Covenant Series

What Is In Your Hand

Scripture:

I Corinthians 14:26 “How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification.”

Introduction:

AS a covenant family with a kingdom mandate, God’s people have a two-fold mission. First of all, every time they come together, each member brings a yielded spirit and a desire to share his or her talents, abilities and gifts so that the whole body of believers and any guests present will be blessed and encouraged. They realize that as they release what God has gifted them with, fellow believers will mature and become what God has purposed them to be. An atmosphere is also created that makes possible a greater conversion rate to Christ. Guests are exposed to and brought face to face with the living Christ.

The second aspect concerning a readiness to release god’s gifting is that as we leave the gathering and go into the marketplace with the love of God, we encounter those whom God has prepared to receive the truth. The love of God motivates us to touch their lives with the transforming power of God.

I. Every meeting of the Body begins with a simple exchange of love. The atmosphere is then set for miracles.

Romans 16:3-16 “Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, 4who risked their own necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles.

5Likewise greet the church that is in their house. Greet my beloved Epaenetus, who is the firstfruits of £Achaia to Christ.  6Greet Mary, who labored much for us.  7Greet Andronicus and Junia, my countrymen and my fellow prisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me. 8Greet Amplias, my beloved in the Lord. 9Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker in Christ, and Stachys, my beloved. 10Greet Apelles, approved in Christ. Greet those who are of the household of Aristobulus. 11Greet Herodion, my £countryman. Greet those who are of the household of Narcissus who are in the Lord. 12Greet Tryphena and Tryphosa, who have labored in the Lord. Greet the beloved Persis, who labored much in the Lord. 13Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord, and his mother and mine. 14Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermas, Patrobas, Hermes, and the brethren who are with them. 15Greet Philologus and Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints who are with them. 16Greet one another with a holy kiss. £The churches of Christ greet you.”

I Corinthians 16:19-20 “The churches of Asia greet you. Aquila and Priscilla greet you heartily in the Lord, with the church that is in their house. 20All the brethren greet you. Greet one another with a holy kiss.”

II Corinthians 13:12 “Greet one another with a holy kiss.”

I Thessalonians 5:26 “Greet all the brethren with a holy kiss.”

I Peter 5:14 “Greet one another with a kiss of love.”

A. The holy kiss. (from Gill’s exposition of the whole Bible)

Christian salutation is a wishing all temporal, spiritual, and eternal happiness, to one another; and which, as it should be mutual, should be also hearty and sincere, and this is meant by the "holy kiss"; the allusion is to a common custom in most nations, used by friends at meeting or parting, to kiss each other, in token of their hearty love, and sincere affection and friendship for each other; and is called "holy", to distinguish it from an unchaste and lascivious one; and from an hypocritical and deceitful one.

B. Once the atmosphere is set, it becomes an easy thing to release the gifts because those with a common love desire to give to and receive from one another.

II. Everyone in the Body has something valuable to share.

A. Moses had a staff he used in his everyday business.

Exodus 4:2-5 “So the Lord said to him, “What is that in your hand?” He said, “A rod.”

3And He said, “Cast it on the ground.” So he cast it on the ground, and it became a serpent; and Moses fled from it. 4Then the Lord said to Moses, “Reach out your hand and take it by the tail” (and he reached out his hand and caught it, and it became a rod in his hand),

5“that they may believe that the Lord God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has appeared to you.”

1. His staff was something he used every day.

2. His staff was what he was used to. He just needed to listen to God’s leading so he could use it in a new way.

3. In our hand it may seem lifeless, but when God anoints it, miracles take place.

4. If we each contribute we have something very powerful that can bring release to the captives.

B. It doesn’t matter how big or small it may seem, everything given in love increases the life and strength of the body.

Romans 12:4-9 “For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, 5so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. 6Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; 7or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; 8he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness. 9Let love be without hypocrisy.”

III. An encounter with God is what gets us ready to be His ministers.

Isaiah 6:6-8 “Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a live coal which he had taken with the tongs from the altar. 7And he touched my mouth with it, and said: “Behold, this has touched your lips; your iniquity is taken away, and your sin purged.” 8Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: “Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?” Then I said, “Here am I! Send me.”

A. It’s time to make a choice to seek the Lord and respond to His call upon our lives.

Isaiah 55:6 “Seek the Lord while He may be found, Call upon Him while He is near.”

B. Questions to ask yourself as you prepare to commit to God’s plan to release His gifts through your life.

1. What can I bring to the House of God to share with the body gathered there?

2. Can I deal with any attitudes I might have that would keep me from sharing a smile, God’s love, a holy kiss, a word of encouragement?

3. Can I commit myself to this Body that God has blessed me with to the extent that I am willing to get involved?

4. Am I willing and do I want to see new people come into this fellowship so much so that I will help to see that happen?

5. Am I willing to completely surrender to the covenant I have with god and, as a result, surrender to the covenant I have with this people?

6. Can I really trust God with His plans for my life?

C. Call to prayer to settle the answers to these or other questions that have to do with my relationship to the Lord, His Body or the gifting He has placed within my life.

IV. A final response: ARE YOU SITTING OR SERVING?