ROMANS 12: 6-8a
GIFTS OF SERVICE, TEACHING AND EXHORTATION
Here in Romans 12 we encounter a partial treatment of spiritual gifts. Previously we learned that we all have "gifts that differ according to the grace given to us." In verses 6-8 Paul enumerates seven forms of Christian ministry vital to the church's life and witness. For each of these interrelated ministries there is an empowering spiritual gift. Paul urged the Romans to exercise them conscientiously for the common good of the body. Each of us has different giftedness and God has bestowed these gifts so our local body can grow in a balanced and effective way. These gifts are like the tools in the box [body] of the Master Carpenter.
Today we will look at the gifts of prophecy, service, teaching and exhortation.
THE GIFT OF PROPHECY, 6b.
THE GIFT OF SERVICE, 7a.
THE GIFT OF TEACHING, 7b.
THE GIFT OF EXHORTATION, 8a.
The first motivational ministry gift Paul discusses is prophecy in the second part of verse 6. "if prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of our faith."
Prophecy means more than foretelling the future. It primarily means "forth-telling" or expounding the Word, declaring truth. The Word burns within the heart of those with the gift of prophecy. They know what should be shared and feel a pressing need to speak out.
The original meaning of the Hebrew word rendered prophet in the Old Testament, is interpreter, one who explains or delivers the will of another. One with the gift of prophecy is to explain or interpret the will of God from the Word of God.
The expounder of the Word is to do so according to the proportion of his faith. God's overriding concern is that the believers utilize their grace gift fully.
The next gift is that of service or general practical ministry. If service, in his serving;"
Prophecy declares truth. Ministry depicts or demonstrates truth through deeds (1 Cor. 12:5, Eph. 4:12). Service translates the Greek word diakonia from which deacon is derived. Literally it means "to wait on tables" and encompassed a wide variety of common labors [Beyer, TDNT, vol. 2, p. 81]. Ministering simply means serving. This service or ministry can be of various kinds. It is as an everyday necessary gift that has broad uses or applications.
In the story concerning Martha and Mary (Luke 10:40) service was whatever work was done in servicing in the home. In Acts 6:4 it is applied as "the ministry" or service "of the Word." In 2 Corinthians 5:18 it is used as the ministry or service of reconciliation. It is also used for the ministry of tables by the seven who are called diakonia or servants. So "there are different kinds of service (but the same Lord," 1 Cor.12: 5). But whatever kind of ministry or service gift people have been given is not so important, what is important is that you use it. It could be ministering the word in a nursing home or maintaining the building and property, working in the tape ministry, doing secretarial, computer or book keeping chores, setting up or taking down chairs and tables, working in the nursery etc. The gift of service is manifested in every sort of practical help that Christians can give one another in Jesus' name.
How valuable are the men and women who joyfully and faithfully minister. This gift is not to be minimized. These persons are as needed and important to the local Church as the front line is to a football team.
III. THE GIFT OF TEACHING, 7b.
The third gift listed is in the later part of verse 7. He who teaches, in his teaching;
Teaches of course refers to the act of teaching or instructing. Teaching can refer to what is taught as well as to the act of teaching. A teacher gives understanding to the truth.
A person with the gift of teaching will be marked by three distinct characteristics. He will have a keen interest in the personal study of the Word. Second will be interested in interpretation disciplines involved in studying the Scriptures. Third he will have a desire to communicate what he has learned. They will be adapt at research into Scripture and may be only gifted to communicate in written form but most usually it involves verbal communication of the Word.
Teaching is the divine ability to interpret and present God's truth understandably. It is the ability to impart the facts and insights, which the gifts of knowledge and wisdom discover, and to pass them on to others in learn-able form. The man or woman who possesses all three of these gifts, knowledge, wisdom and teaching, is a valuable person to have around indeed!
Though it is the Holy Spirit that leads us into all truth (John 16:13), it is the teacher who explains God's Word to us in a comprehendible manner. After you have heard a teacher teach your response should be, I see what he means. The exercising of this gift is a blessing to other for the glory of God, and has as an indirect benefit the teachers own growth
IV. THE GIFT OF EXHORTATION (8a).
Another blessed gift is found in verse 8. "Or he who exhorts, in his exhortation"
As with the previous gifts exhortation is a broad word. Both the verb exhorts (parakaleo) and the noun exhortation (paraklesis) are compounds of the same two Greek words (para and kaleo) and literally mean to call someone to your side as an uplifting companion.
They are closely related to parakletos (advocate, comforter, helper), a title Jesus used both of Himself ("Helper," John 14:16) and of the Holy Spirit ("another Helper"; John 14:16, 26; 16:7). In 1 John 2:1, this word is translated "advocate," referring to Jesus Christ.
