When we think about the term of being used for something, one of
the things that happens is, it comes into our mind about
someone has used us to accomplish their betterment if
you want to say. You know, we've met have said
from time to time, will I got used in that and we didn't
intend to? So, in other words, we have to
let someone use us and God wants to use you today.
God wants to be able to use you for his benefit and for the
benefit of the gospel and for his glory, God has used many
people in our lives to influence us.
Maybe has both or one of our parents, maybe a friend, maybe a
spouse. A teacher, A co-worker, some
small act of kindness. Maybe it was simple, simply
listening to you and act of generosity.
Maybe they prayed for you. You asked, without you asking
for them to do. So the point is that there have
been too many times, and people who have done things that made a
difference or an impact in your life or my life and sometimes
it's the smallest thing that makes the difference.
And it doesn't have to be something that's huge.
Just sometimes a simple gesture, a simple acknowledgement, a
simple word, a simple act or kind deed, you can be that
influence. If you will, let God use you for
his will. And his glory today, God allows
you to be an influence for his purpose, he can use you right
now. Just the way you are at this
point in your life, not later on but right now some say, well,
I'm not a preacher, I can't preach or I can't teach.
I don't know the scriptures that well.
I'm not good at talking to people.
I'm shy. I'm an introvert.
Maybe later and so on. Well, what are you really good
at? And, you know, there are things
that some people are good at and other people just aren't that
good at and maybe you excel in one thing that you've really had
a passion for, and you do well in your life and ask yourself,
what are you really good at? Are you good at talking to
people? Maybe that's what it is.
Maybe you can help someone fix something that's broken at their
house. Maybe you're good with your
hands. Maybe you're good with
arithmetic and you can help them understand algebra or geometry
or something like that. Whatever it is.
Maybe you're just good at sitting simply sitting and
listening to someone else talk. Maybe you're good at that.
You know, there's sometimes a lot of people that are good
listeners and sometimes that a lot of people they're good
talkers and sometimes you have to find the one that works best
for you. Maybe it's in the simply just
sitting down and comforting. Someone that's going through
problems or troubles in their life and suffering or in sorrow.
Whatever your talent is God is behind it.
God gave you that talent. And God is the one that is
behind it, and he has blessed you with a talent that you can
be used for his purpose and for his glory.
But he doesn't bless us with talents or skills, just so we
can get noticed. Earn a lot of money in our jobs
that can be the result of a talent.
Absolutely, we may be good at certain things.
And by using those talents, we better ourselves and we better
our environment, but it's so much bigger than that.
God wants us to honor him with those gifts.
He wants us to be a good and faithful servant with our
talents Philippians 1 and 6 says being confident of this very
thing that he who has begun a good work in, you will complete
it until until the day of Jesus Christ, I want to focus on that
phrase. He who has begun a good work in
you. Paul is commending the
Philippian Brethren here, the Philippian Church, And he
stating that God uses the Christian to accomplish his
goals or his work. God will conduct our continue to
work in the Christian until the end of that Christians life or
whether Jesus Christ comes first.
You know, even the seven even the seven churches of Asia were
were admonished or they were disciplined.
If you want to say about what they accomplished and so we as
individuals want to be aware that today as well.
Well what is God's work in us? Are we here on this Earth?
Jim just simply for the amusement of God for his
Amusement is to see how we do with things in life.
No, we have talents and abilities to be used.
For God we all have a purpose. And we could study about The
Parables of the talents and that's a whole another lesson.
We're not going to talk about that this morning, but we are
going to talk about using the talents that we have.
How exactly God does want us to work for him.
How is that? Well, we want to notice three
things this morning that I want to go through.
And this is just probably scratching the surface, but I
believe that we can be used by God to bless others.
I believe that we can be used by God to build his kingdom.
And I believe that we can be used to be used by God to
glorify him. God wants us to bless us, bless
others, and be a blessing to others.
Number one, and first Peter, one there, excuse me, first, Peter
4, and verse 10. We are called to use the gifts
to serve others as faithful stewards of God.
As each one has received a gift Minister, it to one another as
good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
So each one of us has been given at least Gift.
One blessing. God has given us gifts and he
says to use that to minister to one another as good stewards of
the manifold grace of God, in other words, We've given a gift
or a blessing or as as one commentator says and endowment.
