Note that I preached on our Core Values in 2010. Some of the sermons are very different so new ones have been uploaded - but this one was so similar I have just updated it. The old one in the series has been removed.
Message
Strengthening Individual Gifts
1 Corinthians 12:1-7
There is a saying which goes, “Ignorance is bliss”.
Parents sometimes use this line of thinking in parenting:-
You are faced with the situation we all dread when your six year old comes up, “Where did I come from?” “Weeellll ... you came from Mum’s tummy”.
They’ll have enough time to discover the facts later … in the meantime ignorance is bliss – especially for those who doesn’t want to answer that question.
But sometimes ignorance is not bliss. It happened when we I was teaching Amelia how to ride a bike. We went to a nice flat open carpark. It didn’t take too much time and she soon she was riding … nice and slow and steady.
No dramas.
A week later she was riding again in an area that was flat, but then also went downhill.
She went down the hill, faster and faster and faster and then smashed into the gutter. It was only then I realised that I had taught her how to go - but I had forgotten to teach her how to brake.
In that case ignorance is not bliss.
Sometimes ignorance is bliss, sometimes it isn’t. And one of those times when ignorance is not bliss is mentioned in the Scriptures.
1 Corinthians 12:1-7
Paul is pretty emphatic
I do not want you to be uniformed.
Other translations say, “I do not want you to be ignorant.”
When it comes to the gifts of the Spirit ignorance is not bliss
Indeed Paul is so concerned about the issue of spiritual gifts that he devotes three chapters to the issue – namely chapters 12, 13 and 14. These first 7 verses of chapter 12 serve as an introduction to the whole topic.
So let’s start off with a very basic question:-
What is a spiritual gift?
The simple answer is that they are gifts we have which enable us to do works of service in God’s Kingdom through the power of the Spirit of God.
They are not natural talents ... although they might flow out of our talents.
They are not learnt skills ... although we can grow our spiritual gifts through training and use.
They are the contributions we make to God’s Kingdom because God’s Spirit is in us.
I know a lady called Anne Jones. Anne had always been shy and reclusive person who never invited friends over. One day discovered who Jesus is.
From that day she became a person with incredible hospitality skills.
Her home was a haven for everybody.
It was a spiritual gift that God gave.
If we had an open discussion now I am sure we could all tell story after story of people who, because of the transformation of the Gospel, soon exercised a spiritual gift – something that they could not do previously, but because of the Holy Spirit in them they can now do this.
But here is another story that I often hear. Christians who tell me, “I don’t have a gift,” or “my gift is not that significant”
They feel inadequate.
They feel they have nothing to give.
They feel unwanted and unneeded and without purpose.
Many of them know the words of Scripture, but don’t feel the words of Scripture:-
Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.
(1 Corinthians 12:7)
No one misses out
For we were all baptised by one Spirit so as to form one body – whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free – and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.
(1 Corinthians 12:13)
Your background does not disqualify you from being given a gift.
Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.
(1 Corinthians 12:27)
Literally the Greek says, “you keep on being” a part.
You don’t get cut off at some point and then your gift stops.
I don’t think Paul could make it any clearer when it comes to spiritual gifts.
No Christian can say, “I don’t have a spiritual gift.”
No Christian has been cheated or has missed out.
No Christian is disqualified, has their gift removed.
Don’t be ignorant about these things.
But that is not all.
We should also not be ignorant about the way that God goes about distributing the spiritual gifts. There are different kinds of gifts – says Paul in verse 4. It really helps here to see the Greek.
There is a word that we commonly use to describe an act of God to us – the English word is grace.
English “grace” ... Greek “charis”
Paul has been talking about gifts ... the spiritual gifts. That is the English translation.
English “gifts” ... Greek “charisma”
Can you see the connection ... karis ... karisma. When you put “ma” on the end of a word in Greek it denotes the result of an action. Literally translated karisma is “the result of grace”.
Grace is not something that is earned – neither are our gifts.
We don’t become more gifted, nor are we given more gifts, as a reward for obedience.
At the same time we are not disqualified, nor do we have gifts stripped from us, if we are disobedient.
God’s grace prevails despite the way we act at times and the same is true of our spiritual gifts – God will work through us despite our actions.
Grace is not something that gives spiritual superiority – neither do our gifts.
God is not trying to make people feel more important, or less important, when He distributes the gifts.
