Joint Impact

We have one expectation he's the one who came died, was buried, once again, according to Scriptures. Right now he's in the right of the father interceding for us. He's living in us through the Holy Spirit. He is there giving gifts. What else is he doing is preparing a place for us, so that where he is.

We may be also is coming back again. Just heard a portion of the upcoming message, titled joint impact by pastor Avedon shop Clearview church in Henderson, North Carolina I Clearview.

Our focus is on making Christ is the way worship to the way we serve the way we love one another and check us out at 3485 officer. Visit us online at BC satellite to join us for the rest of his you know with power being out is kind of interesting.

You put them put one candlelight on and then it glides of the room. But then put 20 candlelight's and you realize how quickly the whole place is flooded with lights is also the charge comes together. We are individuals we can do much but when we come together we make a joint impact which is far greater than anything that we can do on our own. In fact, that's how God has designed the church to be.

It brings glory to God when we work together through Christ, who is our head.

When we work together through him and worship and nurture in witness. It's a joint impact. There was so much more we can do and God is glorified when we do that, you see, what we do is we focus on our individual Christian life.

My growth my worship, my witness, but if you read the Bible, especially the New Testament. It was never just you and your relationship with God in this world. It was us. We is the cry in the New Testament. So if you have your Bibles with you today. Turn to Ephesians chapter 4 Polska talk about this and quite detailed us all stand together for the reading of God's word.

Ephesians chapter 4 starting in verse 11, and he himself gives some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ. Different people have different gifts coming together for the greater good of God's body Christ body, the church not drop down to verse 16 Bobby a look at some the other verses in the message.

What is the result from home from Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and meant together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share. I want to remember that because that is really the crux of the message. Every part does its share causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love. They could be bread now it seems like Paul has a run-on sentence. He just does it keeps on talking put in commas and commas and commas, but there is more that is happening here, Paul is telling us that when we come together with Christ as our head work together in the process.

We not only edify each other. Worship God. When we grow the growing numbers.

The question this morning for you and for me is what is your role in the church body. Nepal is primarily talking about the universal church. The church, the Christ bill that is beyond this congregation. There other charges in this town in this community and this nation in this world that is the universal church but also the local church. This body believer. What is your role in this body.

What is your gift when you got saved.

The Holy Spirit give you a gift that's much more than talent will talk about that was your gift.

What is it that he has equipped you to do. Are you saved, because unless you say you not part of the body of Christ when you receive Christ as your Savior at that moment the Holy Spirit comes inside of you, and now your part not only of this local body, but the universal body of believers. If you don't know Christ today. Give your life to him asking to save you tell him to come into your life. Now this is again one of those foundational messages that I told you about that. We prayerfully decided needed to be preached.

Once we got into the new sanctuary number the foundational beliefs of Clearview of our church is that God has given each of us in this church body in a particular drift through Christ that is meant to help us grow together in Christ and win the world to him. All of us have certain gifts and until each of us actively seeks that gift when you get the gift when you get saved until you actively seek that gift recognize it and use it on church will never be able to live up to the potential God has for us and not just a local charge disbelieved body of believers, but also the universal church. We will never be where we need to be unless you start using the gifts God has given to you when you get those gifts. The moment you get say the Holy Spirit supernaturally gives the those gifts. Now the passage we just read comes from Paul's letter to the Ephesians when he says something about this because the help you understand this letter better. Scholars have long argued over, what is the purpose behind Paul's letter to the Ephesians is it to clarify some doctrine isn't to clear up some misunderstanding about salvation or justification or some ecclesiology. What is Paul's purpose is to confront some heresy in the church.

What is Paul's purpose is to promote unity between Jews and Gentiles. Is it to tell the church not to give into evil powers for good.

Ephesians chapter 6 it talks about then, and five as well. What is Paul's real purpose. I believe this purpose is to call the Ephesians to come together as a body with Christ as the head and work together in ministry and so bring glory to God and listen make a joint impact in worship and nurture and in witness.

That's a mouthful.

So let's look at it step-by-step how did Paul do this just in this passage, he does it by reminding them of three things. Number one he reminds them of our common bond.

You see, as believers in this local body and in the universal body we have a common bond. Some things that hold us together. I think about it while you're here.

Tell me what brought you here in a certain set of beliefs that we hold onto that compels us to come and be here mightily are you here and not another church don't get any ideas. I will allow you to Clearview because there are certain foundational beliefs that we hold onto together.

In fact, is a €17.07 layered foundation, the Paul gives is that I believe at this church. We hold onto you only once that thousands upon thousands of hold on to the same thing with others foundational believes number one, Ephesians 44 Paul says there is one body. There is one body levels of many denominations there many churches, but there is one universal body of believers. God's family. God's church. At the same time we have a local body right here that has chosen to come together based on the style of the music based on the preaching based on the ministries we have chosen to be this one body. What else that's just one one spirit there is one body and one spirit who is the spirit, the spirit of the Holy Spirit the same spirit that came inside of me. When I received Jesus as my Savior and King is also in you is much more powerful than any conscience. Ephesians 4 for this is just as you were called in one whole of your calling hears of heard bonding element of our church.

