Sermon Central
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Knowing How To Use Our Gifts
Contributed by Joe Rowland on Feb 26, 2009 (message contributor)
Summary: I have entitled this today: “Knowing How To Use Our Gifts” God does not want us to be ignorant in the church world. He has given us gifts and He wants us to know how to use what He has given us. What has He given you and do you know how to use that which
Knowing How To Use Our Gifts
Ro 12:3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
4 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office:
5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.
6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;
7 Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching;
8 Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.
I have entitled this today: “Knowing How To Use Our Gifts”
God does not want us to be ignorant in the church world. He has given us gifts and He wants us to know how to use what He has given us.
What has He given you and do you know how to use that which He has given?
Ro 11:29 For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.
When God gives you a gift, He is not going to take it back.
That gift or even calling on your life might be dormant but God has not taken it away.
1Co 12:1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.
God wants us to know about the things He has given us.
Some might ask the question, “Does God give everyone the same gifts?” That is one of the questions that we will answer as we go along today.
According to Romans 12:3, Paul is saying: For I say, through the grace given unto me,
This is referring to Paul’s Apostleship given by the grace of God.
Eph 3:8 Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;
Paul was letting the people know they should not think more highly of themselves than what they should.
During this time, Israel had fallen, and the reason, at least in part, was this very thing, a prideful, unscriptural evaluation of themselves.
They were to think soberly. In other words, they were not to be so highly minded.
According to Romans 12: 3, God has given to every man a measure of faith.
4 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office:
We are all members in the same body of Christ, but we do not all have the same offices; we don’t all do the same things.
Paul was saying we have many members in one body.
Verse 5 says: So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one member’s one of another.
This speaks of unity that ought to prevail within the body of the church.
What this is saying is that what is true according to one is also true according to another.
This is not speaking of offices but rather being a member of a body.
2Co 13:1 This is the third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.
God will always confirm what that He is doing within a body of believers.
Remember the question that I asked earlier, some might ask the question “Does God give everyone the same gifts?”
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6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;
7 Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching;
8 Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.
This is speaking of different gifts and offices in the things of God.
It does not matter if it is prophesy, or ministry, teaching or exhorting.
All of this has to do with, according to your faith, the call that God has given to you.
This text carries the idea that a wise man will stay within the sphere of service which God has called him and fitted him for.
We are not to invade that which God has not called us or fitted us for.
Last week we talked about “Knowing Your Call”.
How do you know what it is that God wants you to do and how do you learn to hear His voice speak to you?
