"Utilizing Our Gifts"


UTILIZING OUR GIFTS
          And, furthermore, we will want to begin to utilize our God given abilities and strengths and gifts in service to our God.  This can only be accomplished in the company of other believers.
For instance, if I have a gift of teaching, I need people who are willing to listen and learn.  If I have organizational skills, I need a committee on which to serve and use my talents.  If I am a terrific cook, I will want to be involved in church dinners.  If I love kids, I need children in order to share the marvelous stories of the Bible.  If I have the gift of encouragement, I need people to support.  If I have an angelic voice or play an instrument, I will need people to worship the Lord through song.  If I have carpentry or “fix it” skills, I want to serve on the Board of Trustees or volunteer for church repairs.  If I have been blessed with prosperity, I will delight in supporting the church through my tithes and offerings; and on and on it goes. 
          The church is the place where we “work out” or “live out” our faith.  It is the place I learn that I am not created as an island but am uniquely linked to other believers.  It is a place we learn to prosper in harmony with others.    It is the place we are blessed by the gifts of others and, in turn, bless others through our strengths and abilities.  It is the place we learn to forgive.  It is the place we are strengthened so that we are able to live faithfully in a wicked world.  It is the place where scores of believers united together for one purpose for the glory of God can achieve exponentially more than each of us alone.  The potential here at Trinity Church is mind-boggling.  We are only tapping a small fraction of our potential resources.  By the way, YOU are that valuable resource!
          Take a trip with me down “imagination lane.”  God has given us all a wonderful gift called “imagination.”  True, for some, their imagination tends to run amok.  Nevertheless, we can use our imagination to dream “God dreams,” to think as God might think, to envision future reality through Christ.  So, let us take that gift and imagine the impact we could make here at Trinity if every member and constituent would dedicate themselves to living the “God life” and totally utilizing their gifts and strengths to advance God’s Kingdom.  It would be a tidal wave for Southern Illinois and beyond. 
          The naysayers will respond, “ain’t gonna’ happen.  No way everyone does that.”  I would reply, “Yes, it is possible…but even if 90% or 80% or 70% or 60% or 50% or 40% of us would dedicate ourselves to this end, the impact would be remarkable.  Even if ten additional Trinity members boarded the “soul train” (so to speak) and determined to ride the rails wherever God may lead them, there would be a visible difference.  Finally, if only one person…YOU…if you surrendered to God’s call in your life and exercised your God-given gifts for His glory there would be a significant difference in the world.”  In all actuality, I have only one person to worry about regarding “who is doing their part,” and that is “me.”

PHILIPPIANS 2:17
          May each of us allow God to use us up for His glory.  The Apostle Paul said exactly those words in Philippians 2:17 (NLT).  “But I will rejoice even if I lose my life, pouring it out like a liquid offering to God, just like your faithful service is an offering to God. And I want all of you to share that joy.”  Did you catch the words, “just like your faithful service is an offering to God?”  Whenever you seek to give God glory and advance HIS kingdom (not our own), it is a “life offering” unto God. Casting Crowns sings a song called “Lifesong” which emphasizes this truth.  The lyrics (in part) go:
May the words I say
And the things I do
Make my lifesong sing
Bring a smile to You

Lord I give my life
A living sacrifice
To reach a world in need
To be Your hands and feet

Let my lifesong sing to You
Let my lifesong sing to You
I want to sign Your name to the end of this day
Knowing that my heart was true
Let my lifesong sing to You