What do you do when the world seems against you?  How can you overcome anxiety, depression, fear, anger, guilt?

Recently I went through a dark time.  I felt oppressed and attacked spiritually.  I felt my best wasn’t good enough.  I felt defeated, and low, and embarrassed of how the efforts I put forward for ministry didn’t look how I thought they should look.  Things were grim.  I was beginning to spiral further into myself and my shortcomings, feeling more and more like a failure.  Being the DIY, self-sufficient all-American girl I am, I sought the advice of the internet.  I googled, “how to overcome depression” and was greeted with webpage after webpage of secular psychologists giving various tips on how to get yourself out of a funk.  There was one common thread among them: replace your negative thoughts with positive affirmations.  Tell yourself (in the words of Stuart Smalley) “I’m good enough, I’m smart enough, and doggone it, people like me!”

I had been studying 2 Corinthians 10 that week. Verses 4-5 say, “For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds.  We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ.”  I’d had the weapons to fight off these mental and emotional attacks all along!  Not only that, but this powerful weapon, the very Word of God himself, has divine power to destroy strongholds.  My role in this was to take my every thought captive and make it obey Christ. 

Practically, how do I take thoughts captive and make them obey Christ?  I began by listing out all the lies I had been believing and listening to.  I looked up scriptures that contradicted those lies, and I began to meditate on those truths.  I found a stack of business-sized cards I’d received as a gift (thanks, Mutar!) that had beautiful and powerful promises of God printed on them, with my own name inserted into the verses.  I began to recognize the lies for what they were, and in each moment and each instance, replace those lies with the Truth of God’s word.

The change was immediate and amazing.  God’s word really does transform our minds!  When we store up His word in our hearts, we can overcome the temptation to sin (Psalm 119:11).  We don’t need to fear (2 Timothy 1:7, Deuteronomy 31:6, Psalm 23:4, Romans 8:38-39, Isaiah 41:10).  We have value and are infinitely loved (Genesis 1:27, Jeremiah 31:3, Romans 5:8, 1 John 3:1, Luke 12:6-7).  We are made right with God through Christ, are adopted as beloved sons and daughters, and cannot be snatched from His hand (Romans 10:9-10, Romans 8:14-17, John 5:24, John 10:28-30). This barely scratches the surface of the depths of wisdom and promises of the Bible!  The more time you spend getting to know God in his word, the more you love Him, the more gratitude you have for the blessings in your life, the more your mind is renewed to be like Christ.

So, when seasons arise that overwhelm you, when you find yourself in a dark place wondering what on earth to do, seek wisdom in the pages of your Bible.  Take wayward thoughts captive and make them obey Christ by replacing lies with the truth.  God’s word is sufficient for all of life’s trials. “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9a)

“Membership has its privileges.” This is a phrase I have often heard, but seldom experienced. When I was younger, in a job that had me travel the world on frequent business trips, I was given some good advice by the seasoned travelers in my office: “Choose a hotel rewards and airline miles program and stick with it.” This really is good advice, which I stand by for religious reasons.

Between flying to Asia, Europe, and all over the continental US, I racked up a lot of loyalty points. My goal was to take my family on an all-expenses-paid vacation to somewhere, if not fabulous, at least free.

After Holly was born (my second eldest), I was able to book my first vacation using loyalty points. We flew to Orlando from San Antonio on Delta Airlines for free. Not too shabby. I had top-tier status with Delta, and this ate up most of my points. But, the crown jewel of my frequent traveler treasure chest was my Diamond Status with Hilton! It was my plan to turn a move from San Antonio to California into a once-in-a-lifetime road trip with swanky stays along the way. Unfortunately, the Hilton resort I booked in Arizona did not have Hilton Diamond amenities, so my four years of Hilton stays netted me a Starbucks and a bagel each morning from the hotel grocery. Wah wah... After that debacle, they booked us in the stinky pet room at the Embassy Suites in Lompoc.

I didn’t travel for business for the next three years. My status with Delta now allows me to fly on the roof of the plane with the chicken crates. As I look back, my real problem was that I should have used my travel points when they would have done me some good. Instead, I hoarded them for a future vacation that never happened.

My story of being a Christian is a lot like my story of being a travel rewards member. The status I had was not the status I used. The day we are saved God gives us the Holy Spirit, full access to the God of the universe, spiritual gifts, a mission, and eternal life. It is like getting Diamond Status the day you sign up! You get this fabulous rewards package, and so did I. But, I never used my points!

