Last week we began our series on the wonderful Spirit filled life… looking at the ministries of the Holy Spirit.
Today we’re going to look at how God is SHAPING your life… God is engaged in changing & shaping you!
Pastor Dave Martin Cross Creek Community Church Nov 19, 2006
The Spirit Filled Life
Part 2 of 3
Shaped to Serve God
|
Last week we began our series on the wonderful Spirit filled life… looking at the ministries of the Holy Spirit. |
|
Today we’re going to look at how God is SHAPING your life… God is engaged in changing & shaping you! |
Psalms 139:13-14 13 For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. 14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
Job 10:8a "Your hands shaped me and made me…
Three Truths from God…
|
I am Unique! “you created my inmost being; you knit me together…” |
Fingerprints, retina scan, DNA, brain waves, heart rhythms… you are uniquely, one of a kind
The Lord made you unique… He broke the mold… you are special… highly valuable… you’re not a mistake
|
I am Amazingly Complex! “I am fearfully and wonderfully made…” |
 |
Your heart beats 103,689 times, and your blood travels 168,000,000 miles every 24 hours! |
|
Your tiny pea size pituary gland is called the master gland of your body – it controls all your other glands in your body, thyroid, adrenal, pancreas, reproductive glands… located dead center of your head - our son Jeff has a pituary tumor the size of a walnut… he’s doing well but on medication the rest of his life. |
|
Respiratory, nervous, circulatory, digestive, reproductive, muscular, skeleton systems - “simple cell” ?? |
|
I am Shaped for a Purpose! "Your hands shaped me…” |
Ephesians 2:10 For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
|
You are God’s masterpiece, His workmanship, highly esteemed and valuable. The blending of DNA! |
|
God is the Potter, we’re His clay – centered, soft, sensitive, free of impurities! Jer 18:6; Rom 9:21; Is 45:9; 64:8 |
|
God has been shaping you since even before you were born. |
|
“God formed every creature on this planet with a special area of expertise. Some animals run, some hop, some swim, some burrow, and some fly. Each animal has a particular role to play based on the way they were shaped by God. The same is true with humans. Each of us was uniquely designed or “shaped” by God to do certain things.” R. W. PDL 235 |
What God made you to be determines what He intends for you to do. – Rick Warren
|
By identifying and understanding the five S.H.A.P.E. factors, we can discover God’s will for our lives… |
|
The unique way He intends for each of us to serve Him. In architecture they talk about form and function. |
|
When it comes to ministry, your function flows out of the way God formed you. |
Five Components/Elements of my God-Given Shape:
1. Spiritual Gifts
1Co 12:7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.
1Co 12:11b “… he gives them (gifts) to each one, just as he determines.
Romans 12:4-9 4 Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. 7 If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; 8 if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully. 9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.
How do I know if I have a spiritual gift? Every believer has at least one! God is shaping you!
(Take the spiritual gifts test - involvement)
Ø I can use it for long periods of time without getting tired.
Ø Using it pumps me up – you’re good at what you do.
Ø People get spiritually blessed and brought closer to God as a result. (very important confirmation)
Sadly far too many Christians are ignorant concerning their spiritual gifts… we look at this more next week!
1 Corinthians 12:1 Now about spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be ignorant.
2. Heart
Proverbs 4:23 Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.
What makes you cry? Laugh? Act the way you do? What’s your unique heartbeat?
Matthew 15:18-19 18 But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these make a man 'unclean.' 19 For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander.
|
Why I say the things I do. |
"For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks." Mt 12:24
|
Why I feel the way I do. |
"God's word examines the thoughts and motives (attitudes) of the heart." Heb 4:12
|
Why I act the way I do. |
"Guard your heart -- for out of it flow the actions of life." Prov 4:23
|
Serving from your heart is marked by enthusiasm and effectiveness – God is shaping you! |
3. Abilities
Exodus 31:3 and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability and knowledge in all kinds of crafts—
|
Studies show the average person possesses between 500-700 skills and abilities (raise hands) |
|
Natural talents that you were born with and the skills that you develop |
|
Estimate them! |
Romans 12:3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.
|
What you’re good at doing… get to know your strength/weaknesses and analysis them |
|
Dedicate them! |
Romans 12:1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship.
|
Commit your abilities to God… they can be used for His glory or your glory. |
|
Selfish or unselfish, manipulate or minister, use for Christ or to misuse |
|
Cultivate them! |
Proverbs 19:8 He who gets wisdom loves his own soul; he who cherishes understanding prospers.
