00:37:47,360 know Spanish you miss it. I lost my in my experience in 491 00:37:47,360 --> 00:37:50,760 youth ministry, the churches where we served were there was a 492 00:37:50,760 --> 00:37:54,160 complete disconnect between the children's ministry and the 493 00:37:54,160 --> 00:37:57,160 youth ministry. Complete disconnect. 494 00:37:57,480 --> 00:38:01,280 And being in youth ministry, I always wondered what's going on 495 00:38:01,280 --> 00:38:05,480 with these people doing children that we are receiving these 496 00:38:05,480 --> 00:38:09,240 kids, you know, with no knowledge, no professional 497 00:38:09,240 --> 00:38:15,720 faith, like what are they doing? So now the Lord has given me the 498 00:38:15,720 --> 00:38:20,920 opportunity to gap that bridge because I know that when our 499 00:38:20,920 --> 00:38:25,960 kids go to Connie's Indiana's class, they'll be ready. 500 00:38:26,280 --> 00:38:29,240 They will be ready. They will know how to serve. 501 00:38:29,240 --> 00:38:32,720 They will know the Lord hopefully, and they will know 502 00:38:32,720 --> 00:38:36,200 their Bible. So that's another thing. 503 00:38:36,200 --> 00:38:43,120 The Lord knows where you. So my advice, pray, try it and 504 00:38:43,120 --> 00:38:45,400 learn. Persevere. 505 00:38:45,400 --> 00:38:49,960 Keep your eyes on Jesus. Learn as much as much as you 506 00:38:49,960 --> 00:38:53,640 can. Ask questions, seek the 507 00:38:53,640 --> 00:38:57,480 encouragement of others. That is why we are a body. 508 00:38:58,400 --> 00:39:00,000 Let us pray. Let us pray. 509 00:39:01,200 --> 00:39:04,720 Lord, we thank you for today. We thank you for the wisdom of 510 00:39:04,720 --> 00:39:09,080 your Word, for the leadership of your Spirit, for the truth that 511 00:39:09,080 --> 00:39:14,400 we learn in knowing how you have established things to work for 512 00:39:14,400 --> 00:39:17,760 kingdoms sake. How do we be build up the 513 00:39:17,760 --> 00:39:21,320 church? What is our role and how we help 514 00:39:21,360 --> 00:39:26,840 others so we grow in unity and we grow closer and we become 515 00:39:26,840 --> 00:39:30,000 more like you. And by the way that we love each 516 00:39:30,000 --> 00:39:34,400 other, people will know that we follow you and hopefully they 517 00:39:34,400 --> 00:39:41,360 will come and look for answers to their questions and seeking, 518 00:39:41,520 --> 00:39:45,160 seeking the life that you offer the forgiveness of sins. 519 00:39:45,160 --> 00:39:49,960 So I praise you for this time. I thank you for Gabe and Pastor 520 00:39:49,960 --> 00:39:57,080 Ricky as they have outlined this series of training sessions just 521 00:39:57,080 --> 00:40:00,800 to equip us more in our service to you. 522 00:40:01,280 --> 00:40:05,720 Thank you for those who are already exercising the spiritual 523 00:40:05,720 --> 00:40:10,160 gift that you have given us. And I pray that as you reveal 524 00:40:10,160 --> 00:40:15,240 yourself to others that they realize where you want them to 525 00:40:15,240 --> 00:40:19,880 plug in just to serve you, because it is a wonderful 526 00:40:19,880 --> 00:40:24,200 privilege to serve you. In Christ name we give thanks, 527 00:40:24,600 --> 00:40:27,200 we give thanks. We love you. 528 00:40:27,760 --> 00:40:30,560 In Christ name, Amen. Thank you. 529 00:40:30,840 --> 00:40:31,480 That's all for.