It gets worse. For two decades I never used my points. I had the Holy Spirit, but I did not find time to get to know Him. And sadly, I never experienced His power. The whole time as a saved person, I knew there was so much more that God wanted for my life. I knew this, because the Holy Spirit constantly convicted my soul…AND I WAS MISERABLE! Hebrews 10:24-25 says, “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”

I was living Hebrews 10:24-25. I had no one to stir me toward good works, because I avoided those people like the plague. I didn’t want to hear what they had to say, because it pricked my heart and made me feel guilty. Well, that is exactly how a person who has been given the GREATEST GIFT in the universe only to squander it SHOULD FEEL!

The turning point in my life was when I submitted to mature Christians, joined a fellowship of believers in a Bible believing church, began worshiping the God of my salvation, and yielded my life to God’s plan. These things only happen when a Christian participates in Christ’s body, the Church.

I want you to have these benefits too. Don’t make the mistake I did. Jesus did not leave you on an island. He is a God of community (hence the Trinity). He wants to commune with you as you commune with other believers. This is why he went to such lengths to establish His church. I mean for crying out loud, he spent weeks church planting after being raised from the dead. I can tell you when I have been raised from the dead, I’m gonna be worshipping God, not worrying about all of you!

Listen to this week’s sermon. The Elders of Element CS want to join with you in covenant membership. We want you to live the life God has for you. We are committed to you and want to offer you a helping hand.

How do I know if I have spiritual gifts?  How do I know what they are?  How do I use my gifts?

If you’re like me, you’ve asked yourself these questions a time or two in your Christian life.  Jesus promised us the Holy Spirit in John 14:26: “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, He will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.” So, we can be confident that we have the Holy Spirit from the moment of salvation (Eph. 1:13).  We can trust God’s promise that we have the Spirit, and thus, have the gifts of the Spirit.  In fact, the fruit of the Spirit listed in Galatians 5:22 -- love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control -- are evidences of a life lived in step with the guidance of the Holy Spirit.  These are things that all believers’ lives should reflect as we submit our lives to becoming more like Christ. 

But what about those spiritual gifts? 

There are many passages throughout the New Testament that list or outline the spiritual gifts.  The apostle Paul tells us things like prophecy, wisdom, teaching, service, giving, leading, acting mercifully, evangelism, distinguishing between spirits, healing, working miracles, and speaking in and interpreting tongues are all gifts of the Holy Spirit (Rom. 12:6-8; 1 Cor. 12:4-11; Eph. 4:11-16).  But how do I know which of these I have?  How can I identify the gifts given to me so I can be most effective in my service to God?

I sometimes find myself trying to shoe-horn the talents I have and the situation I’m in into one of those listed gifts.  But I can tell you, friend, this is not the right approach!  1 Corinthians 12:4-11 tells us, “Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone.  To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good…All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.”

In light of what Paul tells us about the beautiful diversity of Christ’s body (1 Cor. 12:12-31), and the variety of gifts the Holy Spirit gives us, I believe we are to use the abilities, talents, and skills God gave us and the situations He puts us in to serve Him.  We are to use our unique personality, our varied experiences, our own personal story to further the kingdom of God.  When God sends a person into your life to whom you can be a blessing, do it!  If you’re presented with an opportunity to use your skills to serve in some capacity, whether it’s in your church, your family, your community, or even helping a stranger, do it! 

You may be saying to yourself, “But I don’t even know what my gifts are.  How can I use my gifts to serve God unless I know what they are?” I say to you, just start moving forward.  This week, make someone a meal.  That’s an act of service.  Encourage a friend.  That’s exhortation and wisdom.  Pray for that rude driver who nearly took you out on Powers Boulevard.  That’s acting in faith.

Still at a loss? Ask a trusted Christian friend if they see spiritual gifts in your life that you may be missing.  Can you sing?  Join the worship team! That’s leadership and contributing to worship.  Are you handy?  Use your skills to help someone.  That’s an act of mercy. Has God taught you something new as you study His word? Share it with others!  That’s wisdom, prophecy, and exhortation.  You’ll find that it’s easier to steer a moving ship – and that the more you use the gifts God gave you, the more sensitive you’ll be to the leading of the Holy Spirit. 

In Matthew 25:14-30, Jesus gives the parable of the talents.  In this story, the master entrusts three servants with varying amounts of money and goes away on a trip.  Upon the master’s return, the servants with five and two talents have each invested wisely and doubled the master’s money, while the servant with one talent has simply buried the talent in the ground.  The master is, of course, pleased with the diligence of the servants who increased the master’s wealth, and angry with the servant who squandered the opportunity.  God has given each of us unique gifts and abilities.  Don’t be that foolish servant!  Don’t bury your gifts in the sand.  Get out there and use your spiritual gifts for God’s kingdom, and don’t be surprised when you see God’s overflowing blessing in your life.