Okay, We Got The Presents, Now What? Series

Title: Okay, we got the presents, now what?

Text: ephesians 4:12-13

Author: Larry C. Brincefield

Author’s Website: www.pastorlarry.net

Introduction

1. Everyone loves to get presents!!

• Last week, we looked at some of the “presents” that God gives us…

• He gives us His grace…

• That’s an incredible gift that God gives to all Christians…

• But, He also gives some special gifts…

• Gifts that He doesn’t give to everyone…

• Gifts like…the gift of being an Apostle…

• An Evangelist…

• A Pastor…

• A Prophet…

• A teacher…

• And there are other gifts that we find in Scripture…

• That we DIDN’T talk about last week…

• In 1 Corinthians 12, Paul says, “Now about spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be ignorant”…

• And then he goes on to talk about some of these other gifts…

• To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom,

• to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit,

• to another faith by the same Spirit,

• to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit,

• to another miraculous powers,

• to another prophecy,

• to another distinguishing between spirits,

• to another speaking in different kinds of languages,

• and to still another the interpretation of languages.

• All these are the work of one and the same Spirit,…

• and he gives them to each one, just as he determines. 1 Cor. 12:9-11

2. In other places, we find the gift of encouragement…

• the gift of generosity…

• the gift of hospitality…

• and many, many more…

• I hope that God has revealed to you your gifts…

• If not, in Matthew 7:11 Jesus says, “If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!”

• In any event…on the basis of the Authority of Scripture…

• In Ephesians…and in 1 Corinthians…and in Matthew…and other places…

• God has given each of His children “presents”…

• Last week, we talked about “Wow…presents…and its not even Christmas!!”

• Tonight, we find as we continue our study, the answer to this question…

• “Okay, we got the presents…now what?”

Read Text: Ephesians 4:12-13

Body

1. Prepare God’s People for Works of Service v. 12

A. Paul says that we have been given these gifts…

• to prepare God’s people for works of service

• In the worldly sense…when we get presents…

• Those gifts are for US to use…

• For our OWN enjoyment…

• One thing that we are always trying to teach our children is to SHARE their gifts…

• With 4 kids in our family…

• If each child is willing to share his/her gifts with their siblings…

• Then it is like each person got 4 times as many presents!!...

B. The same holds true to our spiritual gifts!!

• Why hoard our presents to ourselves?

• “Hide it under a bushel?...NO!!!

• “I’m gonna let it shine!!”

• In the immortal words of Barney Fife…

• i got a uvula, you got a uvula, all God’s children got a uvula.

• I have a gift…you have a gift…all God’s children have spiritual gifts…

• If you’ve been given a gift…

• And I’ve been convinced that all God’s children have at least one spiritual gift…

• We have been given that gift…

• Not just for our own enjoyment…

• And, really, not just to share with others…

• Although it is certainly a noble thing to share our gifts with others…

• But more than that…

• Paul says that we have been given our gifts…

• In order to “Prepare God’s People for Works of Service”

• Certainly, that is the purpose of the gifts of:

• Apostleship…

• Prophesy…

• Pastoring…

• Evangelism…

• And Teaching…

• But what about the other gifts?

• How can you use your gift to prepare God’s people?

• I can really answer that question for you…

• The answer to that question depends on your gift…

• And it depends on how you are willing to use it…

• But certainly, ask God to help you to use your gift…

• NOT ONLY to be a blessing to others…

• But also to help prepare them for some type of ministry.

2. Why? So the Church Can be Built v. 12

A. But why?

• Why do we use our gifts to prepare God’s people?

• Paul says in verse 12…

• so that the body of Christ may be built up

• What is the body of Christ?...

• The Church!!

• What is the Church?