Good morning, everybody. Take out your Bibles and turn to the book of Romans, chapter 12.
I just want to express briefly my gratitude for all your prayers and encouragement.
! As we were gone up at Duke Hospital, kind of fighting through some infection that I have,
and still kind of doing it. I have my stuff going this morning.
I have a little medicine ball, and it pushes medicine through it, which is pretty cool.
But it's also too big to fit in my pocket of these cowboy-cut Wranglers, so I have it in a fanny pack,
which is really embarrassing. So, returning to the 80s slowly.
But I really want to just thank you for your prayers and encouragement.
That said, I still am a little short of breath, so it might take me longer to kind of get out everything.
But I will be watching the time. I promise not to keep you here longer.
At least at this point, Lord willing, I'm supposed to preach the next passage next Sunday.
So if I have to, I may wrap up some of this and just put it in with next week.
So, we'll see how it goes.
But it's times like this that it's good for the Lord to remind me to not rely on any kind of gifting or ability I have,
but on His strength and His power.
So just join me in a word of prayer.
Father, we offer this time to you.
Please just work in and through me to accomplish your purpose.
And may your word be applied to our hearts through your Holy Spirit.
And may it have the desired effect that you meant for it to have on our souls and our lives as we go from here.
So may you be pleased, Lord, during this time and this preaching and the hearing of your word.
In Christ's name, amen.
Amen.
All right.
Romans 12.
Nathan did a wonderful job last week on Romans 1 and 2, kind of the focus on renewing our minds.
And so, the book of Romans can be really hard to reconnect and just to make sure you don't lose the overall picture of it.
But in short, God's saving grace leads to a new life in Christ.
And in chapter 12 through 15, 13, Paul begins to work out the practical gospel implications of his saving mercy.
So, in light of all that God has done for us, in light of all that the book of Romans has unpacked, the idea that we were chosen by his grace, we've had our sins forgiven, we've been made right with God, justified in his sight, that Christ's righteousness has been given to us, that we are reconciled to him.
We've been adopted into this family, we've been given the Holy Spirit as a guarantee of our inheritance.
So, in light of all that stuff that Romans has just talked about, now he's saying, therefore, live this way.
That's what starts in chapter 12 and kind of goes forward through the rest of the book.
And today, looking at, that's kind of where we've been, and now where we're going, starting in verses 3 through 8, Paul begins expounding on what the new life in Christ actually looks like.
As in most of his letters, he begins talking with teaching about doctrine, theology.
He does that in Ephesians very clearly.
Maybe the first three chapters are about our great salvation and what God has done for us, and the other three chapters are about working that out in response to that, how godly living, what it looks like.
Very similar at this point.
He concludes this letter with a practical outworking and application of what he's already expounded on.
And so, don't fall off on either side of this cliff, okay?
Truth and knowledge and sound doctrine are vital.
And without it, you will not be saved, all right?
But it is also insufficient without the Holy Spirit's empowerment and application to the inward man.
So, your learning must translate into living.
It must, your theology must transform into doxology.
Doxology.
It's not meant just to be head knowledge.
It must impact your heart.
It must impact your soul.
It must impact the way you think.
Or else it's just dead knowledge in your head.
Both are important, right?
Your head knowledge and your heart response to that truth are vital.
And so, the following verses, just to give you a simple outline, Paul begins with an exhortation in verse 3, an illustration in verses 4 through 5, and then an application in verses 6 through 8.
So, let's read together Romans 12.
We'll start.
You know what?
I'm just going to start with verse 1 just for fun.
To kind of not lose if you weren't here last week or whatever.
But, Paul says,
And he goes on in verse 3.
Let's read together Romans 12.
Let's read Romans 12.
The one who leads with zeal.
The one who does acts of mercy with cheerfulness.
All right.
So, for you people out there that are particularly looking at the second part of verse 6,
that's not where we're going today.
So, just hang tight.
We're going to have a walk through this outline.
But three points today.
Number one, and this is the exhortation,
number one is right attitude.
That's the exhortation in verse 3.
He says,
For by grace given to me, I say to everyone among you,
not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think,
but to think with sober judgment,
each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.
So, Paul begins this whole part by recognizing
that what he has is a result of God's grace,
his apostleship, his ministry,
all stems not because of any greatness that's in him,
but completely by God's grace.
He was set apart for the service of Christ.
So, then he's connecting that truth to what we just read,
verses 1 and 2,
the idea of renewing our minds.
In light of that,
Paul calls all believers to think humbly and rightly
about themselves and their role in the church.
