Romans 12:4-8 | Gifts of the Spirit
Notes
Transcript
SERMON TITLE: Gifts of the Spirit
SCRIPTURE: Romans 12:4-8 (ESV)
SPEAKER: Josh Hanson
DATE: 2-16-25
TURN MIC ON / WELCOME
As always it’s a joy to be with all of you this weekend at Gateway Church. And if this happens to be your first time worshiping with us — or if you’re joining us at our North Main Campus or are with our friends in Bucyrus — I want you to know that God loves you and that I love you too.
INTRODUCTION
We’re continuing our series in Romans this weekend. Looking at how the rich doctrine that the apostle Paul teaches in the first eleven chapters of his letter — is meant to play itself out in how we lives as followers of Jesus today. And — last week — we saw how — because of what we believe about God, ourselves, salvation, and what God is doing in his creation — we’re to be a humble people who are united together to serve one another. And — that last part — to serve one another — was a section of our passage that needs more of our time and attention. In fact — this needs enough of our attention that this is going to feel like a sermon series within a sermon series.
But — before we get to that — let’s turn to our verses for today. If you have your Bible — please turn with me to Romans chapter twelve. We’ll be in Romans chapter twelve — looking at verses four through eight. There Paul writes…
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. 6 Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; 7 if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; 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.
We looked at this metaphor that Paul likes to use — the human body — to demonstrate our interdependence and interconnectedness with each other. Again — we looked at that last week and saw how Paul uses this in other letters he wrote. Our focus — in this mini-series — is going to be on the spiritual gifts that Paul mentions — no only hear in Romans — but we’re going to take time to look at passages so we gain a better understanding of what the spiritual gifts are, why God gives them to us, and how they’re to be used in the church, and for what purpose.
Now — maybe you’re a Christian or maybe you’re not — regardless — you may be thinking, “Well why does any of this matter to me?” First — if you’re a Christian — here’s why this topic is important and relevant to you. Paul writes this to Christians living in the city of Corinth.
1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be uninformed.
The spiritual gifts were important enough to the apostle Paul that he took time to explain what they are and how they are to be used to the Christians in Corinth. And — to start off his explanation of the gifts — he says, “I don’t want you to be ignorant of the gifts of the Spirit.” And — having been in pastoral ministry for nearly twenty years — I find that many — if not most — Christians are uninformed and thus — ignorant — of the spiritual gifts. To include what spiritual gifts they have and don’t have, why the Spirit has given his people gifts, and so on. And so we’re going to take time to make sure we’re all informed about the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
Now — if you’re an unbeliever — not a Christian — here’s why the spiritual gifts may be of interest to you. I find that most people are quite open to spiritual experiences. Few people — in our country today — are truly atheists. Most believe in some sort of spiritual world. And — what I hope you’ll see in these sermons — is the spiritual power of the Christian faith that is unequal in all other religions, faiths, and spiritualities. Not so you’re attracted to the gifts we learn about in this series — but so you’re drawn to the God who is the giver of — not only these spiritual gifts — but of every good gift in our lives. Including the gift of salvation that’s offered to us in Jesus Christ.
Now — before we start exploring Scripture for different gifts of the Spirit — let’s first define what spiritual gifts are. If you were here in the fall — I shared this definition of spiritual gifts in my sermon on hearing from God.
Spiritual gifts are abilities given to individual believers by the Holy Spirit in order to equip God’s people for ministry, both for the edification of the church and for God’s salvific mission to the world. - Lexham Survey of Theology
FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT
The first observation is that spiritual gifts are abilities given to individual believers by the Holy Spirit. A truth of the Christian faith is that every person who believes in Jesus is then filled with the Holy Spirit. Meaning — the Spirit of God — the third person of the Trinity — indwells — or lives in — or takes up residence — in every man, woman, or child who believes in Jesus. Sometimes this is described in the Bible as being filled with the Holy Spirit.
For example — in the book of Acts we read…
1 When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3 And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.
Later we read…
8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them…
And…
31 And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.
And…
17 So Ananias departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”
And…
9 But Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him 10 and said, “You son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, full of all deceit and villainy, will you not stop making crooked the straight paths of the Lord?
And…
52 And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.
Whether it be the original apostles — minus Judas — or just Peter — or some ordinary followers of Jesus — or the apostle Paul — we find that believers in Jesus Christ are filled with the Holy Spirit. Therefore — if you are a believer in Jesus Christ — you are filled with the Holy Spirit. The Spirit of God — the One who hovered of the darkness before creation — as we read in Genesis chapter one. The same Spirit of God who filled the prophets of the Old Testament to speak on behalf of God. The same Spirit who descended in the form of a dove to anoint and empower Jesus for his ministry. Is the same Holy Spirit who lives in you — if you believe in Jesus.
