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Gifts – Part 1 –Rom 13:3-8
All of us were at one time sinners, but by grace thru faith we have been saved and given new life… You are no better than your neighbor the same grace that saved you, saved them. We are all equal, no one person is better than another; all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (Rom 3:23)

But you as a Believer, a child of God, a citizen of the Kingdom and a part of the body of Christ are called, equipped, and commanded to Go and make disciples you are given purpose, your life has purpose!

Nowhere is there an exemption for age, education, financial status, or anything else. If you are a believer, you are to be making disciples. The last time I preached I said the discipling was like recruiting; let me clarify that idea: It is recruiting for the Kingdom…

The pastor, the elder, the teacher, the helper are each just another part of the
Church. Each of us is called and equipped to be a part of His Church, a member of the body of Christ, each and every one of us who repents and turns to Jesus for
forgiveness is made a part of the body of Christ. 1 Cor 12:13 tells us we were
baptized into the body of Christ. to be baptized is to be immersed. Therein lies the problem. Very few immerse themselves in a local congregation of His Church.

Those who are Believing are be the living holy sacrifice of vs 1, crucifying the flesh and no longer living for our own passions and desires, but for Him who saved us. And we are to be renewing our minds with one another and on our own,

The problems in the church today are no different than they have been in the past… No one part of the body is better than another, we each have a function. We are all here to serve God and one another.

Each one of us as individual parts make up the whole of the Church just as the body is made up of its individual parts. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. Eph 4:15-16

Each of you received a gift when you became a part of the Body of Christ, God’s
Church. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good… All
these (gifts) are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills. (1 Cor 12:7, 11).

No Believer has any basis upon which to boast about spiritual giftedness… This was, after all, part of the promise of the new covenant (Acts 2:38-39) – that ALL God’s people would manifest the Holy Spirit:

And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams; even on my male servants and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy. Acts 2:17-18
see Rom 4:25-5:5

So, if you are a Believer, you are gifted by the Spirit for ministry! Do you believe that? If so, then put that gift to work, serve!

The use of spiritual gifts is a stewardship through which we not only build up the body but also glorify God…

As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies-in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. (1 st Peter 4:10-11

Questions: 
Are you gifted and empowered by the Spirit? 
Are you using your gifts to serve God and one another within the ministries of your congregation of His Church?
How are you answering The Great commission? 
Are you seeking the Kingdom 1st ?

Further Reading: 1st Thessalonians 1:6-10 (8), 1st Corinthians 12:7, 8-31, Ephesians 4:7, 11-16, Acts 2:38-39, Romans 4.