“USING OUR SUPER POWERS IN SERVICE”

1 Peter 4:10-11
¹⁰ Based on the gift they have received, EVERYONE SHOULD USE IT TO SERVE OTHERS, as good managers of the varied grace of God. ¹¹ If anyone speaks, [his speech should be] like the oracles of God; if anyone serves, [his service should be] from the strength God provides, so that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To Him belong the glory and the power forever and ever. • Amen.

[1 Peter 4.10 in the New American Standard Bible: ¹⁰ As each one has received a special gift, EMPLOY IT IN SERVING ONE ANOTHER, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.]

• Week 1: Discovery
• Week 2: Employment
• Week 3: Deployment

Last week: Discovering Your Super Power (Gifts)

We looked at four keys to discovering what our gifts are. I don’t expect that everyone had an “AH-HA” moment in the past seven days, but I do pray that there are people who started really seeking what it is God has given you and how to use that in His purpose and plan.

• Faith
• Prayer
• Awareness
• Activity

This Week we will Develop that Thought a little More

THE PURPOSE OF THE POWER (Eph. 4.11-16)

¹¹ And He personally gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, ¹² for the training of the saints in the work of ministry, to build up the body of Christ,¹³ until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of God’s Son, [growing] into a mature man with a stature measured by Christ’s fullness. ¹⁴ Then we will no longer be little children, tossed by the waves and blown around by every wind of teaching, by human cunning with cleverness in the techniques of deceit. ¹⁵ But speaking the truth in love, let us grow in every way into Him who is the head—Christ. ¹⁶ From Him the whole body, fitted and knit together by every supporting ligament, promotes the growth of the body for building up itself in love by the proper working of each individual part.

A. To Glorify the Lord

“God has given me abilities and powers to develop in the best way I can. He created me for a purpose. He gave me life and through service to Him I return both life and talents.” – A High School Graduate

B. To Edify the Church

C. To Solidify our Faith

THE PRACTICE OF THE POWER

A. You Have Not been Saved to be Shelved

B. You Have Opportunities that ONLY You Will Have

C. You Have a Responsibility to Use Your Gifts for God

 

THE PLACE OF THE POWER (1 Cor. 12)

Paul’s Illustration – The Body

A. Your Gifts are Significant in THIS Body

B. Your Gifts are Vital to THIS Body

C. Your Gifts are Strategically Placed in THIS Body

 

Three good tests of a Spiritual Gift are:

• You will enjoy using this ability
• You will be effective using this ability
• Others will see God using this ability in you.

“WITH GREAT POWER COMES GREAT RESPONSIBILITY” – Spiderman

 

THE POWER BEHIND THE POWER (1 Cor. 13)

Love

COMMITMENT TIME

• Salvation through the Savior
• Become a part of this church through membership
• Commit to using the gifts you have in ministry here.
• Seek the greatest gift, Love, and let that be the motivation

 

With Love and Prayers,

Dave and Andie Bentley

November 22, 2012

DISCOVERING YOUR SUPER POWER

Ephesians 4:11-16 (HCSB)
¹¹ And He personally gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers,
¹² for the training of the saints in the work of ministry, to build up the body of Christ,
¹³ until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of God’s Son, [growing] into a mature man with a stature measured by Christ’s fullness.
¹⁴ Then we will no longer be little children, tossed by the waves and blown around by every wind of teaching, by human cunning with cleverness in the techniques of deceit.
¹⁵ But speaking the truth in love, let us grow in every way into Him who is the head—Christ.
¹⁶ From Him the whole body, fitted and knit together by every supporting ligament, promotes the growth of the body for building up itself in love by the proper working of each individual part.

Story: Poor Sheep-Rancher

There was a poor sheep rancher tending a pitiful little flock in a nearly barren waste land.  He barely had enough to get by, and many days he went hungry because he didn’t have any money.  This went on this way for years.  Then one day, as he was digging a new water well, he found a strange black liquid beneath the ground.  He had struck oil.  Within moment he went from being nearly destitute to incredibly wealthy.  The oil had been there all along, however he never looked to see what was his beneath the surface.

There are many believers in Christ who are living without purpose and without the resources that are theirs because they haven’t taken the time to discover what is theirs…just beneath the surface.  The SUPER POWER that Christ has given to them to fulfill His plan in their lives. 