For — as Jesus told his disciples…
15 “If you love me, obey my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. 17 He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you.
Later Jesus says…
7 But in fact, it is best for you that I go away, because if I don’t, the Advocate won’t come. If I do go away, then I will send him to you.
And…
13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future. 14 He will bring me glory by telling you whatever he receives from me. 15 All that belongs to the Father is mine; this is why I said, ‘The Spirit will tell you whatever he receives from me.’
As Paul reminds us…
6 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, 7 for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.
My hope and prayer is that — for many of us — this series will be like a fan to a spark that causes the gifts that God’s Spirit has given to you to roar into a spiritual fire. For our God — your God, if you believe in Jesus — hasn’t filled you with a spirit of fear, but one of power, love, and self-control. And there’s no such thing as a “non-filled with the Holy Spirit” Christian. If you believe in Jesus — God’s Spirit does live in you. And — though we may quench what the Spirit wants to do in our lives — be assured — in the New Testament we find a gracious and kind act of God where Christians are said to be filled with the Holy Spirit again. Not in the sense that the Spirit had left them — but in the sense of a renewing — of the power of the Spirit in their lives. Something else I’m looking forward to as we explore God’s Word together — a renewing in many of our lives as we submit ourselves to his Word and allow his Spirit to empower us.
THE PURPOSE OF SPIRITUAL GIFTS: BUILD UP THE CHURCH
Back to our definition of spiritual gifts: Spiritual gifts are abilities given to individual believers by the Holy Spirit in order to equip God’s people for ministry, both for the edification of the church and for God’s salvific mission to the world. - Lexham Survey of Theology
Notice the purpose of the spiritual gifts. They are given to equip God’s people for ministry — and for two specific aspects of ministry. One — for the edification — our building up — or spiritual maturing of the church — and two — for God’s salvific mission — or saving work — to the world.
First, spiritual gifts are meant to help God’s church spiritually mature. We looked at this passage last week — but it’s worth reading again. To the Ephesians Paul writes…
11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, 14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. 15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.
Again — we’ll look at specific gifts — and even roles in the church that are associated with certain spiritual gifts — in the weeks ahead — but for now notice what Paul tells us is the purpose of the gifts. Since spiritual gifts are given to equip God’s people for ministry — we see here in Ephesians — that ministry includes the building up of the body of Christ — the local church in this case is what Paul is referring to. The Holy Spirit’s goal in giving these gifts is so that we will grow in our unity of the faith — meaning the doctrine we believe that leads to how we behave — and specifically grow in our unity about what we believe about Jesus.
Think of the important doctrines that focus on Jesus.
The virgin birth.
That he is fully God and fully man.
That he is eternal — not a created being.
That he lived a perfect, sinless life.
His atoning sacrifice on the cross.
The resurrection.
His ascension.
Just to name a few of the important doctrines that the Holy Spirit has given all of those — who are a part of Gateway Church and who believe in Jesus — specific spiritual gifts so that we grow in our unity in what we believe about these doctrines. So that we’re not like a ship on choppy waters — tossed around by the winds of culture, and human cunning, and craftiness — which are meant to cause us to drift at sea — lose our way — maybe even shipwreck our faith.
Back to our interconnectedness and interdependence: The Holy Spirit has gifted you — again — if you believe in Jesus — to build me up. Pastor Josh. To help me grow in spiritual maturity. To keep me from being shipwrecked in my faith. Just like the Holy Spirit has gifted me to build you all up — to help you grow in spiritual maturity — to keep you from being shipwrecked in your faith. The people sitting next to you — the people who attend other worship service and other campus than you — have been filled with the Holy Spirit and have been gifted in ways for your good — your eternal good — and you’ve been filled with the Holy Spirit and have been gifted in ways for their eternal good too.
THE PURPOSE OF SPIRITUAL GIFTS: REACH THE LOST WORLD
But there’s a second purpose of the gifts that we’re not to forget: Spiritual gifts are abilities given to individual believers by the Holy Spirit in order to equip God’s people for ministry, both for the edification of the church and for God’s salvific mission to the world. - Lexham Survey of Theology
The Holy Spirit equips God’s people for the ministry of reaching the lost world with the gospel. Something we cannot do is try to accomplish the mission we’ve been given without being empowered by the Spirit of God. Around here we like to say our goal is to make disciples who are Word and Spirit Christians. And — not or — for the Word and the Spirit are not at odds with one another.
