You have a place

Introduction

Turn to your neighbor and tell them that you have a place in this place

Today I would like to speak to you all on this topic you have a place.

Now I remember years ago before I came to church I felt this urge to start to come to church and make it a discipline of coming to church.

Now I never used to come to church and I had no idea why I felt this urge to come to church but I would soon discover later on that I had a place in this place.

Now technically me and bridget should have been in another place and not this place but I guess there was a divine appointment and purpose for us to be in this place.

It was the influnce I believe of Tollie who caused us to be in this place but she probably unknowingly was being led by the Holy Spirit to have us in this place.

Which leads me to ask this question to everyone of you.

Have you discovered your place in this place?

When you’ve found your place you should be able to say there is no place like this place anywhere near this place so this has got to be the place.

I think it is very important for you to know your place in this place.

Sometimes you up and you correct someone for doing something wrong and they will tell you - KNOW YOUR PLACE!!

Well that is what I am telling you to do today

To know your place in this place

Every single one of you here today - God called to something. God placed in you something. You have something to offer

Today we would be looking at several scriptures that helps us unpack a little about what you may have been placed on this earth to do.

The truth is God has a purpose and God has a plan for you life

He didn’t just save you so that you can make it to heaven

He saved you so that you can help bring people into heaven as well.

Not here to warm pew or warm chairs.

Pastor Mario always says it is an insult to God to be in church for years and yet still have no clue as to what you have been called to do or where is your place in this place.

Many people nowadays say that them aint call for nothing

This calling thing is for them big boys like Danny and big girls like Diandra

Me aint have nothing to offer

I have nothing to bring to the table

Me aint no big time speaker or musician or something

That is how many people think today and that is a lie straight from the pit of hill

A lot of church people today feel unworthy

They will tell the Pastor that is not for me

Ministry is not for me

Sometimes what is holding back people from what God has called them to do is their mindset.

They need a change in their minds before they are willing to make a change in their actions.

Hopefully by the end of this message you will be able to say I have a place in this place and you would be motivated to take step into finding your place in this place and then functioning in your place.

This calling is not a sacred priviledge reserved for just a select few.

It’s for all.

Let’s hear what the Bible says to you

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Scripture

Ephesians 2:8–10 ESV

8 God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. 9 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. 10 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

In this portion of scripture we see that God saved us by his Grace and not because of anything we have done.

But notice more importantly verse 10.

We can see here that God saved us but he had plans for us when he saved us.

We are not saved by good works but we are saved for good works.

We have work to do. God didn’t hire you as his servant and saved you without giving you a work to do.

He gave you a work and it is a good work.

Pastor Tony Evans describes it like this

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The Tony Evans Bible Commentary IV. Saved to Serve (2:1–10)

A good work is a divinely prescribed action that benefits others in such a way that God is glorified

Sometimes you will hear people say oh gosh I hate working, I hate my job. I wish I could just retire right now.

When it comes to your work for God. That should not be the case.

The Tony Evans Bible Commentary IV. Saved to Serve (2:1–10)

God saved you for his purposes and pleasure. Many Christians are unfulfilled and miserable because they’ve never gotten around to the work God has for them. When you understand the grace with which God saved you, gratitude will drive your response to it. The purpose for your life has already been designed. You don’t have to come up with it. God prepared ahead of time for us to do good works. He will give you the desire for them and the ability to pull them off, but you must live them out

God saved you for service. Before you got saved he already knew what his plans and his purpose was for you.

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“THERE is a guy named Billy Taylor. He is a junkyard specialist. Billy Taylor goes to junkyards to find stuff that other folk have thrown away, discarded, and considered no good or worthless. Billy Taylor brings it back to his garage and turns the junk into contemporary art pieces, which he then sells for upwards of five thousand dollars a piece. He goes and finds junk that is worthless in everybody else’s eyes and then turns it into a masterpiece. When Billy Taylor looks at the junk, he sees more than meets the eye. He sees a masterpiece in the making. He takes things that are worthless and makes them into something beautiful.

Well, you may have been worthless before you met Jesus, but once you meet Him, even if you were in the junkyard, He’s able to go into that yard, save you, and turn you into a valuable masterpiece. Because of His grace, you are now a divine design”

As you can see clearly from this scripture. God did not just call a selected few.

Check this other scripture

You have been called and you have a place in this place.

