Saved People Serve People 2

Text: I Cor 12.1-7

Intro:   When I was in college I tried to take some classes that Mere in a different year than mine. I had visions of being able to fill my hours with whatever I wanted. That is when I learned the power of prerequisites. When I hit the registrars office and found out that there were some classes I had to finish before I would be allowed to take the classes I wanted. I looked at the registrar and said I don't want to take that class I just want to take this one. She said sorry you can show up and audit but you only get credit if you have this one first.

We all desire ministry to have a purpose. So does the Spirit.

vs7 is given to...) God didn't just give us ministry to keep us busy till we die or he comes back.

We want ministry that has an impact. So does the Spirit.

(vs7 .. .to profit withal) When ministry is right and in the power of the Spirit it has an incredible impact.

However there are some prerequisites in the work of the spirit.

I.      The Holy Spirit builds ministries that build People.

Exp. If we wish for real purposeful impact we must first have the power of the spirit. In fact we have this explanation from Paul that says we must first have the gifts of the Spirit and there are different gifts.

Arg. The word gift means endowment. It is a specific direction, bent and talent that drives us to explore some ministry opportunities.

Consider the focus of this text…

If you hear the author discussing the servant you will be hearing it wrong. What you hear is the gift that the Holy Spirit gives and then you will hear the work within him. This is a reminder to us that you as a minister are being brought along as well as the one you are ministering to.

Illustration:

I love capes. When I was a kid I would have my mom or grandma tie a towel around my neck. And it didn’t matter if we were superheros or knights or cowboys I had a cape on. There was something authoratative and definitive about a cape. That cape demonstrated who was the hero and who was being saved.

It is easy to think that we are the hero or the savior when we show up to minister. Please remember that when Christ was walking with his disciples he trained them in their work. Their discipleship was happening in the ministry.

It is also important to remember that if you are pushing away from opportunities to serve you are short changing your discipleship. God is using this to grow you.

App.

II. The Holy Spirit builds ministries that work with People.

Exp. Today there are a lot of Christians that say we need more Christian leaders that aren't following the ones they have. We have a lone ranger mentality in Christianity like never before. We have people that want to do something for God they just don't want to have to be told what to do.

Arg.   Vs.5 uses the word administration. You could also see that as ministry.

IIIustration: To illustrate this we have allot of ministries in this church. You can be a greeter, usher, choir member, vacuum operator, teacher, helper. Each of those ministries have a structure. A how to.

He is speaking here of the simple handbook how to set the classroom up kind of stuff. He is saying there are different oversights.

App.

III. The Holy Spirit builds ministries that works People.

Exp. Sometimes ministry is just hard work. There is no way around it we can't change it. There was work before the fall and there will be work in the heaven beyond. Should it really shock us that there is a need for Christians just to work.

Really there is an attitude in churches today like if its work its not spiritual. I will tell you right now that God is looking for men and women that know how to sweat for the glory of God.

Illustration: The great violinist, Niccolo Paganini willed his marvelous violin to city of Genoa on condition that it must never be played. The wood of such an instrument, while used and handled, wears only slightly, but set aside, it begins to decay. Paganini's lovely violin has today become worm-eaten and useless except as a relic. A Christian's unwillingness to serve may soon destroy his capacity for usefulness.

J.K. Laney, Marching Orders, p. 34.

Arg. The diversities of operation is speaking about just work, or operation of that gift.

App. Be ready to Work for his glory.

IV.      The Holy Spirit builds ministries that creates Servant hearted People.

Illustration: A businessman I know once asked his Bible study group, “How can you tell if you have a servant attitude?” “By the way you react when you are treated like one,” was the reply.

Exp. What is sad is that some passages are taken out of Context sometimes. Like some many who wish to find out about the gifts they run looking for their one particular meeting and fail to see what this passage is all about.

More importantly than what your gift is or what ministry you are in or how hard you work. It is how you can contribute to the body.

No I didn't say community, because God doesn't. I didn't say to mother earth because that is just sacrilegious. Our ministry is not about the best voice or biggest class its about the whole body of Christ coming here not for what I can get out of it but instead who can I be a blessing to.

Let us remember that all of this matters because in God’s grand wisdom the church is the place where he has gathered people that matter to him. And he is by grace demonstrating his heart to his people and through his people.