R367 God’s Gift to the Church

God has an encouraging word for you and me today. The Bible-based preaching of Dr. Don Wilton and a message on God's gift yesterday.

We have the conclusion of the message God's gift to the church will head to Ephesians chapter 4 continuing that message in just a moment with Dr. Wilden wants me to remind you we are here for you. Connecting keyboard and keyboard right now on our website at tewonline.org G that's DEW online.org, and though we thought it would be old news. Evidently you want more information about the fresh new book Dr. Wilton released just a month or so ago called Saturdays with Billy. Yes, we still have copies available even some autographed copies if you're interested all the details are on our website@dewonline.org drop by today. Alex open our hearts and God's word to Ephesians 4 with Dr. Don Wilton really same thing in the congregation a very special presence of the spirit of God really mean the same thing in my heart that God is moving amongst our people really been sensing in my heart that God is doing something in our lives. Just open your heart to him how much he loves you now father's we come to this time of starting your word. Help us to learn more about you.

In Jesus name, amen. Please turn with me this morning to Ephesians chapter 4 Ephesians chapter 4, but as I have begun to study the rapture and about what is going to take place with the awfulness of the tribulation, the Antichrist, the political leader the false prophet, the religious leader the bowl judgments as we read all about the tribulation. As we read about what's going on in heaven with the judgment seat of God and the marriage supper of the Lamb. The glorious reappearing of Christ the second coming and the battle of Armageddon, the absolute defeat of Satan and the Antichrist. The new kingdom and the new heaven and the new earth.

I began to say to myself is another wonderful thing to think that God takes care of us right now we need to think about these things that are going to happen, but he does so many wonderful things for us to and one of the most wonderful things God does for us is that he gives to each one of us gifts all over this congregation people worshiping with us today by way of television. The Bible tells us that there is not one believer who does not have God's gifts. There are no gift list children as far as God is concerned we going to ask this question many many times as we look at this particular subject. Again, I want to read just a few verses Ephesians chapter 4 and verse 11.

The Bible says it was God who gave some to be apostles, and some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, some to be pastas and teachers to prepare God's people for works of service so that the body of Christ may be built up. Did you get that that the body of Christ may be built up. I want you to turn with me back to first Corinthians chapter 12 again look at it just briefly with me first Corinthians chapter 12 listen to what the Bible says now about spiritual gifts. I do not want you to be ignorant.

I want you to know about these things, but a very important you know that when you were pagans. That is when you didn't know the Lord Jesus Christ somehow or other you were influenced or led astray by idols and in the direction of mute items.

Let me pause there for a moment and it is a wonderful thing to think that God allows us as a church to have a clock to play in the character building of children that we would all school. The adults show today.

What is important to you about children, I think all of us would agree we would want our children to grow up with godly character that they would be people that would please the Lord Jesus Christ. Now the Bible says that the body of Christ. The church is God's gift, and God gives giftedness to the body of Christ to every person who loves him and every person who loves the Lord Jesus Christ has a part to play in the building up of the body of Christ in the character movie the growing and the maturation of the body of Christ. All of us. Every person yesterday who loves Jesus Christ you been given special gifts by the Lord Jesus Christ to use in the body of Christ. I want to say something that's a little bit strong. Would you listen to me.

Please going to say to you that there are many believers. There are some in this congregation in every church you love the Lord Jesus Christ, that's no question but you are very selfish because you are not using your gift to build up the body of Christ you're not using the gifts that God has given to you.

For example, if you got a gift of music if you say why you not in the choir. If you play an instrument. If you are gifted in teaching why you not teaching children here at first Baptist. If you remember this body or wherever your church might be Methodist Presbytery where you are if you got a gifting finances why you not involved in the finances of the church. If you got a gift of encouragement why you not encouraging other people. If you got a gift of hospitality why you not opening up your home and being hospitable. If you love children and young people and you you think they very important as we all do what you got us racial bent toward the why are you not working with our young people.

