Merredin Uniting Church

This sermon was brought Kevin Tengval on Sunday 20/9/2009. Kevin is one of the Elders at Merredin Uniting Church and brought the Sunday message as Rev David de Kock was in Perth for the Uniting Church Synod meeting.

Title: We are all unique with God’s gifts

Text: 1 Corinthians 12:12-20

We have all heard and read that we should be like Jesus. A statement, which we can all, agree with.

Or we hear the question, what would Jesus do?

But I wonder do we really think what that would actually mean in reality? We can read about the disciples and what they gave up to follow Jesus.

If that is what it takes to make it to Jesus? Then I’m stuffed. I don’t know about you? But thank God his graciousness overcomes all and the way to God is through Jesus, by the very nature of his being, I don’t think it’s possible to be exactly like Jesus although I do believe it’s important to try.

To be like the disciples I think would be extraordinarily difficult. If we look back even further and look at the life and times of John the Baptist. Who here would walk the deserts and towns dressed in nothing but a camel hair coat eating locusts and honey, not me I’m sure, I think I could probably be talked into eating locusts and honey but a camel hair coat no way!

The disciples were asked to give up every thing to follow Jesus. And if what we read in the Gospels is correct then Peter and co dropped there nets and went with him. So then I wonder if Jesus were to appear here and say to us follow me. Would we be willing to drop everything straight away and go with him? Would we say and I’m sure I would say. What (and I say this in no particular order) about work what about my house what about my family, my friends and my pets. What about my finances? How will I live, how will I travel? Where will I sleep? Etc.etc.

Thank goodness, Thank goodness, Thank goodness, that Jesus died to save us from sin and that includes failing to give up all things worldly and follow him unreservedly. I am not saying for a minute that gives us an excuse to sin or do worldly things knowing we are covered by grace. We all know it doesn’t work like that.

We do, or at least we should strive to be as much like Jesus as possible. But I think we should understand that the human race is flawed, a creation that didn’t quite work as planned due to the misbehaviour of Adam and Eve, and therefore we are all born into sin.

And that is why God made that most amazing and awesome sacrifice of Jesus, and it’s in him and only in him that we are saved from eternal damnation.

Now I don’t know about you but when I start to look at the commitment and dedication of Jesus’ followers back in biblical times I’m afraid it puts me to shame. Only you know how you feel or where you stand.

I know this sounds as if I am having a great attack of depression, but it’s not like that at all. For we are all unique and special, and wonderful in Jesus eyes. It’s amazing to me that he knows every hair on our head, he knows us all by name, incredible isn’t it that we who must seem so insignificant can mean so much. I can’t quite get my head around that one.

What’s more amazing I think is that all of us past present and future generations and individuals alike are unique. No person has the same fingerprints or quite the same DNA. Also everyone, man, woman and child has there own individual gifts. The trick I think is to work out what our gifts are and then to decide how we are to use them. As Christians it is easy and right to say I will use my gifts for the glory of God.

A bit harder to put into practise me thinks? I for one think, in my 53rd year that I might have, finally worked out what my gift or gifts are, and further more how to use them for Gods glory. Others have gifts of music a special gift very visible gift. Some have the gift of healing, some have pastoral gifts. Or gifts, of gardening.
Far too many to go into here. Now I’ll stand corrected but I don’t think that any gift is better or more important than another.

Some gifts are far more popular than others, you may have heard people say oh I wish I could sing or play like that, or I would love to play in church, but I don’t think I’ve heard too many people say “Oh! I wish I had the gift of cleaning? I would love to clean the toilets in church”

Or even “I wish I had the gift of waffle so I can sit on the phone all day talking to people about God”

What I’m trying to say is that sometimes the gifts that we do have we don’t give God the credit it for them? Who can say that god did not lead me into becoming a School bus driver so that I may also be able to use that Knowledge (or shall we call it a gift?) to drive the Bus on church related events. Or those who have the gift of mechanics
( just a job you might say) who knows when that particular gift may help some one in need, did God give or lead that person into that particular gift so he or she may help someone in need.

I think it’s possible that we can go through our lives not knowing exactly what our gifts are? And are still able to manifest them unknowingly. Maybe some of us need to mature in our faith before we are able to use our gifts as God wants us to? Maybe we have to wait until the time is right before our gifts are needed. None of this I believe diminishes the value or dare I say prestige of our gifts.

I don’t think for a minute that God gives a better gift to so and so and a not so good gift to another. I am sure that all gifts in Gods eyes are as important as each other; I am equally as sure that all who professes Jesus to be our Lord and saviour, are given gifts.

Now here’s where I may be challenged?  Some may say that there are gifts of the Holy Spirit. and other gifts. I don’t believe that.  I think all gifts are gifts of the Holy Spirit. Not just obvious ones like Healing and speaking in tongues, or prophesy.

If like me you believe that God makes us who we are then I believe it follows that the abilities and /or gifts, are God given, and therefore are gifts of the Holy Spirit. If that is the case as I believe then all gifts are gifts of the Holy Spirit.

And so I end this message with the challenge “That regardless of who you are how old or young you may feel or where you are” continue in being you. in Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour.
AMEN

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