“Unique Calling”
Psalm 139:13; 1 Corinthians 12:12-31
The Mystery Revealed Series; February 8, 2009
Introduction: All too often in life we think that it is about us. Life is about me. I’m most concerned about me; my welfare, my needs. But Psalm 139:13 reminds us of a different reality, as it says: “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb.” In this verse, we are reminded that it is God who created us. But listen to the language; “you knit me together.” These words show the careful, personal work that God was involved in when He created us. When you are knitting, you need to take your time to get each stitch right; you need to follow the pattern. This is what God is doing for us; getting each stitch right; following the pattern He designed for each of us.
But the news gets even better than this. God didn’t just create us in our mother’s womb, God also has given us a purpose, a calling for our lives. This morning we are going to talk about how we have been gifted in a particular way, and we are stewards of these gifts. As we use our gifts, we will fulfill our unique calling.
I. Unique Creatures- (Psalm 139:14; Genesis 1:1-27, 2:19)
a. Creation- Most people are familiar with the creation story. But let
me give you some highlights to set the stage for the sermon this morning: First, God was “in the beginning.” God was always there. This reminds us of God’s place verses our place in the world. Second, every action came from the initiative of God. Creation was God’s thought and God’s action. In this first chapter of Genesis, we read the phrases “God said” 10 times, and “God saw” 7 times. These actions are important in understanding the importance of what God created.
As the world was being created, we read that it happened by God speaking it into being; “God said, ‘Let there be light…’ and God said, ‘Let the water be filled with living creatures…’” It was by intention that each part of creation was spoken into being. It didn’t just happen, God intentionally and purposely created all things. And even more, after God creates each part of creation, He stops and looks at it to determine if it was what He wanted. And after each day “God saw that it was good.” God rejoices in His creation as good and purposeful.
So we see darkness and chaos become organized and illuminated. Scientists all around us argue about how all things came to be, about the nature and development of the universe, but if you look at the intricacy of the world, and how everything works so well together, I believe that there is no other explanation than God. For things to by luck or happenstance come to work together seems so absurd to me. For things to have evolved over time, but now no longer evolving seems ludicrous. God created all things by His simple and majestic words!
And we see that God didn’t just make everything come to exist all at once; it didn’t happen in a moment of time. Genesis 1 tells us that certain parts of creation came into being on certain “days.” How long each day lasted cannot be known, especially since the sun and the moon (which govern our time now) didn’t exist until the fourth day. Time with God is not the same as time with us. We try to measure the length that our world has existed, but we do it with imprecise tools; tools that cannot measure the works of God. So again we see God taking His time to make everything wonderful and just right.
b. Diversity- But everything is not the same, and does not have the
same function. As we go through Genesis, chapter 1, we see God creating the animals, and the fish, and the birds. After 5 days there is more to be done. The last day God creates in a way different than He had created before. We read in Genesis 1:26-27, “Then God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.’ 27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.”
Here we see that there is diversity. God creates humans; male AND female. God gives them dominion over all creation; gives them authority over all creation; gives them a calling over all creation; makes man and woman in His image, yet different in make-up and qualities. Similar, yet unique.
When we get to chapter 2, we see that Adam is given a job, the job of naming the animals; Genesis 2:19, “Now the LORD God had formed out of the ground all the beasts of the field and all the birds of the air. He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name.” Why did God do this? Because each animal had a purpose and was special and unique. To be given a name helps to make us unique and special.
Could you imagine having to name everything? What if these items didn’t have a name, and you had to name them? Show some items and talk about their names (i.e. scissors, tape, stapler, etc…). But why are they named that? And yet, once we name them, we can refer to them in their special function. Instead of saying, “Could you get me that thing that you push together and shoots out a metal something to hold the papers together?” We can instead say: “Would you please get me the stapler?”
We have been given general names (man and woman) and specific names (Chris, Betty, Verl, Teri…). We are unique in this way. But even more we are unique in that we are made in the image of God and given the capability and call to care for this world and all that is in it. That is the first part of our calling!
II. Unique in the Body- (Genesis 2:3; Exodus 20:8-10;
Isaiah 58:13-14; 1 Corinthians 12:12-31)
a. Relationship with God- Along with our calling to be over all
creation, we have a calling of relating to God and each other. Let’s first look at our calling to be in relationship with God.
From the beginning of time we see that God has designed us to be in a special relationship with Him, unique from any other creature. While we have been given charge over the world, to work and care for it, we have also been given a day of rest. We see this first in God’s example, as He rested on the seventh day. But we also are told in Genesis 2:3, “God blessed the seventh day and made it holy.” What does it mean that God “blessed” the seventh day? One day is the same as the next in terms of existence, but God has specifically set the seventh day apart for a special purpose.
