The Measure We Use

The Call & The Measure We Use Declaration: ● ● ● ● ● My eyes are on Jesus My heart is tuned to His Spirit My ears are listening to His voice My mind will believe what He says My voice will declare the truth of His word Today, we’re wrapping up our teaching series “Blueprints”. In this series, we’ve discovered who our foundation is(Jesus) and how He’s equipped us with gifts to do His will on the earth. I hope by this point we all can begin to see how each of us has a unique call or purpose that Jesus has deposited gifts inside us to fulfill, to bring Him glory and honor. I want to share a few extra truths regarding the call and the measure of faith we’ve received and how we use it. I want share a new word with you, “metron”. It sounds like its a character from transformers, but it’s a greek word that we will see a few times in the scriptures today. Strongs #3358 métron – properly, a measure (the actual measure itself); (figuratively) the basis for determining what is enough (or not enough), what is fair (or not fair), etc. ("standard, measure") is the controlling basis by which something is determined as acceptable or unacceptable – preeminently rooting to the Lord Himself as His being is the only ultimate measure of truth. The Gifts and Calling Ephesians 4:11–16 (NLT) 11Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors/shepherds and teachers. 12Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. 13This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ. 14Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the 15 truth. Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and 16 more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love. In the scriptures, we see that these ministries are gifts that Jesus gives to His body, the church. This church is the global church, not just this one in Oklahoma City. This should encourage you, like it does me when people are equipped and sent to the mission field or when they join other churches around the city. Do we need a group of people all doing the same thing, the same way or is God showing us how He has diversified our giftings and the calling we have to the communities He’s placed us in? As church sizes scale, I pray that the diversity and unity does as well, so that we can be effective like He intends. Let me remind you of another profound truth Romans 11:29 (NIV) 29 for God’s gifts and his call are irrevocable. You might be here today, thinking that it’s been too long or that you haven’t stepped out for God so His blessing or gift must not be with you anymore. This scripture proves the opposite, but it also means that there are those that operate their gifting and the spirit that they are operating in is not of God. You see, they have the gifting, but not the anointing that comes from the Holy Spirit. The Call without the Anointing Acts 16:16-18 (NIV) 16Once when we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a female slave who had a spirit by which she predicted the future. She earned a great deal of money for her owners by fortune-telling. 17She followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who are telling you the way to be saved.” 18She kept this up for many days. Finally Paul became so annoyed that he turned around and said to the spirit, “In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!” At that moment the spirit left her. You need the Power of the Holy Spirit, to do the work of the Father, just as Jesus did. That is how we fulfill the great commission that He’s called us to. Acts 10:36–38 (NIV) 36 You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, announcing the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. 37You know what has happened throughout the province of Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached— 38how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him. The Measure As we have been in a series with a lot of imagery and details of building, a master builder needs to be clear on the measurements and how he will build. If you’re asked to build a box for a “big man”, you probably need a few extra details to complete the job, right? For those that cook, you know that there is a way to measure liquid and dry ingredients to ensure that your dish comes out as intended. Ephesians 4:7 (NKJV) 7But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift. **I love this, because it calls back to two scriptures we’ve discussed already. First, it’s by His grace and it’s something He’s taken specific care to measure out to us. Matthew 25:15 (NIV) 15To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag, each according to his ability. Romans 12:3 (NLT) 3Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give 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 God has given us. Luke 6:38 (NIV) 38Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Jesus counted the cost and PAID IT ALL for us! (Luke 14:28) Be Mindful of what you hear and what you do Mark 4:24-25 (NIV) 24 “Consider carefully what you hear,” he continued. “With the measure you use, it will be measured to you—and even more. 25 Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them.” 1 Timothy 4:14–16 (NIV) 14 Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through prophecy when the body of elders laid their hands on you. 15Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. 16Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers. Spheres of Influence Not all are called to do the same thing! 1 Corinthians 12:29–31 (NIV) 29 30 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do 31 all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? Now eagerly desire the greater gifts. And yet I will show you the most excellent way. Even James reminds us that because some of us don’t have a natural gifting for controlling our tongue (our opinions) that we might not be best in a “teacher-role”. Can you see how Jesus intends to help us to do our best for Him? James 3:1 (NIV) 1 Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. Even Jesus had a specific focus from the Father Matthew 15:24–28 (NIV) The Canaanite Woman 24 25 He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.” The woman came and knelt before him. “Lord, help me!” she said. 26He replied, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.” 27 “Yes it is, Lord,” she said. 28 “Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.” Then Jesus said to her, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed at that moment. Romans 12:4 (NIV) 4 For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function… It’s the way He planned it, we have to work together to see God’s will done on the earth. John 4:38 - one will sow and another will reap. In Acts 13:47 we see that Paul was called specifically to the Gentiles, but later we read the following 1 Corinthians 9:22b (NIV) 22…I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. I think this is the best way to operate, so that we might “save some” just as Paul intended but you’ll have a group of people or communities that you have a special grace to minister to. Focus on that! Closing So, what have you been called and equipped to do? The simple answer is to preach the gospel to all creation, yes you’re all preachers, disciple-makers! Some of us have a specific focus, some are called to foreign missions, some to help teach the Word of God and grow the church in their neighborhood. Some minister in hospitals and schools, some in the grocery store or the prison. I may have mentioned places or people that caused you to think, oh that’s not my calling… It reminded me of a quote that I saw the other day that I think sum things up well “The fastest way to kill something special, is to compare it to something else.” What God has called you to is a gift, so it and you are special but you must step out in that measure of faith that He’s provided. I want to pray together for us to step into our calling and to be filled with the anointing of the Holy Spirit.