The Speaking Gifts - How to speak words of Life - Pt 1 - Exhortation/Encouragement
The Speaking Gifts - How to Speak words of Life • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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GREET EVERYONE-
If I have not had a chance to meet you; My name is Scott and I am a follower of Jesus and have the privilege of serving Him as the Lead Pastor among the people of Stonewater Fellowship.
Our Vision:
We Desire see every follower of Jesus well equipped and fully deployed on the mission of Jesus.
What mission? - This questions leads us to articulate His mission for His church in a simple way.
Our Mission:
Is to engage people into a multiplying relationship with Jesus!
INVITE INTO
1- Baptism Class - Today after worship
2 - When God's People Pray - Every Sunday 9:00
3: Radiate Coalition Lunch - Sex Trafficking Next Sunday After worship
To provide Christ-centered restorative whole-person aftercare to victims of abuse, trafficking, exploitation, trauma, and oppression, taking them from survivor to thriver and launching them into a spirit-filled life.
LETS GRAB OUR BIBLES IF YOU HAVE ONE AND
Open it to Romans Chapter 12 today as we Begin a New Series on the Gifts of the Holy Spirit where we will be navigating the Speaking Gifts and How the Holy Spirit uses God’s spirit filled, super natural church to Speak word of Life in every conversation we have.
PRAYER OVER SERIES
is and has been that as we are Exposing What God says, through the scriptures about the 9 Speaking Gifts that are given God’s people; made new and regenerated by the Power of the Holy Spirit; as we unwrap these Speaking gifts of the Holy Spirit,
My prayer is We would become more and more and more a people who speak words of life to a lost and dying world.
PRAYER OVER MESSAGE
IS that we would come to the scriptures this morning and, go a little deeper into the text,
so that we more fully understand and begin to fervently and accurately Apply the Speaking Gift of Exhortation to everyone around us.
ENGAGEMENT –
Ever been in a conversation and you say something that got recieved by the other person in a way that you did not intend for it to be recieved.
And it kind of happens over and over again where you say different things and it is just not recieved sometimes the way you intended it to be recieved.
And you can’t really figure out why things are so difficult for other people to understand?
You might even think to your self: If they would just listen more closely”
Or “If they just knew me and my heart towards them they would not take things that way”
Then something happens: You find out its you!
You find out that you have been using words or phrases that are really offensive even though you never intended to offend anyone.
TENSION
This is a lot of what happens around what we think is the gift of exhortation.
There have been many times that I have been in conversation with someone, and sometimes someone close, and those someones have spoken very corrective to me.
Like they take upon themselves the responsibility to make sure I am corrected in everything.
now don't get me wrong there are people in my life who have that role. People in my life that I ave given permission to do that to me. and we all need those friends.
But I think we have all had those relationship where we hear: Don’t do this and don't do that and re- think this and re- think that.
When that happens to me sometimes I will ask and have asked:
Like where is this criticalitalness coming from?
because it seems like you are always finding fault in almost everything I do and Every strategy I have and Every thought that I have.
And their response was “I love you bro, I have the gift of Exhortation and sometimes that is difficult for people”
Loved ones - Lets all Hear from the Holy Spirit this morning, through the scriptures -
Spoiler Alert -
Loved ones that is not the Gift of Exhortation - Nor is that what it means to Exhort!
What that is is a critical spirit not the Holy Spirit - Amen?
BACKGROUND
In our text this Morning in Romans Chapter 12 Paul is coming to the parts of the letter that are aimed at living out the gospel.
The Letter to the Romans is a phenomenal letter that God used the Apostle Paul to write.
The Church was planted by some believers who came to faith during Pentecost - when 120 hit the streets of Jerusalem with the supernatural gift of language and 3000 people came to faith that day.
Some of them were from Rome. a few years after Pentecost as they were gathering - devoting themselves to one another and to the Apostles teaching and the breaking of bread and to prayer
sharing all they had with other so that no one had need.
Persecution came and they were scattered and some went back to Rome and began making disciples of Jesus there and they began to assemble together there.
And Paul writes to them this incredible letter of the Gospel declaration even though He has never been there and will never get there as a free person.