This was the problem in Corinth – people were using gifts as a measure of superior, or inferior, spirituality. There is no such thing as an “ordinary gift”, nor is God giving any indication what-so-ever that you are less important because you have one gift and not another.
Basically what that means is that everyone is on the team. A really good way to think about what sort of team is to know the difference between base-ball and t-ball.
In baseball there are only 9 positions that can be filled at once. Those 9 people are usually the “best” people and they play the whole game. Everyone else who makes the team are just there for cheerleading or to step up in case someone gets injured. There are a lot of bench-warmers in a game of baseball.
But t-ball is different. It is the same basic game as base-ball except that everyone gets to play. It doesn’t matter how many people are on a team they all get to bat, and when it comes time, they all get to field. Everyone is involved, everyone gets to play. That is how God designed the church.
Don’t be ignorant of these things.
But that is not all.
Paul goes on in verse 5 and says there are different kinds of service. Later in the passage Paul talks about the body. He shows that the body is one even though it is made up of many parts. Each part is going to play a different role.
Imagine an orchestra. You have a large number of instruments, and also a wide diversity. Violins. Drums. Trombones. Cellos. Flutes. Trumpets. Harps.
Each instrument is there as a servant to the overall song to bring about diversity and beauty.
What would happen if all the instruments were the same?
What would happen a trumpet tried to play the part for the violin?
You would still have music. You might even have the right notes. But there is a very different outcome ... no one is a servant to the overall song.
The biblical exercising of our gifts comes down to motive.
What motivates us to get involved in working for God’s Kingdom?
Jesus defines the motivation in Matthew 20:26-28.
Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave – just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.’
(Matthew 20:26-28)
Our motivation as we are part of the one body is to put ourselves last and others first. It is all about making sure we are motivated by a willingness to get involved and get alongside.
Don’t be ignorant about these things.
Paul moves on. He says in verse 6 … there are different kinds of working.
Again knowing the Greek word helps – the word is energoo.
That sounds like the word “energy” doesn’t it.
In fact that is exactly what it means. Gifts are literally a burst of energy – more specifically God’s energy – as He works in us and through us. Which means that we are most effective in using our gifts when we fully rely on the power of God.
There are people who are very gifted.
And there can be the temptation to think – I’m gifted enough to wing this.
And they can be tempted to rely on their gifts, rather than relying on God.
When we act in our own strength God will still use us – but we just won’t be as effective as we could be.
Not relying on the energy of God as they use their gifts is a problem some people face.
My sense is however that a bigger problem is people who forget that God does work in us and he wants to give us His energy.
What I mean is this. I am amazed at the number of people I have met who say ... I don’t have a gift I am just ... ordinary.
When this is how you feel basically what you are saying is that God has overlooked you and that He has deliberately decided not to give you the energy of His Spirit.
Does that sound like the God we know?
I don’t think so.
And if you want to be sure all you need to do is look to the cross.
What was the purpose of Christ taking your punishment through His death and resurrection?
Was it not to take your life out of the jaws of hell and set you into His care?
Was it not to give you the assurance that, when you face judgement, you can be secure for you can say, "I belong to Jesus Christ and He is my Lord"?
Is it not true that we are so intimately related to Christ, because of His death and resurrection, that He considers us to be part of His own body?
That is who you are in Christ. The love of Christ flows through your body. The passions of Christ flow through your veins. The will of Christ flows through your blood.
When that is the case how can any of us be “ordinary”?
Christ has not called you out of darkness into light to leave you as a useless dot in His plans.
Each one of us is an intricate piece in the plan of God.
And your gift – the gift you think you don’t have – well that is an intricate part of God’s plan as well.
Don’t be ignorant about these things.
So now … we are not ignorant … we are not uniformed … about the spiritual gifts.
We want this to be the case because a Core Value of our church has always been
Strengthen Individual Gifts
To grow each person’s enduring and unique talents recognising that the greatest room for growth is in the areas of our greatest strengths.
This is the invitation to go on a journey.
God doesn’t want you to ignore who he has made you to be.
God doesn’t want you to be ignorant about your gift
So don’t be afraid to say what it is you want to do.
What is your passion?
How do you want to serve?
What have you got to offer that is help us in the common good of bringing the Gospel to this community?
And even if today is your first time ... or one of the first times you are here … has God brought you to us for a reason?
Prayer
