Richard Burgess.
You may have heard the phrase, “You are unique, just like everyone else.” There’s a bit of a play on words there. In many ways we are all unique, and yet in another way we are all the same, humans, made in the image of God, possessing great potential; yet we are also fallen, sinful, and in need of a saviour.
In reality there is only One truly unique person, Jesus Christ, the second person of the Trinity, who is both God and man… When he became human he did not cease to be God, and when he ascended to heaven he did not relinquish his humanity – a truly unique person, and a truly unique saviour… Do you know him?
“4 Now there are different gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 There are different ministries, but the same Lord. 6 And there are different activities, but the same God works all of them in each person. 7 A manifestation of the Spirit is given to each person for the common good: 8 to one is given a message of wisdom through the Spirit, to another, a message of knowledge by the same Spirit, 9 to another, faith by the same Spirit, to another, gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10 to another, the performing of miracles, to another, prophecy, to another, distinguishing between spirits, to another, different kinds of tongues, to another, interpretation of tongues. 11 One and the same Spirit is active in all these, distributing to each person as he wills.” 1 Cor 12:4-11 CSB
1. You are unique.
The Psalmist says in Psalm 139:13-16 “For it was you who created my inward parts; you knit me together in my mother’s womb; I will praise you for I have been remarkably and wonderously made… My bones were not hidden from you… Your eyes saw me… And all my days were written in your book and planned before a single one of them began… How precious…” You have a unique identity, God made you uniquely you, no one else can be you, only you can be you. Don’t wish you were or try to be someone else.
2. You are not on your own
“We who are many, are one body in Christ and individually members of one another.” Rom 12:5.
When you come to know him, he brings you into his family… He gives you brothers and sisters to love and care for you and for you to love and care for them.
3. Each of us is uniquely shaped and gifted for God’s purposes – part of what makes us unique.
- History – where we grew up,ourfamily, social and cultural background…
- Personality – psychologists have attempted to categorise…each though is unique… Introvert/extrovert, spontaneous/organised, external processors/internal processors, routine/variety, thinkers/feelers – cannot copy someone else’s ministry…
- Creation Gifts – the gifts we were born with.
- Learned Abilities – abilities acquired through learning… Sometimes out of necessity… It’s surprising what you can do when you put your mind to it.
- Experiences – events and people that have shaped us – good and bad… Through which we gain wisdom for living… Nothing is wasted in God…or need be – the choice is ours. Paul spoke about some hard experiences and how God used them to shape him and bless others.
- Passions/heart – things that we feel strongly about, move us…
- Gifts of the Spirit. Supernaturally given. Some believe God gives certain gifts to particular people, others, that we have access to all the gifts dependent on the circumstances – much like a work man’s tool bag.
Illustration: Football club… Strikers, midfield, defence, goalkeeper, coach, manager, role coaches, health/fitness coaches, ground staff etc. Etc. A striker doesn’t make a football team. No ministry is insignificant.
We are all a 10 in some area, but we are also capable of more than we usually think… Think of things that happened that have stretched you and you thought “I could never do that.”
If you see someone in trouble, you don’t say I don’t have the gift of serving, you do what you can to help out, even if it means alerting someone else… Don’t sit around and wonder what your gift is, look around and see what needs to be done, and ask yourself, “what can I do to help?”
4. Each of us have been gifted and shaped by God for the good of the whole.
Eph 2:10 “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared ahead of time for us to do.” Gal 6:10 “Do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the household of faith.”
God has called each one of us uniquely to make a difference.
1 Cor 12 uses the image of a body with many parts… Each connected and essential to the whole… No man is an island – we need one another.
“There are different gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different ministries, but the same Lord. And there are different activities, but the same God works all of them in each person. A manifestation of the Spirit is given to each person for the common good…” 1 Cor 12:4-7.
“Just as each one has received a gift, use it to serve others, as good stewards of the varied grace of God.” 1 Peter 4:10.
A Problem: tendency to focus on ‘my ministry.’ So we ask “What is my ministry?” When in reality, it’s his ministry, and the question is what does Jesus want to do? And how can we, or how does he, want us to partner with him in it?
Each one of us is called to partner with Jesus in what he wants to do, to be co-workers with him… Or as John Wimber used to say, “We all get to play.”
5. Three challenges and responses:
- Comparison – frequently we compare ourselves to others. Focus on others strengths, abilities and achievements not our own. Give thanks to God for others and do as Paul did, recognise the “Grace given to me, I tell you…” Rom 12:3
- Self-censoring… Frequently we write ourselves down… Do you? Self talk, I couldn’t do that… Each of us needs to live and serve “According to the grace given to me…” Rom 12:6
- Fear… Paul’s response: live and serve “In proportion to your faith…” Rom 12:3,6. FAITH… must come into it somewhere… If we are always living and serving in what we know and are comfortable with, we will never grow in faith. There is also the concept of ever increasing faith.
Three encouragements:
- “Pursue love and desire spiritual gifts…” 1 Cor 14:1
- “Don’t neglect…” 1 Tim 4:14
- “Stir up/rekindle…” 2 Tim 1:6
What do you need to do?
The Word 4 Life 