If you got a gift of prayer and intercessory prayer. Why are you not involved in the prayer ministries of the church are you going to say to me, pasta why do you keep saying the church because the Bible says that is where gift ought to be used in the local body of Christ. Some of you might say to me will pasta I use my gift out there friend listen to me. I hope that you do. But the Bible says this is the gathered church does not happen. We will come together as the body of Christ. That's what God has instituted this is part of God's purpose and plan, we all come together and we exercise our giftedness.

We teach we encourage we lift up we blew we do everything we can within the context of our giftedness just what happens on Monday morning. On Monday morning. The gathered church becomes the scattered church and all of the body of Christ from all denominations and old churches scatter out into the workplace and into the marketplace in the high schools in the middle schools and the elementary schools in the city all in the government into the hospitals and into offices everywhere, and they begin to tranche late this character building through the body of Christ into the fabric of society. You want a strong society and a strong community. You must have a strong body of Christ, that is God's blueprint for mankind not listen to what he says in first Corinthians chapter 12. Therefore I tell you that verse three that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says Jesus be cursed, and no one can say Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit.

Now there are different kinds of gifts, but the same spirit.

There are different kinds of service but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in an old man a look at verse seven now to each one the manifestation of the spirit is given for the common good and that a wonderful thing to think about isn't it amazing to think that God brings all God's children together.

Each one of us as individuals. All for the common good and that is that we might all apply our individual part in the building up of God's people.

I hope that God willing, in some small way that every one of us when our children are grown can all look back and say thank you Lord Jesus for allowing us to play just a small part in the growing of our children into the kind of people they have become today. That's how the world changes. My friends that's how the principles of God remain intact.

Now, what can we say about this, let me say several things about this giftedness that God talks about number one each believers gift is unique. All of us are unique.

We don't have to tell one another there, but all of us are very unique in the Bible says that our giftedness is so unique, but God's word goes on further and tells us next that each believer is given the exact amount of giftedness needed to do the job that God wants us to not only are we unique in our giftedness, but we all given just the right amount I happen to be one of those people who loves coffee.

I enjoy coffee and my wife and I love to go to coffee shops and get a good cup of coffee.

Now if you are a coffee, so you will know that I sometimes coffee can be not quite right.

Sometimes a little burned sometimes too strong. Sometimes it's too weak to Suite 2 saw whatever it might be, but but every so often you get a cup of coffee and you look at each other and sites just right. It's got just the right mix in the cooking is like there.

We love to sit down. The meal inside this meal is just right.

It has just the right amount of ingredients listen. The Bible tells us not only is our giftedness unique to each one of us as individual personalities but God gives to us the exact amount needed to do what God wants us to do and how to see workers he brings into fax to bear at this juncture.

First of all, he provides us with his in enabling price that's found in verse seven of chapter 4 but each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it is God's enabling grace. What is that mean it means God gives us our unique gifts to the exact amount in order to in a movable body to function as a body. He knows just how much the handmaids and how much the foot needs and how much the head needs and how much the body needs and how much the eyes need and how much the funding needs. He gives to us is the body. The exact amount with these enabling grace in order to in us by his grace to be the body of Christ that he's called us to be.

But then he juxtaposes this when he runs parallel with that not only is enabling grace, but he's in doing Friday what is in acting fight. Well, God gives his gifts to us by in acting fight in order to bring about what God wants to be brought about. Think God wants us to be based folks. He wants you to be blessed. He wants her children to grow up right.

He wants you to be happy. He wants you to be healthy.

He wants your marriage to be good and God not only gives us the enabling grace which enables the body to do what it needs to do, but he gives to house as he's in acting phrase which enables us to bring about what God's plan is for each one of us. What happens when the two of these are combined together. Listen when enabling grace and in acting faith are combined together we begin to understand that God gives both the grace and the faith as to parallel things to energize what ever gift he gives to the full intent of his purpose. Listen to what the Bible says. The Bible tells us, my friends, that all things work together for the good of those that love God is not just talking about the IDCs not just doormat circumstances he's talking about gift he's doormat everything God brings everything he brings the sadness of our hearts. He brings the heartbreaks and he brings the joys and he brings together a group of people, mainly women and boys and go and young people and single adults in old and young, and he gives to us gift and he says wanted to come together in the fellowship.

According the media. The fellowship of God's believers, and out of that fellowship.