What is the special purpose? It is for the purpose of resting. As God rested on the seventh day as an example to us, so God wants us to use this holy day to rest. Rest is important for our well-being. When we work too much, we risk damaging our health (mentally, physically, and emotionally. God knows this about our make-up, and so has given us this day to rest, renew, and recreate
But this day was also designed for an even greater purpose, and that is to be in relationship with God. God knew that when we get busy, we fail to take the time we need and give the attention to our relationship with God. God also realized that just making it a suggestion wouldn’t cut it with us, so He made it a command. We read this in the ten commandments, Exodus 20:8-10, “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God.”
This day is to be a special day, given to the Lord. The other six days we can seek to accomplish all that we feel called to do, but on the seventh day, we are to give it over to God. The prophet Isaiah helps to give us perspective in Isaiah 58:13-14, “If you keep your feet from breaking the Sabbath and from doing as you please on my holy day, if you call the Sabbath a delight and the LORD's holy day honorable, and if you honor it by not going your own way and not doing as you please or speaking idle words, 14 then you will find your joy in the LORD…”/ It is difficult to build our relationship with God if we do not take time out each week to specifically do this. God desired this so much, that He sent Jesus to be sacrificed so that our broken relationship (due to our sin) could be restored.
b. Relationship with each other- Along with being called into a
unique relationship with God, we are also called into a unique relationship with each other. We are different than any other part of creation. Nothing else in all creation has the relationship with God that we can have, and nothing else in all creation can have the kind of relationships we can have with one another. Because of Christ’s death and resurrection, we have been granted the ability to become sons and daughters of Christ. We are “the body of Christ.”
In our Bible passage this morning, we see how the apostle Paul tells us that as part of the body of Christ each person has a unique purpose; a specific calling. Up to this point we have talked about a general calling; a calling to help take care of the world, and a calling to be in relationship with God and others. But in our call to relate to each other, we have been given gifts from the Holy Spirit that are meant to bless and complement others. This includes individuals as well as the church.
Each person is necessary and unique. Our “calling” in life is far more than the job or the tasks God entrusts to our care. Your calling and mine is to develop the unique gifts and talents that God gives to us, FOR GOD’S GLORY!
It is vital for us to understand that “the Church” is not the buildings around us. While our facilities offer us benefits to do ministry and to be more visible, our buildings do not make us the body of Christ. If we don’t work together and do God’s work, these buildings will be meaningless, and will fade away, because the church will come to be no more.
Illustration- George Gallup, of the Gallup poll fame, did a survey not too long ago to see if there were any differences between Christians and non-Christians. He found that in a variety of categories—people who called in sick when they weren’t, people who lied on their resumes, people who cheated on their tax returns—that there was “little differences in the ethical views and behavior of the churched and unchurched.” To really be the body of Christ and be in relationship with others we need to understand our personal identity as followers of Christ; as the body of Christ.
This then leads us to our unique and indispensable status.
III. Unique and Indispensable- (1 Corinthians 12:21-26)
a. Unique- EX. If you have e-mail, you are probably familiar with
some of the fun things that get passed around: “getting to know you,” “do you know me?” and other fun questionnaires that you are supposed to answer, send to your friends, and then get their answers back. This is fun because it helps you to get to know people better. And it also reminds us of our unique personalities.
Another way to discover aspects about yourself and others is to take a “gifts” test. This test helps you to get an idea of the gifts that the Holy Spirit has given to you. If you have never taken a “gifts” test, I would love to give you one to take; just talk to me after the sermon. The “gifts” test can help to guide you to your unique gifts so that you can be more aware of how God might want to use you.
We are unique in that we don’t all have the same gifts. We are unique in that even when we have the same gift as another person, God calls us to use that gift in our own unique way. Just because you have the gift of teaching doesn’t mean you have to teach a Bible Study class. You may be called to teach kids, or a small group, or teach someone in a one-on-one setting. Just as we are unique, so how God calls us to use our gifts is unique as well.
The other important factor here is that there are many “ordinary” gifts. While there are gifts like teaching, prophesying, and speaking in tongues, there are also gifts like administration, organization, and helps. When you think about the gifts, you need to understand that as God knit you in your mother’s womb with care, so the Holy Spirit gives you special gifts with care, just for you!
b. Indispensable- Whether someone owns a business, is a student, is
retired, or is unemployed, God makes it clear that you are not only unique—you are an indispensable part of the body of Christ and given a special calling.