So, very clearly at the heart of our sin
and our rebellion against God
is wrong thinking,
temptations to boast about ourselves
and to demean others.
Every single good thing we have is from God.
Everything, including our gifts and our rules
that are in the body.
And Paul makes that crystal clear.
Everything that we have that is good is from God.
Every passage that mentions gifts,
okay,
which there's four, really.
It says in 1 Corinthians 12,
to each is given the manifestation of the Spirit
for the common good.
So, given,
God has appointed in the church
and that he gave,
Ephesians 4.11.
So, anytime gifts are mentioned,
Paul wants you to see it clearly
that it was given to you by God.
And so, if you understand that,
it excludes boasting.
So, he goes hard at that.
So, he's saying,
don't come at this
with an approach of pride.
So, the right response to this,
what is the right attitude?
The right attitude is humility
and not pride.
Richard Baxter,
one of my favorite Puritan writers,
said,
humility is not a mere ornament
of a Christian,
but an essential part
of the new creature.
It is a contradiction in terms
to be a Christian
and not be humble.
So, humility is our only
right response to God
because it recognizes
that we live the Christian life
in the same manner
in which we first became believers,
completely by his grace.
So, humility isn't just pretending,
faking that we're unworthy,
right,
that,
to sound spiritual,
but it's acknowledging
the true reality
that we are unworthy,
that everything we have
is from God,
and that excludes boasting.
So, in light of that,
Paul is calling them to think,
and he says,
in this verse,
I say to you,
right,
I say,
exhort,
warn everyone among you.
Not,
there's this idea of
don't do this,
but do this.
So, here's the negative part.
Not to think,
which means to estimate,
to evaluate himself
more highly
than he ought to think,
or to have an overblown,
exaggerated opinion
of your own importance.
Okay?
A man that I respect a lot
said this,
that a desire for preeminence
is the death
of spiritual usefulness.
Pride is cancerous
to the body,
and few things
can cause more harm
in a local church
than a person
who overrates himself
and tries to perform
a ministry
that he really isn't
gifted to do,
and he boasts about
those gifts
that he doesn't possess.
We've all seen that
in the church.
We've seen people
overrating themselves,
overrating their importance
and their role
in the church
and what great harm
that does.
We've seen people
who don't have gifts
destroy things
because they think
they have them,
and that we haven't
been bold enough
and honest enough
to say,
hey, you really
don't have that,
brother or sister.
So,
that's okay
because you've been
gifted in other ways.
So, let's find out
what that is.
Don't do that.
We also have seen
people boast about
gifts that God
has given
and use them
for their own glory
to exalt themselves.
And both
are expressions
of pride.
God wrote,
or James wrote,
God opposes the proud
but gives grace
to the humble.
In the writer of Proverbs,
pride goes before destruction
and a haughty spirit
before the fall.
So, Paul's really
just saying,
hey, look,
everything we have
is from God,
so what's so special
about you?
And that was
the sickness
that had infected
the Corinthian church
and why Paul
gives them
so many loving
rebukes
about them
boasting
in their spiritual
gifts and saying,
well,
you're neglecting
the biggest mark
of a true believer
and that mark
is Christ-like
love.
You don't have it.
So,
I don't really care
about what other
gifts you have.
And so,
that means
that godly character
counts more
than our gifting,
right?
Our hearts,
what God has done
in us.
So,
Paul is warning,
do not have
a over-inflated,
arrogant opinion
of yourself,
right?
We've seen
people abuse
these gifts.
I have a friend
who is
a campus pastor
of a larger
megachurch.
We disagree
on ecclesiology
a lot,
but he's a brother.
And
he was in
a large staff meeting
of all the different
campuses
that represent
this church.
church,
and the guy
who,
he helped
start this
church many
years ago,
he just kind
of dominates
the meetings.
And most people
are afraid to speak
up.
You ever been
in a meeting
like that
where everybody's
just like,
okay,
just sort of
nodding along?
Well,
my friend
noticed that
he just
thought he
would speak
up and
just say,
hey,
how about
instead of
doing this,
we maybe
think about
doing this.
You know,
fair assessment.
The guy
who is the
head guy,
the guy
who telecasts
himself,
broadcasts
himself over
all these
campuses,
his remark
back to my
friend was,
well,
one day
when you
start a
church,
you can do
things the
way you see
fit.
And that
is dangerous.
This man
has an
over-exaggerated
view of
himself and
an arrogant
view that if
he pulled out,
this whole thing
would just fall
apart,
right?
