BLOWING YOUR OWN TRUMPET

I've played the trumpet for over 50 years.  Granted, I don't play as much as when I was younger but I can still play some "mean licks" if given the opportunity to play.  I started when I was 8 or 9 years old and have had some wonderful experiences of playing it in many venues and in many places around the world.  But I have a pet peeve... one of the annoying things to me is when someone tries to pick up my trumpet and play it - especially without my permission.  I might be off doing something or talking with someone and all of a sudden I will hear the most hideous sound blaring away as someone couldn't resist the temptation to see if they could make music.

In instructing the children of Israel - Moses tells them to make their own trumpet.  They would have to go out and mine the silver and then they would then need to make and shape it into their own trumpet.

Numbers 10:1-3 (ESV) 1  The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 2  “Make two silver trumpets. Of hammered work you shall make them, and you shall use them for summoning the congregation and for breaking camp. 

THREE THINGS TO HELP YOU BLOW YOUR OWN TRUMPET

1.  Make your own trumpet – v.2  

Numbers 10:2 (ESV) 2  “Make two silver trumpets. Of hammered work you shall make them, and you shall use them for summoning the congregation and for breaking camp.

These trumpets were long and straight with a flared end.  Since they were to be made of silver – they were different from the Shofar (ram’s horn) often used.

When it comes to ministry for each of us - we need to find and develop the ministry that God has designed for our lives.  When it comes to ministry:

• Don’t buy it
• Mine the silver
• Hammer it out – Hebrew – “to beat it out.”
• Make it personal – for your own self

Our problem – we don’t want to hammer it out ourselves. We don't want to take time to find and discover our own ministry that God has for us.  Granted, there are many trumpets (ministries) around the world.  We need to learn their hammering techniques BUT DON’T BUY THEIR TRUMPETS.

Your trumpet is unique to you. The issue is your identity in Christ.

2.  Hammer your trumpet to your assignment

What has God called you to do?  Are you honing in your skills to that assignment?

Three assignments of the trumpets:

a. Gather the people – v.2

Numbers 10:2 (ESV) 2  “Make two silver trumpets. Of hammered work you shall make them, and you shall use them for summoning the congregation and for breaking camp.

This was their congregational meeting.  It is their place of ministry with the congregation.

b. Move the camps – v.2

This dealt with direction in their/ our  lives

Isaiah 30:21 (ESV) 21  And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left.

c.   Call them to war – vv. 3-6

Numbers 10:3-6 (ESV) 3  And when both are blown, all the congregation shall gather themselves to you at the entrance of the tent of meeting. 4  But if they blow only one, then the chiefs, the heads of the tribes of Israel, shall gather themselves to you. 5  When you blow an alarm, the camps that are on the east side shall set out. 6  And when you blow an alarm the second time, the camps that are on the south side shall set out. An alarm is to be blown whenever they are to set out.

This dealt with warfare.  There are times when each and every one of us will deal with warfare in our lives.

1 Corinthians 12:14 (ESV) 14  For the body does not consist of one member but of many.

Basically… every church/ person has his or her own assignment.  Every person has his/her strengths and it has his/ her weaknesses. It is interesting... this trumpet only played one note.  It needs other instruments to accompany it.  That is its weakness. Its strength is that it is LOUD AND CLEAR.

Your have strengths that others don’t have - but you also have weaknesses.  There are things WE ARE CALLED TO and things that WE ARE NOT CALLED TO. God is always taking our weaknesses and turning them into something.  He enjoys working with our weaknesses.  You might say you are weak today – GOD LOVES WORKING WITH THOSE WEAKNESSES.

2 Corinthians 12:10 (ESV) 10  For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Our weaknesses keep us on our knees.  It keeps us humble. What assignment has God given to your life?  What is the gift that God wants us to use?  What gifts does God have for us?  Which ones does He want us to use? We need to know our strengths and our weaknesses.

3.  Learn to blow your trumpet clearly.

1 Corinthians 14:8 (ESV) 8  And if the bugle gives an indistinct sound, who will get ready for battle?

Once you know what your gift is.  Once we know what your assignment from God is – then blow your trumpet clearly. Hone in on your gift and make it the best gift you possibly can make it.  And then... blow it strong and blow it well.You can have the most wonderful imported trumpets – but if you don’t know how to blow it – it will sound terrible.  Are you ready to be used by God?  If yes - then go out and make your trumpet and learn to use it for the glory of God!