Here’s a Video from the Superman Movie showing a similar Occurrence

STEPS TOWARD DISCOVERING YOUR SUPER POWER

I. FAITH—Believe that the Gifts are real and you are gifted

A. You are gifted (equipped) or God’s call is futile in us.

B. You are gifted or there is no possible service you can do

C. You are gifted, or the Bible is false

II. PRAYER—Asking to know and to use your gifts (James 4)

A. You do not have because you do not ask. (4.2)

B. You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend {it} on your pleasures. (4.3)

III. AWARENESS—What gifts are available to me?

(This is not an Exhaustive List)

A. Gifts of Service/Helps

B. Gifts of the ministry of the Word

C. Gifts of direction and leadership

D. Gifts of signs and miracles

IV. ACTIVITY—Explore by doing and experiencing

(Next Week – Using Your Super Power on Purpose with Purpose)

It’s Not Enough!

I have not been to church in almost two weeks! That’s probably a surprising admission for a pastor to make. Even more that I have not been to my church service in almost three weeks. Travel and illness have kept me from my church community. There are many who would say that this is not a big deal. After all, I am very faithful (I suppose I have to be as the pastor). However, I know that this is not enough. It is not enough to be hit or miss when it comes to participating in church. It is not enough to connect with the community of faith in a sporadic and inconsistent way. It is not enough to only be with the family of fellowship on an occasional basis.

I’m getting older (WOW – two major admissions in one posting!). Later this month I will celebrate one of those annual anniversaries that reminds us that we are aging. One of the things about getting older, however, is that you start to realize how much you have taken relationships for granted through the years. Friends and family that you were close to growing-up, yet now you rarely see. Distance creeps in quite subtly, and before you know it close relationships become distant memories.
This is what happens with week we “take a break” from gathering with the people of God in fellowship with God. Suddenly you find yourself wondering why you can’t seem to connect with God, but you don’t realize that you have allowed dust and ashes to build up on the altar. It’s time that we (I) committed to lighting the altar fire of worship, fanned by the Spirit of God, and let those flames blaze in praise with God and His people.

1 Kings 18.30 tells us that on Mount Carmel, as Elijah was about to take a stand against the false prophets of his day, HE REPAIRED THE ALTAR OF THE LORD THAT WAS BROKEN DOWN. There, on top of the mountain, just before an amazing demonstration of God’s power and presence, Elijah began by returning to the foundations of the faith. For us, we need to be reminded to return to the foundations of our faith and the bedrock elements of worship, fellowship, and service.

My question for you…IS IT TIME TO REBUILD AND RETURN TO YOUR WORSHIP ALTAR (your church)? Get back where you belong! You are missed, and you are missing more than you realize.

This past Sunday I was recovering from apparent food poisoning, so Mike Monica stepped in and delivered the message.  Below are his notes with a few additions. 

Servolution: Starting a Revolution in your Church
A Message By Michael Monica at Living Waters Community Church

Acts 6:1-8

¹ In those days, as the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a complaint by the Hellenistic Jews against the Hebraic Jews that their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution.
² Then the Twelve summoned the whole company of the disciples and said, “It would not be right for us to give up preaching about God to wait on tables.
³ Therefore, brothers, select from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and wisdom, whom we can appoint to this duty.
⁴ But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the preaching ministry.”
⁵ The proposal pleased the whole company. So they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a • proselyte from Antioch.
⁶ They had them stand before the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.
⁷ So the preaching about God flourished, the number of the disciples in Jerusalem multiplied greatly, and a large group of priests became obedient to the faith.
⁸ Stephen, full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people.

Notes
Characteristics of a servant.
Service (Rom. 12:-8, Mark 10:45, Phil 2:5, Matt. 25-46, James 2:14-17)
a. Jesus came to _____________(Serve)
b. Our attitude should be like ____________ (Jesus)
c. We are judged according to our _________ (deeds)
d. If we believe we will __________ (serve.)

Note: Our acceptance into heaven is based on belief, not works.  Our works are merely an overflow of what we believe.

Honor (Romans 12:10 & 13:7)
a. Honor God __________ (First)

Opportunity (Gal. 6:10)
a. Disciples of Jesus don’t see problems, they see _____________ (ministry opportunities)

Willing (John 13:1)
a. Are you willing to wash the feet (serve) those who will betray, deny and abandon you?

Hospitality (1 Peter 4:9-10)
a. We are called to show _______ (hospitality) and _______ (serve) through God’s grace.

Objection or Ordained (Acts 6:6)
Do you complain about problems or serve through them?
a. Complaining magnifies the _______ (problem), minimizes what is ______ (right) and misses what is _______ (important).
b. We are blessed to give our ______(time), _________(talent) and ______(finances)

Prosperity (Acts 6:7)
a. Service propels the ________ (Gospel message).

Everyone (John 3:16, Eph 2:8)
a. Because God loves us, he served us.
b. Service is about _________ (teamwork) and _________(family)
c. Service allows ____________(everyone) the opportunity to hear the gospel message.

Q & A
1. Is this __________ worth your time? (Church)
2. Are _________ worth your time? (People)
3. Is ________ worth your time? (Jesus)