9-Creative Diversity
10/27/13
Intro:
I.==> Acts 2:17-18
“In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy.”
II.42—“I NEED THEM TO KNOW WHO I AM.”
A.Statue of the event in Kestyone Park in Brooklyn
B.”After Pee Wee came over like that, I never felt alone on a baseball field again.”—Jackie Robinson
III.1 Peter 4:10-11
As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the [diverse] grace of God.
Body:
I.Every Kind of People
In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
A.It takes a kaleidoscope of colors to make up God’s image.
1)RANDY REMINGTON’S REVELATION AT CUB FOODS
2)Revelation 7:9
After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb.
3)Grk (ethnos) ethnicity, race
Grk (fule) national origin
Grk (laos) people group
Grk (glossa) tongue, language
B.God takes seriously our attitude toward other ethnicities.
1)PRAYING FOR A COUPLE OF HISPANIC KIDS
2)Deuteronomy 10:18-19
[The Lord your God] defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the alien, giving him food and clothing. And you are to love those who are aliens, for you yourselves were aliens in Egypt.
3)Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were immigrants; Joseph was an immigrant; Moses was an immigrant; Ruth was an immigrant.
a)BOAZ LETTING RUTH GLEAN AMONG THE SHEAVES
b)“Do not reap to the very edges” (Leviticus 19:9-10)
II.Every Stage of Life
Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.
A.Your are never too young to be included in the family.
1)“Children are to be seen and heard”
2)CHILDREN ARE NOT JUST THE “FUTURE” OF THE CHURCH
3)Matthew 19:14
Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”
B.You are never too old to have something valuable to contribute.
1)CHURCHES PUTTING FORTH THEIR 20 SOMETHINGS
2)Psalms 71:18
Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, my God, till I declare your power to the next generation, your mighty acts to all who are to come.
3)CATCHING UP WITH MY WISDOM
4)Young people need older people, Older people need younger people.
III.Every Son and Daughter
Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy.
A.The anointing of God’s Spirit is not exclusive to one gender.
1)Galatians 3:26-28
So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith . . . There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
2)IF WOMEN CAN PROPHESY, THEN WOMEN CAN PREACH
a)Deborah and Miriam were leaders in the O.T. (Micah 6:4)
b)Philip had four daughters who prophesied (Acts 21:9)
B.It is God’s Spirit who expresses Himself in creative diversity.
1)MARTIN LUTHER KING, “I HAVE A DREAM”
2)Isaiah 40:4-5
Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain: And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together.
Other Scriptures:
Exodus 23:9
“Do not oppress an alien; you yourselves know how it feels to be aliens, because you were aliens in Egypt.”
Acts 2:5-6
Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven.
1 Timothy 2:3-5
This is good, and pleases God our Savior, 4 who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.
1 Timothy 4:12-13
Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.
Titus 2:11-12
For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people.
1 Peter 3:7
Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.