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2 Timothy 1:9 ESV

9 who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began,

Some people like to boast how they work for BP, LNG, TSTT, and all these big companies

We work for The Kingdom of God

Here Paul basically echoes what he said in Ephesians

We have been saved and called because God has a plan and purpose for us

God hired us

The Bible Exposition Commentary Chapter One: Christians Courageous! (2 Timothy 1)

We are part of a great eternal plan that God determined “before the world began.” God knows the end from the beginning. He has purposes for His people to accomplish for His glory

John 17:4 NIV

4 I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do.

Here Jesus speaks that he had a work to do while he was on this earth.

He didn’t just come to heal people and do miracles but had a bigger mission. He was called to do something.

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Why It’s Important to Discover Your Place

Now that I have answered the question of If you have been called or if you have a place. I want to share why it is so very important to discover your place.

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You Bring Value

Some might say well it’s no big deal if I don’t function but the truth is

It is a big deal.

Let’s compare it to the natural world that we live in.

When you have a job and you don’t show up for it. Is that a big deal or it’s not a big deal.

Now if you stay home 1 or 2 days it may not be that big of a deal but if you don’t show up for weeks or for months guess us what is going to happen.

Some may say you may be fired and while that is true in the natural. The issue isn’t so much you being fired. The issue is you are making it diffcult for people who are blessed by the work to you do to be blessed by you.

You see you are paid for the value that you bring to the marketplace.

Everyone of you who has a job - you bring value to people.

Whenever Pastor Mario goes and he sells something in his job.

He adds value to the customer who is glad to get what he has.

He also adds value to the company in that he brings in some revenue which helps the company to stay alive.

The work that you - the job taht you have no matter how insignificant it seems it has value in it.

It adds value.

I was in a wake recently and Pastor Mario was sharing how people might not want to be a garbage man but guess what

The garbage man adds value

When he doesn’t take up the garbage we feel the effect

Your place in this place adds value

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You can do what I cannot do and I can do what you cannot do. Together we can do great things - Mother Theresa

I cannot sing like Anna - you all will see her for concert - mashing up the place

Could you imagine what would happen if Sister Susan decides she not gonna sing in this church again

That would be a lot of value that we would be losing out all

What about if Pastor stops playing that keyboard

We won’t have music at all on Sunday

The same way how in the market place your work brings value - in the kingdom of God and in the house of God the work that you do have significant value.

You have value to add to this church. The value that you add has eternal effects that money cannot be compared with.

The work you do for your lord is greater than the work you do for your boss!!

For some of you - the boss is yourself.

I want to let you know that you have something to offer in this place and to not offer it is to rob us

It have enough crime going on in Trinidad right now. Please do not add to the crime by robbing us.

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I am only one

But still I am one

I cannot do everything

But still I can do something.

And because I cannot do everything

I will not refuse to do the something

That I can do

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Helps you understand God’s Will For Your Life

God gives us spiritual gifts for doing His ministry. Different people are given different gifts to handle different tasks. Understanding your gifts enables you to make decisions about where and how to serve God. What God has called you to do He has gifted you to do, and what He has gifted you to do He has called you to do.

Each of us have different giftings and it helps us to see where we may fit in this place.

Sister Susan leads us on Sundays in singing because she gifted in that area

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helps you know what God has NOT called you to do.

Recognizing what you are not supposed to do enables you to turn down a position that would require a gift you do not have, without worrying you might miss God's calling.

Not only are we to know what we have been called to do but also what we not called to do.

You cannot function in every area of the church.

Pastor Mario doesnt ask Sister Susan to play keyboard because she not gifted in that way.

As a believer in Christ you would get many roles that people may want you to have but if you go into an area you not really called to - there will be a lack of fruit because God didn’t call you to that Ministry.

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equips you to fulfill God's purpose for your life.

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Introducing spiritual gifts in Ephesians 4:1 Paul exhorts us to "walk worthy of the vocation wherewith we are called." In this verse, "vocation" means all aspects of our life: our career, our family life, our ministry, our hobbies, etc. It's our calling in life, the purpose for which God made us.

Your calling is bigger than you. You don’t get to carry your house with you.

The influence and the impact you have made in people’s lives is what we carry.

What you are doing today is a buidling block to what you doing tomorrow.

We do not know how our work can impact lives e.g the person who impacted Billy Graham

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How can I Figure Out My Place

Before I share how let me say this

It is only natural in the beginning to not know what you can do and what you cannot do

If you had told me that I would one day be able to speak on this stage and preach a sermon - you crazy

Last week Sister Susan was saying the same thing when it comes to preaching

Talk about Joe on the drums and me admiring him

We always ask little kids this question

Who do you want to be when you grow up ?

Why don’t we ask them that when it comes to the things of God?