I want you to know that you and your labs are going to be enriched in a way that you can never understand what it follows then in the third place the note gifts or to be sold often. Why because they're given by God first Corinthians 12 verse four through seven tells us now. The Bible says that we must desire dear, we need to cite Lord Jesus I will do anything you want me to do and I sure wish that I could do this so I could teach or I could preach like an administrator or could be hospitable or I could be wealthy so that I could help a lot of people. We can do all these things. There's nothing wrong with denying it. But the Bible says my friend because it's a gift you cannot Damond it from God. God is the one who gives them to you trophies of Christ with powerful concept. Forgive the interruption will be back with the completion of today's message God's gift to the church with Dr. Don Wilton in just a moment. But as we continue to wrap up this entire week of Bible study will remind you that there are opportunities to stay connected to God's word with resources like the daily Encouraging Word email.

It's available for free. Of course, just by signing up on our website@twonline.org that's TEW online.org. The daily Encouraging Word is a moment from Dr. Don sharing a bit of Scripture.

Some application of that scripture to our daily life and opportunity to launch our day in prayer.

It takes just a little while, and you can receive it absently free.

If you'll sign up right now at tewonline.org, you sign up today and more than like you have it tomorrow or the next day that's online@tewonline.org. Now today's conclusion of God's gift to the church with Dr. Don Wilton. I love Christmas time would be very good at that.

What nullifies a gift what makes a gift not a good while some of our children get awfully close to making gifts known gifts to and that's okay we understand husbands and wives are notorious.

We usually get down to Christmas time so I will honey what you want and honey says well I want this and honey says well I want that most husbands are very poor at getting gifts honey says she wants this thing she doesn't get sudden wraps up for herself and puts it on the tree now know it never happens in any of your homes, but it happens a lot doesn't and we know that, and we love it and Christmas is such a special time and we understand that but friend listen to me. A gift is a gift because it is given by the giver and it is given out of the free heart of the giver.

We cannot seek often these gifts we cannot Damond them but we can desire the gifts of God. It follows then in the fourth instance the note.

Gifts should go on use.

Why because they are essential elements in God's plan. That's what you know that if you do not usual gift that you are cheating somebody else in the church you know that if you have a gift of teaching and you not teaching your cheating God you cheating yourself and your cheating out other people. Did you know that you cheating in your robbing our children. If you done if you have a gift of music and you can sing and you sitting down there. Now the congregation friend listen to me you are cheating God your robbing this congregation, you're telling God I don't care what gift you've given me. I'm not going to use it according to what the Bible says you say to me pasta.

What do I need a new you need to come and sign up.

You need to say I'm going to be teaching. I'm going to be opening my home. I'm going to be getting involved in this. Just one thing you don't have to do everything God has blessed you use it for the purpose of God. But it follows in the first place the note gift should ever be exalted above any other nugget should never be exalted above any other gift, why because all gifts come from the Lord Jesus Christ according to Romans 22 in verse three. All gifts come from the Lord Jesus Christ. Some of you Sunday school teachers and department directors you know why God is blessing you because you using your gift you can see it your Sunday school class is vibrant because you just giving up to God.

That's what the Bible said some of you got gifts in your work and you using your gifts to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ that's easy for me to talk about it Stephen because I but what I call a performing performing gift means that you will look at me and you know what I'm doing because you see me you know the most precious gifts in the church my friends all gifts that very few people even know about. It's all the things that go on behind the scenes all the work and all the encouragement and all the giving and all the little touches the gift of helps and on and on and on it goes.

I had such an experience was possibly I went into the home of one of my favorite people. He's a dear little boy and I just love him and he sister Caroline very much. We sat around in Zachary's given his heart to Jesus and he told me about it I said and what exactly now that Jesus come in your heart you show me anyone in this room is going to go to heaven one day I said yes my daddy's going to go and I said why is it because daddy gave his heart to Jesus. My mother's going to go because my mother gave her heart to Jesus and Caroline's going to go to heaven because Caroline gave a heart to Jesus, I said and Zachary, can you see anybody else in this room that's going to go to heaven and he thought for what seemed like 10 minutes and then he pointed and he said you are super for. I'm grateful for that and I said no, Zachary, why am I going to go to heaven, he said, could you give in your heart to Jesus, I say to him wait a minute Zachary is it because on the pasta first Baptist Church.

