The Passion of Your Heart

What are you passionate about? Do you know that God usually gives us a heart for that which He is calling us to do? If He has placed certain passions in your life (for single moms, children, sports, teaching, etc.) that is usually an indicator of a programming God has placed in you that He desires to use at a later date.

It is so fascinating to read the account of David’s preparation for God’s use in Psalm 78:70—72 where we read “He also chose David His servant and took him from the sheepfolds; From the care of the ewes with suckling lambs He brought him to shepherd Jacob His people, and Israel His inheritance. So he shepherded them according to the integrity of his heart, and guided them with his skillful hands.”

This is right in line with God’s words to Jeremiah in Jeremiah 1:5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I have appointed you a prophet to the nations.“

So, what are you passionate about? Give it some thought and I pray that you will come to discover what Pastor Rick Warren notes, “We serve God out of design & not out of duty.”

Using your Spiritual Gifts

Got gifts? The Bible is clear that each believer has spiritual gifts and that these gifts must be used in order for God to make each local church a ‘Jesus image’ factory. I say this because according to Ephesians 4:12-14 Jesus gave His Church spiritual gifts to bring about a great result in the lives of His followers. Look at we are missing out on if you are not using your spiritual gifts:

1. The equipping of the saints for the work of service,
2. The building up of the body of Christ until we all attain to the unity of the faith and the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.
3. The maturing of believers so that we are no longer tossed here and there as waves carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming.

So remember gifts do a body good. Won’t you commit to discovering and developing your spiritual gifts at Grace so that this local church can be an effective “Jesus image” factory.

Discovering and Developing the Spiritual Gifts.

For a believer to fully grasp their place in God’s great Kingdom work today they have to discover and then develop their spiritual gifts in the community of believers called the church.

Paul notes this in Ephesians 4:12-14—“for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming”

It is as we function in the spiritual abilities God has given us He will use our sacrifice to produce the spiritual results He desires. He will use our spiritual gifts to God bless others.

So, do you know what your spiritual gifts are? First, learn about them (we will be teaching you about the various gifts in March during Jesus U’s SHAPE training sessions), test to see if you have that gift by serving in a particular ministry, listen for the response others will give you when you serve (remember the use of your gifts will bless others), and continue to seek greater opportunities to serve and develop your gifts. If you know what your gifts are but aren’t using them, shame on you. Our church family needs your sacrifice.

Take a moment today to commit to discovering and developing the spiritual gifts God has gifted you with.