By which we can go do good to others or used to contribute to
the welfare of others. And the basic idea of blessing
others carries over to talents. God doesn't give us anything
only for our own benefit. We are blessed so that we can be
a blessing if we are using our talents only for our own benefit
and we're selfish. And God is Not intending for us
to be. with our blessings, but to bless others as we have been
blessed, God wants us to use our talents and skills for the
benefits of others, notice in Galatians 6 and verses 7 through
10, do not be deceived, be deceived.
God is Not mocked for whatever a manso's that will he will also
reap for. He Who sows to his flesh, shall
of the flesh, reap corruption. But he who sews to the spirit
will of the spirit reap everlasting life.
And let us not grow weary while doing good for in due season, we
shall reap. If we do not lose heart,
therefore as we have opportunity, let us do good to
all especially to those who are of the household of faith.
So how can we put that into practice?
Well, we need to be aware of the of what is going on around us.
We need to be. We're aware of what other people
are going through as well. You know, we take care of
ourselves but when our self is taken care of, let's look at
what others need to be taken care of in their lives.
Not just always focusing ourselves but focus on the needs
of others, as well and Philippians 2 and verses 3 and
4. Let nothing be done through
selfish ambition or conceit but in lowliness of Mind, Let each
esteem others better than himself.
Let each of you look out not only for his own interests but
also for the interests of others.
You know, we've all heard stories and maybe read articles,
or books or whatever it is regarding how sometimes during
the Depression and during times that were really, really tough.
and people were poor, that sometimes the parents went
without eating to make sure that the kids were taken care of and
sometimes it's not always looking out for ourselves, only
maybe we have to suffer a little bit, maybe we have to sacrifice
a little bit of our own take our own time that we want to take
our own selfish interests that we want and instead look after
others and what they need and what they are in need of You
might ask well what can I do for others?
I need to take care of myself, but what can I do for others?
Well, ask yourself what have others done for you.
That was a blessing to you. I know there are several things
that people have done for me here in this congregation.
That has been a blessing to me. Well, what can I do then like
that? To be a blessing to others as
well? Maybe it's simply a phone call
of encouragement, a card or a note, or a letter.
Maybe you can run an errand for someone.
Maybe take one, someone a meal and you don't have to do that
only when they're sick, but maybe you can take them a meal.
Repair something for someone clean their house.
Visit the sick. Do a kind deed, pay it forward
to someone in line. Maybe that looks like they're
struggling or or do a kind deed like that.
Here's a good one. We can get off our phones and do
the work of God. Do something for God.
Instead of always being on our phones.
Here's another one. Be a better influence.
I was looking for examples on being a good influence and I ran
across this one, it's a Peanuts cartoon, it's shows Peppermint
Patty. Talking to Charlie Brown and in
which he said, guess what? Chuck the first day of school,
and I got sent to the principal's office, it was your
fault Chuck, Charlie Brown responds my fault.
How could it be my fault? Why do you say everything is my
fault? Peppermint Patty says you're my
friend. Aren't you Chuck?
Then you should have been some kind of a better influence on
me. Well, that's funny.
But the point is, how can we be a good influence on others?
How can we make an impact on other people's lives?
How can we better them? Instead of always, just saw.
So, let's look around at the needs of others and not always
be the one on the receiving end. Number two, God wants us to work
and build his kingdom and mark the 16th chapter and verses 15
and 16. The Great Commission was given
and he said to them, go into all the world and preach.
The gospel to Every Creature, he who believes and is baptized,
will be saved. But he, who does not believe
will be condemned. Also, First Corinthians 3 in
verses 5 through 11, who then is Paul and who is Apollo's.
But ministers through whom you believe, as the lord gave to
each one, I planted Apollo's watered, but God gave the
increase. So there then neither he who
plants as anything, nor he who Waters?
But God, who gives the increase now, he who planted, who plants,
and he who waters are one. And each one will receive his
own reward, according to his own labor.
For we are are God's fellow workers?
You are God's field, you are God's Building.
According to the grace of God, which was given to me.
As a wise. Masterbuilder, I have laid the
foundation and another Builds on it, but let each one take heed
how he builds on it. For no other Foundation.
Can anyone lay than that, which is laid, which is Christ.
Jesus, the point is that each one of us has an obligation.
If we have a talent, we have an obligation and maybe it's just a
simple word of Jesus to someone else.
Just as our brother that held us a meeting here, brother.
