GIFT EMPOWERED MINISTRY
Defining Our Ministry through Our Giftedness Part 2
INTRODUCTION: We want to pick up our lesson by continuing to define the Spiritual Gifts God has given us for our use in order to accomplish his purposes. You will remember that Spiritual Gifts are all about God, and not about us. So, we want to pick up with the gift of Exhortation, and move our way down the list.
I EXHORTATION
A Word means a calling near, or a calling for
B The issue is comfort
C A person with this gift is able to give good counsel and to encourage others in the Lord
1 Urges other to fulfill their practical duties as a believer
a By reminding them of God’s promises
b By reminding them of God’s warnings
c This gift tends to bring out the best in others
2 Exhibited in
a Preaching ministry
b Teaching ministry
c Counseling ministry
D Teaching provides the guidance and exhortation provides the encouragement
E Scriptures applying to this gift
1 Thessalonians 2:11-12 (NIV) 11 For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, 12 encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory.
Acts 4:36 (NIV) 36 Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means Son of Encouragement),
Acts 9:26-30 (NIV) 26 When he came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple. 27 But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. He told them how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus. 28 So Saul stayed with them and moved about freely in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord. 29 He talked and debated with the Grecian Jews, but they tried to kill him. 30 When the brothers learned of this, they took him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus.
Acts 15:36-41 (NIV) 36 Some time later Paul said to Barnabas, "Let us go back and visit the brothers in all the towns where we preached the word of the Lord and see how they are doing." 37 Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark, with them, 38 but Paul did not think it wise to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the work. 39 They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus, 40 but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord. 41 He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.
The Book of Job. Job’s friend’s DID not have the gift of comfort!
F
II GIVING
A Joyful and cheerful giving to the work and ministry of the body
B Characterized by cheerfulness and liberality
C The word means to share, impart, or bestow
D This gift provides a special readiness and ability to give of material goods and financial resources for the sake of the Body without motives for self-benefit
E Not a gift of the wealthy
F People who gave
1 The poor
2 Corinthians 8:1-5 (NIV) 1 And now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. 2 Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. 3 For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, 4 they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints. 5 And they did not do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God’s will.
2 Barnabas
Acts 4:36-37 (NIV) 36 Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means Son of Encouragement), 37 sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet.
3 The widow
Luke 21:1-4 (NIV) 1 As he looked up, Jesus saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. 2 He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. 3 "I tell you the truth," he said, "this poor widow has put in more than all the others. 4 All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on."
G This does not remove the responsibility for giving from the individual believer, but simply declares that some have a special ability in this area.
III SERVICE/HELPS
A Combination of two words – Diakonia in Romans, which means service, and is the word where we get Deacon from.. In Corinthians the word is Antilempsis, which means helping
B This gift is one that recognizes the practical needs of the body of Christ and joyfully gives assistance for those needs.
1 Behind the scenes work
2 The tasks others would often forget, or not recognized are being done.
C Works of service are to be done by all Christians, yet some have a special gift from God in being able to take burdens upon themselves with a spirit of love and cheerfulness.
1 Kenneth Gangel writes: "Those who possess this gift tend to be marked by a less-talk-more-action style of service" (91).
2 The "gift of helping or serving" is demonstrated in the lives of several New Testament characters (Acts 6:1-7; 9:36-39; Romans 16:1-2; I Corinthians 16:15; II Timothy 1:16).
a One of the highest offices in the church – that of a Deacon is based on one of the least sought after gifts -- service
Acts 6:1-7 (NIV) 1 In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Grecian Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. 2 So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, "It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. 3 Brothers, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them 4 and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word."
5 This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism. 6 They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them. 7 So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith.
Acts 9:36-39 (NIV) 36 In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which, when translated, is Dorcas), who was always doing good and helping the poor. 37 About that time she became sick and died, and her body was washed and placed in an upstairs room.
38 Lydda was near Joppa; so when the disciples heard that Peter was in Lydda, they sent two men to him and urged him, "Please come at once!" 39 Peter went with them, and when he arrived he was taken upstairs to the room. All the widows stood around him, crying and showing him the robes and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was still with them.
Romans 16:1-2 (NIV) 1 I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servant of the church in Cenchrea. 2 I ask you to receive her in the Lord in a way worthy of the saints and to give her any help she may need from you, for she has been a great help to many people, including me.
1 Corinthians 16:15 (NIV) 15 You know that the household of Stephanas were the first converts in Achaia, and they have devoted themselves to the service of the saints. I urge you, brothers,
2 Timothy 1:16 (NIV) 16 May the Lord show mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, because he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains.
3 William McRae writes: A person with this gift will loathe the limelight but be the backbone of an effective church. Many unseen tasks that cause the ministry of the Word to be performed smoothly are effectively done by these persons. They prepare Sunday school materials for the teachers, care for the maintenance of the building and property, work in the tape ministry, do secretarial work, arrange transportation, set up chairs, assume responsibility for a radio program, provide nursery facilities, etc. How invaluable are the men and women who do this kind of work joyfully and faithfully. It is a magnificent gift
IV KNOWLEDGE
A A direct action of God upon the intellect of the recipient which enabled the individual to grasp, understand, and declare what was being revealed.