Story: There is a story of a teenager named Patrick, who lived in Britain. In 405 A.D. he was kidnapped by pirates, taken to Ireland, and sold as a slave to a farmer. The farmer put him in charge of his sheep. Patrick had grown up in a Christian home, his father had been a Deacon, and his grandfather an elder in the church. But his faith had never been real to him. One day Patrick, while tending the sheep in the barren hills of Ireland, said he encountered “the Great Shepherd,” Jesus, and that Jesus gave him the call to follow Him. Eventually Patrick escaped his slavery and returned to Britain where he became a priest. One day he felt the Lord calling him to return to Ireland, which was a very pagan, non-religious land. He faithfully obeyed, and he later became known as Patrick of Ireland, one of the greatest evangelists ever! By the time he died in 461 A.D. he had started many churches, witnessed to kings, and helped to turn Ireland from a pagan to a Christian country!
Could you imagine being Patrick? Being kidnapped by pirates? At this time he was not strong in his faith. But he realized that he had a unique calling, and that his service to God was indispensable. You and me are indispensable as well. We can’t let ourselves feel insignificant. We can be an indispensable influence for good.
The apostle Paul reminds us (by using the physical body as an example) that we are indispensable, as he says in 1 Corinthians 12:21-26, “The eye cannot say to the hand, "I don't need you!" And the head cannot say to the feet, "I don't need you!" 22On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable… But God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it, 25so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. 26If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.”
If we each understand that we are unique in our giftedness and our calling, just as the eye is unique from the ear, then we can hopefully begin to believe that each one of us plays an important role, and that we are inter-connected.
Conclusion: As believers in Christ we are all filled with the same Spirit of God. And this Spirit gives to you and to me specific gifts, designed for you, and designed for me! With these gifts, we are given a calling to bless each other and the world God created. I’m not sure where you are today; you may be feeling great about yourself, or you may be down on yourself. You may feel like you have a purpose, or you may not be feeling that. But regardless of what you feel, God’s truth is that we are unique creations of God, given a charge by God to be in relationship with God and others. I pray that you would discover your gifts, and by knowing your gifts, you can better know what God calls you to do this day and every day. Amen.
Psalm 139:13; 1 Corinthians 12:12-31
The Mystery Revealed Series; February 8, 2009
Introduction: All too often in life we think that it is about us. Life is about me. I’m most concerned about me; my welfare, my needs. But Psalm 139:13 reminds us of a different reality, as it says: “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb.” In this verse, we are reminded that it is God who created us. But listen to the language; “you knit me together.” These words show the careful, personal work that God was involved in when He created us. When you are knitting, you need to take your time to get each stitch right; you need to follow the pattern. This is what God is doing for us; getting each stitch right; following the pattern He designed for each of us.
But the news gets even better than this. God didn’t just create us in our mother’s womb, God also has given us a purpose, a calling for our lives. This morning we are going to talk about how we have been gifted in a particular way, and we are stewards of these gifts. As we use our gifts, we will fulfill our unique calling.
I. Unique Creatures- (Psalm 139:14; Genesis 1:1-27, 2:19)
a. Creation- Most people are familiar with the creation story. But let
me give you some highlights to set the stage for the sermon this morning: First, God was “in the beginning.” God was always there. This reminds us of God’s place verses our place in the world. Second, every action came from the initiative of God. Creation was God’s thought and God’s action. In this first chapter of Genesis, we read the phrases “God said” 10 times, and “God saw” 7 times. These actions are important in understanding the importance of what God created.
As the world was being created, we read that it happened by God speaking it into being; “God said, ‘Let there be light…’ and God said, ‘Let the water be filled with living creatures…’” It was by intention that each part of creation was spoken into being. It didn’t just happen, God intentionally and purposely created all things. And even more, after God creates each part of creation, He stops and looks at it to determine if it was what He wanted. And after each day “God saw that it was good.” God rejoices in His creation as good and purposeful.
So we see darkness and chaos become organized and illuminated. Scientists all around us argue about how all things came to be, about the nature and development of the universe, but if you look at the intricacy of the world, and how everything works so well together, I believe that there is no other explanation than God. For things to by luck or happenstance come to work together seems so absurd to me. For things to have evolved over time, but now no longer evolving seems ludicrous. God created all things by His simple and majestic words!
