God has given us our own "superpowers."
Superhero qualities:
--sacrifices their life in a selfless way.
--Inspires people; gives them hope.
--Helps others expecting nothing in return.
--Is brave and courageous.
--they have something other people don't have.
A superhero is a servant:
"Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.” Mark 9:35
"Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all." Mark 10:43-44
We are to be servants all the time.
"For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”" Mark 10:45
Jesus passed on His "superpowers" -- His gifts.
We each have been given a superpower by grace, to help in the resistance of evil. He wants us to participate.
"We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your[a] faith; 7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead,[b] do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully." Romans 12:6-8
Find your superpower! In a way He wants us to be like the Justice League -- we each have our own job to do. Without one of us doing our job there will be something going undone.
More Superpowers:
"To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10 to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues,[a] and to still another the interpretation of tongues.[b] 11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines." 1 Corinthians 12:8-11
Someone got us to where we are by the power of the Spirit. We need to run with it. Help others along the path.
We don't want to be Couch Potato Thor! Fat Thor!
Even more superpowers:
"So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ." Ephesians 4:11-13
Everyone has a role to play. Each of us has a role to play in the church. Talents have to be refined and polished. It takes a lot of work to refine and polish a talent. Work hard at it. Practice. Satan and the world can't steal your salvation but they can steal your ministry.
Common theme of Superheroes: they serve their communities.
"There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. 5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6 There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work." 1 Corinthians 12:4-7
Be involved. We are meant to do our part. Our mission -- to fight the evil of the world. Become that new creature We were made into when we accepted Christ Jesus. When the superhero became the superhero the old person was gone. He/She became a totally different person/creature. 100% change.
Manifesting the gifts -- manifesting the Spirit:
"Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will." Romans 12:2
Using superpowers for personal gain is selfish -- this is the world's way.
As a church -- are we using our gifts?
Scientists have found out there are 26 lakes under the Sahara Desert! Yet people are dying of thirst there because they aren't accessing the water.
A lot of people want to serve God in an advisory role. God doesn't have or need advisors. If we has sa church disappeared tomorrow, would people miss us? We must be the salt and light.
"For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your[a] faith;" Romans 12:4-6
We've been given great gifts. With great power comes great responsibility. Spiderman stole that from the Bible!
"But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked." Luke 12:48
"Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father." John 14:12
Wow!! More than what Jesus did while on earth -- this is a promise! A truth!
"If I speak in the tongues[a] of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast,[b] but do not have love, I gain nothing." 1 Corinthians 13:1-3
Whatever we do, we must do with love -- loving God and people. If not done in love, if the gifts aren't used in love, what we do is useless. Less than useless!
Are we doing what God wants us to do?