Message Notes
Revival is a Team Sport
Today's Songs:
The Joy of Our Salvation - The Way Worship (listen)
All Creatures of our God and King
Doxology
Simplicity - Rend Collective
Jesus We Love You - Bethel Music
Remember, you can find all the songs from this week and previous weeks in a publicly shared, accumulating playlist on Google Play and in weekly playlists on YouTube (like this one).
Summary: God calls every believer to a unique work and He equips them and empowers them with spiritual gifts to accomplish this work. The body of Christ does not function well, or at all, apart from every believer utilizing their gifts.
Key Scripture (Ezra 7:1-10):
Ezra Sent to Teach the People
7:1 Now after this, in the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra the son of Seraiah, son of Azariah, son of Hilkiah, 2 son of Shallum, son of Zadok, son of Ahitub, 3 son of Amariah, son of Azariah, son of Meraioth,4 son of Zerahiah, son of Uzzi, son of Bukki, 5 son of Abishua, son of Phinehas, son of Eleazar, son of Aaron the chief priest— 6 this Ezra went up from Babylonia. He was a scribe skilled in the Law of Moses that the Lord, the God of Israel, had given, and the king granted him all that he asked, for the hand of the Lord his God was on him.
7 And there went up also to Jerusalem, in the seventh year of Artaxerxes the king, some of the people of Israel, and some of the priests and Levites, the singers and gatekeepers, and the temple servants. 8 And Ezra[a] came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, which was in the seventh year of the king. 9 For on the first day of the first month he began to go up from Babylonia, and on the first day of the fifth month he came to Jerusalem, for the good hand of his God was on him. 10 For Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the Lord, and to do it and to teach his statutes and rules in Israel.
We see a pattern of plurality in the restoration of Israel (Ezra 2:70; 7:7). This pattern runs contrary to rugged American individualism that has pervaded the church and ministry.
Revival is born of individual conviction (Ezra 7:10).
Ezra "set his heart" to study the Word, do the Word, and teach the Word. As a function of this simple yet profound move, he built the team, recruiting leaders to accompany him in this work (Ezra 7:28).
We see in the American church a distinct lack of Christian engagement as most Christians exist as consumers or "toleraters" - they exist to receive, to consume, or they merely tolerate church as a necessary, mechanical religious duty.
Important Takeaway: Very few Christians serve in a meaningful way, and this is exacerbated by church leaders who ask very little of their congregations.
God empowers us with spiritual gifts (Acts 1:8).
Key Scripture (Acts 1:8): 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.
The book of Acts of the Apostles could be entitled, The Acts of the Holy Spirit, or (if they were feeling especially long-winded), The Acts of the Holy Spirit Through the Ministry of the Apostles as they Exercise Their Spiritual Gifts.
The very first manifestation of Acts 1:8 is at Pentecost, where those present received an impartation of supernatural ability - they spoke in various tongues and languages and were heard by others in their native tongues.
Throughout the book of Acts, the Apostles exercised various spiritual gifts in building up the early church in a supernatural way.
God gives us grace through the Spiritual gifts.
Key Scripture (1 Cor. 12:4-7, 11): 4 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; 5 and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; 6 and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone.7 To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.
11 All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.
The gifts are from the same God, given to every church member, for service, for the common good.
Aside from a mention of prophecy being preferable to tongues (reason given: the object of edification), no gift is better than another.
Key Scripture (Romans 12:5-6): 5 so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. 6 Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith;
Each of us have a different gift according to the grace of God.
"Let us use them."
Key Scripture (Ephesians 4:7,11-13): 7 But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift.
11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds[a] and teachers,[b] 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood,[c] to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,
The gifts were given for the equipping of the saints and the building up of the church.
Key Scripture (1 Peter 4:10-11): 10 As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: 11 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.
Conclusion: The Church will never be what God has called us to be apart from the active engagement of every church member in using their spiritual gifts to accomplish God's call upon their lives.
