Day 31. Understanding Your Shape (The Purpose Driven Life)

You shaped me first inside, then out; you formed me in my mother's womb.
○ Psalm 139:13

Only you can be you. God designed us so that there are no duplications.
○ That means that no one else on earth will EVER be able to play the role God planned for you. If you don't make your unique contribution to the Body of Christ, it won't be made.
§ There are different kinds of spiritual gifts…different ways of serving…[and] different abilities to perform service. - 1 Cor 12:4-6

○ SHAPE: APPLYING YOUR ABILITIES
§ Abilities are natural talents you're born with.
§ When God wanted to create the Tabernacle and all the utensils for worship, he provided artists and craftsmen who were shaped with the "skill, ability, and knowledge in all kinds of crafts to make artistic designs…and to engage in all kinds of craftsmanship "-Exodus 31:3-5
□ Today God still bestows abilities so people can serve him
§ All are abilities come from God
□ Even abilities used to sin are gifts from God, just misused/abused
□ God has given each of us the ability to do certain things well - Rom 12:6a
§ Every ability can be used for God's glory
□ Whatever you do, do it for the glory of God. - 1 Cor 10:31
□ The Bible is filled with examples of abilities God uses for his glory:
¨ Artistic, architectural, administering, baking, boat making, candy making, debating, designing, embalming, embroidering, engraving, faming, fishing, gardening, leading, managing, masonry, philosophizing, machinablity, inventing, carpentry, sailing, selling, being a soldier, tailoring, teaching, WRTING literature and poetry
¨ There are different abilities to perform service, but the same God gives ability to all for their particular service - 1 Cor. 12:6
◊ God has a place in his church where your specialties can shine AND make a difference
§ What I'm able to do, God wants me to do
□ To discover God's will for your life, you should seriously examine what you're good at & not good at.
□ God will never ask you to dedicate your life to a task you have no talent for, but the abilities that you do have are a strong indication of what God wants you to do with your life.
□ Your abilities aren't given just to make a living. They're for your ministry
¨ God has given each of you some special abilities, be sure to use them to help each other, passing on to others God's many kinds of blessings - 1 Peter 4:10
○ SHAPE: USING YOUR PERSONALITY
§ Don't try to mimic anyone else's ministry
□ When you're forced to minister in a manner that is "out of character" for your temperament, it creates tension & discomfort, requires extra effort & energy, & produces less than the best results.
§ Learn from the examples of others, but filter what you learn through your own shape.
§ When you minister in a manner consistent with the personality God gave you, you experience fulfillment, satisfaction, & fruitfulness.
○ SHAPE: EMPLOYING YOUR EXPERIENCES
§ To determine your shape for serving God, examine ATLEAST 6 kinds of experiences from your past.
□ Family experiences: What did you learn growing up in your family?
□ Educational experiences: What were your favorite school subjects?
□ Vocational experiences: What jobs have you been most effective in & enjoyed most?
□ Spiritual experiences: What have been your most meaningful times with God?
□ Ministry experiences: Have you served God in the past?
□ Painful experiences: what problems, hurts, thorns, & trials have you learned from?
¨ God uses this the most to prepare you for ministry
¨ God never wastes a hurt!
¨ Your greatest ministry will come out of your greatest hurt
¨ He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When others are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us - 2 Cor. 1:4
¨ The very experiences you've resented/regretted most are the experience God wants to use to help others.
◊ People are always more encouraged when we share how God's grace helped us in weakness than when we brag about our strengths.
► 2 Corinthians 1:8-10
DAY 31

P2P: Nobody else can be me.

V2R: God has given each of you some special abilities; be sure to use them to help other, passing on to others God's many kinds of blessings - 1 Peter 4:10

Q2C: What God-given ability or personal experience can I offer to my church?