The gift of exhortation, therefore, encompasses the ideas of advising, pleading, encouraging, warning, strengthening, and comforting. At one time the gift may be used to persuade a believer to turn from a sin or bad habit and at a later time to encourage that same person to maintain his corrected behavior. The gift may be used to admonish the church as a whole to obedience to the Word. Like the gift of showing mercy exhortation may be exercised in comforting a brother or sister in the Lord who is facing trouble or is suffering physically or emotionally. One who exhorts may also be used of God to encourage and under gird a weak believer who is facing a difficult trial or persistent temptation. These persons through words, prayers and deeds help someone want to be a better Christian even when life is rough. Sometimes he may use his gift simply to walk beside a friend who is grieving, discouraged, frustrated, or depressed, to give help in whatever way is needed. This gift may be exercised in helping someone carry a burden that is too heavy to bear alone.
PAUL AND BARNABAS were exercising the ministry of exhortation or encouragement when "they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying, ‘Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God'"(Acts 14:21-22). This ministry is reflected in Paul's charge to Timothy to "reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with great patience and instruction" (2 Tim. 4:2).
It is the ministry of exhortation or encouragement of which the writer of Hebrews speaks as he admonishes believers to "consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more, as you see the day drawing near" (Heb. 10:24-25). We all are to say and do things that stimulate others to a deeper appreciation of Christ and to a stronger commitment to our relationship with Him and with each other. Those with the gift of exhortation are just more adapt and effective at doing it.
The empowering that motivates this gift is also exhibited in the beautiful benediction with which Hebrews closes: "Now the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant, even Jesus our Lord, equip you in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen" (13:20-21).
One day a guy vacationing in the Bahamas noticed a big crowd gathered at the end of the pier. As he got closer he observed someone preparing for a solo JOURNEY AROUND THE WORLD in a tiny homemade boat. Without exception everybody was telling him all the things that could go wrong. Suddenly the guy felt an irresistible urge to offer some encouragement. So as the little boat drifted toward the horizon he began jumping up and down shouting, "Go for it! You can make it! We're proud of you!"
This man had what we need more of - the gift of encouragement. We need fewer critics and more cheerleaders: those who see over the heads of the nay-sayers and shout to someone launching out in faith "Go for it! You can make it! We're proud of you!"
Aren't you glad certain visionaries refused to listen to the crowd on the pier? That: Luther refused to back down; Michelangelo kept painting; Lindbergh kept flying; Papa Ten Boom said "Yes" to frightened Jews,
Next time you see somebody responding to the call of Christ, don't join the fear-spreaders and tell them about the great storms, join the faith-spreaders and tell them about the great catches. Shout, "Go for it! Launch out into the deep & let down your nets" (Lk 5:4)." Then commit yourself to pray for their success. When you do, you're exercising the gift of encouragement.
CONCLUSION
In summary, it might be said that, just as prophecy proclaims the truth and teaching systematizes and explains the truth, exhortation calls believers to obey and follow the truth, to live as Christians are supposed to live—consistent with God's revealed will. In many servants of Christ, all of these abilities are uniquely and beautifully blended. [MacArthur, John. NT Com. Moody. P 174].
We all have different gifts what is important is that we exercise them for the good of the body. According to USA Today, on Wednesday, November 23, 1994, a couple named Sandy and Theresa boarded TWA FLIGHT 265 in New York to fly to Orlando and see Disney World. Theresa was almost seven months pregnant. Thirty minutes into the flight, Theresa doubled over in pain and began bleeding. Flight attendants announced that they needed a doctor, and a Long Island internist volunteered.
Theresa soon gave birth to a boy. But the baby was in trouble. The umbilical cord was wrapped tightly around his neck, and he wasn't breathing. His face was blue.
Two paramedics rushed forward to help and one specialized in infant respiratory procedures. He asked if anyone had a straw, which he wanted to use to suction fluid from the baby's lungs. The plane did not stock straws, but a flight attendant remembered having a straw left over from a juice box she had brought on board the plane. The paramedic inserted the straw in the baby's lungs as the internist administered CPR. The internist asked for something he could use to tie off the umbilical cord. A passenger offered a shoelace.
Four minutes of terror passed. Then the little baby whimpered. Soon the crew was able to joyfully announce that it was a boy, and everyone on board cheered and clapped.
The parents gave the little boy the name Matthew. Matthew means "God sent." The people on board the plane "were all God sent," the father said.
God had indeed met their need through people who gave what they had and did what they could. God usually meets needs through people.
There are literally people all around us crying out in many different ways for help. We often refuse to hear or refuse to be compassionate because we don't have all it takes to bring them from where they are to where they need to be. That's why there is the local church. With our different gifting and enabling if we would each be willing to do what God has enabled us to do we too could be a God-sent to others. Will you join together so that we might reach those crying out?
