In this episode, we uncover the profound teachings of Paul, focusing on how we can resist the temptations of worldly competition and instead cultivate a heart for service. Reflect on the importance of using our unique gifts within the Christian community, whether through teaching, exhortation, or simple acts of kindness. Embrace the journey of self-discovery and spiritual service as we challenge perceived notions of isolation and recognize the blessings of being part of God’s family.
So Paul is appealing to us to present ourselves. He’s beseeching us, appealing to us to present ourselves to God based upon his mercy. and not to be bent towards this world, conformed to it, but be transformed in our hearts and minds. And we learned just the other day that not being conformed to the world, but having the renewing of our minds, could probably be based upon what Paul is talking about in Romans 5, 6, 7, and 8, that we are freed from God’s judgment and reconciled to his heart. We’re no longer, that’s chapter 5, we’re no longer identified as sinners, chapter 6. We’re no longer under the condemnation and judgment of the law, chapter 7. We’re no longer under the power of death, chapter 8. But now, He shows us how we present ourselves. Listen to this, chapter 12, verse 3 and onwards. For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. For as we have many members in one body, but all members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ and individually members of one another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them. So this is how we present ourselves. We first of all recognize that we are part of a body. And that body is not necessarily a physical organization. It’s the body of Christ. Now, the body of Christ in various parts does organize itself into a physical organization called churches and various things. But there are many people who are not part of a church, but are definitely part of the body of Christ. So we need to look that way towards ourselves. We are part of a body. We’re not individual, separate individuals. Yes, we have an individual personality. We may live alone. We may be isolated in various ways. But in our spirit and in our heart, we give thanks to God and praise to him that we are part of a larger body of believers throughout the whole world. A person who may be alone and handicapped may be able to pray, knowing that she or he is part of the body of Christ. Now, this comes to some very personal things. For instance, the temptation of the world is always to be the top dog, isn’t it? To compete with others and to be better than anyone else. This happens in organizations, in corporations, where you are an employer and you want to get an upence on somebody else who’s in your department, and so you hope to do that. Even in churches, when the churches follow the flesh, that can happen too. There’s an annual board meeting, say, or an election committee that determines the various members’ positions in the church, whether they be deacons or elders or various positions that church members hold. And if you’re in the flesh, you will hope that you can get the job that you want rather than the other guy. And all of this is part of the flesh. But we are told here by Paul not to think of ourselves higher than we ought to think. How do we avoid that? Again, going back to what Paul says in verse 1 at the beginning, I beseech you by the mercies of God. You are a subject, rather I should say an object of God’s loving mercy. You, like a sinner, like all sinners, have been received into God’s home, and it was a merciful thing that was done for you. You didn’t deserve it, nor do I. And yet we were welcomed into God’s kingdom.” So this is the basis on which we do not think of ourselves more highly than we ought to think. We are objects of mercy. The fact that God is giving us a job, a call to do something for him, is a wonderful act of kindness. You know, as many of you have heard, I have completed a book which will be published in a short time. I’ll let you know when it is. And I’m publishing this. I have written this book based upon the truth that God has come to the world in Jesus Christ to account all humanity for. released from judgment, and all humanity taken up in Christ and counted as whole in him, complete in him. And so the purpose of my book is to give people hope. But let me be completely honest with you. This book really is a blessing to me. In other words, the writing of it has continually challenged my mind. It has lifted my spirit. Sometimes it’s stressed me out like crazy because I can’t always pull the paragraphs or the themes together. But as I do, and as it all formulates in my mind and then on paper, I realize, Father, thank you so much for giving me the privilege of serving you by writing this book. because I’m an old man, and yet I am being uplifted in service to God by writing this book. I’m not sitting around waiting to die. I’m writing and speaking on this radio broadcast, for instance, to bless you, but in doing so I’m blessed by myself. Well, let’s switch to that broadcasting idea. You see, when I open the word and explain it to you, the voice that I hear is mine and it goes back into my ears and into my brain. So