He said all know I said well it must be because I preach. He said all know I said well maybe it is because because I went to seminary. He said all know and we came to the conclusion, my friend, that there is no gift which can be exalted over another, as far as God is concerned, where all alone in Christ… It's an absolute joy. Listen to what the Bible says in first Peter chapter 4 verse 10 as each one has received ice rational gift employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God Bible says we are all like snowflakes, man. I'm not calling you snowflakes undersigned rule.

Like snowflakes. This is a simile not a major role like snowflakes. Have you ever looked at a snowflake are so beautiful and so unique.

We do know that every snowflake is unique snowflake you think of a bold team basketball, football, how unique all the players but they all play their part in making the team what it needs to be. You see, the Bible says my friends, all of us are unique. Listen to first Corinthians chapter 12 in verse 11, one in the same spirit works all these things, distributing each one individually. Just as he woos is not a beautiful statement.

Listen to what Romans 12 verse five says that we are not interchangeable parts in Christ body, but we ought individually members of one another and so there is a final point this morning. Garrett is no Christian can replace another in God's plan. Are you being used of God. Are you allowing God to use you. The question is a very simple one dear friend. God has no gift list children.

The question is this what you are not doing for the Lord Jesus Christ care in the body of Christ we can deal with the community and out there forever.

What are you doing in the body of Christ, that is God's mandate. What are you doing for the body of Christ for the group of believers. God has called you to minister on God will bless you as a result, a chance to take God at his you been listening to Dr. Don Wilton you've hurt him as he's been teaching from Ephesians preaching from the pulpit but now as he steps into the studio. Would you open your heart to what he wants to say next. Are you ready to give your heart and life to the Lord Jesus Christ.

I'm so happy to hear that wanting to pray this prayer with me today.

Dear God, I know that you love me very, very much and I know that the Lord Jesus Christ came and died on the cross so that I might be forgiven of my sin. Today, I repent of my sin.

I can face my sin to you, and I invite you to come into my heart and into my life by faith in Jesus name I pray, if you prayed that pray for me.

The first one welcome to the family of God. This is one of the I hope that you know how much I'm going to be crying help. Call us so we can hope to connect you ice you can begin this wonderful June and in just a moment. I minute come back to the final if you displayed along with Dr. Will two moments ago to give your life to Christ. When we dedicate your life to Jesus welcomed the family perhaps welcome home to the families exactly what you need to know we are rejoicing with you right now and would love to pray with you and pray for you and put resources in your hands to help you grow successfully in your walk with Jesus Christ. If you give us a call at 8668 would love to put these resources in your hands in the next couple of days I get are numbers 866-899-9673 and that numbers not only to connect you with great resources and let us know what God's doing your life. It's also a powerful resource for prayer first kill. It's been first evolved to sin, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving.

The need for 14,000 client lacking archiving time that we live our lives are anything but peaceful and quiet time doing prayer and Bible reading. God wants to give us we would be honored to pray for you we would be honored to pray for you right The Encouraging Word the 24 hour live prayer line call 866-899-WORD 866-899-WORD nine 673 talk to a real person who will be glad to pray The Encouraging Word is a viewer and listener supported ministry for listening to the great time of studying God's word together. But, you know, our pastor is such an encourager before we get away. He has a final word. You know before we go today. What a day of worship had you know you and I have in the middle of our hearts, our beloved nation how much I love America. I'm so proud to be an American. You know this won't cost us so many of our Armed Forces across the world and we hear from the main menu. We love them. They are our real heroes and I want you to join with trying them that God would take love through that right now show just before we got Lord Jesus, I'm joining with thousands of people dying for our members. Our brave right members of many overseas. Strange places families left behind. Lord Jesus listed times gone for now that were still connecting on our website at tewonline.org large, each 24 hours a day, that's DEW online.org as a matter fact you can find resources and ways to worship with us over this weekend and join us, either via television on DayStar right here online. We would love to connect with you.

That's online at tewonline.org large eat. Take care and God's