The Spirit and Ministry Month
January 11, 2009
Over the Christmas break Julia and I drove to San Diego in order to visit family. Our custom during our drives is to catch up on sermons that we miss due to our busy schedules. One of the sermons that we listened to was by Matt Chandler, a pastor from Dallas, TX. As we listened to him talk about Christian spirituality I felt like he was explaining exactly what we were praying toward for Ministry Month at Whitton Avenue. In the middle of the sermon he referenced a text from 1 Corinthians 12:4-7, 11 where Paul says, “Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good… All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.”
The glorious point of the text is that the Spirit grants gifts to God’s people for the common good. Now we may all nod in agreement to that last statement because we know that God gives gifts to his people through the Holy Spirit, but what is striking to me is that the God of the universe grants unique gifts to his children in order that the body of Christ may function properly and that these differences work to promote unity. This reality should produce two results in us, one of relief and one of deep gratitude. We should be relieved because we don’t have the burden of feeling like we have to do everything in ministry and in fact we shouldn’t. We each have been given a specific gift or in some cases multiple gifts by the Holy Spirit for the expressed purpose of edification. This should free us from the crippling lie of covetousness that says if only I had that gift I would be content. At the same time this should kill the sin of pride that says my gifting is such that I am more valuable in the kingdom. This leads us to the second result of gratitude. The purpose of gifting is not about comparing it is about building up the body of Christ. We should be filled with gratitude at the fact that God has chosen to work through His people using their gifts in order to accomplish His kingdom purposes. The outcome should be humility at what an honor it is to be used by God.
So, I hope this month as we explore different ministries in the church that God would free you from any sinful mentality that says if only I had this gift I could be used more or because I have this gift I am clearly more valuable in the kingdom and gives you the radical experience of joy in being used by God. I pray that many new ministries will be started this coming year and that the current ones will be bolstered to greater kingdom effectiveness.
Praying for Ministry Month
Gabe