Skilled and Stirred

I. Opportunities  “Don’t look at the past. Don’t look at the circumstances saying, ‘well, we can’t, because of whatever.’ Look at it as a new time a new experience for new opportunities, says the Lord. And walk there in it.” (January 4, 2009)

 “…more doors of opportunity will open up to you and you shall be able to walk through those doors if you can perceive them. If you are waiting for the opportunities and ready for the opportunities, and ready to share the hope that is within you, you will be able to step through those doors I open up to you. There will be times of opportunity that you will not want to miss because it will interject you into a new dimension says the Lord. A new dimension of walking in My Spirit like you’ve not experienced before.” (May 31, 2009)

 Colossians 4:5-6 "Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity. 6 Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned, as it were, with salt, so that you may know how you should respond to each person.“  1 Peter 3:15 "but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence;"  Colossians 4:5-6 "Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity. 6 Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned, as it were, with salt, so that you may know how you should respond to each person.“  1 Peter 3:15 "but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence;"

II. Skilled and Stirred  Israel’s project – the tabernacle Exodus 35,36

●Let those with generous hearts present gifts ●Come all you gifted craftsmen, construct everything the Lord has commanded ●Let those with generous hearts present gifts ●Come all you gifted craftsmen, construct everything the Lord has commanded

●All whose hearts were stirred and whose spirits were moved brought their sacred offerings ●All the women who were willing used their skills ●Every man and woman who was eager to help in the work the Lord had given them through Moses – brought their gifts and gave them freely to the Lord ●Gifted leaders and craftsmen specially gifted by the Lord were eager to get to work ●All whose hearts were stirred and whose spirits were moved brought their sacred offerings ●All the women who were willing used their skills ●Every man and woman who was eager to help in the work the Lord had given them through Moses – brought their gifts and gave them freely to the Lord ●Gifted leaders and craftsmen specially gifted by the Lord were eager to get to work

●People brought more gifts, their contributions were more than enough to complete the project ●Where did all their offerings come from? Exodus 3:21-22; 12:35-36 ▪Moses instructed them to ask the Egyptians for clothing, silver and gold ▪God caused the Egyptians to look favorably on them ▪Egyptians gave the Israelites everything they asked for ▪They stripped the Egyptians of their wealth ●People brought more gifts, their contributions were more than enough to complete the project ●Where did all their offerings come from? Exodus 3:21-22; 12:35-36 ▪Moses instructed them to ask the Egyptians for clothing, silver and gold ▪God caused the Egyptians to look favorably on them ▪Egyptians gave the Israelites everything they asked for ▪They stripped the Egyptians of their wealth

 New Testament Church Project – caring for others needs – 2 Corinthians 8-9 ●Example of Macedonian churches ▪Many troubles ▪Filled with joy – overflow of rich generosity ▪Gave more than they could afford ▪Of their own free will ▪First act was to give themselves to the Lord  New Testament Church Project – caring for others needs – 2 Corinthians 8-9 ●Example of Macedonian churches ▪Many troubles ▪Filled with joy – overflow of rich generosity ▪Gave more than they could afford ▪Of their own free will ▪First act was to give themselves to the Lord

●Corinthian church ▪Excel in this gracious act of giving ▪Testing the genuineness of your love ▪Give what you have, not what you don’t have ▪Decide in your heart how much to give ▪Not reluctantly or under pressure ▪God will generously provide what you need ▪Everything you need ▪Plenty left to share with others ●Corinthian church ▪Excel in this gracious act of giving ▪Testing the genuineness of your love ▪Give what you have, not what you don’t have ▪Decide in your heart how much to give ▪Not reluctantly or under pressure ▪God will generously provide what you need ▪Everything you need ▪Plenty left to share with others

▪God provides seed and bread ●Two results ▪People’s needs met ▪They will give glory to God ▪God provides seed and bread ●Two results ▪People’s needs met ▪They will give glory to God

 Serving as skilled – Romans 12:1-11 ●Give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you ●This is truly the way to worship him ●Different gifts according to the grace given us ●Serve with the gift you’ve been given ●Don’t be lazy, work hard, serve the Lord enthusiastically  Serving as skilled – Romans 12:1-11 ●Give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you ●This is truly the way to worship him ●Different gifts according to the grace given us ●Serve with the gift you’ve been given ●Don’t be lazy, work hard, serve the Lord enthusiastically

III. Capable people  Proverbs 22:29 Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will stand before kings; He will not stand before obscure men.  1 Kings 11:28 Jeroboam was a very capable young man, and when Solomon saw how industrious he was, he put him in charge of the labor force from the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh, the descendants of Joseph.  Proverbs 22:29 Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will stand before kings; He will not stand before obscure men.  1 Kings 11:28 Jeroboam was a very capable young man, and when Solomon saw how industrious he was, he put him in charge of the labor force from the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh, the descendants of Joseph.

 We have leaders in charge ●Aspiring to leadership is a good thing ●1 Timothy 3:1 It is a trustworthy statement: if any man aspires to the office of overseer, it is a fine work he desires to do.  We have leaders in charge ●Aspiring to leadership is a good thing ●1 Timothy 3:1 It is a trustworthy statement: if any man aspires to the office of overseer, it is a fine work he desires to do.

Interactive Time  What areas of opportunity for involvement are of interest to you? Who would you invite to be involved with you?  How is the Lord stirring you in your heart to serve? Who do you need to talk to about serving with your gift?  What areas of opportunity for involvement are of interest to you? Who would you invite to be involved with you?  How is the Lord stirring you in your heart to serve? Who do you need to talk to about serving with your gift?

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