He will get to Rome - but in chains as a prisoner waiting to appeal to Cesar before He is executed for what He claims to have seen and believed through the eyes of others.
Let me encourage you this morning:
Read this letter often and frequently and it will draw you closer to Jesus and renew the Gospel in your mind and heart in ways that you could never have imagined.
An Early Church Father Named John Chrysostom had the letter read to Him twice a day for decades.
If you read this letter, here is what you will find:
In the first 8 chapters Paul unpacks the truth of the Gospel, The Power of the Gospel, The effect of the Gospel, The severity of the Gospel, and the grace of the Gospel.
IN chapter 9,10,11 he navigates the Jewish people AKA the people of Israel in regards to the Gospel.
and IN chapter 12 He begins to carry forward as His aim and purpose to unfold for His audience how, as saved people, filled with the Spirit, we are to Live out the Gospel.
He begins “This Living out the Gospel” with this word picture of submitting to Jesus’ Lordship - In other words Jesus being Master of our lives by saying.
Because God has done all this to us and for us - It is reasonable, as an act of worship for us all to be living sacrifices to God.
In other words we give up our life and our will and our desires to the life, and well and desires of God through Christ.
Then He begins in small detail walking through living out the Gospel!
UNPACKING
3 For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.
Paul begins this passage of the Letter with the phrase ‘for by the grace given to me”…
This then begs the question: What is the grace given to Paul?
That Paul was appointed to serve Jesus even though he was a blasphemer, a persecutor of the church, and insolent opponent to the Gospel, to the church and to Jesus, acting in ignorant unbelief as a serial killer of Christians.
Jesus - Saved Him and made Him new and put Him to world that is the grace that Paul was given.
and He comes right behind that and says to EVERYONE - not to think more highly than you ought to think,
And then He gives us the framework by which we out to have thoughts about ourselves.
They need to be Sober Judgement thoughts.
No this is not about drinking or not.
But here is what Paul is saying.
They need to be though about our selves that are not out of control or unreasonable.
and he finished this with EACH according to the measure of faith -
The measure of Trust -
Everyone say Trust -
Now how much trust Has God given everyone who is saved by grace through faith?
Total trust for eternal life and then a growing trust for everything else.
Paul then moves to verses 4 and five and sets before us the boundaries these thoughts are to be focused on.
4 For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, 5 so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.
in other words - We all belong together - There are no stand alone people in the Body of Christ -
There are no Stand by your self people - I can do it myself people - I don't need anyone else people in the Body of Christ - In the Church.
On body - Individual members - Intertwined together - ONE - UNITY -
Then Watch what He does - As one body we have all different gifts.
6 Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith;
8 the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.
The grace Given to Paul was that he was put into service by Jesus even through He was one time a serial killer of Christens ,
The Grace give to us -
We are put into service by God.
Paul then says - These gifts “Let us use them” and then He begins to list.
Prophecy first.
then Look at vs 8 - There is this word Exhortation.
SO the Prophetic and the Exhortation are listed here pretty close together
“The One who Exhorts in His exhortation”
Here is what is Very interesting -
The word Exhort and Exhortation come from an very interesting Greek word.
The Greek word there does not mean to correct or to rebuke or to Judge.
Here is what it means and it is very very interesting.
It come from the same grouping of Greek words that the Apostle John uses to name the Holy Spirit.
The Helper - in the Greek in the Gospel is used as a proper name meaning the Helper who comforts, encourages and consuls.
Here In Romans Paul uses this word as an adgitive and a verb - Basically describing the thing someone does.
Exhorts - means to encourage, to console by verbal and non-verbal means.
Exhortation - means cause someone to be encouraged or consoled by verbal or non-verbal means.
Both with a sense of urgency and pleading!
Lets start with consoling or comforting.
2 cor 1:3-7
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 5 For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too. 6 If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer. 7 Our hope for you is unshaken, for we know that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in our comfort.
10 Times the the word “Comfort” shows up. in these 4 verses of text.
Paul is writing to the Corinthian Church how much they mean to Him and how important they are to Him and watch what He says:
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
Wanna know why sometime you go through suffering and difficulty? -
It is because God is gifting you with the gift of exhortation so that you may exhort others who are suffering as well.
