INVEST YOUR GIFTS IN THE CHURCH WORK

1 Corinthians 12
Your gifts are meant not only for your own benefits but also for the body of Christ.

                                                    Introduction

 Reverend G. S. Adeyemo

Every gift deposited in your life by God makes you so significant to the body of Christ. You cannot afford to be a liability to the Church. In today’s message the Lord will open our understanding and we will be challenged to invest our all and our best in the works of the Lord.
Observations
There are three basic truths you need to understand in the course of this message namely:
1. You must discover your gifts to be relevant in the body of Christ.
2. You must develop others through your gifts to be productive in the body of Christ
3. You must dispense your gift for you to be rewarded in the Kingdom of our God
Explanations
1.  You must discover your gifts to be relevant in the body of Christ. In 1Cor 12:1 Apostle Paul says, :”Now about the gifts of the Spirit, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed.” The word translated ‘unknown’ in NIV is ‘agnoeo’ in Greek meaning ignorant, no understanding, or unknown. Some of the Corinthian Christians failed to discover the gifts of God in their lives. In such situation, one can not contribute meaningfully to the development of a society.
First thing to be significant in the body of Christ is to discover your gifts. The Bible says, “A wise man is strong, And a man of knowledge increases power” Prov. 24:5; 1Kig 3: 9; Isa. 11:2; Jam 1:5; Hos. 4:6; Isa. 13:5.
2. You must develop others through your gifts to be productive in the body of Christ. Verse25 says, “so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other” To have concern, or care means looking after the development and effectiveness of one another.
Every part belongs to the others and must contribute to the well being of others. Therefore, stay connected to the source and draw strength from the source. Jesus says, “You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.” John 15: 3-4; Rom. 12:4, 5; 1Pet 4: 10; 2Pet. 1: 3-8
3. You must dispense your gift for you to be rewarded in the Kingdom of our God. The Bible says, “If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.” verse 26. Spiritual gifts are meant to bring joy to the body of Christ. The joy comes from the fruits produced by the   entire body. When the gifts are not fully dispensed, the body suffers drought.
Conclusion
As a Christian, God has deposited in you one spiritual gift or the other. Your gifts are meant not only for your own benefits but also for the body of Christ.  Do not use your gift to cause division in the church, but to unite and profit the people of God. As you do so, the Lord will reward you eternally in Jesus name.