We have to be
careful that
there could be
something there
just besides
boasting.
It could be
someone who
thinks they're
a believer and
is not because
they lack the
humility that
believers are
supposed to be
characterized by.
This is why
Paul wrote
in verse
Corinthians 4,
7,
for who
sees anything
different in
you?
What do you
have that you
did not receive
from God?
If then you
received it,
why do you
boast as if
you had not
received it?
So a gift
can never be
the source of
spiritual pride
because it's a
gift.
Pride is
deception
because,
again,
everything we
have,
this good,
comes from
God,
including our
gifts from
His hand.
So therefore
we have no
grounds to
boast.
But look at
the next part
of this verse.
He says,
rather,
right,
but to
think or
rate your
own ability
with sober,
sound,
clear-headed
judgment,
which leads
us to
recognize in
ourselves we
are nothing.
but in
Christ we
can be
used to
glorify God
with the
gifts that
the Spirit
has bestowed
on us.
So a quick
question.
I mean,
I guess you
could say it's
a real question
for the elders
of our church,
including me,
but just a
question to
all of us.
Do you think
that this church
would fall
apart if you
left?
Do you think
that if you
weren't here to
get things done
that things would
just become
unraveled?
Do you
cherish an
overly
exaggerated
idea of
your own
importance?
Paul responds
to such people
in Galatians 6,
For if anyone
thinks he is
something when
he is nothing,
he deceives
himself.
Think about
this.
Do you use
the gifts
that God
has given
you to
exalt
yourself and
make a name
for yourself?
Jesus would
respond,
whoever exalts
himself will
be humbled,
and whoever
humbles himself
will be
exalted.
Matthew 23,
12.
Or do you
recognize that
any gift,
any ability
you have,
has been
graciously given
by God,
and that he
intends to
use those
gifts for you
not to make
a name for
yourself,
but to use
it for his
glory and the
strengthening of
the church?
Another scary
prospect,
do you recognize
that he could
take that
gift from
you?
Because he
gave it to
you.
Those are all
things that
stem from
God.
Have you
asked God
to help
you evaluate
yourself
realistically
with sober
judgment about
your role in
the body,
a single
member of
the body
of Christ?
All right,
and he goes
on and he
uses this
phrase in our
text in
verse 3,
this idea
of the
measure of
faith.
Now,
real quickly,
it doesn't
mean saving
faith,
it doesn't
mean quantity
or amount
of faith
given to
individuals,
rather,
each according
to the degree
of faith
apportioned
or allocated
by God
for each
believer to
properly
exercise
their gifts.
This kind
of faith is
a spiritual
endowment,
an ability
given by
the Holy
Spirit to
empower
them to
use their
particular
gift.
Another way
to read
this verse,
each according
to the
degree of
faith that
God has
assigned or
apportioned,
allotted,
allocated,
it seems to
refer right to
the correct
measure of a
spiritual gift
in its
operating features
that God
has given
to every
believer.
So,
if you ever
sat in a
hospital room,
it gets
long days.
There's not
always cool
stuff to
watch on
TV,
and you
don't really
feel like
reading because
you're about
to fall
asleep because
you feel
sick.
So,
what do you
do?
You talk
about kids,
and you talk
about your
kids,
and you look
at pictures.
But at the
time,
we were,
my mother-in-law
sent us a picture
of our two
Labradors,
and I was
like,
wait a minute,
and I had
an apostrophe
epiphany.
But,
some of you
got that
reference.
All right.
An example,
it's just an
example.
All right,
we're going to
use an example
of dogs.
So,
you either love
dogs or you
hate them,
so I don't
know which
one you are
today.
But,
there are
different
categories of
dogs.
Right?
Whether you
knew that
or not.
There are
sporting dogs
like mine,
Labradors,
Spaniels,
Setters,
really good
at just
going out
and having
fun with
and swimming
and chasing
balls.
There are
hounds,
bloodhounds,
blue ticks,
basset hounds.
My brother
used to coon
hunt,
so he had
walker hounds
and blue ticks.
There's
herding dogs
like German
shepherds,
collies.
Healers.
And then
there's toy
dogs,
the most
worthless
category.
I'm just
kidding.
I'm going to
get mean
emails later.
Pomeranians,
Yorkies,
just lap
dogs,
right?
Each kind
of dog,
listen,
each kind
of dog
is given
a specific
but limited
set of
capabilities
and functions
to do
what God
intended it
to do.
it's
amazing
to watch
each breed,
each type
of dog
function in
the way
they're
supposed to.
