Gifted to Give

Glory to God!

In preparation for sharing the Lord's Supper together, we were reminded on Sunday of the Gospel and the significance of Christ's death and resurrection.

The Gospel

• The essence of the Gospel or the Good News is that God has provided a way for man to be reconciled to Him. John 3:14-16; 2 Cor. 5:17-21
• It is through faith in Jesus Christ that we are reconciled and made right with God. 2 Cor. 5:18
• This faith is not just believing that Christ died and rose again or that He existed. It is also depending or relying on Christ's righteousness to be in right standing with the Father. Rom. 5:1-11; 1 Cor. 1:30
• Dependence on Christ's righteousness rather than on one's own righteousness keeps one in right standing with the Father. Gal. 2:19-21

True Salvation

Through dependence on Jesus, the believer's life is radically changed.

• No longer is he subject to the kingdom of darkness but he is now a citizen of God's Kingdom. Col. 1:13,14; Phil. 3:20
• No longer is he separated from God but he is now joined to God and Christ's Body. 1 John 4:15; 1 Cor. 12:13
• No longer is he an enemy of God but he is now a friend of God. Rom. 5:10
• No longer is he an object of God's wrath but he is now an object of God's blessing. Eph. 2:3-9
• No longer is he powerless but he is now empowered to live a godly life. 2 Peter 1:3
• No longer is he an orphan but he is now a son of God. Gal. 4:4-7; 1 John 3:1
• No longer does he fall short of God's glory but he now has access to the Father. Rom. 3:23; Eph. 2:18
• No longer is he without hope but he now has the hope of glory. Heb. 6:19; Col. 1:27

The Lord then spoke to us about living a life set apart to serve God, His people and His purposes as our spiritual act of worship. This is what He showed us:

The attitude of the mind

• Because of God's mercy and the believer's new life in Christ, God wants the believer to change the attitude of his mind and to live as a new creation in Christ and not in the old selfish attitude. Eph. 4:22-24; Rom. 12:1,2
• The transformation/transfiguration of the believer takes place as the believer changes the attitude of his mind by faith in Christ. Rom. 12:2; Gal. 2:20
• The change of attitude because of God's mercy means the believer moves from:

• Independence (a life seperated from God and others) to dependence (a life joined to God and His people).
• Self-centredness (living subjectively) to God-centredness (living God-consciously).
• Self-serving (living to please oneself) to servant-hearted (living to serve God, His people and His purposes).
• Arrogance (thinking too highly of oneself) to modesty (having a sober judgment of oneself).
• Pride (being wise in one's own eyes) to humility (depending on God's wisdom and ways).

Graced to serve

• God graces each person with a gift or gifts to serve God, His people and His purposes. Rom. 12:3-8
• God's gifts are either permanent or temporary. 1 Cor. 12 -14; Eph. 4:11; Rom. 12:3-8
• In view of God's mercy, God wants every believer to use his gifts to serve God, His people and His purposes in love. Rom. 12:1-16; 1 John 4:19
• This life of servanthood is the life that is set apart (holy) for God's glory and is the life of true worship. Rom. 12:1
• The gifts of God are given for believers to demonstrate the love of God and the Kingdom of God in everyday life and not only when they meet together. John 4:1-42; Luke 10:1-10; Acts 3:1-10; 6
• Believers are called to serve in the Church and serve as the Church in the world. Matthew 5:13-16

Interview

As part of looking at how God has gifted us to serve Him, His people and His purposes we interviewed the elders of Kingdom Life to hear how God has gifted them, how they are using their gifts in everyday life and in the Church, what their passion is for God's people and what they desire KLF to become. You can listen to the interview here...

"Therefore, I urge you brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God - this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind." Romans 12:1,2