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The Gifts that Keep on Giving | Sunday Message

A New Beginning / Greg Laurie
The Truth Network Radio
September 26, 2021 3:00 am

The Gifts that Keep on Giving | Sunday Message

A New Beginning / Greg Laurie

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September 26, 2021 3:00 am

SoCal Harvest is just a week away! Join us in person or online on Sunday, October 3.

If you are a Christian, God has personally picked out gifts for you—we call them “the gifts of the Spirit.” And these are gifts you’ll want to put to use! In this Sunday morning episode, Pastor Greg Laurie shows you how to use your gifts for the benefit of those around you. Listen in for the latest message from his series in Acts, The Upside Down Life.

Notes

Whatever gift God gives us is the right gift. 

“Do not neglect the gift that is in you” (1 Timothy 4:14).

The church exists for the exaltation of God, the edification of the saints, and the evangelization of the world (upward, inward, outward). 

A unified church is a powerful witness to a divided world.

1. You are not all that and a bag of chips.

2. Whatever gift you have has been given to you by God.

3. We all have a part to play in the church with our spiritual gifts.   

4. The gift of serving.

5. Others are called to teach the Word of God. 

6. God has given some the gift of encouraging others!

If we really love one another, we must speak the truth in love.

Deposit a compliment before you make the withdrawal of a criticism. 

We need teachers, and we need exhorters.

7. The gift of giving.

“If it is giving, give generously” (Romans 12:8).

8. The gift of showing kindness and mercy. 

We need to take some bold steps of faith and find and use our gifts! 

Everyone has a role to play.

You are never too small for God to use; only too big.

The church is family, and you have a seat at the table.

There is a place in God’s family for you!

God loves you, appreciates you, and notices you.

God is not mad at you; God is mad about you!

Scripture Reference

1 Corinthians 1:7

Ephesians 4:15

Acts 14:22

Hebrews 10:24–25

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Hey there, thanks for listening to the gray glory pod just a ministry supported by harvest partners on Greg Laurie encouraging you if you want to find out more about harvest ministries. To learn more about how to become a harvest partner, just go to harvest.org. So where in the book of acts, and I want you to turn in your Bible to two passages with me. Ask chapter 2 in Romans chapter 12 adds to in Romans 12 in the title of my messages for gifts that keep on giving question. Have you ever received a gift that well you just did not like. It's kinda hard to fake it is and it you know you open it up. Baby is in a really nice box and it's something you really don't want it all in the home. Wow, thank you so much and Yorty thinking were they buy it so I can return it and then there are the people to give you close can I offer a word of recommendation don't give close to people because they may not like what you chose and then there are the people to give you the close and ask you when you're going to wear what it is they gave you because they gave you this incredibly ugly shirt and they want to know what you can wear the ugly shirt and then of course there's the fruitcake. What is the deal with fruitcakes.

First of all, they taste horrible unnumbered to. Why do people give those out is a gift and number three.

I have a theory. There's only one fruitcake in existence question. Have you ever seen to fruitcakes things to each other. You have not because there's only one that we just keep recirculating that that brings me to regifting regifting is when you receive a gift you can't return it and therefore you regift it you give it to someone else. I caught this for you. The thing with the fruitcake you could give it 10 years later it's basically the same thing, but the key is don't regift and end up giving it to the person who gave it to you in the first place. So anyway I'm using this assertive a springboard to talk about a different kind of gift I want to talk to you about the spiritual gifts. The gifts of the spirit that God gives to us when were filled with the Holy Spirit going to the book of acts together in the book of acts is about the powerful working of the Holy Spirit in the lives of ordinary people just like you and just like me ordinary people there were able to do extraordinary things because they had a power beyond themselves. It was the power of the holy spirit. And when you're filled with the spirit in every Christian should be filled with the spirit again and again and again as I pointed out, you should just get up in the morning and before your feet hit the ground say Lord fill me with the Holy Spirit today because Ephesians 5 says be being filled with the Holy Spirit and of the Greek that's a command that secondly excretes of something that is continuous and thirdly, it's addressed to all people that such is the prayer for a preacher to pray. That's a prayer for a mother to pray. Maybe the mother even needs to pray it more with all of your responsibilities that you have. That's it for father needs to break that's up for an elderly person needs to pray that's up for a young person needs to pray Lord fill me with the Holy Spirit, not when you've done that God has supernatural gifts that he wants to give to you. He wants you to discover those gifts, he want you to cultivate those gifts and then he wants you to use those gifts and whatever. Give God gives you will be just the right gift just the perfect gift. You will not want to regift it, you will discover how awesome it is. This is something we should not neglect this is something we should be seeking aftereffect were told in first Corinthians 14 earnestly desire the spiritual gifts that Paul reminds us in first Corinthians 1. Seven. Don't lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for the Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed. Therefore, as Christians, we should have a real interest in what are the gifts that God has given to me.