Like,
I'm amazed
to watch
my Labradors,
like,
the younger
one,
he'll swim
down in
the bottom
of the
lake
and get
something that
we threw
down there
and he'll
bring it
back up.
It's like,
he'll find
things in
the dark.
He'll do
a zigzag
pattern to
find it.
I've seen
my brother's
hounds,
you know,
like,
track down
things.
I've seen
toy dogs
just sit
and be
fed
and petted.
I've seen
German
shepherds
being protective
of their
family members.
So,
given specific
but limited
set of
capabilities,
so,
awesome to
watch them
function.
However,
you would
not want
a St.
Bernard
to function
as a lazy
indoor
toy dog.
Anybody
seen
Beethoven?
He would
just,
without a
job to
do,
he would
go crazy
and he
would just
chew up
your
furniture.
Likewise,
he wouldn't
want a
Pomeranian
swimming out
in the
middle of
a freezing
cold lake
to retrieve
a duck
on a
hunt.
It would
just not
make it.
It would
just sink
and drown.
So,
you wouldn't
want a
Yorkie
to herd
and protect
your sheep
from coyotes.
It just
wouldn't
work.
So,
I know
this is
silly,
but I'm
telling you
this for
a reason.
So,
like dogs,
every believer
has his
own special
but limited
set of
capabilities.
Trying to
operate outside
those capabilities
only produces
frustration,
mediocrity,
anger,
discouragement,
and ultimately
defeat.
But when we
joyfully
fulfill what
God has
given us,
we function
according to
what He
has designed
to us.
It's a
beautiful
thing.
right?
And Paul
says in
Corinthians
12-11,
all these
are empowered
by the
one and
the same
Spirit
who appoints
to each,
each one
individually
as He
will.
So,
He's given
us individually
gifting.
As God
has given
different gifts
to different
people,
He also
provides
everything
we need
to serve
in that
capacity,
to serve
one another.
So,
that's what
that means.
So,
that's the
right attitude.
It's humility,
not pride.
It's to
serve others,
not yourself.
It's to
exalt God
and not to
make a name
for yourself.
This goes
to point
two,
which is
right
relationship.
Alright?
Right
relationships.
And this
is the
illustration
part,
verses
four and
five.
Verse
four,
for as in
one body
we have
many members,
and many
members do
not all
have the
same
function.
So,
we,
though we
are many,
are one
body in
Christ and
individually
members of
one another.
Alright?
So,
this is this
faithful
cooperation we
see.
Paul uses,
again,
this very
endearing,
familial
language.
If you
want to
remember the
beginning of
the book of
Romans,
which was a
long time
ago at this
point,
he said,
in chapter
one,
verse seven,
to all
those in
Rome who
are loved
by God,
called to
be saints,
grace to
you and
peace from
our Father
and the
Lord Jesus
Christ.
So,
emphasizing this
familial
language,
he points
out the
reality that
each individual
Christian is
a part of
a larger,
greater
whole,
the church.
church.
So,
to show the
diversity and
unity of the
church,
when Paul is
speaking about
diversity,
he doesn't
mean skin
color,
gender,
he's talking
about giftedness,
people that,
the ways that
we as
individuals serve
the body and
the variety that
that brings.
He uses it by
an analogy to
the human body
to teach
believers humility
and interdependence.
Paul gives you a
larger illustration
of the body
in 1 Corinthians
12,
12 through
27.
You can go and
check that out.
He just goes on
and on about
the function
of the body.
All right?
But just as
Paul wrote here,
just as one
human body
is one with
many members.
So,
the Greek word
for members
means body
parts,
limbs.
All right?
So,
if the church
is united,
though it is
composed of
many,
different
members.
So,
on the theme
as the body
of Christ,
just as the body
has different
things to do,
different functions,
different needs,
so the church
has and needs
people with
different gifts
and different
abilities to
function properly.
It says here,
look,
it says,
individually members
of one another,
which means that
we are connected
connected and
bound to one
another.
Just as an arm,
a leg,
an eye,
an ear,
a foot,
a hand,
has a role
in the way
your body
functions.
We need all
those things.
They're there for
the benefit of the
entire body.
So,
furthermore,
these gifts
do not,
this is important,
these gifts
do not
belong
to you.
They belong
to the body.
See that?
It's not,
this is my gift,
my ministry,
me,
me.
It's like,
no,
this is a gift
that God has
given to you
for the benefit
of the entire body.
It's really
important to hear
that.
And so,
as we
understand this,
we won't think
too highly
of ourselves,
like you just
mentioned.
