SQUARE PEGS IN SQUARE HOLES

Audio preaching by Pastor Benny Ho

Story: Pastor at a dining event and the lady that dish out chicken. (1 piece per person)

Let he/she whom God has given the gifts to do what he/she knows best at.

Romans 12:6-8: Then having gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, if prophecy, according to the proportion of faith; or ministry, in the ministry; or he who teaches, in the teaching; or he who exhorts, in the encouragement; or he who shares, in simplicity; or he who takes the lead, in diligence; or he who shows mercy, in cheerfulness.

(1) We have different gifts as …
- God has design everyone differently
- To have less friction. God creates square pegs to be placed in square holes and not square pegs in round holes.
- Our gifts that are given by God compliment each other to fulfil our potential inChrist bringing the church and community to greater heights.

Sadly we live in our self impose limitations and never live to our potential, above and beyond.

Ephesians 3:20 Now to Him who is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us..

(2) Purpose determines potential.
- Purpose always begins in the mind of the creator.
- Purpose precedes production.
- Purpose creates the design.
- Everything begins with purpose in the mind of the creator and ends with purpose fulfilling its destiny.
- Everyone is created with a purpose. Hence if you and I are not living to our potential, not fulfilling our purpose, we are abusing it.

If we are the child of the most high, then our potential is most high.

Ephesians 2:10: For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to good works, which God has before ordained that we should walk in them.

(3) We need to get to our fullest potential by being in your STRENGTH zone. (Do less for more)
Acts 6:1-6
- in the early church the apostles are the one taking care of everything in a church as there is no blueprint for them to follow.
- the apostles discovered they are called to teach the word, they realized they should not spend too much time on the widows. (Verse 1)
- they focus on their calling and the Word of God is increasing and the number of disciples multiple exceedingly, resulting in a breakthrough in the church (Verse 7)
Therefore:
- Take note of your strengths and deploy them accordingly to edify others
- Focus on your strengths and not shortcomings
- Always remember that God will not call you to do something that He did not giveyou the talents to do it.

5 basic steps to discover your gifts:
I. Be open and explore all possibilities. Break out from all self impose limitations.
II. Experiment with all the gifts (Never know till you try)
III. After trying, examine your feeling (If it is something God wired you to do, you will enjoy it. It will not be a duty but an enjoyment/fulfillment doing it)
IV. Evaluate the effectiveness of what you doing. (What you enjoy doing may not be what others enjoy it – ensured others are ministered)
V. Expect confirmation; God’s confirmation. [(1) Feedback from people (2) Prophetic exhortation]

Remember: GOD WILL ONLY ASK OF YOU WHAT HE HAS GIVEN YOU.

Battleship versus Cruise ship
Everyone in the battleship has a purpose/ duty. They each have a function to perform. Unlike a battleship, a cruise ship has 500 people lazing on the ship.

1 Peter 4:10: each one as he received a gift, ministering it to yourselves as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

(4) God is pleased if we use our gifts with the right heart and motive.
- God looks into the heart.
- Note that a ministry is a platform to glorify God not to glorify self.
- Is not for the world to see and for God to see.
- Do not give God a mediocre half hearted effort, do it with heart.
- It is not the size of the task but the size of the heart we put in the task
- Striving excellence with simplicity

Discussion - Our take home ...

(a) Everyone should be given an opportunity to discover their gifts. Every one of us can give opportunities to people around us. (Yi Xian)
(b) 5 steps to discover your gifting (Sarah)
(c) Purpose determines potential. It takes close walk with God to discover God’s purpose in you and obedience to fulfil the destiny. (Paul)
(d) Confirmation from others takes a lot of humility to accept feedback from others. (James)
(e) Everyone has their purposes and potential and everyone compliments one another. (Serene)
(f) The great white shark story putting it in an aquarium instead of putting in the sea - Self impose limitation. Pushing yourself to the limits (Kenny)
(g) Every greatest potential that is brought out, comes with a great mentor and humility to accept people’s feedback. Every service requires the heart to edify others. God looks at our heart when we serve. (Emma)
(h) If not from the heart is not worth doing it. Do less for more (Jonathan)