God wants us to know about this because Paul writes in first Corinthians 12 one concerning spiritual gifts, I would not have you ignorant. Another words you need to know about this. You need to find your gifts and you need to then use their gifts. Here's a problem weed seed, excess and abuse of the spiritual gifts, let me just say this, the supernatural gifts that God wants to give to a Christian are not toys to play with their tools to build with and their weapons to fight with, but sometimes we will take these gifts and and they sort of apply. The members are ways. We've all seen it. Probably some preacher on television and and he usually talks like bias. I don't know why and you say something like I'm just receiving the spirit you are saying until he translates to give others nothing to do with the Holy Spirit. That person is just weird. And then we see these preachers all the lay hands on people and the people fall over the rolling around on the ground with her screaming and yelling and in the preacher. Since this is the Holy Spirit know it isn't.

It's weird people doing weird thing. The gifts of the spirit are practical. It's practical power that God gives to you. That's 18 says you will receive power, after the Holy Spirit has come upon you to be a complete weirdo know it doesn't say that it says you shall receive power, after the Holy Spirit has come upon you to be a witness for me again practical power power with a purpose, but because of the abuse and the excesses in the area of the gifts of the spirit. Some people recoil from them and say that's a Holy Spirit I want nothing to do with it but that's a mistake is you can end up throwing the baby out with the bathwater. By the way, did anyone ever throw a baby out with the bathwater. She looked it up a quart of that word expression come from. So back in the days of the old West, you know that heat up the tub with the water and the whole family would use it which seems counterproductive to me because after may be the eighth member of your family is been in the tub. Things like you're going to get dirty or being in the water.

I guess the baby was the last and then they throw out the water old don't lose the baby well.

The idea of that expression is, you know, don't throw it all away because there's something here that God wants us to have first Timothy 414 says don't neglect the spiritual gift that is in you is another translation puts it, keep your gift dusted off in any use so Paul is talking about our place in the church were we use our gifts together. Last time we discovered what the church is all about.

In our message that was titled together.

You may go back and watch that to learn more about your place in the church were the sender that the church exists were three purposes. Number one the exaltation of God.

Number two the edification of the saints, and thirdly the evangelization of the world. Another way to put it upward in word outward to the church is here to glorify God help for that fact you're here to glorify God. I'm here to glorify God. So we here to exalt God then were here for the edification of the saints are inward. We build one another up.

We encourage one another talk about that more in this message. And finally, the evangelization of the world. In this early church was successful because, listen, every person did their part.

A unified church is a powerful witness to a divided world and our world is so divided. We are divided over politics. We are divided over mask wearing we are divided over vaccines. We are divided over so many things, even among believers and we need to be unified again a unified church is a powerful witness to a divided world. We really are better together and that that is why the devil wants to buy this because he knows were divided were not nearly as effective as we are when reunified together.

There's a story that is told about a visitor who came to see the great city of Sparta, the king of Sparta was boasting to the visitor about the Great Wall that protected Sparta the visitor look around and did not see any walls at all and then the king of Sparta responded using an Sparta. Every man is a brick and then the king pointed to the Army of Sparta and said these are the walls of Sparta take away point. We all have a part to play in the work that God wants to do. So let's go to work text. It's Romans chapter 12 and read a few verses, Paul writes, I have given to each of you this warning. Don't think you are better than you really are.

Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith that God has given us is my first point, you're not all that and a bag of chips yes that's an actual sermon point you're not all that and a bag of chips over that expression.

Some people think they are. They just think they're that cat's meow or that expression come from, but the ideas that they're just so amazing there more gifted than anybody else they know more than anyone else and in fact these people who think that way. Usually aren't even close to what they think they really are arrogant people love to tell you how well-educated they are, how talented they are, how successful they are, how much money they make. What kind of car they drive in whatever story you tell they want to top your story and on and on it goes.

But here's what I've discovered the most gifted people are usually the most humble people I think of my friend Darrell strawberry what a great guy he is and this is got this guy's a living icon and I was with him recently. We did a little interview.

This can be a part of a movie were coming out with a next year. That's called thing and organ. It will explore the emptiness of thing and I talked to some iconic figures like Alice Cooper, Darrell strawberry and others, but so saying run Angel Stadium with Darrell and and there's people working there. So were walking around in and adjust us in the stadium in our film crew and and there are people working there and there's Darrell strawberry me this is a baseball stadium. Darrell played in that stadium in any took time for every person he so friendly so humble how you doing good to talk to you and he even uses his fame in this platform as an opportunity to minister to people that that's an amazing thing. But then there are people that are so arrogant and so demanding and I look at them and I see dude, you're not even talented enough to be demanding. You know they think they're so great directly not really that good but they tend to be the more arrogant people and that's ridiculous all but I'm so important. Listen to this. Cemeteries are full of indispensable people. You're not indispensable not as important as you think you are, you're not all that and a bag of chips. So here's what Paul is actually saying. Be honest in your evaluation of yourself be balanced. Be sensible. Be realistic. He's a don't think you're better than you are, but he's also saying don't think you're worse than you are.

Think realistically and if God is giving you a spiritual gift. It's not humbled to deny that get I'll take it a step further. It's an act of disobedience to not acknowledge that gift there's a lot of fake humility that people have. You know people. Sam I'm so humble I'm so humble I don't even say humble. I dropped the eight I'm just a humble know your again just being strange. Okay, if God's given you a gift discovered the gap and use the gifts so basically policy be realistic.

As you look at yourself. Point number two whatever gift you have, it's been given to you by God. Whatever gift you have, it's been given to you by God. Romans 12 five says we being many, are one body in Christ everyone is a member. One of another. Having been gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us a notice that were members of the body, the church, as compared to a body and just as you of a human body.

Each part of your body plays a part your ears have a roll your eyes.

However, all your fingers your toes are your internal organs. Everything has a part to play. As Paul says, he says that if the body was a giant I how would we hear if the body were a giant ear.

How would we see and I think that was a humorous illustration. Every part of the body matters we all live a part to play in the body of Christ, so were different in these gifts are given to us by the grace of God coming back to a point already made if God is giving you a gift. It's irresponsible to not use it. James 417 says to him that knows to do good and does not do it to him it is sin. So pray that God would show you which are supernatural gifts are and then begin to use them, and I'll identify a few for you in a moment number three.

We all have a part to play in the church with our spiritual gifts will have a part to play. We are the walls of Sparta were part of the church and so Paul says in Romans 12 for just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function so it is with the body of Christ we are many parts of one body and we all belong to each other again were better together we can get so much done when we work together we can get so much done when we pray together. One of the things we encourage people to do as a crusade approaches is is pray pray for people that they know that aren't yet Christians are not only that, but get other Christians to join you in prayer for those people you're praying for, because Jesus said when two or more are gathered together in my name on there in the midst of them and he said the two of you will agree as touching anything it will be done of your father in heaven. And when you're praying for the salvation of a lost person listen, you're praying according to the will of God because the Bible says God is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

So pray together with other believers, but were not all the same. We have different makeups, different gifting, some are more outgoing by nature. Some are more reserved.

Some are more big picture. Some are more detail oriented, but every one of us matter. So let's read some of the gifts of the Spirit and by the way there's other lists that you can look at later. For instance, if you go to first Corinthians 12 and also overdo. Ephesians 4 other gifts of the spirit, identify, let me say one thing before we read these verses.

