A PLACE WHERE YOU FIT (PART 1)
2-28-2010
PASTOR LES SANDERS
MILFORD ASSEMBLY OF GOD
SERIES: WHYCHURCH?
I.INTRODUCTION
A.WHY CHURCH? = A PLACE WHERE YOU FIT!
B.WE LIVE IN A WORLD OF CUSTOMIZATION.
1.IT’S IMPORTANT THAT CONSUMERS GET EXACTLY WHAT THEY WANT.
C.WE HAVE BECOME VERY SPOILED
1.PARTIALLY CAUSED BY TECHNOLOGY
a.COFFEE
D.IT IS NOT ABOUT THE CHURCH IT IS ABOUT US,
1.CAN THE CHURCH MEET MY NEEDS,
2.WE WANT EVERYTHING TO BE CUSTOMIZED
E.IS THERE A PLACE FOR ME IN THE CHURCH?
1.THE ANSWER IS “YES,” BUT WHY?
WHY
II.1ST BECAUSE GOD PROVIDES EVERY PERSON A PLACE
1 COR 12:4-11( KJV ) 4Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.5And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.6And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.7But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.8For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;9To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;10To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to anotherdivers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:11But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.
A.POST MODERN THEOLOGY
1.GOD SEES YOUR POTENTIAL AND SAVED YOU,
2.NO - GOD SAVED YOU BECAUSE HE LOVES YOU
3.YOUR POTENTIAL MEANS LITTLE TO GOD,
4.IT’S A WAY TO PERSUADE PEOPLE TO ACCEPT THE LORD FOUR THEIR OWN SELF WORTH
5.HOW CAN YOU MEASURE THE WORTH OF A SOUL?
a.THEIR MONEY, IQ, CONTACT, POSITION IN LIFE?
6.GOD IS THE GIVER OF WORTH
B.IN THE CHURCH THERE ARE DIFFERENT OFFICES, AND AUTHORITIES BUT UNDER THE SAME LORDSHIP
1.DOES MORE AUTHORITY MEAN YOU ARE MORE BLESSED?
2.DOES GOD FAVOR ONE MORE THAN ANOTHER?
3.IT IS NOT A BUSINESS PLAN
C.THERE ARE DIFFERENT WAYS TO WORK FOR GOD.
1.BUT WE ALL WORK FOR THE SAME GOD!
D.ALL SPIRIT FILLED BELIEVERS CAN BE USED IN THE FULL MANIFESTATIONS OF THE SPIRIT.
1.WE NEED THE MANIFESTATION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT TO FULFILL OUR PLACE IN THE CHURCH,
2.THE GIFTS GIVEN ARE NOT THE MANIFESTATION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.
3.MANIFESTED AS THE HOLY SPIRIT WILLS.
E.WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT KINDS OF GIFTS?
1.NOT THE MANIFESTATIONS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT,
2.NOT OFFICES, OR AUTHORITY THEN WHAT?
3.OPPORTUNITIES OR CALLINGS TO SERVE!
a.OPPORTUNITIES TO BE FAITHFUL!
4.EVERYONE HAS A TALENT, AN APTITUDE, ABILITY,
F.BELIEVERS HAVE A OPPORTUNITIES AND CALLINGS FROM GOD!
1.NOAH WAS A BUILDER, NO HE WAS A PREACHER
2.DAVID COULD USE A WARRIOR, NO A SHEPHERD
3.LUKE WAS A WRITER, NO A PHYSICIAN.
4.GOD HAD A PLACE FOR EACH OF THEM.
(ILLUSTRATION— VARIOUS GIFTS WITHIN YOUR CHURCH AND HOW EACH OF THEM CONTRIBUTES TO THE LIFE OF THE CHURCH.)
G.CHRIST IS BUILDING HIS CHURCH!
1.ON HIS STRENGTH AND POWER
2.HE CUSTOMIZED A PLACE FORYOU
3.A PLACE WHERE YOU CAN SERVE THE LORD
4.A PLACE OF EFFECTIVENESS FOR CHRIST
5.A PLACE FOR GOD’S GLORY, NOT OURS!
H.GIFT‐ORIENTED MINISTRY IS THE SYSTEM THATALLOWS A PLACE FOR EVERYONE!
1.NOT BASED ON OUR ABILITIES
2.BASED ON HIM
3.SERVING IN OPPORTUNITIES FUNCTION MORE IN THE POWER OF THE SPIRIT!
Romans 12:1-2 ( KJV ) 1I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God,which is your reasonable service.2And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove whatis that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
I.GOD CAN ONLY USE YOU WHEN YOUR SURRENDER
1.HE IS LOOKING FOR YELLED VESICLES
2.VESICLES THAT WILL EXCEPT GOD OPPORTUNITIES
J.A GIFT DEPOSIT HAS BEEN GIVEN TO EVERY BELIEVER
1.EVERY BELIEVER IS TO BE USED TO FURTHER THE KINGDOM OF GOD.
2.EVERY PERSON IS TO BE A GIFT TO THE BODY OF CHRIST.
3.YES, THERE IS A PLACE FOR YOU IN THE CHURCH...