We have one expectation.

He is the one who came died, was buried, and rose again. According to Scriptures. Right now he's at the right hand of the father interceding for us. He is living in us through the Holy Spirit. He is there giving gifts.

What else is he doing these preparing a place for us, so that where he is. We may be also is coming back again. So this is the one master rehab.

That's not it. That's as number 40 here comes number five we have one faith was the one faith is the one settled body of truth, delivered to the saints, but more specifically, if you want to know the body of truth that we hold on to go online to Clearview B.org and click under the statement of faith. That's what we believe it Clearview that's what we believe is the fate once and for all delivered to the saints so that unites us together not know many of you as a cognitive and know that I love this church great but I hope at some point in time you go click on statement of faith and read what faith we believe and what else do we have here comes number 51 baptism Paul talks about in Romans about this baptism when we were baptized into his death. We were buried with him through baptism into death and then we were raised with him to walk in the newness of life. What is baptism represent is our death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ and Jesus… When he was buried spiritually.

I was buried when he rose I have risen with him to walk in the newness of life. That's why Paul says again and again all things have passed away.

Behold all things have become new. Here's the last one.

Number seven. This is a seven layer foundation that builds this common bond in this local church and in the universal church which is we have one God and father will fall who is above all and through all and in you all. We have one God the father does that mean folks it has so many levels of application.

I don't have time to go through them. One thing it does me.

We need to get along. We need to get along if we believe that there is one body, one spirit, one whole one Lord, one faith, one baptism that we had to get along is in the same manner God the father is pleased and he he is overjoyed when he sees the family getting along so when the church was in turmoil. People are fussing and fighting with each other. Folks get it outta here. We have one father and he is God the father was above all through all and in you all. If you are willing to stand on this seven layer foundation. Please listen carefully in this local church. At least I can say this, we can work out any other differences.

If we step away for any from any of these layers. No amount of pretending niceness is going to hold us together.

If you get away from the seven things. It doesn't matter how many functions you have.

It doesn't matter how many banquets you hold slug in the work. It's our foundational believes that keeps us bonded to each other. You also appreciate other local bodies.

I do, I have no competition. People think we do if if we belong to one universal church and if they believe in these seven things. Why would I compete with so our common bond. We stand upon the seven layer foundation but now I want to switch gears. I want you to get your mind ready for this because this is where it comes down to is you can so I believe all those things now listen to what Paul says in the very next verse he talks about individual gifts are common bond. But now, here are the individual gives starting in verse seven semifinished verse six the very next verse, Paul says, but to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ's gift. I will still following the logic were bonded because we have these seven things in common.

Having said that, we have individual gifts according to the measure of Christ gives let me say something about gifts for moment gifts are not talents that some people have a talent for certain things.

They can they can work with word or they can you know that they're good with their hands so they're good with education or in Odessa with a grew up their family send them to college and university in their motor geared towards education talents, education, experience loss, things are wonderful, but gifts are something different, because gifts are supernaturally given by the Holy Spirit, something that only he can get credit for. You cannot explain to you personally. It took me several years to understand the value of gifts in the body of Christ know what I should think get people saved get him serving get them doing something. Get busy is more than that there gifts in the body and every person who was saved has a gift or sometimes even several gifts and they know it they know that they cannot take credit for that is not because that's how I was raised.

Odessa had a job I do. Odessa, experience I've had in life. No gifts are something supernaturally given. I don't have time to go over all the subject of gives will be here for days in Ephesians 4 what Paul says about gives now in Romans 12 in first Corinthians 12 Paul gives us many gifts and how to serve in the body, but in four Ephesians 4 he talks about gifts that are also offices in the church. Sometimes it can happen. Sometimes what God has gifted you with is also used in ministry as an office in the church and that's what Paul is doing here but also reads Romans 12 and first when things 12 to get the rest of the story. But let's look at verse 11 and he himself gave some to be what's the word apostles who were apostles. Apostles were people in the first century who establish churches, along with signs and wonders and miracles. Do we have apostles today; clear the record for you know what we do have our church planters were the church planters do they going to big cities. They go into unreached parts of the world and their plan churches. I can go until you that's not my gift to take my wife and kids and go into some place in the city and say here honey were going to build our lives and were going to plant a church that's just not in me as it makes me tired just to think about. Not my thing is only my passage up you been here 20 years and want to remember those early years of you know you only had 20 people in church new work into three jobs. Listen to me.

Please listen. It was never a burden. It was never a burden.

Never in the corner, look at each as a man.

This thing this is worth it baby ever do that. Never.

I say this I really love my wife because she actually is well and people, especially in the millennial age, please listen carefully, working hard as part of success.

She cleaned bathroom. She clean toilets at a college gaming area so you can imagine how filled he was told it's worth, I painted for living, not not like portraits like Picasso anything walls. Our security I was a teacher. Many feel are in my class. You know why was not sure was never a burden because it was a gift on top of the gift in just a moment to those apostles close to me have here.

