Encouraging You To Find Your Spiritual Passion

For years, the church has struggled to find and retain enough volunteers and staff to meet the needs of the community but, as I suggested in last week’s sermon, too many people are being selected to be a part of an “exciting ministry” because they have a pulse rather than a passion. What does this really mean though? To have a pulse without a passion is to subsist but to understand one’s own passion will help energize that pulse and spark a desire to excel. These are not my words but rather an interpretation of the Word and a encouragement to seek out the gifts He has bestowed upon you. Allow me to expand on this. My wife is an extraordinary singer and understands that God has bestowed this amazing talent upon her. Natalie can get people involved in the worship in a way that I cannot. Now, take her out of this gifting and ask her to design the budget for next year that includes the stats and figures required for the congregation to fully understand the necessities of a 1.5 percent increase in expenditures for the custodial contract is rather outside her comfort zone. She has a pulse though.

There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them.  There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord.  There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.

Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 1 Cor 12:4-7 NIV

To Peter, Holy Spirit gave the gift of preaching and exhortation. Peter, filled with Spirit’s power and wisdom, spoke up in front of thousands in a place where, just a short time before, Jesus was captured, flogged, sentenced to death and hung on a cross. Without fear for self, Peter spoke the Truth to the masses and thousands gave their lives to Christ. Peter did not realize his passion until he found, realized and was compelled by Holy Spirit to explode with the power and energy of God. So the question is this; where is your passion? Have you taken time to listen to the promptings and guidance of God? Do you feel like you are out of your element or rather lost in your service? Do you feel like you were put into spot because you had a pulse and you are just going through the motions because you don’t want to upset or disappoint? In Matthew, Jesus talked about letting God show the way and to let His wisdom be the guide. Leaders need to realize this and recognize the talents or gifts when building a team. Seek first the wisdom of God.

This Sunday, we continue with the series on encouragement in the Master. Join us if you can at 10:30 MST on Sunday or you can watch us live online on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/MainAvenueFellowship/) or view it afterwards on our website (www.mainavefellowship.blogspot.ca).

Blessings
Pastor Todd