the table

We've had a powerful series this month and tonight we'll conclude on the thought of "what are you bringing to the table?"

Romans 6:13 "Do not let any part of your body become an instrument of evil to serve sin. Instead, give yourselves completely to God, for you were dead, but now you have new life. So use your whole body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of God."

1.When Paul uses the term "instrument of evil," he uses a word that can refer to a tool or weapon.

1.Our skills, capabilities, and bodies can serve many purposes, good and bad.

1.In sin, every part of our bodies are vulnerable.

2.In Christ, every part can be an instrument for service.

1.It is the one to whom we offer our service that makes the difference.

3.Will you give yourself completely to God, asking him to put you to good use for his glory?

2.What part of your body have you not completely given to God?

1.Your mind? Choices, attitudes, wandering.

2 Corinthians 10:3-5 (NLT) "We are human, but we don't wage war as humans do. [4] We use God's mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments. [5] We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ."

1.Your Spirit? The true inner workings of God in you. Your emotions, character, true you. The you God knows.

1.Omnipresent-God is present everywhere all at the same time.

2.Omniscient-God knows all things.

3.Omnipotent-God's unlimited power, able to do anything.

Hebrews 12:9 (NLT) "Since we respected our earthly fathers who disciplined us, shouldn't we submit even more to the discipline of the Father of our spirits, and live forever?"

1.Your members?

1 Corinthians 9:27 (NLT) "I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified."

1.Discipline your mind, your spirit and your body to do what you want and need it to do for God.

2.Don't disqualify yourself by not hearing and responding to the voice of God.

3.Don't disqualify yourself by knowing what to do then refusing to make yourself do it.

4.Your body and all it's 2000 parts is a terrible thing to waste but such a powerful thing to surrender.

Proverbs 6:16-19 (NLT) "There are six things the Lord hates- no, seven things he detests: [17] haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that kill the innocent, [18] a heart that plots evil, feet that race to do wrong, [19] a false witness who pours out lies, a person who sows discord in a family."

1.Haughty eyes.

1.Arrogantly superior.

2.Lying tongue.

1.Refusal to tell the truth.

3.Hands that kill the innocent.

1. Abortion, murder.

4.A heart that plots evil.

5.Feet that race to do wrong.

6.A false witness who pours out lies.

7.A person who sows discord in a family.

1.These sins are in a provoking manner to God, which are hurtful to the comfort of human life.

1.These things which God hates, we must hate in ourselves; it is nothing to hate them in others.

2.Let us reject all such practices, watch and pray against them;avoid, with marked disapproval, all who are guilty of them, whatever may be their rank.

1.When I think about what I bring to the table, what I personally offer, I want to be loyal to God, loyal to His message, loyal to His mission and not just faithful.

1.There is a huge difference between being loyal and being faithful.

2.Many people faithful to the core but disloyal to the cause.

Loyal-showing firm and constant support or allegiance to a person or institution.

Faithful-constant, reliable.

1.It could be that your current life challenge is just God giving you an opportunity to do something you've never ever done before?

1.To be a voice of God to this generation you must know who and what you are to this generation.

2.God has gifted you, open your mouth to speak for Him, open your heart to serve for Him, open your ears to the injustice in this society, and open yourself to others they desperately need the message.

Romans 12:9-10, NLT "Don't just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other."

1.Most of us have learned how to pretend to love others--how to speak kindly, avoid hurting their feelings, and appear to take an interest in them.

2.We may even be skilled in pretending to feel moved with compassion when we hear of others' needs, or to become indignant when we learn of injustice.

1.But God calls us to real and sincere love that goes far beyond pretense and politeness.

2.Sincere love requires concentration and effort.

3.It means helping others become better people.

4.It demands our time, money, and personal involvement.

1.We are the change the world is waiting for.

2.We've got a love the world is desperate for.

1.Use my calling, use my gift to change the world!

1.Now, right now is my time I am the voice to this generation I abandon all to you God and only to you will I surrender.

2.Carry hope, let love shine and show this world that mercy is alive.

3.Whatever you are bringing to the table is what is being consumed by this generation, by this culture, by society, by your friends, your family.

1.So it's imperative that you bring your very best, your anointed, your reason and calling from God to this table.

4.The world needs your testimony of hope, your testimony of passion, your testimony of salvation, your testimony of rescue, your testimony of His Spirit's power working in you!

Acts 4:32-33 (NLT) "All the believers were united in heart and mind. And they felt that what they owned was not their own, so they shared everything they had. [33] The apostles testified powerfully to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and God's great blessing was upon them all."

1.God's great blessing was upon them all.

1.God's great favor and protection was upon them all.

2.Your love in us has given us the power to change the world.

3.Your love in us is how we change the world.