Ecclesiastes 10:10 If the ax is dull and its edge unsharpened, more strength is needed but skill will bring success.
|
Practice, develop, improve, learn… sharpen your abilities & skills |
|
Personal level - everyday, general level – getting along w/people, specific level – artwork, etc |
|
Liberate them! |
1 Peter 4:10 Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms.
|
Use them don’t hide them… humble attitude… it’s not all about me but others |
|
Will Rogers said, “We’re all ignorant, just on different subjects” |
|
What I’m able to do that’s what God wants me to do. God shapes you with your natural abilities! |
4. Personality
Genesis 25:27 The boys grew up, and Esau became a skillful hunter, a man of the open country, while Jacob was a quiet man, staying among the tents.
Four main Behavioral types…
· Choleric – Dominance, Guardians – Paul (Driven, decisive, keen quick minds, gets things done, visionary, big picture, bored with details, “know” what needs to be done, lacks sufficient planning, abrasive)
· Sanguine – Influence, Idealists – Peter (Walk on water, life of the party, exciting, lacks planning, tends to become distracted easily, loves thrilling experiences, speak their thoughts out loud, quick to volunteer but slow to follow-up)
· Phlegmatic – Steadiness, Rationales – Abraham (Cool, calm and collective, general unemotional character, detail minded, no-nonsense practical approach, great thought out planners, slow starters but good finishers)
· Melancholy – Conscientiousness, Artisans – Moses (The most complex deep, thorough, reflective thinking, deceptive, self-centered, perfectionism, frequent disillusionment, moody, highly creative, originality, highly conscientious)
|
Discovered over 18,000 personality traits… highly complex blend of DNA… |
|
Understanding your personality is critical in building strong lasting relationships |
5. Experiences
Romans 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
|
Family Experiences – what did I learn growing up in my family? |
|
Educational Experiences – what subjects do/did I enjoy studying in school? |
|
Vocational Experiences – what jobs have I been most effective in and did I enjoy the most? |
|
Spiritual Experiences – when were my most meaningful times with God/ |
|
Ministry Experiences – how have I served God? What have I done in my church? |
|
Painful Experiences – what hurts, habits or hang-ups have taught me the most? |
God never wastes a hurt! James 1:2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds,
God is shaping you: Spiritual Gifts – Heart – Abilities – Personality – Experiences of life
Be sure you’re Shaped FAT!
Ø Faithful – personal time of prayer & Word, to services at church, your history
Ø Available – not avoiding, being in position to fly (illustration, taxi into position & hold!)
Ø Teachable – not having arrived, open to learn, grow, serve
· Without being faithful, available & teachable your SHAPE won’t develop properly…
· We come in on Sunday all dry and empty. The worship and the Word fill us up…
· Then we either serve which squeezes us and makes us thirsty for more, or we sit.
· If we sit and soak, w/out being squeezed we will soon start to sour and stink.
Sit, soak, sour, & stink
Let’s bow our hearts together…
In the stillness of this moment, ask yourself…
1. Am I faithful, available, teachable?
2. Of all people why has God brought me to Cross Creek?
3. How could offering what I have make a difference?
Prayer…
Join us Sunday’s at 9:30am to Discover your Spiritual Gifts!
Encourage you to keep this handout along with last weeks – sit down, read them over, look up the verses – use these notes for your personal devotions – I guarantee you God will do a great thing in your life, God will develop your SHAPE!
If the Lord has spoken to you this morning I would love to hear from you… fill out the communication card (both sides) and drop into the offering plate… be sure to join us each Sunday
Pastor Barry – announcements / offering