Elias said, maybe it's knocking on a door till you tell them
about Jesus telling. Person that you meet about Jesus
when you have the opportunity. But we are building God's
Kingdom. We are the only ones building
God's kingdom and it is through his ability and his power that
he's given us to go into all the world and preach the gospel.
And to take the gospel to those that are lost in sin.
That is our responsibility if that's our talent.
We need to use that talent to build God's Kingdom.
At a minimum it's our individual responsibility to do in our part
to tell others about Jesus and build his kingdom.
Number three, whatever we do is all for the glory of God.
God made us all different. but together all of us make up the
kingdom and First Corinthians 12, All compares the body of
Christ to the human body. Each of us being unique but
together we make the body complete and Christ is the head
of the body, Ephesians 5, and verse 23.
So everything we do points back to him because he directs it
all. Listen to what the Apostle Paul
says in this chapter, starting with verse 12 and will read
through verse 27, for as the body is One and has many members
but all the members of that one, body being many are one body
body. So also is Christ.
The human body is one body. There's not two separate bodies
here. This morning, our physical body,
but it's composed of various members, it's composed of two
arms and two legs. If we have both of those, it's
composed of a chest area, a head and neck, the fingers, and all
these different things, but it all makes up the hole.
They all have different and distinct and separate functions,
but they harmoniously work together to accomplish, what is
good for the body verse 13. For, by one Spirit, are we all
baptized into one body? Whether Jews or Greeks, whether
slaves, or free and have all been made to drink into one
spirit for, in fact, the body is not one member but many.
He talks about many, and he talks about one, we all are many
members, but we are one body of Christ.
We are all baptized into that one body.
And when we become a part of that body, Then there is no
difference between us. We are all individual Christians
within the body. There is no Brig, no, German
Jew, nor Greek, excuse me. There's no difference between us
because we are all one. Verse 15, if the foot should
say. Because I am not a hand, I am
not of the body is it? Therefore not of the body and if
the ear should say, because I am not and I am I therefore not of
the body. Am I not of the body?
Is it therefore not of the body? Excuse me, verse 17, if the
whole body were an eye, where would the hearing, if the whole
we're hearing? Where would the smelling Where
would be the smelling the idea is that all the parts of the
body are useful for their purpose and plan in their proper
place? And it would be really
ridiculous for us to require something of our hand that are
hand. Can't do.
My hand doesn't smell. Well, it might smell if I've got
it into something, I shouldn't have, but my hand doesn't smell,
it doesn't smell like my nose does and I don't knows is not
able to turn a ranch like my hand will.
So each of us have our own individual abilities in Christ.
But if we all want to be a hand, the body can't function.
If think we all want to be a nose, the body can't function
because we need all the individual parts and we need
every individual member of the body of Christ, with your talent
that you have to take your part in the body and do your part in
the body. Paul goes on to say in verse 18,
but now God has set the members. Each one of them in the body,
just as he pleased. God gave you your talent.
You know, there are things in life that I wish.
I had a talent for I see people paint pictures and draw things
and have the talent, the artistic ability to draw things
and I wish I had that talent. But you know what?
I don't And other people just do it without any effort.
And I can't do that, but they're good at that.
And use a Christian have a certain talent in the body of
Christ that you're good at and I may not have that Talent.
And we can't always be. A best preacher.
Maybe we're able to get up though and do a chapter study or
a lesson or a five-minute talk or whatever.
It may be a new our part. And maybe that's all we'll ever
do. But maybe we'll get better and
better and better as we use that talent, to better ourselves, and
be able now to do something that we didn't do in the past, the
thing is to use the talent that's given to you.
But God is the one that gave you that Talent.
He has set the members, each one of them in the body, just as he
pleased. Verse 19.
And if they were all one member, where would the body be?
First 20. But now, indeed, there are many
members, yet one body and the eye cannot say to the hand.
I have no need of you nor again, to the head head, to the feet.
I have no need of you. Those that are maybe the most
noticeable guess cannot say to those that have different gifts
that there's no need for them. You know, some may think within
the church that, well, the church just really can't use me.
The congregation really can't use me, I really don't have the
talent. I don't have the talent that
Does to be able to teach like Frank does.
So I'm really have no good. No, that's not it.
That is not what he's saying here.
He's saying you have a talent and your talent is just as
important as anyone elses, You may want that talent, but God
gave you the talent that you have.
Verse 22. No much rather.
Those members of the body, which seem to be weaker are necessary.
The parts of the body that are indicated here.