Comforting them as you have been comforted.
Loved ones know this. If you are a follower of Jesus, saved by grace through faith, regenerated unto new life by the Holy Spirit, there are times when difficulty will come.
and loved ones it is never a waste!
It is never needless suffering.
It is always there to conform us to the image of Christ:
and we are conformed into the image of His Son Jesus, we are being prepared to comfort others in their suffering with the very same comfort that God gave us through His word and through other people.
This is what Paul is saying in verse 5
Remember it is never a waste. No matter what it is. It is not a waste.
God is preparing you for what is next in any and ever area of suffering.
Remember what He said to Simon Peter.
“Simon Peter the Devil has asked permission to sift you all like wheat. but I have prayed for you that your faith not fail and when you have turned again you will strengthen your brothers”
Watch where Paul takes it there in His Corinthian letter.
6 If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer.
You see loved ones we will all suffer. It is really a matter of how we respond to the suffering!
DO we respond in hopelessness or Steadfastness as we encourage and console others?
7 Our hope for you is unshaken, for we know that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in our comfort.
10 Times the word Comfort.
Here is the interesting Part - in the Original Language -
Same group of words that Paul used back in Romans -
The one who Exhorts in his Exhortation.
Same Word!
So here we can see that Exhortation brings the comfort of Christ to the listener.
Lets turn to Encouragement.
1 Timothy 4:11
SO Timothy is in Ephesus - Paul is under arrest in Rome.
Paul writes to Timothy while He was under arrest in Rome Encourages him knowing what difficulties He will be having as a young church leader here in this part of the letter.
Watch what He says to Timothy with the gift of Exhortation.
12 Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.
You talk about Encouragement -
A young Elder leading a relatively new church - In Ephesus. The Epicenter of demonic worship and witchcraft.
Imagine being Timothy - Your in this very spiritually dark place. You are following Paul as the leader of the Local Church.
You are making disciples among the lost and building the church and you are Young -
How young we are not sure.
But Remember Back then if you were Jewish you were declared a man around the age of 12-14.
Timothy is Young.
and you know people in the community had to be dogging him about how old he wasn't.
And you get this letter from your friend and mentor and it says “Let no one despise you for your youth”
IN other words “don't let them get to ya kid!
Then watch what Paul does - Ne not only tells him don't let them get to ya but how to fight it off.
SET AN EXAMPLE -
SET SN EXAMPLE in 5 areas -
What you say -
What you do
How you love people
Your trust in God
and your holiness.
Then watch what Paul says - He says Keep Going and Don’t stop - Don’t Ever stop!
13 Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching. 14 Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you. 15 Practice these things, immerse yourself in them, so that all may see your progress. 16 Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.
How Encouraging this must have been to a Young Pastor from His friend and mentor.
What an example of Exhortation to Timothy!
I think sometimes we get discouraged away from living totally for Christ becasue of what people say about us or our past or mistakes we have made.
and we need mentors and friends in our life to say to us “don't let them get to you” Keep on serving Jesus and don't ever stop.
Turn with me to Acts Chapter 15
Here is what is Happening in Acts Chapter 15
Paul has come to a place called Antioch and made disciples there and as that has happened a church body was formed.
While Paul was away from Antioch there were some other people who had come from back in Jerusalem and these guys were called Judizers.
Here is what that meant - Judizers would take the total forgiveness of Jesus and Add to it requirements of the Old Testament to it.
In this case here is what they were saying -
You cannot be saved - You cannot be a Christian - No matter what God has done in your life, You cannot be saved unless you are circumcised in the custom of Moses.
So When Paul hear this there was a big debate.
Here is what what was decided that Paul and team went to Jerusalem to tell the Peter and James and the other Church leaders what was happening and get their instructions.
And James - The Half brother of Jesus - Who is now a Church leader write them back.
And watch what happens!
Verse 28 is the part of the letter that addresses the issues.
And what it addresses is the righteousness effect of the Gospel. It is not working towards righteousness but the change the gospel makes or should be making in our lives.