And we see that God didn’t just make everything come to exist all at once; it didn’t happen in a moment of time. Genesis 1 tells us that certain parts of creation came into being on certain “days.” How long each day lasted cannot be known, especially since the sun and the moon (which govern our time now) didn’t exist until the fourth day. Time with God is not the same as time with us. We try to measure the length that our world has existed, but we do it with imprecise tools; tools that cannot measure the works of God. So again we see God taking His time to make everything wonderful and just right.
b. Diversity- But everything is not the same, and does not have the
same function. As we go through Genesis, chapter 1, we see God creating the animals, and the fish, and the birds. After 5 days there is more to be done. The last day God creates in a way different than He had created before. We read in Genesis 1:26-27, “Then God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.’ 27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.”
Here we see that there is diversity. God creates humans; male AND female. God gives them dominion over all creation; gives them authority over all creation; gives them a calling over all creation; makes man and woman in His image, yet different in make-up and qualities. Similar, yet unique.
When we get to chapter 2, we see that Adam is given a job, the job of naming the animals; Genesis 2:19, “Now the LORD God had formed out of the ground all the beasts of the field and all the birds of the air. He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name.” Why did God do this? Because each animal had a purpose and was special and unique. To be given a name helps to make us unique and special.
Could you imagine having to name everything? What if these items didn’t have a name, and you had to name them? Show some items and talk about their names (i.e. scissors, tape, stapler, etc…). But why are they named that? And yet, once we name them, we can refer to them in their special function. Instead of saying, “Could you get me that thing that you push together and shoots out a metal something to hold the papers together?” We can instead say: “Would you please get me the stapler?”
We have been given general names (man and woman) and specific names (Chris, Betty, Verl, Teri…). We are unique in this way. But even more we are unique in that we are made in the image of God and given the capability and call to care for this world and all that is in it. That is the first part of our calling!
II. Unique in the Body- (Genesis 2:3; Exodus 20:8-10;
Isaiah 58:13-14; 1 Corinthians 12:12-31)
a. Relationship with God- Along with our calling to be over all
creation, we have a calling of relating to God and each other. Let’s first look at our calling to be in relationship with God.
From the beginning of time we see that God has designed us to be in a special relationship with Him, unique from any other creature. While we have been given charge over the world, to work and care for it, we have also been given a day of rest. We see this first in God’s example, as He rested on the seventh day. But we also are told in Genesis 2:3, “God blessed the seventh day and made it holy.” What does it mean that God “blessed” the seventh day? One day is the same as the next in terms of existence, but God has specifically set the seventh day apart for a special purpose.
What is the special purpose? It is for the purpose of resting. As God rested on the seventh day as an example to us, so God wants us to use this holy day to rest. Rest is important for our well-being. When we work too much, we risk damaging our health (mentally, physically, and emotionally. God knows this about our make-up, and so has given us this day to rest, renew, and recreate
But this day was also designed for an even greater purpose, and that is to be in relationship with God. God knew that when we get busy, we fail to take the time we need and give the attention to our relationship with God. God also realized that just making it a suggestion wouldn’t cut it with us, so He made it a command. We read this in the ten commandments, Exodus 20:8-10, “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God.”
This day is to be a special day, given to the Lord. The other six days we can seek to accomplish all that we feel called to do, but on the seventh day, we are to give it over to God. The prophet Isaiah helps to give us perspective in Isaiah 58:13-14, “If you keep your feet from breaking the Sabbath and from doing as you please on my holy day, if you call the Sabbath a delight and the LORD's holy day honorable, and if you honor it by not going your own way and not doing as you please or speaking idle words, 14 then you will find your joy in the LORD…”/ It is difficult to build our relationship with God if we do not take time out each week to specifically do this. God desired this so much, that He sent Jesus to be sacrificed so that our broken relationship (due to our sin) could be restored.
b. Relationship with each other- Along with being called into a
unique relationship with God, we are also called into a unique relationship with each other. We are different than any other part of creation. Nothing else in all creation has the relationship with God that we can have, and nothing else in all creation can have the kind of relationships we can have with one another. Because of Christ’s death and resurrection, we have been granted the ability to become sons and daughters of Christ. We are “the body of Christ.”
In our Bible passage this morning, we see how the apostle Paul tells us that as part of the body of Christ each person has a unique purpose; a specific calling. Up to this point we have talked about a general calling; a calling to help take care of the world, and a calling to be in relationship with God and others. But in our call to relate to each other, we have been given gifts from the Holy Spirit that are meant to bless and complement others. This includes individuals as well as the church.