And we
give ourselves
fully to God,
we will give
ourselves fully
to one another.
Paul wrote
in 1 Corinthians
12,
if one member
suffers,
all suffer
together.
Think about this,
think about your
life inside
the body of
Christ.
If one member
suffers,
all suffer
together.
If one member
is honored,
all rejoice
together.
Now you
are the body
of Christ
and individually
members of
it.
Beautiful
illustration,
1 Corinthians
12,
26.
So,
it's important
for you to
hear this.
So,
Paul's goal
when he wrote
this 2,000
years ago
was not
to spark
a fight
or a debate
over what
prophecy means.
He wasn't
thinking,
you know,
in the future
they're just
going to
have fun
with this
one.
That's not
what's on
his mind.
His emphasis
here in this
passage is on
our interdependence,
our love,
and our
responsibility,
our faithful
cooperation
towards each
other.
God has given
different gifts
by his spirit
to different
people by
his grace,
and we should
use them in
a manner
appropriate to
that gift
in order to
build up or
to edify
the rest of
the body.
So,
just think
about your
own life
inside this
local church.
Do you
have a
spiritual
sense that
you belong
to one
another,
that when
someone suffers
in this
church,
you suffer
with them?
When they
rejoice,
you rejoice
with them
because we
are members
of one
another.
We belong
to one
another.
And any
harm that's
done to the
body is a
harm done
to you,
and any
good done
to the
body is a
good done
to you
because we
are all
one.
So,
very important
then that we
learn to
cherish one
another,
and to
cherish our
brothers and
sisters in
Christ and
to see them
as a
critical part
to the
body
functioning.
Alright?
Let's see
what we got
here.
The third
one and just
see how far
we can get.
Alright?
We may have
to park
it before
I run
out of
time.
But,
this is
point number
three.
So,
we've had
right attitude,
right
relationships,
and this is
right service.
Alright?
And this is
the application.
Verse six,
having gifts
that differ
according to
the grace
given to
us,
let us
use them
if prophecy
in proportion
to our
faith,
if service
in our
serving,
and one
who teaches
in his
teaching,
the one
who exhorts
in his
exhortation,
the one
who contributes
in his
generosity,
the one
who leads
with his
zeal,
and the one
who does
acts of
mercy
with cheerfulness,
all right?
Excuse me.
Alright,
so Paul
mentions these
gifts we
possess to
show that
they don't
come from
us,
they come
from God
and to be
used for
his glory.
Rather,
these gifts,
as he says
right here,
grace given
to us
in that
passage.
Therefore,
because we've
received these
gifts by God,
grace,
let us use
them,
alright?
In light
of all
that,
Peter says
it in a
wonderful way
about gifts
in 1 Peter
4.10,
as each
has received
a gift,
use it
or employ
it.
You know,
you've got
this amazing
tool,
use it.
Use it
for the
function
that God
has ordained
for it,
to serve
one another
as good
stewards
of God's
very grace.
gifts.
So,
I think
it's pretty
well accepted
on any
side of
the aisle.
There's just
a definition
for you.
A spiritual
gift is
an ability
that is
given
and empowered
by the
Holy Spirit
to be used
in any
ministry
of the
church
for its
equipping
and strengthening
until
Christ returns.
The most
familiar list
of these
are in
1 Peter 4,
Romans 12,
1 Corinthians 12,
and Ephesians 4.
So,
all kind of
coming together.
But,
you know,
just to pose
the question
though,
like,
why are
spiritual
gifts so
controversial?
you know,
again,
we preach
verse by
verse,
and this
is one of
the passages
that some
people will
be like,
I just don't
want to
touch that
one,
because I'm
afraid of
what might
happen,
how people
will respond.
But we
have a
tendency to
wrap up
too much
of our
worth and
our identity
and our
giftedness,
and I think
that's one
reason that
we tend
to quarrel
over these
things.
It gives
us a chance
to become
tribal and
pick a
camp,
and so
we're not
going to do
that.
But the
most
controversial
gifts of
the Spirit
are healing,
miracles,
prophecy,
tongues,
and their
interpretation,
all found in
1 Corinthians 12,
9 and 10.
So,
I will go
ahead and
just say
that there
are two
main views
of the
gifts,
of these
controversial
gifts.
things.
And to
the best
of my
knowledge,
our
congregation
is almost
split down
the middle,
okay?
I think.
That's just
my observation.
And these
don't define
us.
They're not
first-tier
issues at
all.
They're not
something to
fight and
divide over.
Wouldn't that be
a shame?
