Ray invited Pastor Joe and his wife Andrea who are visiting from Ghana, West Africa, to our weekly bible study. Our church has had the honor to go on several missions trips and help them out at Mephibosheth Training Center. I invite you to visit their website and become more familiar with what God is doing through them - http://mephiboshethinghana.org.
Pastor Joe's message was such an incredible blessing that I just had to piece my notes together and share it with you. It was so encouraging to know that at the end of the night everyone was also so blessed by his words - and how it spoke to each of of our hearts.
He shared Psalm 139:13-16:
"For you formed my inward parts;
you knitted me together in my mother's womb.
I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Wonderful are your works;
my soul knows it very well.
My frame was not hidden from you,
when I was being made in secret,
intricately woven in the depths of the earth.
Your eyes saw my unformed substance;
in your book were written, every one of them,
the days that were formed for me,
when as yet there was none of them."
(I love Psalm 139 - especially this section of this Psalm - truly beautiful)
David says that he is uniquely formed and "my soul knows it". We have to come to this realization - that we are uniquely formed, we are not a photocopy, God made us special, unique... we also need to realize that our days were formed for us. God already has everything written out for us. Nothing we can do is a surprise to our Lord.
He calls each one of us for a purpose. Pastor Joe stressed that we need to take time to understand who we are in Christ. Is understanding this, we will be able to discover our purpose.
"What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned to each. I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth." 1 Corinthians 3:5-7
Each of us is called to do something - but ultimately it is God who gives the growth - who brings all the pieces together. You see your role may not be to bring it all to completion - maybe you were just called to lay the foundation or paint, but that does not make what you have done any less important or meaningless. It is important that we understand that we all have a role to play in God's kingdom - in order to have and to bring unity. Know yourself well!!
Its also important to know that its okay to do small tasks - appreciate the little and do it well! If you struggle with the little - you will struggle ahead... because you will always be comparing yourself to others and what they are doing.
But you may say you have nothing to do, but how can a believer be bored? There is always something for a believer to do... read the bible, pray, help around the church... but we have to be aware of why we do what we do or why we want to do certain things - is it to bring God the glory or is it because we want to be noticed, acknowledged, to have the spotlight on us?
How can we understand ourselves? Pastor Joe shared several points:
But you may say you have nothing to do, but how can a believer be bored? There is always something for a believer to do... read the bible, pray, help around the church... but we have to be aware of why we do what we do or why we want to do certain things - is it to bring God the glory or is it because we want to be noticed, acknowledged, to have the spotlight on us?
How can we understand ourselves? Pastor Joe shared several points:
- Through the spiritual gifts the Lord has given us. Listen to the Lord and be obedient. Do not be ashamed when the Spirit is using you. When the Lord gives you a task - do it as the Lord will have you and do it and not to impress anyone but to give God the glory. If we are ashamed of doing the work of the Lord then who are we doing it for? Remember whatever you do he will give you the strength and the courage to do it and finish it to completion.
- God has given everyone a natural talent and or ability and he expects us to use it for His glory and to use it joyfully. We can use that gift to support ourselves but also to bless others. You can be a beacon of light wherever God has placed you.
- Our experiences - God has a purpose for what happens to us good and bad. There is a reason for what we go through. Your experience is part of your makeup, its a part of God's puzzle. Your problems are lessons we can use to learn from. It becomes part of your life story for you to share and help others. Anything you go through is for a reason. Don't call yourself cursed - know that God will use it for a reason.
"Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me." Philippians 4:11-13
He says "I have learned"... you can have the confidence to be able to say that - I can go through anything because I will be able to learn from it... God wants to teach us something in all circumstances so we can stand like Paul - and be able to say "I can do all things through Him who strengthens me" Philippians 4:13
He says "I have learned"... you can have the confidence to be able to say that - I can go through anything because I will be able to learn from it... God wants to teach us something in all circumstances so we can stand like Paul - and be able to say "I can do all things through Him who strengthens me" Philippians 4:13
"And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified." Romans 8:28-30
Our calling is to glorification and this process does not happen overnight or at once. God is putting the pieces of the puzzle together and His name will shine. Know your path.
"I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ." Philippians 1:3-6
He who started a good work in you will bring it to completion!!! If he did it in the past, He will not fail us, He is the Alpha and the Omega - the Beginning and the End.
Our calling is to glorification and this process does not happen overnight or at once. God is putting the pieces of the puzzle together and His name will shine. Know your path.
"I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ." Philippians 1:3-6
He who started a good work in you will bring it to completion!!! If he did it in the past, He will not fail us, He is the Alpha and the Omega - the Beginning and the End.
