Good evening. Tonight we are going to finish up our series on discovering my unique shape. So far we have looked at our spiritual gifts, our hearts, our abilities, our personalities, and tonight we end with the letter “E.” Now the letter “E” in the word shape stands for Experiences. Tonight, we are going to examine our past experiences and see how God has been shaping us for ministry all along.
You see, God uses our experiences to teach us to trust Him, to build our character, and to accomplish His purposes as we allow Him to use our experiences to minister to others. Since our greatest life message comes out of our weakness, not our strengths, we need to take a good look at our painful experiences and what our trials have taught us. God never wastes a hurt or bad experience. Along with these tough times are other experiences to draw on: spiritual experiences, the meaningful times with God, educational experiences, and ways that we have ministered in the past. Tonight, we are going to take a brief look at all of those, and then see the top 10 reasons why we need to be involved in ministry.
But, before we begin, let’s open our time with a word of prayer. Let’s Pray!
Let’s begin by examining your experiences. Romans 8:28 tells us, “And we know that in ALL things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.”
And then later in Philippians 1:12, Paul says, “Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel.” Paul went through some really hard times and some tough experiences in his life. Yet he looked to the positive side of things and realized that it was all advancing the gospel to others.
One of the most overlooked factors in determining the ministry that God has for you is your past experiences; especially your hurts and problems that you have overcome with God’s help. Since our greatest life message comes from our weaknesses and not our strengths, we should pay close attention to what we have learned during the tough times in life.
Now, there are 3 main kinds of experiences that God uses to help and prepare us for our ministry to Him. Can anyone tell me what some of those experiences are?
Well, first, God uses our painful experiences. How do you think God can use our painful experiences to prepare us or shape us for ministry?
Well, in Proverbs 20:30 it says, “Blows and wounds cleanse away evil, and beatings purge the inmost being.” Now that doesn’t really make a whole lot of sense, does it? I think what this verse is trying to say is that sometimes it takes a painful experience to make us change our ways.
And then, in Philippians 1:12-13 it says, “Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel. As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ.”
Realize this with me today, sometimes God uses the painful experiences that we have faced in life as a way of using us in ministry. A lot of times you may think that what you are going through is a tough time in life. But later, you may be able to use that tough time to minister to someone else who is facing the same kind of trials that you faced. So the painful experiences in our lives can be used by God for ministry.
Secondly, God uses our spiritual experiences. How do you think God uses our spiritual experiences to prepare us and use us in ministry?
Well, in Romans 1:11-12 it says, “I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong, that is, that you an I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith.” As I think about a passage like that, I think it is obvious how God uses our spiritual experiences to minister. As it said, it is an encouragement to be around other people who have accepted Christ and to be able to share your stories with one another. Not only that, but you may have a similar story as that of someone who has never accepted Christ.
Perhaps your ministry is to share with them your spiritual experiences and let them know that God will still accept them. So we need to learn how to look at our spiritual experiences as events that helped to prepare us for the ministry that God has in store for us.
And finally, God uses our past experiences. Now, in I Corinthians 5:17 it says, “If anyone belongs to Christ, then he is made new. The old things have gone; everything is mad new!” Now even though that is true, God still uses past experiences of all kinds to help prepare us for the ministry that He has designed for each of us.
You see, God uses our experiences to be able to help others. That is ministry, that is service. II Corinthians 1:3-4 in the Living Bible Translation says, “(God)… wonderfully comforts and strengthens us in our hardships and trials. And why does He do this? So that when others are troubled, needing our sympathy and encouragement, we can pass on to them the same help and comfort God has given us!”
Now, we are about to wrap things up this evening. But before I give you the top 10 reasons why you should be involved in ministry, I want you to do a little exercise with me.
On a piece of paper, I want you to record these experiences:
First, Your Spiritual Experiences:
How you came to know Christ.
Meaningful decisions you have made.
Special times with God.
Second, Your Painful Experiences:
Problems, hurts, pr trials that you have learned some lessons from.
And Thirdly, Your Past Experiences:
Ares from your past, both positive and negative, that have added to our growth.
Now, I want you to take a few minutes and jot down some of those experiences. In a few minutes, we will come back together and share some of them. So take a few minutes and do that for me.
(TAKE A FEW MINUTES…)
Okay, let’s bring it back together. Would anyone like to share any of your experiences that you thought of and wrote down?
As we move on, just remember this, brokenness cab become a blessing. You see, our God is a God of second chances. And as you measure success, realize this: success is not measured by what you have done, success is DOING what God made you to do!
Now, as we close this evening, and we wrap this series up, I hope that you have come a little closer to understanding what it is that God has SHAPED you for. We have taken a look at your spiritual gifts, and realized that everyone has a gift that God has given to them with the intentions of it being used to serve Him and others. We looked at out hearts and realized that God has caused us to love and enjoy doing certain things, and that we need to figure out a way to incorporate those joys into the ministry that we do.