Like,
everything is
supposed to
make us
stronger and
tearing us
apart.
But,
there are
two main
views.
There's
cessationism,
which is the
view that some
of the charismatic
gifts of the
Holy Spirit,
such as tongues,
prophecy,
have ceased
being practiced
since the early
church,
especially following
the compiling of
the canon of
Scripture.
All right?
Like,
so those gifts
have stopped.
They served
a purpose for
a time,
and now they've
ceased.
And now,
it's just
that ceased
with the
coming of
the Scripture
particularly.
And there
are many
faithful brothers
in this
church,
and men
that I do
respect.
John MacArthur
is probably
the most
noted guy
in this
camp,
but there
are others.
And this
is a
misconception
about
cessationists,
okay?
About them.
That would
be they don't
believe that
God heals
people,
or that God
doesn't do
miraculous things
anymore.
They don't
really believe
the Holy Spirit
is active
in the life
of the church.
That's not
true.
Like,
the cessationists
that I know
don't believe
that at all.
That's a
misconception
from the
other side.
And then
there's
continuationism.
There's so
many different
ways to
frame this,
but in
short,
that the
charismatic
gifts of
the Holy Spirit,
such as
tongues,
prophecy,
healing,
are still
in operation
today,
as they
were in
the early
part of
the church,
and they
will continue
until Christ
returns.
So here are
some misconceptions
about
continuationists.
They all
believe in
health,
wealth,
and prosperity.
Like,
unfortunately,
there are many
people on TV
and other
places that
really abuse
this stuff,
and that we
would not
ever associate
with,
right?
Name it
and claim it.
Or they
think that
God still
speaks through
prophets,
thus saying
the Bible
is not
sufficient.
That's not
true.
I,
myself,
am a
continuationist,
and like you,
so a big
example would
be cessation
was to say,
hey,
the Bible
is sufficient,
so why do
we need
all this
stuff?
As we
would say,
it is because
the Bible
is sufficient.
that we
practice these
things.
It says to
practice them
in the Bible.
So that's,
yeah,
we agree,
it's sufficient.
So,
the goal today
is not to
unpack all
the different
differences
and issues
that each
camp has
with the
other.
That's not
really the
goal.
I don't
think that's
what Paul
meant by
writing any
of this.
But,
as we move
forward as
a church,
I hope we
can find ways
to cooperate
and move
forward in
a way
that's
glorifying
to God
and loving
to the rest
of the body.
So,
just a few
things,
and then we'll
see what we
can do
to get here
with these
gifts.
Just trying to
watch the time
a little bit.
It's important
to understand
why we have
spiritual gifts.
Why do we
have them?
I have at
least four
reasons why
we have
them,
okay?
and they're
not exhausted
but there's
just a few.
But the
ultimate one
is to bring
glory to
Christ through
his church.
Peter wrote
that God
gives us
gifts.
He says
this,
as each
has received
a gift,
use it to
serve one
another in
order that
in everything
God may be
glorified through
Jesus Christ.
To him belong
glory and
dominion forever
and ever.
So,
first and
foremost,
the gifts
are given
to us
not to
make a
name for
ourselves,
which we've
covered.
It's also
not to
make a
name for
our church.
And how
many churches
do you know
that boast
about their
preacher or
their ministry?
And that's
like their
boast.
And that's
not the
goal.
The goal
is to
point to
Christ and
to glorify
him in all
things.
We are
stewards of
the gifts
that he's
given to
us.
And not
to depend
on our
own strength,
but depend
on the
strength that
God supplies
so that he
alone gets
the glory.
That's the
most important
one.
Underneath
that,
secondly,
to equip
and build
up the
church with
both our
words and
our deeds
inside the
body.
Our words
and our deeds
either serve
to tear
down or
to build
up.
Right?
And when we
cherish
over-exaggerated
ideas of our
own importance,
it only
tears down
the local
body.
Gifts
are tools
to build
with,
not toys
to play
with or
weapons to
beat each
other in the
head with.
We focus
on honoring
Christ with
our gifts
with humility
and love
towards
fellow
believers.
This is
everywhere in
these passages
about gifts.
1 Corinthians
14,
26,
let all
things be
done for
the building
up.
It means
constructive,
edifying,
good for
all people.
1 Corinthians
12,
7,
but to each
is given
a manifestation
of the
Holy Spirit
for the
common
good of
the body.
Ephesians
4,
the gifts
help us
to equip
the saints
for the
work of
ministry,
for building
up of the
body of
Christ.
