“MISSION POSSIBLE…EQUIPPED”

1 Corinthians 12:7-11

God’s Gifts In You

September 24, 2006

PASTOR NATHAN J. THOMPSON

“Your assignment, if you should choose to accept…”  This past week we began our series of messages by lifting up Jesus’ Great Commission to us as believers, and to his church.  God’s assignment throughout his holy Word is that we are to go, we are to make disciples of Jesus, and that we are to teach, and instruct, and empower growth in faith and discipleship.

Last week we talked about how this assignment, this mission from God, is what brings life and power to Christ’s church.  For if we lose our focus on God’s purpose, if we rather turn our focus inward on ourselves and our likes/dislikes, it is then that we certainly lose our spiritual energy.

Now in the Mission Impossible movies, after Ethan Hunt receives his secret agent assignments, it is obvious that he is also equipped with the latest technology and gadgets for each mission.  From instant communication, to amazing computer devices, to ways of disguising his face so it looks exactly like the villain himself, he has many tools to help him achieve his goal.

And the good news of God, through his Holy Spirit, is that he has also equipped and empowered his church to carry out its assignment and mission.  God has equipped his church by giving each believer in Jesus different and various gifts.  He has equipped us like a body, so if we all use our gifts in unity with each other, his mission will be accomplished.

Now there are several Biblical passages and places where these gifts are spelled out.  For example, the Apostle Paul says in 1 Corinthians 12:7-11, in the New Living Translation, “A spiritual gift is given to each of us as a means of helping the entire church.  To one person the Spirit gives the ability to give wise advice; to another he has given the gift of special knowledge.

“The Spirit gives special faith to another, and to someone else he gives the power to heal the sick.  He gives one person the power to perform miracles, and to another the ability to prophecy.  He gives someone else the ability to know whether it is really the Spirit of God or another spirit that is speaking.

“Still another person is given the ability to speak in unknown languages, and another is given the ability to interpret what is being said.  It is the one and only Holy Spirit who distributes these gifts.  He alone decides which gift each person should have.”

Some other gifts that are lifted up in other Scripture verses include administration, evangelism, giving, hospitality, intercession, mercy, leadership, missionary, service, preaching/exhortation, shepherd, teaching, and wisdom.  In fact, it is often listed that there are 25 spiritual gifts that God gives us, and his church, through his Holy Spirit.

And what is God’s purpose for giving these gifts?  They are given, as Paul says, as a “means of helping the entire church.”  They are given to help a congregation like ours at Shepherd to carry out and fulfill Christ’s mission.  They are given so that together, you and me, may be the body of Christ.

This also means that if someone is using their gift, and it is not being used to build up and strengthen Christ’s whole church, then it is not a gift ordained by God.  In other words, if someone is using their gift for their own glory, or are using it to cause conflict or division in the church, or are not willing to work as a team with others, that gift is not from God.

God has given various gifts to each believer at Shepherd so that we can affirm and celebrate the gifts and ministries of each other, and can work together as a team to bring the love of Jesus to others.  It means I rely on you, and you rely on me, and we all rely on each other, for by ourselves we are totally lacking.  Only united together with each other in Christ’s body are we complete.

Now the major problem and challenge with these spiritual gifts, and with working as an important part of Christ’s body and team, is that many of you may not know that you have a special gift.  Many of you may not realize that God has equipped you with gifts and talents, and that he calls you to use them in his mission.

The reality is that God has blessed us at Shepherd of the Hills with phenomenally gifted people who have amazing potential and possibilities.  The only problem is that many of you may have not discovered what your gift or gifts are, or have not learned about or developed that gift in you.  And as a result, we as a church have lots of untapped resources that God wants for us to use in order to fulfill his mission.

The famous writer, Oliver Wendall Holmes, is known for making the famous quote, “Some people die with their music still in them.”  The reality is that God wants you to discover your gift or gifts, to learn and develop it, and to use it for his glory.  For if we don’t, our lives will be unfulfilled, and we may end up dying with our gift(s) still in us.

So these next weeks our worship will focus on how God has shaped you for his mission, and how you are an important part of Shepherd and of the body of Christ.  We will lift up and learn about various spiritual gifts, as well as how God also wants to empower you to use your gifts in your work, in your community, in your daily life.

Now to illustrate how God’s Spirit equips us with gifts, and how others are equipped to help us, I will begin with myself.  God has given me several gifts such as faith, and leadership, and the passion to shepherd others.  These gifts have been affirmed by others, and are ones I have been learning and growing in since I was young.

And yet the reality is that my gifts are only effective, and they only fulfill God’s call, if I have other people and gifts around me.  In fact, the times I have tried to do it myself, relying only on my own gifts, have been the times I have failed miserably.  God doesn’t want any of us to be a lone ranger.

So in my life and ministry I am surrounded by people who have gifts, which if used together, make us a good team.  For example, there are people whom God has given the gift of wisdom to whom I look to for advice and help very often.  It is so important to seek insight from wise and discerning people.

There are other people whom God has given the gift of administration.  It is amazing how much more effective our ministry at Shepherd is as gifted administrators have helped us restructure our Board, and staff, and operations.  God truly has blessed us as we have better job descriptions and expectations, better reviews and accountability, and better systems to make us a stronger team.

We are also blessed at Shepherd with people whom God has blessed with administrative gifts of managing finances.  It is wonderful to have people of faith and vision who administer our church budget, and operations, with great care.  For being good stewards of Shepherd’s resources is so important in fulfilling Christ’s mission. 

Another reality in fulfilling God’s mission, and in having funds to administer, is that God’s Spirit has given certain people the gift of giving.  Now certainly there are many faithful givers at Shepherd who share generously in support of God’s mission in this place.

And yet there are some who have a special gift for giving.  This does not mean this person necessarily gives the largest gifts, or that they are wealthy.  It means that person who gives cheerfully from their heart in everything that they do.  It is one who loves to give, who gives a tithe of 10% and beyond, who sees all they have as a gift to be shared.

The Body of Christ is truly blessed by people who have the spiritual gift of giving, as well as by those who give faithfully and generously.  Our ministry is strengthened and enhanced, our mission is expanded, and our facility is strengthened as a center for outreach, by those who give.

For me to be able to use my gift of leadership, and of empowering other leaders, we need people who are willing to follow this lead by using their spiritual gifts.  We need people who have the gift of intercession and prayer for us; people who are willing to teach, and serve, and provide help, and show hospitality, and to show mercy to those who are hurting.

All these gifts are important as we work together as the Body of Christ.  In fact, there is no gift that is more or less important.  For just like our physical bodies, we need every part working together in unity for Christ’s mission for us to fulfill God’s call.

Now I know there are some churches, and church people, who are always complaining that they aren’t gifted like other people or churches.  In fact, some look at some mega-churches and drool over the gifted staff, and volunteers, and resources, and buildings.

But I firmly believe that God has given us at Shepherd every gift that we need.  I believe that God has given us an incredible staff, incredible leaders, and incredible people who are willing to give and serve.  And so our challenge isn’t to envy what others have, but rather to lift up, and develop, and grow the gifts God have given each one of you.  For you are the Body of Christ.

So, my friends, your assignment if you choose to accept is to be open to learning to identify the gifts God has given you, and to discover ways you can grow, and develop, and use your gifts.  For God has gifted each one of you, and our church, so we may fulfill Christ’s mission “to reach, ignite, and empower people for Jesus.”