He calls weaker are referring to those parts of the body that are
not seen and noticed everyone sees my face.
Everyone sees my head, my ears, my ears do apart.
My hands. Do a part, my legs do a part,
but you don't see my lungs, and you don't see my heart and you
don't see my brain. And so someone may say well
those are the weaker, things will know they don't do anything
physically. Other than the heart keeps me
going and the brain keeps the heart going and the lungs.
Keep me breathing oxygen into my body.
You don't see those things but they're very very essential
parts of the body. And there are also enclosed
within the body, they're covered and they're protected by the
skeleton around them. My brain is within my skull and
it's protected when I take a hammer sometimes.
And, and miss something, and smack myself.
Not that I'm really pointing at my head.
But you know, we bump our head into something.
I've been under that car, work on that car, and turn around and
hit my head so hard. And that thing didn't move one
bit, but it protected. My brain right here, and put a
big cut on my head. Lay on my chest and it doesn't
hurt my lungs. If I roll over on something
because this is protecting these, very vital, and important
parts of my body. And each member here, even
though they aren't able to do what the hand does even though
they maybe don't not be able to preach or may not be able to
lead a song like others do in the in the in the congregation
here. They're a very important part of
the body. Even though they're deemed as
weaker, he goes on to say. and verse 23 and those members of
the body, which we think to be less, honorable, On these, we
stole greater honor. and our unpresentable parts have greater
modesty but are presentable Parts have no need, but God
compose the body, having given greater on to though the that
part, which lacks it So, God is mingled all the parts together
to accomplish his goal. Every part is useful and every
part is suited to the harmony of the hole and God has arranged it
this way, God has intended for it to be this way.
In order to produce Harmony and to produce the body, functioning
the way that he wants it to and it cares for its own self as
well. so we bestow more abundant Honor on those parts of the
body, which require protection from the cold and heat and storm
in a sense of comeliness requires us to close and
conceal, a greater attention and care of which we bestow on those
parts of the body Barnes says First 25 that there should be no
Schism in the body Schism or sysm, whatever you call that.
But that, the members should have the same Care, One care for
one another want to notice that term, but there should be no
Schism or Schism in the body that the body might be United
and be one harmonious, whole harmonious whole That there
should be no separate interests. And that all the parts should be
equally necessary and truly dependent on each other and that
no member should be regarded as separate from the others.
If you're here and you don't think that you're you're a vital
part of the congregation. You're wrong.
You're a very important part of the congregation and you should
never consider yourself. An unneeded part.
You said that we should have the same care.
Whatever part of the body that is affected with disease or
pain, we feel deep interest in that members suffering.
You know, the congregation is good here with that.
When there's someone in need there are several that rush to
take care of that need. When someone has a problem,
there are several that come to the rescue with help.
Ready to help. And so that we should have the
same care for each other and we don't throw preferential care to
some and then not to others. We tear care for everyone in the
same way. Verse 26, and if one member
suffers all the members suffer with it, or if one member is
honored all the members Rejoice with it.
Now, you are the body of Christ and members individually.
So God wants you to use your unique role here in this
congregation. And in doing so you glorify him.
You're using the talent that God gave you and by doing that he
gets the glory, not you not me, God gets the glory because
you're using the talent that God gave you.
Colossians 3. And verse 17 says, and whatever
you do in word or deed do all In The Name Of The Lord.
Jesus giving, thanks to God the Father through him.
So whatever we do good in this life for others.
In this life, we do it for the benefit and to the glory of God,
God can use whatever you are, wherever you are in your life
right now. You think you may think well,
I've got time. I'll do it later.
But it's cool work with your friends, in the community,
whatever it may be. You have a purpose on this Earth
and that purpose is using the talent that you've been given to
glorify God, and let God use you in your life, not in a month,
from now, not a year from now, not a week from now, but right
now, God wants to use you. And we need to let him do that.
Be that Christian, and that influence in your family.
With your girlfriend, or with your boyfriend, or with your
wife, or your husband, your children, your grandchildren,
your coworker, your neighbor, whatever it may be, whatever it
is, use the talents to glorify God.
Maybe God can use you in the church as a leader as an elder
or as a deacon at some point. But God needs you and can use
you with whatever your talent is.
The more useful that you are, the more you can be used by God
in the more. Use your to the church and
accomplishing the glory and the will of God.
So let God use you this morning. We thank you for listening to
our podcast, put on by the Church of Christ at 22:15 plans.
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