How To Unwrap Your Spiritual Gifts Part 2

How To Unwrap Your Spiritual Gift"

2 of 3 Romans 12:3-8 September 21, 2003

Chester’s First Baptist Church, Chester, Illinois Mike Fogerson, Speaker

Introduction:

Do you ever feel like you are in something just over your head?

That is precisely where God wants you.

Something like this happens in the move, "The Legend of Baggar Vance." Baggar shows up, almost like the voice of God, to help a young golfer, distressed by the events of his life, to find his soul again.

Listen to Bagger Vance in this video clip: {show clip—50—52 minutes

"Inside each and every one of us is our one true, authentic swing. Something we was born with. Something that is ours and ours alone. Something that can’t be learned ... something thats got to be remembered."

"However, he has given each one of us a special gift according to the generosity of Christ." -Ephes. 4:7 NLT

Last week we looked at two truths about spiritual gifts. . .

God has given spiritual gifts to all believers.

Your spiritual gifts fit you perfectly.

B We will resume our three week series entitled "How To Unwrap Your Spiritual Gift."

a God gave every single believer in the early church just the right gift. (ETS)

b God has the perfect gift for every believer. (ESS)

C I hope you will decided to use your discovered spiritual gift at the church you are being fed at. (Objective)

a What are you doing with your spiritual gifts? (Probing Question)

b T.S.: Let’s look at two truths about spiritual gifts that can help you unwrap yours.

III The third truth about spiritual gifts is. . .THEY COME FROM GOD.

A Paul warned the Roman Christian about becoming too proud of their God given spiritual gifts. (v.3,6a)

a God’s Will was the same for every believer: (Rome, Corinth, Ephesis, Philippi, Thessalonika,. . .Chester) humbly use their God given spiritual gifts.

b Some believers were pretty full of themselves because of their spiritual gifts.

(IL.) My mentor, Dr. A.L. Palmer instructed me how to pastor at a First Baptist Church before I left Louisiana. One of things he told me was, "Don’t believe your own press clippings." He was saying, "Don’t get too full of yourself. Be humble."

*Apparently, some of the Roman believers were believing their own press clippings.

*If anybody had a right to be proud of their accomplishments, it was Paul.

(V:3, "For by the grace given me I say to every one of you:. . ."

Ro. 15:15 "I have written you quite boldly on some points, as if to remind you of them again, because of the grace God gave me."

(1 Cor. 3:10, 15:10, 2 Cor. 12:9, Gal. 1:15, 2:9, Eph. 3:2, 3:7, PHP. 1:7, 1 Tim. 1:14) Paul always pointed to God’s grace as the source of his gift!!

*The grace that allowed Paul to speak with boldness was the same grace that allowed the people in the Roman church to serve with their spiritual gifts.

B Taking credit for your spiritual gifts is like you taking credit for the sunrise.

a Our spiritual gifts are given to us by the grace of God. (He didn’t have to give you what he did. He didn’t have to spread his gifts around so lavishly.)

b Be careful to stay humble. (Tough!)

*It’s easy for a pastor to become proud of his ability to preach/teach.

*It’s easy for a servant to become proud because of the sacrifices they’ve made.

*It’s easy for a musician to become proud of their abilities.

*It’s easy for a contributor of money to become proud because they give bigger gifts than others.

*It’s easy for someone with gift of mercy to become proud because they are there when someone’s hurting, dead, struggling, etc.

*Do not be overly prideful of your spiritual gift. It came from God!

C In the parable of the master and the 3 servants, the master gave each servant a certain amount of money. (1=5, 1=2, 1=1) He returned to find that two servants flourished and one servant floundered the money. (Matt. 25:14-30)

a [20] The man who had received the five talents brought the other five. `Master,’ he said, `you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.’ MT 25:21 "His master replied, `Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’

b The servants had nothing that wasn’t given to them by the master. . .neither do we! (Service, mercy, giving, administration...given by God’s grace!) Some of you believe "How Great Thou Art" was written about you! It wasn’t!!!

IV The fourth truth about your spiritual gift is. . . YOUR SPIRITUAL GIFT WAS GIVEN TO ENABLE YOU TO DO MINISTRY.