E.g I want to be a drummer like Brian. I want to be a singer like Susan. A Pastor like Mario

We should be aspiring to be someone that has a place in this place

To those of you who already in Ministry - you may not know it but people are watching you and admiring you and aspiring to be like you

The same way how I was inspired by Joe - people are inspired just by watching you do your thing

One of these youths here should be aspring to kick Pastor Diandra out and taker her place

The shoule be aspring to be the next Youth Pastor

Someone should be aspiring to take Sister Susan place in this place

Let me tell you the reality

The reality is they not gonna be around forever and somone will eventually have to take their place

Which lady is going to take Sister Susan place in Singing

Which Brother is going to take Bro Danny place in Singing

Now we don’t have to worry about needing a keyboardist because Pastor outlasting everyone in this place.

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Steps to Discover Your Place

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1. Seek God

Proverbs 3:5–6 KJV 1900

5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; And lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, And he shall direct thy paths.

We need to acknowledge God in everything

Acts 13:1–4 NIV

1 Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul. 2 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” 3 So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off. 4 The two of them, sent on their way by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia and sailed from there to Cyprus.

We see here in scripture the importance of Seeking God to the Work he has called you to do.

As you see here - they were worshiping and fasting and got some directions for Barnbas and Saul

Seeking the Lord is a good first step

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2. Be planted in a Local Church

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Psalm 92:13 KJV 1900

13 Those that be planted in the house of the Lord Shall flourish in the courts of our God.

For most of us here today - we owe our discovery of our place to being planted in Gospel Lighthouse

It says in this scripture when you are planted you shall flourish

We need to be planted in our local church

The reason why many people never really grow into their calling or fulfill their purpose is because they are not planted in a church.

Whether we like it or not - out of all the churches in the entire world where you could have been - God wanted you here

God planted you here

I said in the beginning that I should have been in another church but God planted me here for a purpose

God planted you here for a purpose

Notice it says planted not attend

People who just attend looking for better opportunity

A lot of people don’t fulfill their callings because they abort or transplant where they attend

mimic pastor mario then pastor gowgee then pastor hilda

People in the world does go bar hopping and people in the church does go church hopping

I believe if someone can jump from one church and attend your church that means when things get tough in your church they will jump to abother church as well

We have some plants home and I can tell some of them are healthy because they remain in their pot

They don’t jump out of it

They remain

However if they don’t their water they can die even though they are in the pot

Same way with us - God has planted us in a church but we need to be watered with the Word of God

We wil flourish here

Courson’s Application Commentary, Old Testament Volume 2 (Psalms–Malachi) Psalm 92:13–15

flourishing, and fruitful in the things of God

David was a man who was planted in God’s house

When Jesus parents were looking for him - he was where - the Lord’s house

Too much christians today are planted elsewhere

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Planted in work, planted home, planted at the gym, planted at the malls

We need to be planted in the house of the Lord

3. Ask These Folks

Yes if all else fails and you still feel you have nothing to offer this place just ask Pastor Mario.

I guarantee you that he will help you to find a place in this place and not just any place but a place that God has placed you in for this season of your life.

Throughout your life your roles will change but the plans and purposes of God for you doesn’t change.

Last week you heard testimonies from people

Sister Susan

Camara

Diandra

Not just him but the other Leaders you are under can help you tap into that purpose and that place you have been called to

In the Sunday School there is Neisha

In the youth Group there is Diandra

They will help to draw out from you the giftings that the Holy Spirit has deposited into you - to use for the Glory of God

Don’t take what happens here on a Sunday for granted

When Diandra calls your phone you might be tempted not to answer it because you know she want you to do something on Sunday

Don’t take it for granted

WE are seeing the youths and sunday school shining with their gifts on a Sunday

She not calling on behalf of herself but the Pastor

If you notice the core values of our church - one of them is equipping the saints

He is trying to equip you from when you a little child

When you gifted in an area I believe it is important that you get opportunity to do it so you get better at it

John Maxwell says that people will go up to him and ask him how you so comfortable speaking

His respose is Ive done this over 10, 000 times

It must be easier to do if you have done it so much times

Me and acting

If you look at the preachers, the scripture readers etc

Are they getting better or are they getting worst the more times they do it?

I think you will agree that people are getting better

One day you will stand before crowds and people will ask you, how you so good boy, how you so good girl

You wil say - I used to try to duck Pastor yuh know, I used to dry to duck DIandra yuh know, I used to try to duck Neisha yuh know

But today I am thankful that they actually allowed me so many opportunities to work on my skill because look at how good I am tiday

I am good because they invested in my life and they gave me opportunities to Grow in my giftings

If you use these 3 steps I guarantee you that you will discover your place in this place.