John
Piper wrote
this.
I really
appreciated it.
He said,
the handling
of spiritual
gifts is
like handling
dynamite.
I knew
a demo
guy in
the army
many years
ago and
had classes
with him
talking about
how you're
holding so
much stuff
in your
hand when
you're putting
all this
stuff together
and just
the weight
of that.
The handling
of spiritual
gifts is
like handling
dynamite.
Dynamis,
the Greek
word for
power,
is often
used when
referring to
the Holy
Spirit.
When used
rightly,
the gifts
are explosively
loving.
When used
wrongly,
they are
explosively
destructive.
It is
tempting to
not use
them at
all.
So that's
another reason
we tend
to just
not want
to go
down this
road.
But again,
they're in
the Scripture.
We need
to talk
about them.
Thirdly,
while we have
spiritual
gifts,
to strengthen
unity.
Not to
create
unity,
but to
strengthen
unity.
Paul wrote
in Ephesians,
Be eager to
maintain the
unity of the
Spirit and
the bond of
peace.
So we already
possess unity
in Christ.
We are
united to
one another.
So we are
called to
maintain that
unity that
already exists
in the Spirit.
So gifts
are given to
us to build
upon, to
strengthen, to
toughen, to
fortify,
the already
existing unity
we have.
And serving
one another
with our
gifts is a
way to
prevent
division.
So again,
the irony,
what many
people in
the church
want to
fight over
and divide
over is
the very
thing that's
supposed to
be a
strengthening,
a fortifying
of our
unity.
1 Corinthians
12, 25,
Paul wrote
that there
be no
division in
the body,
but that
the members
may have
mutual
interest in
and care
for one
another.
So, and
then lastly,
to include
all believers
in the work
of the
Lord.
So, in
other words,
the work of
the church,
the work of
the ministry
is not for
a few
highly gifted,
talented,
educated,
elite.
Right?
They're for
all of us.
If you're a part
of the church,
you are born
again.
You are
given gifts
to help
in the
Lord's work.
Every member
has a role
in the body.
Now, you
are the body
of Christ
and individually
members of
it.
1 Corinthians
12, 27.
So, it's
important to
understand the
why first.
Just looking
at our time.
So, here's
what I'm
going to do.
I'm going to
work my way
maybe through
two of these.
You know,
may have to
stop.
And I'll
pick them
up for
next week.
So, don't
worry, I
say prophecy
for next
week.
So, you'll
be tempted
to come
back.
So, anyway,
even though
it says
prophecy first,
and there
may be some
inspired reason
that it is
first, we're
going to start
with service.
Alright?
So, remember,
these are the
gifts that are
mentioned.
They're not
meant to be
exhaustive lists
of gifts,
but the
variety in the
body is
evident through
our various
gifting in
proportion to
our faith.
Alright?
So, let's
talk about
service first.
This is one
that's clearly
mentioned right
here in our
passage.
The gift of
service, or it's
also called the
gift of
helps.
A spirit-given
capacity and
desire to
serve God by
rendering practical
help, both in
physical and
spiritual matters.
It recognizes the
practical needs in
the body and
joyfully goes to
meet those needs
of people.
I know many of
you that have
this gift, and
man, I'm so
thankful for you.
Christians that
have that gift
typically don't
mind being behind
the scenes.
They don't like
the attention.
They don't like
for you to point
out what they're
doing.
They're just
humbly doing it
behind the scenes
to honor God.
And it's mentioned
in 1 Corinthians,
Romans, and
in 1 Peter.
Some biblical
examples of that
gift are Rebekah
in Genesis 24,
and then Tabitha
in Acts 9.
So some
characteristics of
that gift of
serving, as
again, like I
said, they prefer
to be behind the
scenes, especially
when it frees up
other people to
serve in a
different role.
Like, let me
take that so you
don't have to, and
you can go and do
that instead.
People who tend
to have that gift,
and they enjoy
helping without
being asked, they
take initiative,
they see the
practical needs of
people in the
church, and they
usually are
characterized by
humility, quiet,
and they're active.
All right?
Some of the
misuses, though,
of this gift is
people who have
this gift sometimes
can become very
weary in doing
good, stressed,
frustrated.
They tend to
take on more
work than they
should sometimes,
and the
admonishment to
them is to not
grow weary, but
to continue
serving with
gladness.
So that's
service.
Within teaching
is mentioned.
This may be an
obvious one, but
really clearly,
the spirit of
giving ability to
instruct believers
in the truths and
doctrines of
God's Word, to
help explain it,
clarify it,
unpack it, and
then help people
apply it in
their lives for
the building up
and unifying and
maturing of the
body.
