Romans Series # 48 July 24, 2002
Title: 4 Truths about Spiritual Gifts
Website: www.newlifeinchrist.info
Email: pastorsarver@yahoo.com
Introduction: Welcome to New Life in Christ. We are currently in Chapter 12 of Romans as we continue with message #48 of our verse-by-verse study of the Book of Romans.
Read Romans 12:3-8
Opening Prayer
Tonight I will be sharing with you on the topic of spiritual gifts, which is the subject of the six verses that we just read. Specifically I will be sharing 4 truths about spiritual gifts which the apostle Paul elaborates on in this passage. Without further ado let’s get to the first truth concerning spiritual gifts.
1. Every Christian has spiritual gifts.
Some people may think that God skipped them when it when he was handing out spiritual gifts, but the clear teaching of the entire Bible is that every Christian has one or more spiritual gifts. In this passage Paul clearly indicates this truth. For instance, in verse 3 he makes a point of saying that he is speaking "to every one of you." He is speaking to everyone in the church about the subject of spiritual gifts because every Christian has spiritual gifts. Spiritual gifts are not limited to those who have a leadership role in the church, or to those who have received specialized training in ministry. "We (not I or some) have different gifts according to the grace given us." (vs. 6.)
1. Every Christian has spiritual gifts.
I need to explain my use of the term "spiritual gifts." When many people hear that term, they only think of abilities that are clearly supernatural such as: healing the sick, working miracles, prophesying, or speaking in tongues. I do not think that you can limit spiritual gifts to these specific supernatural abilities or even to the nine manifestations of the Spirit listed 1 Corinthians 12:7-10. In fact, as Paul continues in 1 Corinthians 12 on the same subject of spiritual gifts, he lists the seemingly non-miraculous abilities such as: helping others, administrating, and teaching along with miraculous abilities that have been traditionally understood as "spiritual gifts." Let’s read 1 Corinthians 12:27-31 where the Bible teaches that spiritual gifts include the obviously miraculous abilities and the seemingly non-miraculous abilities of Christians.
Read 1 Corinthians 12:27-31
Based on the Bible, I believe that spiritual gifts are any ability or capacity given to Christians to help the whole church. It may be teaching, praying, leading worship, singing, organizing, serving, giving financially, etc... The term "spiritual" is appropriate because the origin of all these abilities is the Holy Spirit who equips us and the term is appropriate because the purpose of these gifts is spiritual and not worldly and nature. These abilities are referred to as "gifts" because that is what they are. These are abilities that have been given as gifts to us. They were not chosen by us, or earned by our hard work or spiritual diligence. In fact, the Greek word translated as "gifts" in Romans 12:5 is the Greek word "charismata", which means "special gifts of grace." In other words, any ability we have is 100% the result of God’s grace toward us. What is grace? It is undeserved favor from God.
Now back to the first truth I was sharing with you about spiritual gifts, which is that every Christian has spiritual gifts. Some people may be gifted in spectacular ways, while others may be gifted in not so spectacular ways, but everyone is given special abilities for spiritual purposes. Now let us go on to the second truth concerning spiritual gifts.
Read Romans 12:3
2. Christians must guard against becoming proud because of their spiritual gifts.
In this passage Paul warns us about becoming conceited or prideful by telling us that we should not "think more highly of ourselves than we ought to." This is a good biblical exhortation for life in general, but in this context Paul is dealing with people becoming proud because of their spiritual gifts in particular. Christian sometimes forget that all spiritual abilities are totally undeserved gifts and when they do that, they become proud. This is especially true with abilities that are more prominent in the church, sensational, or sacrificial in nature. A pastor can easily become proud of their ability to teach or preach. A servant can think how great they are because they sacrifice so much to serve God. A musician can easily become conceited because of their abilities. A contributor of money may become prideful because they’re donations are so much greater than others. A person with the gift of mercy may begin to feel superior to other Christians because there are the ones who are always there to help the hurting, needy, elderly, etc... A miracle worker may act pompous and self-important because of their sensational gifts. Some people think that the song "How Great Thou Art" is about them! I could go on listing ways that we can become prideful about our spiritual gifts but the point is clear; every one of us needs to stay alert to pride. Don’t over estimate yourself!
2. Christians must guard against becoming proud because of their spiritual gifts.
How should we think of ourselves in regard to spiritual gifts? Paul says in verse 3 that you should "Think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure faith God has given you." When I was in the world, I would sometimes go to the bars. Sometimes I would have too much to drink and I would stop thinking with sober judgment. In my drunken state I often thought I could take on three men and win a fight. I thought I was tougher than I really was, but when I sobered up the next day I would think differently, i.e. more realistically. I was then thinking with sober judgment, more in line with the truth. This is how the Bible tells us to think about our spiritual gifts, be realistic. None of us are so important that the church to fall apart without us. This is the reality. Be realistic about yourself. Do not think too highly of yourself but also don’t act as if you do not have abilities. Simply acknowledge the abilities you have as coming from God and think "in accordance with the measure of faith (special abilities?) God has given you." Even though this last phrase is not entirely clear in meaning, the main point of this verse is.