You have no excuse once you follow these 3 steps

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Calling Killers

I would like to share 2 things that can kill or hinder what you have been placed here to do

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1. Your character

This is so important and Neisha mentioned it last week

Neisha was saying something along the lines of I don’t care how good you could preach, or prophecy, or sing etc

I wanto to see your fruit befoer I can see you as a 10

The truth is your Ministry can be hinderd greatly by your characcter traits

Talk about the walk about with Ecclesia Pastor Marilyn

CHARISMA WITHOUT CHARACTER IS DISASTER!!

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One prayer you can pray is Lord, Never allow my calling to exceed the character you’ve developed in me! -

One person in the Bible who allowed this to happen was Saul and David ended up replacing him

I believe there is a warning for us there.

No matter how gifted you may be, if you don’t watch your character , you might soon find yourself being replaced.

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2. Imposter Syndrome

I think I shared this in the past but it needs repeating

We need to stop comparing ourselves to other people

OCD

We look at how good other people are and we tell ourselves that we not at their level

Who really going to listen to what I have to say

Who really coming to watch me act a play - I never went to acting school

I not Keanu Reeves

One problem in the church is we see God right but we see ourselves wrong

We have to help people with mindset before we helo them with skill set

Help them see themselves right - get them a little confident so they will then be able to use their gifts

In Numbers Chapter 13 - what help back the people of Israel was not the Giants in the land but it was the grasshoppers in their head

We can’t take that land because we are just grasshoppers

I remember how Sister Chan used to feel so unworthy -

I used to pray for her every Sunday

That was meh padna

Wil pray for her to be braver

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3. Being someone else

One of the biggest temptations out there is trying to be someone who you might look up to.

For example if you are a preacher you might want to sound like TD Jakes

If you are a singer you might want to sing like Darlene, or Steve Green and you will try to bring in their personality

Talk about me and Benny

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If God called you to be Brian dont Try to Be Benny

God wired you with your unique personality and unique strengths and weaknesses

Having self awareness is so important

Don’t try to crack jokes if you know you terrible at that

Be you!!!

Pastor Mario says Be a voice and not an echo

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Today you are you,

That is trueer than true

there is no one alive

who is youer than you - Dr Seuss

Conclusion

I know I have shared a lot and I hope you got some value from this message

I would just like to conclude with 1 last sscripture that shows why it’s so important to discover your place and operate in that place diligently

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1 Corinthians 3:13–15 ESV

13 each one’s work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. 14 If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.

This verse is sort of a scary verse

Performance Appraisal

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It shows that 1 day God is going to inspect your work for him.

Some will receive a reward and some would not.

many people who believe they are serving God, but are doing it in an unworthy manner or with unworthy “materials” will come to find in eternity that they have, in reality, done nothing for the Lord. a life that was wasted,

The Tony Evans Bible Commentary A. Divisions in the Church (1:10–4:21)

Don’t give God your leftovers; give him the best you’ve got to offer

We have been speaking this year about being disciplined.

Those who would discipline their lives to funcction in the place God has placed them will be rewarded

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There is a place for you in this place - find it and fuction in your place

ARE YOU A BORN WRITER? WERE YOU PUT ON EARTH TO BE A PAINTER, SCIENTIST, AN APOSTLE OF PEACE? IN THE END THE QUESTION CAN ONLY BE ANSWERED BY ACTION! DO IT OR DON’T DO IT! IT MAY HELP YOU TO THINK OF IT THIS WAY! IF YOU WERE MEANT TO CURE CANCER, WRITE A SYMPHONY OR CRAFT A COOL FUSION AND YOU DON’T DO IT, YOU NOT ONLY HURT YOURSELF; EVEN DESTROY YOURSELF, -YOU HURT YOUR CHILDREN, YOU HURT ME, YOU HURT THE PLANET, YOU SHAME THE ANGELS WHO WATCH OVER YOU AND YOU SPITE THE ALMIGHTY WHO CREATED YOU…. AND ONLY YOU WITH YOUR UNIQUE GIFTS FOR THE WHOLE PURPOSE OF NUDGING THE HUMAN RACE 1MM FURTHER ALONG IN ITS PATH BACK TO GOD. CREATIVE WORK IS NOT A SELFISH ACT OR BID FOR ATTENTION ON THE PART OF THE ACTOR, IT’S A GIFT TO THE WORLD AND EVERY BEING IN IT! DON’T CHEAT US OF YOUR CONTRIBUTION! GIVE US WHAT YOU’VE GOT!" – Stephen Pressfield

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