All right?
So some people
have that gift.
Obviously, Paul had
it, but also
Apollos had it,
Acts 18, 24.
Some characteristics
about this person
is they have a
desire, a
commitment, and
ability to
communicate God's
Word clearly and
to help people
apply it.
They enjoy
learning and
diving into the
Scripture, learning
biblical truth, and
the ability to help
people understand
hard passages and
why they're there.
Misuses of this
gift, very true.
As someone who
at least I think
has this gift,
you expect others
to completely tune
in to you when
you're talking.
Like, just listen
to me.
I'm saying
something important.
And tend to get
frustrated when
people can't
understand what
you're teaching.
That's some of
the misuses.
Alright,
exhortation.
Also in our
passage.
Those who have
this gift
encourage members
to be involved
joyfully,
enthusiastically
about the work
of the Lord
in the body.
Members that
have that gift
usually are good
counselors,
they're people
who motivate,
they're people
that when you're
going through a
hard time,
they're usually
the people you
want to go talk
to sometimes
to help you
get pushed on.
the word
actually means
like coming
alongside somebody
that's not
doing well
and helping
them go the
right direction
when they're
wanting to
just quit.
Right?
Biblical
examples of
this you see
is Barnabas,
Acts 4,
36.
Characteristics
of it is
they see
problems in
people's lives
and they see
those presents
with struggling
people.
They're the
people who
always have
a word of
encouragement
for you.
The people
who just
somehow
just know
exactly what
to say.
God has
given them
the ability
to say
things to
you that
are like,
wow,
how did
you know
that's what
I was going
through?
Right?
And so
that's the
it could be
words or
deed.
Some of
the misuses
of the
gift
can be
sometimes
these people
can come
across as
insensitive
just trying
to get
their point
across.
They can
sometimes
treat people
as projects
not really
meaning to
but like,
hey,
I'm trying
to help
you get
better,
bro.
Come on.
What are
you doing?
And they
sometimes can
be too quick
to talk
before fully
understanding
the situation.
Just some
observations
about that
gift.
And let's
just do
one more
and then
we will
pause and
let it go
into next
week.
Paul
mentions
here in
Romans 12
the gift
of generosity.
All right,
members with
this gift
give freely
and joyfully
to the work
and mission
of the body.
And they
do it with
cheerfulness
and their
characteristics
of those
individuals
with those
gifts are
in Romans
12.
8.
I guess
one good
example of
this might
be Zacchaeus
in Luke
19 or
the Macedonian
church in
2 Corinthians
8.
Important
to point
out here
that
automatically
when you
hear the
word
generosity
you think
the people
who have
a lot
of money
don't you?
That's like
what naturally
comes to your
mind.
They have
a lot
of money.
No.
Not
necessarily.
You don't
have to be
wealthy to
have the
gift of
generosity
at all.
But these
people are
motivated to
help others
with their
resources.
What little
or how much
they have.
And they're
careful to
invest the
money into
Christ's
kingdom.
I know
people who
have this
gift.
They have
a strong
sense of
stewardship.
Like look
everything I
have has
been given
to me by
God and
he wants
me to
use it
for the
advancement
of his
kingdom.
And I
have to
use it
wisely.
And they
know how
to usually
manage money
and resources
that help
serve the
body to
surround them
and to
help others.
Some of
the misuses
of this
gift.
You've
seen this
before.
Some of you
have, I
have.
They may
think that
because they
give so
much that
they have
the right
to control
how that
money is
used.
You ever
seen that
in the
church?
They could
neglect
leaving the
results in
God's hands
once they
give over
something.
And can
sometimes
overgive,
do too
much, like
bankrupt
themselves in
the process.
I knew
a guy
that
biggest
heart in
the world
but a
tiny wallet.
And he
would just
like, dude,
you need to
save some
of that for
your family,
okay?
So he
was just
always wanting
to help
people.
But again,
people who
have that
gift don't
have to be
wealthy.
So next
week, we'll
talk about
leadership,
mercy, and
prophecy, and
then we'll
jump into the
next passage.
But thank
you for
bearing with
me.
I appreciate
it.
But yeah,
we need to
have these
conversations
about our
gifting and
functioning in
the body.
We're all
members of
one another.
Each one of
you has been
given gifts,
and it
should be an
honor to
employ that
in the work
of the
church.
It's not
just the
people up
here.
It's you.
It's all
of us
serving Christ
together.
So pray
with me.