2. Christians must guard against becoming proud because of their spiritual gifts.
Read Romans 12:4, 5
3. Christians by necessity have differing spiritual gifts.
Rather than becoming proud or disappointed because of your particular spiritual gift, you should recognize that this variety of gifts is necessary for everybody’s benefit. Paul uses the human body to elaborate on this point. "Each of us have one body with many members that do not all serve the same function." Just like it is necessary for us to have eyes, ears, hands, mouths, and feet all working together to function correctly and efficiently, so it is necessary in the church that people have different gifts which they use cooperatively for the common good.
When you came in tonight I passed out to you Lego building blocks of differing sizes and shapes. You have probably been wondering why. Well it was to demonstrate to you a point about spiritual gifts. I’ve a challenge for you; I want you to build something with your Lego blocks but there is one condition, you cannot use anybody else’s Lego block. Now what can you build with one Lego block? The answer is nothing! Some of you have received very large Lego blocks which everyone can easily see but you still can’t build anything with it by yourself. Some of you have received small Lego blocks which are almost unnoticeable to others, but despite their small size you could still build a wonderful building if you were to cooperate with others.
This is how it is in the church. We all have gifts of different shapes and sizes, i.e. function and prominence, but it is only when we all work together that we can build up the church of the living God
3. Christians by necessity have differing spiritual gifts.
How many houses are built using only a hammer? None! How many symphonies are played using only one type of instrument? None! How many healthy churches are built by one or two gifted individuals? The answer is none! Yet this is what the modern church tries to do and how it tries to function. The pastor or pastors of the church, whose primary function is to teach the word, are expected to be administrators, encourages, fund-raisers, plumbers, evangelists, program directors and originators, etc. while the majority of Christians have little initiative or involvement. This is not the way God designed the church to operate. God has made the church "one body with many members" with each member having a different function or gift, and warming a pew is not a spiritual gift.
According to verse 5 we are "one body, and each member belongs to all the others." This means we are all mutually dependent and responsible for every other Christian. We need each other and we have an obligation to use our gifts to benefit the whole church. In the same way that all the members of a football team belong to each other in the sense that they need each other and are responsible to do their part for the team to be a winner, so the individual Christian can’t do God’s work alone but must operate as a member of the team to which they belong.
3. Christians by necessity have differing spiritual gifts.
Read Romans 12:6-8
4. Christians should use their spiritual gifts zealously.
There many different types of abilities within the Christian community. Some people can prophesy. This is a term which has a broad meaning but in essence means to proclaim God’s word. Some people can serve (minister) which means that God has gifted them with the ability to meet the physical needs of the church corporately and individual members of the congregation (cleaning, repairing, moving, etc…) Some people can teach effectively which means to systematically explain God’s word. Some people have a special ability to motivate and encourage. Some people have the capacity (funds) to "contribute to the needs of others." Some are good at leading and are therefore called to "govern diligently." Others are gifted to "show mercy" which means to help the hurting and needy by visiting, feeding, caring for, praying, etc.
This gives you an overview of what each of these gifts Paul mentions are, but the main point of these verses is not to explain the different kinds of functions or abilities in the church. The main purpose of these verses is to tell people to use whenever gifts they have zealously. Paul is in essence saying, "Just do it." If your gift is teaching then teach, if your gift is encouraging then encourage, if your gift is giving the give generously. In other words, don’t be reluctant to use your gifts. Don’t be half-hearted in applying your God-given abilities. Don’t let the busyness of this world or selfishness lead you to neglect your gift or to use you gift begrudgingly. Use your gifts to the best of your abilities, with diligence, cheerfulness, and generosity.
4. Christians should use their spiritual gifts zealously.
I realize how easily a person can become lukewarm or neglectful of their spiritual gift. Sometimes I do not want to do the study and preparation necessary to use my spiritual gift of teaching. It is hard work and sometimes you wonder if you’re doing any good. It is like that with all the gifts. They all require sacrifice, hard work, and faith that God will use our efforts. We need to guard our hearts so that we do not begin to think, "Let somebody else take care of this need, I’ve done my part for years."
Conclusion: Tonight I have shared with you 4 important truths about spiritual gifts. I hope you’ll take this teaching to heart and use your gift for the glory of God and a good of the church.
1. Every Christian has spiritual gifts.
2. Christians must guard against becoming proud because of their spiritual gifts.
3. Christians by necessity have differing spiritual gifts.
4. Christians should use their spiritual gifts zealously.
Closing Prayer