Each person is necessary and unique. Our “calling” in life is far more than the job or the tasks God entrusts to our care. Your calling and mine is to develop the unique gifts and talents that God gives to us, FOR GOD’S GLORY!
It is vital for us to understand that “the Church” is not the buildings around us. While our facilities offer us benefits to do ministry and to be more visible, our buildings do not make us the body of Christ. If we don’t work together and do God’s work, these buildings will be meaningless, and will fade away, because the church will come to be no more.
Illustration- George Gallup, of the Gallup poll fame, did a survey not too long ago to see if there were any differences between Christians and non-Christians. He found that in a variety of categories—people who called in sick when they weren’t, people who lied on their resumes, people who cheated on their tax returns—that there was “little differences in the ethical views and behavior of the churched and unchurched.” To really be the body of Christ and be in relationship with others we need to understand our personal identity as followers of Christ; as the body of Christ.
This then leads us to our unique and indispensable status.
III. Unique and Indispensable- (1 Corinthians 12:21-26)
a. Unique- EX. If you have e-mail, you are probably familiar with
some of the fun things that get passed around: “getting to know you,” “do you know me?” and other fun questionnaires that you are supposed to answer, send to your friends, and then get their answers back. This is fun because it helps you to get to know people better. And it also reminds us of our unique personalities.
Another way to discover aspects about yourself and others is to take a “gifts” test. This test helps you to get an idea of the gifts that the Holy Spirit has given to you. If you have never taken a “gifts” test, I would love to give you one to take; just talk to me after the sermon. The “gifts” test can help to guide you to your unique gifts so that you can be more aware of how God might want to use you.
We are unique in that we don’t all have the same gifts. We are unique in that even when we have the same gift as another person, God calls us to use that gift in our own unique way. Just because you have the gift of teaching doesn’t mean you have to teach a Bible Study class. You may be called to teach kids, or a small group, or teach someone in a one-on-one setting. Just as we are unique, so how God calls us to use our gifts is unique as well.
The other important factor here is that there are many “ordinary” gifts. While there are gifts like teaching, prophesying, and speaking in tongues, there are also gifts like administration, organization, and helps. When you think about the gifts, you need to understand that as God knit you in your mother’s womb with care, so the Holy Spirit gives you special gifts with care, just for you!
b. Indispensable- Whether someone owns a business, is a student, is
retired, or is unemployed, God makes it clear that you are not only unique—you are an indispensable part of the body of Christ and given a special calling.
Story: There is a story of a teenager named Patrick, who lived in Britain. In 405 A.D. he was kidnapped by pirates, taken to Ireland, and sold as a slave to a farmer. The farmer put him in charge of his sheep. Patrick had grown up in a Christian home, his father had been a Deacon, and his grandfather an elder in the church. But his faith had never been real to him. One day Patrick, while tending the sheep in the barren hills of Ireland, said he encountered “the Great Shepherd,” Jesus, and that Jesus gave him the call to follow Him. Eventually Patrick escaped his slavery and returned to Britain where he became a priest. One day he felt the Lord calling him to return to Ireland, which was a very pagan, non-religious land. He faithfully obeyed, and he later became known as Patrick of Ireland, one of the greatest evangelists ever! By the time he died in 461 A.D. he had started many churches, witnessed to kings, and helped to turn Ireland from a pagan to a Christian country!
Could you imagine being Patrick? Being kidnapped by pirates? At this time he was not strong in his faith. But he realized that he had a unique calling, and that his service to God was indispensable. You and me are indispensable as well. We can’t let ourselves feel insignificant. We can be an indispensable influence for good.
The apostle Paul reminds us (by using the physical body as an example) that we are indispensable, as he says in 1 Corinthians 12:21-26, “The eye cannot say to the hand, "I don't need you!" And the head cannot say to the feet, "I don't need you!" 22On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable… But God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it, 25so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. 26If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.”
If we each understand that we are unique in our giftedness and our calling, just as the eye is unique from the ear, then we can hopefully begin to believe that each one of us plays an important role, and that we are inter-connected.
Conclusion: As believers in Christ we are all filled with the same Spirit of God. And this Spirit gives to you and to me specific gifts, designed for you, and designed for me! With these gifts, we are given a calling to bless each other and the world God created. I’m not sure where you are today; you may be feeling great about yourself, or you may be down on yourself. You may feel like you have a purpose, or you may not be feeling that. But regardless of what you feel, God’s truth is that we are unique creations of God, given a charge by God to be in relationship with God and others. I pray that you would discover your gifts, and by knowing your gifts, you can better know what God calls you to do this day and every day. Amen.
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