We looked at our abilities and how God has given each of us different abilities that can be used in the Kingdom of God. We studied our personalities and tried to figure out how our personality best suited us for ministry. And then tonight we have discussed how God uses our life experiences to help us when it comes to service and ministry.
Now all we have to do is get to work. So, as we wrap things with this series, I want to give you the top 10 reasons why you need to be in ministry. To do this, I am going to go over the top 10, and give a scripture or a thought about each, open it up for if anyone ants to comment on each, and then move on. So if you don’t commit, we will be done with them quickly. So, here are:
The Top Ten Reasons You Need To Be In Ministry Or Service!
#10. The Body Of Christ Needs Your Ministry! I Corinthians 12:27 says, “Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.” Ministry always functions in the context of love and needs.
In Matthew 9:36-37 it says, “When He saw the crowds, He had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.” Now, what I want you to get from this reasoning, is that when it comes to ministry, the church, or the body of Christ needs you to do your part in order for everything to function the way it is supposed to.
Any comments?
#9. You Are Accountable For My Ministry! Romans 14;12 says, “So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God.” As I think about this reasoning, I can’t help but think of the parable of the talents. Each of the servants in that passage had to give account to what they did with the master’s money. So realize this, when it comes to your ministry to God, you will have to give account for it if you don’t use it.
Any comments?
#8. You Have Been Authorized For Ministry! In Matthew 28:18-19 Jesus says, “All authority in Heaven and earth has been given to me. Therefore, go and make disciples…” And later in II Corinthians 5:20 it tells us that, “We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors…”
Now as we examine the reasoning behind this, we can see that Jesus has given us a command, commission, or authority, however you want to look at it. But no matter how you look at it, Jesus has sent us out and authorized us to do ministry in His name.
Any comments?
#7. You Have Been Gifted For Ministry! We looked at this verse when we talked about our spiritual gifts. I Peter 4:10 tells us that, “Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.” When you become a Christian, God gives you a gift that He intends for you to use in service to Him. So you have been gifted for ministry.
Any comments?
#6. You Have Been Saved For Ministry! II Timothy 1:9 says, “(God) has saved us and called us to a holy life, not because of anything that we have done, but because of His own purpose and grace. This grace was given to us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time.” You know, this is the whole idea of being “Saved To Serve!” God, in His grace and love for us, has saved us from eternity in Hell. All He asks for in return is that we serve Him.
Any comments?
#5. You Are To Be Prepared For Ministry! Ephesians 4:11-12 tells us that, “God gave some… to be pastors and teacher to prepare God’s people for works of ministry so that the Body of Christ may be built up…” On order for the Body of Christ to be built up, you have to be involved in ministry. You must do your part. So we all need to be prepared for ministry.
Any comments?
#4. You Are Commanded To Minister! Romans 12:11 says, “Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.” And later in Colossians 4:17 it says, “Take heed to the ministry you’ve received from the Lord and fulfill it.” As you think about the Great Commission, it was also a command that we would go out and minister and serve others. As I said, God gave His life for you, all He asks is that you will serve Him in return. So we are commanded to minister.
Any comments?
#3. You Will Be Rewarded For Your Ministry! Colossians 3:23-24 says, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward.” And in Matthew 25:23 Jesus is telling one of His parables, and He says, “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share in your Master’s happiness!”
As I read these passages, I can’t help but see that there will be a great reward to those who accept the ministry that God sends their way. The whole idea of Galatians 6 is that God will not forget the things that you have done for the Lord. So remember, you will be rewarded for your ministry.
Any comments?
#2. You Have Been Called Into Ministry! Galatians 1:15 says, “God, in His grace, chose me even before I was born, and called me to serve Him.” Ephesians 4:1 tells us, “I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.” Each and every one of us has been called to ministry to God. It may not be a career choice, but there are always areas in which God uses people to accomplish ministry for Him. You need to be able to realize this: I am not who I think I am. I am not who you think I am. But, I really am who God says I am! We are all ministers or servants of Jesus Christ. So always remember this, you have been called into some kind of ministry.
Any comments?
#1. You Have Been Created For Ministry! That has been our entire focus of this series. Discovering Your Unique Shape, the way that God has designed you for ministry. Ephesians 2:10 tells us that, “…we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
Please make sure that you don’t miss this one: you have been created by God the way you are for ministry or service to Him and to others.
Any comments?
Well, if there is nothing else, I hope that over the past several weeks that we have all come a little closer to understanding our own unique SHAPE. Now I can’t tell you what ministry is right for you, only you can do that, but when you do, please see someone that can help you get plugged into the ministry that you were designed for.
Before we close this evening, does anyone have anything that they would like to add?
Well, if that is all, I will close us with a word of prayer, and then we will sing our closing hymn.
Let’s Pray! |
