Only a red penguin will do

God uses different personality

Farm Tool Quiz – each has a purpose – each critical for the task

Living things too. Look at a group of penguins and all look the same. Yet each has a role – sometimes obvious (as when a couple cares for the young of the community. Each needs to live out its uniqueness and role. At times only a red penguin will do.

So will us – this sarcastic saying is really true. Each person is unique – all of us are. Personality is one of the most fundamental ways we each are unique. This core element of who we are is intentional.

The Lord has sovereignly established personalities and inner makeup. He has designed each individual with a unique personality. This personality is integrated throughout each person’s design, shaping all other aspects of his giftedness for ministry. Understanding one’s personality and how it shapes one’s ministry is important to the understanding of one’s God shaped design.

One does not have to look far to see that God designed and uniquely used different personalities in scripture. We will look at some of these today.

I.       God designs the who we are

The Lord established our innermost being including our personalities, which is the central defining element of our uniqueness.

A.     God uniquely shaped us

(NIV) Psalm 139 13 For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. 15 My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, 16 your eyes saw my unformed body.

B.     God has a plan that fits that inner/outer self

(NIV) Psalm 139 16 All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.

C.     Be in awe of God’s activity

(NIV) Psalm 139 14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

17 How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them!

D.    Yield to God and His plan

(NKJV) Psalm 139 23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; 24 And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting.

II.    Paul’s “D”riven personality: Aggressively spreading the gospel

The personality of Paul enabled him to be used uniquely in ministry with his passionately focused personality.

A.     Driven in life

(NKJV) Philippians 3 5 circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; 6 concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.

B.     Driven for Christ

(NKJV) Philippians 3 7 But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. 8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ … 10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death,

C.     Driven to take the gospel to the world

(NKJV) Ephesians 3 8 To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, 

III. Peter’s “I”nfluencing personality: Speaking for Christ

The personality of Peter enabled him to be used uniquely in ministry as a spokesman, influencer, and leader

A.     Influencing the disciples

(NKJV) Mark 8 29 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered and said to Him, “You are the Christ.”

B.     Influencing the Jewish world

(NKJV) Acts 2 1 When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place …14 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, raised his voice and said to them, “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and heed my words.

C.     Influencing the church to the end

(NKJV) 2 Peter 1 12 For this reason I will not be negligent to remind you always of these things, though you know and are established in the present truth. 13 Yes, I think it is right, as long as I am in this tent, to stir you up by reminding you, 14 knowing that shortly I must put off my tent, just as our Lord Jesus Christ showed me. 15 Moreover I will be careful to ensure that you always have a reminder of these things after my decease.

IV. Luke’s “C”onscientious personality: Supporting God’s work

Luke’s personality caused him to do everything he did with analysis and detail focus.

A.     Conscientiously: a professional

(NKJV) Colossians 4 14 Luke the beloved physician and Demas greet you.

B.     Conscientiously: documenting scripture

(NKJV) Luke 1 1 Inasmuch as many have taken in hand to set in order a narrative of those things which have been fulfilled among us, 2 just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word delivered them to us, 3 it seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write to you an orderly account, most excellent Theophilus, 4 that you may know the certainty of those things in which you were instructed.

1.      Luke / Acts

C.     Conscientiously: Upholding Paul

(NKJV) 2 Timothy 4 10 for Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world, and has departed for Thessalonica—Crescens for Galatia, Titus for Dalmatia. 11 Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for ministry.

1.      Around the world on mission trips.

2.      At the last moments with Paul when others left

V.    John’s “S”teady personality: A close relationship with Jesus

John’s personality caused him to focus on his relationship with Jesus.

A.     Lived a close relationship with Jesus

(NKJV) John 13 23 Now there was leaning on Jesus’ bosom one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved.

B.     Shared the availability of a relationship for all

(NKJV) John 20 30 And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.

C.     Encouraged a close relationship with Jesus for Christians

(NKJV) 1 John 5 13 These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.