Dennis says he gave some to be apostles, some prophets that we have the good gift of prophecy.

People said all I got a gift of prophecy in the first century. The prophets were people who communicated the divine revelation of God, why did they have to do that because they did not have the rest of the story they had the Old Testament, no New Testament, so there were people on whom the Holy Spirit, they would speak and that would expound the Old Testament that this is who Jesus is gross. I don't need that anymore because I have the Bible something else. The prophets were not just people who got up and expounded the word and pointed to Jesus. They also had the ability and in the and the power to speak in such a way that would bring people to repentance.

We don't limit not have prophets anymore, but we would do have revivalists.

These are men who go and they would go and preacher revival preaching is not my thing that people who do that I'm preaching revival this week. One night, but that's not my thing about the preach of the church.

I pray that God will move them but that's not my thing but these are men like Leonard Raven Hill of Manley Beasley. These were men who could go in and preach the gospel and preach revivals in the charges would get on fire just like the prophets to gift.

Also, sort of an office something else here some evangelists in the first century you had people like Philip the evangelist to preach and explain the good news of salvation to the Ethiopian eunuch do we have do we have the evangelist today. One just died very famously by will give me his name milligram Billy Graham would tell people he is not the one who would write commentaries but Philip a stadium and he can preach the simplest gossip I can preach the same gospel.

Billy Graham did, but thousands don't come forward and take the same gospel in a very clear simple way preaching is for people to you to pray like I'm like really great. I'm not evangelist humming times.

Can I get you saved humming times. Can I get you say I'm a pastor, which is the very next one. Some was a saint evangelist for some pastors and teachers because sometimes some gifts can also be your calling and that's been my calling is why I told you earlier. It was never a burden. In those years never even asked the people in the church were there, the time never to be say man serving you. Good boy. It's a burden because the calling when you have a calling.

It's never a chore. It's always a joy to write down the go do this is to be tough. If you are in a position a clear view where you think it's a burden do it quick because you like the mismatch you should be doing something else. I hope not a whole lot of you do each of us has a gift and I what happens. Listen verse 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ. The word equipping his Qatar to smalls, which means mending and restoring putting things right. All of us have these gifts unless you see is been given to you find it, recognize it and start using it. We as a charge could only move along on a donut tire it donut tire is a smaller one and what is the purpose for donut tire get you to your driving one get you to the shop okay give it effects it. I saw some I've seen the same person driving a door tire for years on my how is working out the problem of the donor times is this.

Don't try to drive fast you like to drive 70 miles an hour drive 30 miles with a donut tire something is about to happen. You can go far, does it will man you want. Let's go to Niagara Falls today. Yeah, you may not make it that far. It is not efficient. Imagine that you know going along like this and definitely you may not reach the destination when it was my turn to say what I'm trying to say is this, until every person who claims to know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior recognizes the gift that God has given to you and starts using that gift in the body which is local body as well as the universal body of believers. We will be trucking along with a donut tire. I don't understand how it is that if you choose clear view as your charge.

All of a sudden now you have a gift that we need you. So what if I don't use this charge and go another one.

Guess what, organically, spiritually, the Holy Spirit is already computed that now you have a give the back church needs we were going to truck along on her door tire will never reach the potential were supposed to reach what is the gift that God has given to you. What is it is a well I'm a teacher, I guess I need to teach kids at Clearview. You know, no, please don't.

I've had teachers come to me and said I teach kids five days a week. I really truly am hoping you will not put me in a Sunday school room like trust me I won't do that. Read Romans 12 read first Corinthians 12 is not just preaching and teaching us what people see immediately all of you here talk to you by the word of God.

I can know sometimes you know the gift is also giving sometimes a gift of service. We have fall Festival coming up is not my gift, but there are people who are designing boards to play games on and they'll be out there are common bond are individual gives our joint impact when we recognize these gifts and start using them, what's gonna happen. Listen to this verse 13 and I really want every person specially those who think you know the Bible. Your spiritually mature. I want you to pay attention. That verse listen was that till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the son of God doing a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. Paul is saying a whole lot their liberty saying is when you begin to use these gifts in this body with a common bond. You go home to a measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. Listen verse 14, then we should no longer be children, tossed to an fro care about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting lot awards. They let me say very quickly when you are serving. Using your gifts in the body. Local body universal church body. Somehow your spirit of discernment goes up here something positive. Listen verse 15 but speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into him who is the head, Christ show me a person who is harsh. Show me a person who was blunt hearts people's feelings, acts in odd ways, and I'll show you a person who is not using their gifts, but that was back up but speaking the truth in it is in the context of using your gifts when you have a common bond. The seven layered bond with individual gives being used now you're speaking the truth in love. Thank you so much for joining us for this message God has called us together as a church reason we can accomplish more collective than we ever could individually figure out what gifts God is giving and use them for the good of our church community and for his kingdom. For more information visit us online@clearviewb.org and for the sermons, notes, check out Pastor Shah's blog and other non-shop.com