1 Often see this in those who are able to comprehend and dissect the Word of God.
2 A good example here would be Dr. Reneald Showers, or Dr. Charles Ryrie
B This gift clarifies biblical revelation not understood
C This is the “now I get it gift” – let me illustrate In Acts 2:21 we read this -- Acts 2:21 (NIV) 21 And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’
1 This is Peter speaking and declaring the truth of the prophet Joel
Yet a little later in Acts we read this –
Acts 10:9-29 (NIV) 9 About noon the following day as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray.
10 He became hungry and wanted something to eat, and while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance. 11 He saw heaven opened and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners. 12 It contained all kinds of four-footed animals, as well as reptiles of the earth and birds of the air.
13 Then a voice told him, "Get up, Peter. Kill and eat." 14 "Surely not, Lord!" Peter replied. "I have never eaten anything impure or unclean." 15 The voice spoke to him a second time, "Do not call anything impure that God has made clean."
16 This happened three times, and immediately the sheet was taken back to heaven. 17 While Peter was wondering about the meaning of the vision, the men sent by Cornelius found out where Simon’s house was and stopped at the gate.
18 They called out, asking if Simon who was known as Peter was staying there.
19 While Peter was still thinking about the vision, the Spirit said to him, "Simon, three men are looking for you. 20 So get up and go downstairs. Do not hesitate to go with them, for I have sent them." 21 Peter went down and said to the men, "I’m the one you’re looking for. Why have you come?" 22 The men replied, "We have come from Cornelius the centurion. He is a righteous and God-fearing man, who is respected by all the Jewish people. A holy angel told him to have you come to his house so that he could hear what you have to say." 23 Then Peter invited the men into the house to be his guests. The next day Peter started out with them, and some of the brothers from Joppa went along. 24 The following day he arrived in Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends. 25 As Peter entered the house, Cornelius met him and fell at his feet in reverence. 26 But Peter made him get up. "Stand up," he said, "I am only a man myself." 27 Talking with him, Peter went inside and found a large gathering of people. 28 He said to them: "You are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with a Gentile or visit him. But God has shown me that I should not call any man impure or unclean. 29 So when I was sent for, I came without raising any objection. May I ask why you sent for me?"
2 Peter is receiving a vision as the men from the house of Cornelius are coming for him
a Peter is frustrated as the vision unfolds, until the very end where he is able to declare that anything God has called clean, he shold not call unclean
b What Peter declared in Acts 2 he did not understand the meaning of until Acts 10
D There is a danger with this gift, or the desiring of this gift – the danger of using it to puff up ourselves, rather than love up others -- 1 Corinthians 8:1-2 (NIV) 1 Now about food sacrificed to idols: We know that we all possess knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.
2 The man who thinks he knows something does not yet know as he ought to know.
V LEADERSHIP
A This gift is similar to that of Administration – see notes in last message
B Difference is in that Administration focuses primarily on the task, where as Leadership focuses on the individuals involved in the task
C Some examples of leadership
Exodus 18:7-27 (NIV) 7 So Moses went out to meet his father-in-law and bowed down and kissed him. They greeted each other and then went into the tent. 8 Moses told his father-in-law about everything the LORD had done to Pharaoh and the Egyptians for Israel’s sake and about all the hardships they had met along the way and how the LORD had saved them. 9 Jethro was delighted to hear about all the good things the LORD had done for Israel in rescuing them from the hand of the Egyptians. 10 He said, "Praise be to the LORD, who rescued you from the hand of the Egyptians and of Pharaoh, and who rescued the people from the hand of the Egyptians. 11 Now I know that the LORD is greater than all other gods, for he did this to those who had treated Israel arrogantly."
12 Then Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, brought a burnt offering and other sacrifices to God, and Aaron came with all the elders of Israel to eat bread with Moses’ father-in-law in the presence of God. 13 The next day Moses took his seat to serve as judge for the people, and they stood around him from morning till evening. 14 When his father-in-law saw all that Moses was doing for the people, he said, "What is this you are doing for the people? Why do you alone sit as judge, while all these people stand around you from morning till evening?"
15 Moses answered him, "Because the people come to me to seek God’s will.
16 Whenever they have a dispute, it is brought to me, and I decide between the parties and inform them of God’s decrees and laws."
17 Moses’ father-in-law replied, "What you are doing is not good.
18 You and these people who come to you will only wear yourselves out. The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone.
19 Listen now to me and I will give you some advice, and may God be with you. You must be the people’s representative before God and bring their disputes to him. 20 Teach them the decrees and laws, and show them the way to live and the duties they are to perform. 21 But select capable men from all the people--men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain--and appoint them as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens. 22 Have them serve as judges for the people at all times, but have them bring every difficult case to you; the simple cases they can decide themselves. That will make your load lighter, because they will share it with you. 23 If you do this and God so commands, you will be able to stand the strain, and all these people will go home satisfied."
24 Moses listened to his father-in-law and did everything he said.
25 He chose capable men from all Israel and made them leaders of the people, officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens. 26 They served as judges for the people at all times. The difficult cases they brought to Moses, but the simple ones they decided themselves. 27 Then Moses sent his father-in-law on his way, and Jethro returned to his own country.
Titus 1:5 (NIV) 5 The reason I left you in Crete was that you might straighten out what was left unfinished and appoint elders in every town, as I directed you.
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