There are times in life where you will get Whoa moments. So stunning and amazing that you are gifted to witness and share it. I had one of those this week. Stunning! Since this is a podcast, I'm going to ask you to go to FriDudes.com and check out the video on the blog. Or if you trust me, let me describe it for you.
I'm driving my way to MonDudesPM in La Quinta, CA and I see a luminescent cloud stream in the air about the mountain. Kind of like Northern Lights yet very distinct. So compelling, I had to pull over and get out of my car to get a closer look. As I veer to my left, I see what looks like a spaceship flying through the sky. Okay, before some of you get too excited, it wasn't an alien. It was SpaceX and their Falcon 9 over the SoCal sky. So cool! The video doesn't do it justice yet at least will give you an idea.
So how do I steer this to Deeper? Oh yeah, you know I'm going to go there and encourage you. Just like those brilliant engineers behind that rocket, you are gifted and called for an even greater mission. Greater than that?! Greater than that.
Think of those engineers behind the rocket. Literal rocket scientists. They are gifted. Gifted with big brains for science and math. What about you? You may not be a rocket scientist yet I guarantee you are gifted...in something. How do I know that?
Psalm 139:13-14
New International Version
13 For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
You are not here by accident. You are here for a reason. It is your job to tune in and know why. Perhaps why you are reading this right now. By the plans to do good and to love, if you are not doing that well, then you know you are on the wrong path or not. As for good and plans to prosper you, check this out...
Jeremiah 29:11
New International Version
11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
1. 1 Corinthians 12:4–6
Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone.
I love that promise. Plans to prosper you. Not harm you. Skeptic will say well what about ____________. You mean the broken planet and/or the broken person? That's who hurt you. You may even hurt yourself. Confession, I have. If it is good, it came from above and your Abba.
2. 1 Corinthians 12:7–11
To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.
Do you know your strengths? Part of Greg's GCrossSurf is taking Clifton's Strength Finders. You can buy that book for like $10. Some of the best $10 you'll ever invest in yourself. Owned by Gallup, they'll help you see how you are wired. Then you can better tune in those strengths along with your spiritual strengths into better work, more fulfilling work, overflow work.
3. Romans 12:4–8
For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.
Don't you love that? We are not all the same. We are all not rocket scientists. You may be the person that help lighten a situation and make someone laugh. You have value. Don't let the enemy tell you different. Add others with other strengths and now you are talking a super team.
4. 1 Corinthians 12:26–31a
If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.
Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? But earnestly desire the higher gifts.
Again factor in the need to lean on one another to get more done.
5. Ephesians 4:11–16
And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. 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.
Love. You know you are on the correct path with your strengths if you are giving love and receiving love.
6. 1 Corinthians 1:4–8
I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus, that in every way you were enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge—even as the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you—so that you are not lacking in any gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
7. 1 Peter 4:10–11
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
8. 2 Timothy 1:6–7
For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.
9. 1 Corinthians 14:1–5
Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy. For one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God; for no one understands him, but he utters mysteries in the Spirit. On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation. The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself, but the one who prophesies builds up the church. Now I want you all to speak in tongues, but even more to prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be built up
10. 1 Corinthians 13:1–3
If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.
There you go! That's how I know you have gifts. So what's your rocket? What are you going to do that leverages your strengths that loves God and loves others? Speaking of gifts, special shout out to Crossway.org for that Top 10...
https://www.crossway.org/articles/10-key-bible-verses-on-spiritual-gifts/
As you contemplate your rocket and life legacy/purpose, remember, what ever you are trying to do hangs on doing this...
Matthew 22:36-40
New International Version
36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’[a] 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[b] 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”