There's a difference between natural talent and a spiritual gift that God gives us all. Certain talents and that's a great thing to that is a gift from the Lord I'm talking about is super natural gifting God will give to you as a Christian who is been filled with the Holy Spirit.

So I just wanted to make that distinction. Romans 12 verse six Paul writes in his grace, God is given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God is giving you the ability to prophesy. Speak out with as much faith as God is giving you prophecy means to speak for another literal translation. Sometimes it's predicting the future though. It's not limited to that.

It's an insight into what God is doing.

Then Paul continues on, and he says as he's given you a gifting to speak, then speak out with as much faith as God is giving you. If your gift is serving others serve them well. If you're a teacher teach well if your gift is to encourage others, or the gift of expectation will be encouraging. If your gift is giving then give generously of God is giving you leadership ability take that responsibility seriously. If you have a gift for showing kindness to others.

Do it collaterally so practical that you think certain terms bubble up do it generously do it gladly take this responsibility seriously and that brings us to the spiritual gift of serving. If you're called to serve others and serve them well. Interesting. This gift is right next to the spiritual gift of prophecy know someone who would prophesy her would speak prophetically would draw a lot of attention like wow that's a special gift right next to the gift is his gift of serving kind of a behind-the-scenes person we sometimes think the people that are on the stage of the most important thing that the most important are just using their gift and the people behind the scenes are less important or less important. There just using their All of us are just using our gift to work together and bring glory to God because it's not about us, it's about him and see what we can do to extend his kingdom.

So the person who's called to serve just doesn't. You know they see a need they meet the need, and not only do they meet the need they meet the need. Joyfully, others are called to teach the word of God were seven if you're a teacher teach well. I love your teacher teach will do good job, don't do a shabby job. Don't just get up there.

Teacher and wing it. You have to prepare you up to study pulses study to show yourself approved on the God, a workman that does not need to be ashamed as he rightly divides the word of truth.

We read over in James three. One of the brothers and sisters don't become teachers in the church, for we who teach will be judged more strictly. So this is not something you should seek unless God has called you to do it because were told over and second Timothy 215. We need to handle the word of God correctly visits an awesome responsibility to stand up and speak for God. People have asked me what it what's it like to stand up there in a stadium front of thousands of people and speak. I must be the ultimate ego booster not really. First of all, it spiritual warfare. The moment I step up there. I feel the pressure on me. I once asked Billy Graham what he felt physically when he gave the invitation for people to come to Christ and Billy told me. I feel like power is going off of me. I understand that Muncie of the statement of Jesus when that woman touched the hem of his garment and he said, who touched me because power has gone out to be. It's a spiritual battle and in it's also an awesome responsibility that I take very seriously because I'm standing up there and I'm telling people what God says I'm telling people what the Bible says so. Trust me when I tell you I step into the pulpit fully prepared, wanting to declare the truth of the word of God accurately.

Understandably and lovingly, and this is something that it's a great privilege to do, but some people who are pastors or call themselves teachers somehow take the action-packed amazing living word of God and make it dull.

Why listening to them speak is like watching paint dry and maybe watching paint dry is actually a little more entertaining and look if you're that person. Maybe you need to discover many are not called to be a teacher maybe are not called to be a pastor. Maybe your gifting is to help people fall asleep while you talk. I could be productive. No but seriously there's nothing wrong with having a different gift to say no it, I really don't find that when a speaker connects with people, to find another way to serve the Lord. The main thing is if you're called to teach the teach well do a good job of it. The main thing you want to do is just find the gift that God is giving you and develop it. Here's one way to find what you're called to do volunteer for everything. I'm serious. So at your church so they say we need Sunday school teachers say I'm in. Hey we need people to help people park their cars all do that and we need to able to work over in this area. I'll do that was it. What if I'm not called how you find out to you. Try so you get out there and you try to find people, places to park and you get everything confused and people are driving up the road. Maybe that such a gifting are you going to Sunday school class and after an hour.

