Gifts in Abundance

Romans 12:6-10

6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us.

(1Cor.12:4) 4Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.

This means that we are all given the same spirit and the same amount of spirit, so it is not that any of us have more spirit than any other, just the gifts we possess is different. Because any of us can have more than one of these, we can have them all, or a few, but we have to have at least one. We could be better at one than we are at another. But we all have the ability to possess any one of these.

If your gift is prophecy, then prophesy in accordance with the faith

This does not mean you are a fortune teller! The 400 years between the Old Testament and the New Testament are not called the "Silent Years" because there aren't any fortune tellers around. Its because there is no "Prophet" chosen by God to speak his words. A good number of theologians will tell you that God preserved this time to allow his words to really sink in before sending his Son.

7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach;

I love how these two are paired up because if you ask, any teacher will tell you that there is not much of a difference in these (teaching and serving). But ask any servant and they will never tell you that they are a teacher.

8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement;

One of Paul's gifts was definitely encouragement because just making this statement is encouraging. Now i know some might say this one is redundant, like saying if your gift is to cook than cook. But I really believe its encouragement, because if you are a chef you probably shouldn't try repairing a NASA Space Shuttle.

if it is giving, then give generously;

Now this does not mean you have to be rich to give generously, nor does it mean that giving generously means it is money you are giving. There is so much more than money that one can give because every one of these gifts of the spirit are meant to be shared. (Dawn-I am going to draw attention to her and she is going to hate it but every time Dawn says you look like you need a hug, she is almost always right. And it makes things better, even if only for a few moments, they make a difference)

 if it is to lead, do it diligently;

The world would be a much better place if all of our leaders followed this statement fully. Now I know all of our leaders are chosen by God (Romans 13:1). But it by their discernment that the choose HOW to rule. If they all chose to rule in a Godly manner the world would be a much better place.

 if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.

10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.

Yesterday when I was preparing everything for my sermon my wife said "Tony, you do know that you really can't turn water into wine right?" So I absolutely had to respond to her "Woman, why do you bother me? My hour has not yet come."

Now this visual is not my own, Lauren showed this to me and she got it from someone else. But I love the way this works so I want to share it with you all.

Many if not all of you know by now that I give all of my sermons a tittle, and this one is "Gifts in Abundance". The definition of Abundance - an extremely plentiful or over sufficient quantity or supply, or an overflowing fullness. Now this demonstration works for all of the gifts, but I am going to use this for the example of gift of love right now.

The first time heard that we need to love God and Jesus more than anything else, i couldn't believe that was right. Because, as a father, how could I love anyone more than my own wife and children? This helped me a lot with coming to terms with that, because it is our love for them that allows us to love each other more.

Now this little glass, this is me. Small compared to my immediate world, which is my family, my job, all of you fine people and everyone i come in contact with on a regular basis.

And that is small compared to the greater world, though this is about the size of lets say Central New York, because I don’t have a container big enough to represent the world.

And this is Jesus; again if I don’t have a container big enough for the world, there isn’t one big enough to represent Jesus.

Now without Jesus I am just a small, fragile, empty glass, within an empty world.

But when I accepted Jesus, his Love started to fill me, which then allowed me to love more than I can even begin to understand. And I was not only able to share this love, but I could not contain it. It is so overwhelmingly abundant that I couldn't hold it all. His love is so vast that it can not be contained. And if this container was a good representation of Jesus it would keep pouring out until it flooded this room, the streets and the entire world with his love.

You see now I can fully understand how it is possible to love. And it is because the love which is shared with us that we can then turn around and love someone else unconditionally.

It is up to us to find out which of these gifts are ours to share. It may not be an easy task, but we will always have an abundance love that we can share easily.

As Jesus told us in John chapter 13:34-35:

"A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another."

Amen.