Elim Sunday Sermon 10 June 2007

Pastor Rob Reid

“It’s great to belong to a church.”

Gifted?

• e.g Walt Disney.
• Who me?

 

James 1:16-18:

• Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers.  Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.  He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of first fruit of all He created.
• Gifts lead to Fruitfulness
• God’s first gift: Eve!
• He chose ……… that we might be a kind of first fruit of all He created.

 

You are a gifted person

• But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it.  Eph 4:7-9

For God’s gifts and His call are irrevocable.  Rom 11:29

• He never withdraws them when once they are given , and He does not change His mind about those to whom He gives His grace or to whom He sends His call. (Amplified)

 

Life Application

• Both Irenie and Stan Hewett received $50 note.  Stan had a note, saying “thanks for coming up on stage.”  Irenie didn’t have a note.  So, she voiced concern for her worthiness, and was it a joke?  When asked, she said she’d spend it.  Stan said he’d give it back to the building fund.
• Lesson: Rob wouldn’t have given the gift, if he thought either of them would spend it on drugs.  They were free to do with it as they saw fit.

 

Regarding Giftedness

1. ENGAGE – your Giftedness

·        Do not neglect your gift … Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, 1 Tim 4:12-15

·        Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands.  2 Timothy 1:6

2. EXPRESS – your Giftedness

·        Eph 4:7-9: But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it.  This is why it says: “When He ascended on high, He led captives in His train and gave gifts to men”

·        Your gift is proof of Christ’s victory.  Celebrate it!

3. EXTEND – your Giftedness

·        Proverbs 18:16: A man’s gift makes room for him, And brings him before great men.

·        Expect Great Influence!!

·        Our giftedness will build others!

·        E.g. Disney studios was taken over for a year during WWII by US government, because they saw the ability to communicate the war effort effectively to the nation.

 

Family Integrity # 121 — New DVDs

Dear Friends, 

Family Integrity has produced three DVDs to fully inform you and your friends and family about the issues surrounding Bradford’s Bill to repeal our authority as parents by repealing Seciton 59.

The first has three parts: Renton Maclachlan exposes some of the lies and slander the media have promoted and makes a unique appeal using Lord of the Rings imagery to us to get informed and involved. Then I explain the main issues around repeal of Section 59. Then there is an interview with Swedish lawyer Ruby Harrold-Cleasson explaining the mess Sweden is in as a result of similar legislation there.

The second DVD is Ruby’s presentation of the sad facts surrounding the Swedish Experiment and how it has led to state abuse of families and children.

In the third DVD I get to square off with MPs Sue Bradford and Peter Dunne in a Forum held on the issue 28 August 2006 at Khandallah Presbyterian Church in Wellington. This one is a lot of fun! The thinking of each of us is more fully exposed for all to see.

Visit our website at www.FamilyIntegrity.org.nz and view from the home page a couple of wee video clips, one advertising all 3 DVDs and the other showing Bradford’s creative use of stats.

Your purchase will help Family Integrity ensure each MP will get a copy of each and you can also use your DVDs to pass around your friends, relations, church congregation, etc. It is important that we move NOW because time is short: the Select Committee is due to report back to Parliament on this Bill by 31 October and the vote will be sometime after that.

Regards,

Craig Smith