They have you tied up that that maybe that's not good, but then suddenly you discover while I have a gift over here sometimes discovering what your gift is is by first discovering what your gift isn't. I call it process of elimination years ago in the Jesus movement band performing every week and so we were attending Calvary Chapel of Costa Mesa, which was like the epicenter of the Jesus movement in Southern California and these bands would foreman and so I was at a home Bible study with a group of friends in the couple of them were very talented musicians. One play guitar and wrote a song and another was a flautist right so they were doing the song singing along. I'm kind of like keeping rhythm on the on the little dining room table. Nothing room coffee table so they said let's form a band. So they came up with the names of the bed. Next thing we knew were a Calvary Chapel in a packed towels and I'm in the band and the how do they get up here.

I had a conga drum so my friend plays guitar, sing the song. My point friend who plays a flute played his flute and I'm banging on a conga drum out of rhythm, and I'm thinking I am not called to do this, you see process of elimination, and sometimes I just trying you find out that's not what you're called to do, then you might be shocked to find out it is what you're called to do another thing I would add, sometimes other people can tell you what your gift is they might see something you don't know it was Chuck Smith, the pastor of Calvary Chapel of Costa Mesa who first told 18-year-old Greg Laurie I think God is called you to be an evangelist of why would you think that he saw something I didn't see myself having said that, I am called to be an evangelist. It is a gift God gave me. I'm also called to be a teacher and I've had people ask me what are you an evangelist who teaches. Are you a teacher who will evangelize as well.

I'm both actually am called to do both and thankful for that. You know when we first started doing our evangelistic events, people wondered or you can leave the pastorate and go be a full-time evangelist.

I had the opportunity Billy Graham said to me Greg I think you should leave the pastorate and go to full-time evangelism and work with thoughts will that's kind of it. The amazing offer the greatest evangelist of all time same it to you. And I said to Billy.

Now Billy when you say something like that to me it's like Moses is talking to me become a smile, I said let me think about it and pray about and get back to you so couple weeks passed and I went back and told Billy Billy. I still feel called to be a pastor. See, I do love to see people come forward in a crusade, but I really love deceitful see people go forward in their faith and grows spiritually and discover their spiritual gifts and be used by God as the apostle John said I have no greater joy than to know that my children are walking in truth it's so ironic that I'm a teacher because I was the worst student I wasn't the teachers pet. I was the teachers monster teachers didn't like me back when I was in elementary school. They tried to expel me multiple times my mother came in with her attorney said you can't expel my son so I stayed in class, but one teacher actually said publicly of me. I was in the clouds of the time. She said I would like to take Greg Laurie barium up to his neck in the sand in the blazing sun and let the ants eat him alive, is a good thing for a teacher to say so the kids came out because Greg guess what the teacher said about you as a wow then I thought its chemical actually was really that cool but I was a troublemaker. But then, to think that God called me. The teacher wasn't a good student. I didn't like to read but when I became a Christian I discovered the joy of reading and studying and then I learned that I actually love to learn and die in it was a gift that God gave to me frankly if I were God I would not have called me to do that thing, but he gave me this gift and if I don't use the gift that God has given me that is irresponsible on my part. So here's another one God is given some the gift of encouraging others look at verse eight. If your gift is to encourage others be encouraging all of that said okay if you're called to encourage others, sometimes called the gift of exhortation will then be encouraging and I think that some people believe they actually have the spiritual gift of criticism they always find things that are wrong. There always nitpicking there always negative, though never affirm. You will always say what you didn't do this right you mispronounce that word you got this other thing wrong you weren't on time you messed up always criticizing polysemy. If you have this gift of exhortation or encouragement, be encouraging all lesson we exhort people. It's a it's a word that means to encourage for that also mean sometimes to criticize, so just learn how to criticize you know the Bible says, speak the truth in love someone tell you the truth maybe won't like what I meant to say to you, but I want to say to you because I love you and I care about you. Jesus modeled this was perfectly in his words to the church of Ephesus.

First he compliments them. Hey, I know you guys work hard.