I am talking to you about the Word of God and spreading it, but in the process I’m being blessed by hearing it myself. So when we are given a service by God, when we present ourselves to Him and He gives us a job to do, It’s actually a blessing for us, not only a blessing for others. So you need to see it that way. You are the object of God’s mercy, and his mercy has been to give you something to do to bless other people. You know, Alcoholics Anonymous, decades ago in the 1930s, when they first started up in Akron, Ohio, 1935 actually, one of the leaders, one of the members of the group, called the doctor whom he knew in regard to people who had an alcoholic struggle, and he said, Doc, give me someone to proclaim alcohol. I’ve forgotten the terminology he used, but the truth to about alcoholic freedom because I’m in danger of falling myself and falling off the wagon and I need somebody to tell the truth to about this thing. So, you see, they understood right from the beginning that serving others is a salvation for ourselves. A small s, of course, we don’t get saved by serving others. We get saved by the love and mercy of God through the sacrifice of Christ. But very often, the service that we give to others is actually a blessing and a service to ourselves. So, we present ourselves to God. either at church and say to the pastor, you know, is there something I can do? Even if it’s being a janitor in the church, is there something I can do to be of service to the community, to be of service to the church? So he may give you a position in the church or suggest one, or he may suggest a service to the community. Well, we happen to be handing out clothes and food on Sunday or Saturday or whenever. Would you like to be part of that group that knocks on doors and goes to serve the community that way? And you might, if you’re still proud, you might say, hmm, I don’t want that kind of job. Or if you are an object of God’s mercy and know it and realize it, you’ll be glad to do it, you see. But what about if you’re not a member of the church? And what about if you are uncomfortable and haven’t found a community of believers yet? Well, you believe, as I said earlier, in faith. You know in your mind that you’re part of the body of Christ, and you go forward doing your individual thing for Christ, and I can almost guarantee it that you being an invisible member or a member of the invisible body of Christ will be led to another Christian for fellowship. God will do that for you. Rather than keep you in isolation, he will show you someone that you can partner up with who will, you two of you, will work together for your community. Now then, you see, it says, having then gifts. You say, oh, I don’t have any gifts. That’s not true. Don’t take that attitude, because that is not a position of faith. The fact that you have been drawn to God through his mercies means that you have gifts, because God has given his children gifts. They may not become evident right now, but as you present yourselves—I mean, let’s say you do present yourself to the pastor and you say, “‘Pastor, frankly, I don’t know what I can offer to the church. I don’t know what gifts I have.'” but I’m willing to find out, so you can place me anywhere you want, and maybe I can discover what talent or gift I have for the church. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them. Now notice that. The body has different members. The foot is not the hand. The eye is not the ear. The mouth is not the nose, and so on. Each part of the body has a different function. And this is where we need to keep our jealousy or our envy in check. That’s part of our flesh. And what do we do with that? We don’t try to kill it. We thank God that it is counted as dead, because Jesus Christ took the judgment for our flesh upon the cross. He took the judgment for our fallen human nature, which is what we are. And we say, Father, I thank you that that flash of jealousy or envy has no power over me to condemn me or to separate me from you or to affect my love for the brother who has more than I do. I praise you. And as you lift your heart up in praise, you realize there’s no power in that thing that you were envious over. So you’re going forward so that your gift will be revealed. or your talent. It may be a praying talent. Well, Paul gives us examples. He says, let us use them. If prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith. Or ministry, let us use it in our ministries. To he who teaches, in teaching. He who exhorts, in exhortation. He who gives with liberality. He who leads with diligence. He who shows mercy with cheerfulness. So you see how it is. Gradually as we go forward and present ourselves, God reveals the gifts that God has given to us in Christ. Well, thank you for joining me today. And I would like to make an appeal. You’re probably used to hearing this appeal now. But the funds are in struggle to keep the radio broadcast going and the support we give to overseas and overseas family. And so if you would like to become a partner. Thank you. Or you can send your donation to FaithQuest, P.O. Box 366, Littleton, Colorado, 80160. And mark your donation, partner. Thank you. See you next time. Cheerio and God bless.