Listen to what James writes -
Vs 28
28 For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay on you no greater burden than these requirements: 29 that you abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what has been strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell.”
What James and the others have just said in essence is your salvation is not about outward change in circumcision.
Rather Your salvation is about internal change. Change of the Heart!
here is the great Part of this passage.
Vs 30
Acts 15:30–32 (ESV)
30 So when they were sent off, they went down to Antioch, and having gathered the congregation together, they delivered the letter.
The they are Paul and Barnabas and Judas and Silas and team. They went back to the church in Antioch and they delivered it.
VS 31
31 And when they had read it, they rejoiced because of its encouragement. 32 And Judas and Silas, who were themselves prophets, encouraged and strengthened the brothers with many words.
The congregation rejoiced becasue of its encouragement!
Because of its what? Because of its encouragement.
It’s what? Encouragement!
Same word in Romans 12 for Exhortation
Look at 32
These prophets named Judas and Silas did some additional speaking and what was the effect.
Encouragement and strengthening.
Strengthening meaning to make firmer in their faith and in their trust in the Lord.
Encouraged - Same word in Romans 12 for Exhort
you see loved ones The Gift of Exhortation is not the gift of criticism.
It is not to correct or change or to persuade or to find fault or blame or any such thing.
The Gift of Exhortation is to Encourage.
The Gift of Exhortation is to Comfort
The Gift of Exhortation is to speak life into another persons life.
THE GOSPEL CONNECTION
This is one of the changes that the Gospel begins to bring in our life.
AS we surrender to Jesus being Lord and Master in our lives.
He changes us from the inside out.
It is so interesting that people have always look a Christianity as an outside in religion.
But it is not - The Gospel Changes us.
The Gospel changes not only what we think and say and do.
The reason is not that the Gospel forces us to change these things.
The Gospel changes our heart and with that our desires in what we think and say and do.
You see loved ones we are not saved by what we do or don’t do in our lives regarding sin.
For Christianity is not some self improvement program.
Many think and at some level I understand this, that in our world and in some circles of the church, Christianity has been reduced to Moral Thiesem, That it is about being a good person - this kind of self help program that can is defined by what we think about Sex or what we think about money, or sex or abortion or drugs or drinking, or what we say or do.
Where that is not Christianity at all -
The Good news the Gospel is that Jesus came to make all thing new. He came to be good in the place of us who can never be good.
He came to save us and give us life with God forever as recipients of His grace.
Loved ones the fruit of our salvation in a larger sense must not be measured in what we do or don’t do. The Fruit of our salvation must be measured in our desire to love God and our desire to live a life that is pleasing to Him.
This is why the Scripture says “Examine yourself, Test yourself to make sure you are of the faith.”
The test is a simple one. Is the fruit of your salvation that you Love God so much that you are continually hating the sin that you one loved and loving the righteousness you once hated?
Bring it into terms this morning of Exhortation.
Has the Gospel so changed your heart that you hate the criticalness you once loved and love the encouragement you once hated and thought was silly.
You see loved ones In Christ we can overcome all things.
In Christ we can see victory over all our enemies - mainly sin and death!
In Christ loved ones we are made new , new creatures , Gods workmanship Created in Christ, Regenerated and renewed by the Power of the Holy Spirit, Saved unto Good works that God has designed in advance that we would walk in them.
APPLICATION OR IMAGINE
This is what the Assembly of the saints is all about. This is a huge part of what being the Church is all about. This is why we gather on Sunday mornings in the large assembly of the saints.
This is also why we gather house to house during the week in smaller numbers, in different neighborhoods.
The writer of Hebrews puts it this way.
24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
Loved ones as we all know the world can be a place that is dark and mean and cold and where we find little encouragement and very little if no comfort at all.
but we are the Church.
Who is the Church? We are the church - And one of the marks that says “we are the church” Is we are a people, that when we gather in groups large or small, here on Sunday or during the week house to house -
Through the gift of Exhortation -
people, All People can find comfort and encouragement through Christ living His life through us.
Let us be the Church
ENDORSE SMALL GROUPS
PRAYER TEAM