I know your discerning I know you test those who say they are apostles and are not told what to compliments, but I have this against you, you have left your first love. So remember from where you will fall in and repent and do the first works quickly see what Jesus did their he started with affirmation. Then he got to his moment of critique deposit, a complement before you make the withdrawal of criticism. So start with a compliment when you can. That's called productive criticism, not destructive criticism which we have far too much up. We need people to teach and we need people that exhort a teacher gives you the nuts and bolts of things I teacher breaks down the text in the expositor that they explained it in its original context. In the original languages what it meant in the original setting in that culture and then they apply it but a exhort or a person with the gift of exhortation makes you want to do it. So think about you going to some messages and really insightful and you feel like you've learned a lot.

But then there's a person with the gift of exhortation and after they spoken you think when I wanted tomorrow that I want to pray more.

I want to share the gospel more. I want to be a better wife.

I want to be a better husband, etc. the word means to correct motivate, encourage and stimulate.

Maybe God is giving you the gift of exhortation Paul and Barnabas went to visit one of the churches in acts 1422. They confirm the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God. Sometimes referred messages that help you to just keep pressing on. You know you really discourage a really down and that message just lifted you up, and it helped you to get your eyes back on the Lord. Again, these are all very important gifts. Now there is the gift of giving a spiritual gift of giving Romans 12 eight. If your gift is giving then give generously only sick for addresses Every believer should give of their finances to the Lord. This is clearly taught in Scripture.

In fact, in the book of Malachi, God says test me in this, says the Lord, bring your ties into the storehouse and watch what I will do, because if you will do this I will open up the windows of heaven and pour you out a blessing that you cannot receive, but then he begins by saying have you robbed God and summonses how we robbed God leases in your ties and offerings look the money. But God gives to you is from him of the very breath. You drawn your lungs, is from him. You should take a percentage word type means 10%, you should take a percentage of your income and give it back to the kingdom of God. And when you do that are laid up for yourself treasures in heaven, the know this God will never be your debtor and you cannot out give God, but that some of Paul's talking about. He's talking about a person with a specific gift of giving, and he says if you have the gift of giving be generous kid with no thought of repayment. You just give it the story is told of Billy Graham in the church and the offering was being received in the bag passed by, and Billy dropped and $50, but he meant to drop in a five dollar bill and he was a little shocked that he couldn't take it back and they said the Ruth.

Oh well, at least it was for the Lord. I get you and I gave it to the Lord God's only giving you credit for five dollars because that's all she would tend to give is pretty funny degenerates be a generous person or by the way, you don't have to be wealthy have the gift to get because it might be finances, it might be another area you're just a giving person you the person that goes the extra mile. You're the person that notices another individual's needs and you give to them. It's a beautiful gift. It's a spiritual gift and if you have it use that Will get one more gift in this message the gift of showing kindness and mercy.

We miss us what we see, the teacher, we see the preacher we see the evangelist. We might even see the giver or the exhort or but here's a person that works behind the scenes, but oh my, what a valuable gift. This is Romans 12 eight. If you have a gift for showing kindness do it gladly.

These are people who have a supernatural ability to show mercy and kindness to those who are in need might be showing compassion to a person whose older or maybe in a hospital bed. Listen, if you're in a hospital bed in your discourage and down. You don't necessarily need someone with the gift of teaching or evangelist. Maybe you do, but really what you could use a someone with the gift of mercy, someone who would sit down behind you and take you by the hand and said I'm here for you and I'm praying for you and that's a beautiful gift. I believe my wife has this gift sheet she just has this way of connecting with people and in carrying and showing empathy and maybe you have that So these are just some of the gifts of the spirit.

There are many more.

I did not talk about all of them are important member I reminded you there's a complete list in first Corinthians 12 in Ephesians chapter 4 read over those gifts and say Lord have you given me one of these gifts listen, here's what I'm encouraging you to do.

Take a bold step of faith, leave your comfort zone and volunteer for everything. The main thing is just get out there and serve the Lord. I will do that. Let me try that I will need to take a risk.

Maybe you'll fail okay but I would rather try and fill the never try at all. I like to call it feeling forward, which means they learn from my mistakes.

