Use It Or Loose It!

Do you ever feel like you just don't fit in? Sometimes it can be hard to know how to fit in or even where we fit in. Have you ever felt useless that your giftings and talents have no purpose? Or that you have none; well...that's a lie because whether you realize it or not you do!

1Cor. 12:4 There are different kinds of gifts but, the same spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men.

Man's idea of unity is conformity- walking, talking, dressing the same... you know what I'm talking about we've all been caught up in it at one time or another. We are tought at a young age to want those designer jeans, be thin like the models in the magazines but Gods idea of unity is... nothing is the same. The hairs on our head are not the same, our DNA, our thumb print,I'm an identical twin and even we aren't the same. Nor are the rocks in this magnificent Water Fall. Gods idea is diversity in our function and yet when someone comments on apart of us that is different we right away feel guilty for it and could almost take it as a put down. People don't understand those who are different because our society wants to keep people in a box. I'm sure there are those of you who feel like a round peg trying to fit into a square hole.

Eph. 4:11-13 It was He who gave some to be apostles, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

Exd. 31:3 God has given each one of us different gifts and abilities. Matt. 25: 14 Parable of the Five Talents. You know the story; to one he gave five Talents of money, to another two Talents of money, and another one Talent, according to his ability. Now what did they do with it? Well the two men that were given the five Talents and the two Talents used their ability to gain more but the man who was given one Talent buried it and didn't use what he was given so it was taken from him. I'll let you read the ending v.28-30.

God gives you the ability with the expectation that you will increase your ability by gaining more knowledge, taking classes, seeking wisdom from those who know more. He wants to show favor on you. He wants you to prosper.Col. 3:23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.

You may be one who has been struggling to fit into the four walls of Church. You don't sing like a sparrow, more like a crow with a bone stuck in its throat and you'd rather stomp on those little ankle biters than help out in junior Church. I'll let you in on a little secret ...God didn't say that our gifts could only be used inside the Church. The Church is not the building but the people and nowhere in the Bible does it say you can only use your gifts inside those walls.

Some of you have the gift of teaching.... outside the Church...., serving....outside the Church,

counseling....outside the Church, leadership...outside the Church.

Faith is risk taking, stepping out with no guarantee - Faith is believing whole heartily in the unseen and then stepping out towards it even if it doesn't make any sense.

Abraham stepped out in faith following God leaving the comforts of his fathers house where he didn't have to worry about a thing, to go into a Land where now sheep are dying, women and children are dying, there's no food.... talk about having to have Big Faith! But if you use you gifts for God He will evoke fruit that will be long lasting. If you feel useless lifeless and alone that is the enemy's plan to divide and conquer to make you feel like you have nothing to offer and that you are not useful. Its time we use our gifts! and accept the gifts given to others without a jealous heart or a heart of envy. So lets encourage one another to go and bare much fruit!