Part 2 - Dividing To Every Man Series

Spiritual Gifts Series

Part 2 – “Dividing to Every Man”

Rev. Bruce A. Shields – First Baptist Church Tawas City Michigan

www.TawasBaptist.org

I would like to welcome you to the First Baptist Church of Tawas City, we are very glad you are here today.

If you are visiting, please fill out a Visitor Card located in the back of the pew’s, and leave them on the pews as you leave, and someone will come by after the service and pick them up.

Scripture Reading

1 Corinthians 12:11

“All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines.”

PRAYER

Were continuing our series on Spiritual Gifts today, and we just read that all of the Spiritual Gifts are the work of one and the same Spirit, and to each one is given “Just as He Determines”

This fits with a couple scriptures we read last week;

1 Corinthians 12:7 - Gifts of the Spirit are given to every man to profit the whole body.

1 Corinthians 12:18 – God has arranged the parts of this body, every one of us, just as He wants us to be.

If you are here today, it’s because God wants you to be here. (God has arranged the parts of this body, every one of us, just as He wants us to be.)

If you are part of the body of Christ (or saved), then God has a gift placed within you.

He placed that Spiritual Gift within you to use in this church for the good and growth of this body of believers.

We don’t all have the same gifts or the same number of gifts, but we do ALL HAVE GIFTS.

The scriptures say so, and we are called to use those gifts.

We read in Matthew 25:14-30 last week, the parable of the Talents.

But, before we begin I want to clarify something about scripture.

There is only 1 interpretation of the scriptures, but many applications.

For example, the parable about the servants and the talents is about servants who are responsible and obedient receiving rewards and those who are irresponsible and disobedient being excluded from rejoicing with the master.

That’s the interpretation. That’s what the parable is about.

But, there are many APPLICATIONS of this scripture.

The principle of this scripture may be applied to many areas of our lives as long as it is in context with the interpretation and ongoing theme of the entire scriptures which expresses the will of God.

A few applications for this scripture would be;

Finances, tithing, Spiritual Gifts, obedience to God’s word, serving, etc...

This is one of the reasons why God’s word is so awesome, because we can apply one scripture or principal to many areas of our lives.

So, there is only 1 interpretation, but many applications.

So later on down the road when we use this scripture and apply it to another part of our life, we won’t be confused and think that this scripture is ONLY about Spiritual Gifts.

So,

Matthew 25:14-30 the parable of the talents

All the servants were “Called” by the Master.

One was given 5 talents, another 2 and another 1.

1 Talent is equal to $689.00 in today’s money. (3,000 shekel’s)

Why was one given 5, one 2 and the last just 1 talent?

Well by the end of the parable we know why. The master knew the ability of each servant to serve, and based on each servant’s ability to obey, he determined how many talents to give that servant.

And to the servant who obeyed and gained profit from the talents, the master rewarded him with more.

See, God knows where we are in our walk.

He knows what our ability to obey and serve truly is, even if we don’t.

He gives us talents that not only edify the body of the believers when they are used properly, but they grow us through our obedience, and draw us all closer together as one body of believers.

And when we use our gifts properly, God builds us and gives us more gifts.

Remember Matthew 25:29 of the parable?

“For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance.”

Has what? Well we know God’s not talking about having the talents or Spiritual Gifts because all the servants HAD them, but they all didn’t receive an abundance.

He’s talking about having PROFIT from the talents, or Spiritual Gifts.

Everyone who uses their Spiritual Gifts properly and has a profit from them will be given MORE.

Having an abundance.

The Hebrew text here for abundance is “per-is-syoo’-o” Which means “to cause to excel”

If we use our Spiritual Gifts properly and profit from them, God will cause us to excel!