Okay I will do that again or next time I teach. I went to prepare more as I step into that position of talking to people about Jesus or whatever it is you have gifts that God is given you might be a musical gift might be an artistic ability. You might be good at crunching numbers you might be a great visionary, not very good with nuts and bolts.

Then again you might be more of a detail person. Everyone has a role to play. These are the walls of Sparta, said the king, I could say for our ministry. These are the walls of harvest you have a role to play you of something you can do and we want you to find that gift, develop that gift and use that gift because there's so much to do because we believe Jesus is coming and we believe our objective is to reach as many people with the gospel as we can until he comes. We want to reach this generation and we want to reach the next generation we been doing this for around 50 years or more nocturnal rest on our laurels were not going to live in our past working to keep pressing on and looking for fresh, innovative ways to reach our culture without compromising our essential message of the gospel in the teaching of the Bible. Again the Bible reminds us, don't neglect the gift, the gift that is in you.

Or, again, keep your give dusted off and in the use God will give you opportunities. Consider this your never too small for God to use only to. So if you come aboard and say Lord I want to be used by you open the door of opportunity for me to show me what my gifts are he will respond to you.

You of a place in the church to the church as a family and you have a seat at the table.

No were not a perfect family or a flawed family.

You know you talk about this function like I came from a dysfunctional family.

Knowing the head of a dysfunctional family world is functional but hey I like to put the fun and dysfunction right will mess up.

We all fall short will make mistakes but were a family and family sticks together and family works together and family accomplishes great things together. You know before I was a Christian I wanted a family. My mom I've told you before, was married and divorced seven times she was a big drinker.

She was gone most of the time.

Most evenings I was alone at home, but she love me some money to go buy some food and there was a little low coffee shop near our house and always ordered the same thing hamburger, French fries, the normal hamburger French fries vanilla malt sounds pretty good right it's pretty good until I got hundred time you've had it and I would tell my friends at school all young enough to sit down of the family table.

I got a neat I get a hamburger, French fries and a vanilla while you're so lucky man. We have visit with her parents at the table and tell them our day was well. I had a friend in school and he had his family so he said would you like to come over to our house for dinner and I went over and you know and they're all sitting at the table and everyone's talking together and and I didn't even like the food but I kept going to this guy's house for dinner. You know why is much as I like to hamburger vanilla malt and French fries. I wanted a family and he had something I didn't have it in the church as a family and there's a place at the table for you. There's room there and to the point. There's room at the cross for you. You see before you can find a place at the table. You have to find your place at the cross and realize you're a sinner you broken God's commandments and fallen short of the standards.

But Jesus died in the cross for your sin and paid the price for every wrong you've ever done and he rose again from the dead three days later and now he stands at the door of your life in the Knox nieces if you hear his voice and open the door to come in. You can come to Jesus right now. Maybe you feel unloved, unappreciated, unnoticed I want you to know that God loves you.appreciate you and God notices you. There's a blessing that the priest would pronounce over the people of Israel and the blessing went as follows. The Lord bless you.

The Lord keep you. The Lord make his face shine upon you, and lift up his countenance on you and give you peace and that phrase lift up his countenance means he takes full notice of you see, God sees you. God is not mad at you. God is mad about you. He cares for you he sees you and he can't because eyes off of you because he loves you so much. Would you like a relationship with God. We would you like to be forgiven of all of your sins. Would you like to know that when you die you will go to heaven if so, I mentally doing a simple prayer and I would ask that you would just stop what you're doing wherever you are and just pray this prayer after me you can pray it out loud you can print quietly in your heart, but this is a prayer we are asking Jesus Christ to come into your life to be your savior in your Lord if you want Jesus to come in your life if you want to go to heaven when you die if you want that hole in your heart fill pray this prayer with me right now. Let's pray pray these words Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner but I know that you're the Savior who died in the cross for my sin rose again from the dead. I turn from my sin. Now that I choose to follow you from this moment forward in Jesus name I pray, amen. Everybody, thanks for listening to this podcast to learn more about harvest ministries follow the show and consider supporting it.

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