Jesus said…
18 “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
And when we take into account what he also said in the book of Acts…
8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
We see that the mission we’ve been given — of making disciples of all nations — is a mission that will only be accomplished by the power of the Holy Spirit. And in this spiritually curious culture in which we live — and with the many religions in our world that are full of spiritual power — dark power — but it is both spiritual and powerful — I wonder if we Christians — at least here in the US — have been seemingly so weak in our witness because we’ve been trying to accomplish our mission without the Spirit’s power.
As Paul warns us in some of the last words he wrote…
1 You should know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times. 2 For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred. 3 They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good. 4 They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God. 5 They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that!
What I find so concerning — as a pastor — is how we will easily see the indicators of living in the last days — like people being lovers of themselves, and proud, and disobedient, and ungrateful, and nothing is sacred, slanderous, cruel, reckless, and so on — and then completely ignore Paul’s warning about people acting religious while rejecting the power that could make them godly. And — I think we do this — because we don’t see the connection between the Spirit’s power and our godliness in Scripture.
Yet — Peter — after healing a man who had never walked a day in his life — which caused quite a stir in the crowd who witnessed the healing — said…
12 Peter saw his opportunity and addressed the crowd. “People of Israel,” he said, “what is so surprising about this? And why stare at us as though we had made this man walk by our own power or godliness?
Peter’s like, “Don’t look at me as if I’m the reason why this guy has been healed — as if my power or godliness has something to do with it” — and then points the people to Jesus. He’d go on to write…
3 By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. 4 And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires. 5 In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God’s promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, 7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone. 8 The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Peter says that by God’s divine power we have everything we need to live a godly life. Thus — in order to not be the people Paul warns about — people who act religious yet reject the power that could make us godly — we must not be ignorant of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. For the Spirit empowers the people of God with himself and gifts us with special abilities so that the lost world is reached with the Good News about Jesus Christ. In fact — and I find this to be quite amazing — the Holy Spirit empower you and me with his spiritual gifts is the Spirit displaying himself in and through us. I’ll show you in Scripture and then I’ll explain what this means. Paul writes…
4 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; 5 and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; 6 and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. 7 To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.
Paul says that each — many every person who believes in Jesus — is given the manifestation of the Spirit. The word manifestation means “disclosure or a clear display or evidence of.” Other Bible translations have “spiritual gifts” in place of “manifestations of the Spirit.” But — what I want us to consider — is what does it mean for these spiritual gifts to be evidence of — or a clear display of — the Holy Spirit who lives in us? It means that spiritual gifts aren’t the equivalent of the Spirit dropping off something on our doorstep like a DoorDash delivery drive. Spiritual gifts are ways in which the Holy Spirit displays himself through the people he lives in. For example, through those the Spirit displays himself through the gift of preaching — others are built up in their faith because they are hearing from the Spirit of God. Through those the Spirit displays himself through the gift of service — others are built up in their faith because they are being served by the Spirit of God. And the same is true for all of the gifts or ways in which the Spirit of God displays himself through those who believe in Jesus Christ.
How incredible is that? That you — yes you, if you believe in Jesus — are a means by which the Holy Spirit — the third person of the Trinity — displays himself for the good of others. What a calling? What a responsibility? What a reason to live a life of godliness, and to pursue holiness, and to read God’s Word, and to pray because all of theses activities are used to refine us so we’re more faithful vessels through which the Holy Spirit can display himself to others.
I wonder how you’ve been either hindering or helping the Spirit of God to use you as a vessel to display himself to others?
I wonder how this week might look differently than the previous week now that you see what the opportunity you have as a follower of Jesus — to be used by God’s Spirit to build up other Christians and to draw unbelievers to Jesus?
I wonder what kind of purpose this would give to your life? What sense of responsibility? What refining would take place if you and me — if we who follow Jesus — stepped into this calling to which we’ve been called?
CONCLUSION
A Now — at this point — I know that many of us might still be thinking, “But, Josh, I still don’t have any idea what spiritual gifts I have.” That’s what this series is about. In the coming weeks — we’re going to look at the specific spiritual gifts found in Scripture, look at examples of them being used, make observations about the gifts, talk about how the spiritual gifts are used at Gateway, and how to discover what spiritual gifts you have — that’s where we’re headed.
But — for now — I thought I’d leave you with a little taste of what’s to come. If you went a googled “spiritual gifts” — I’m going to be honest — I have no idea what you’d find. There are all kinds of books on the spiritual gifts — and different authors come up with different lists. The list we’ll be using is by theologian Wayne Grudem as found in his systematic theology book.
Before we get to the list — know that — generally speaking — the spiritual gifts can be categorized into two groups.
Speaking Gifts
Serving Gifts
This comes from Peters words where he writes…
10 As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: 11 whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
Regardless if a speaking gift or a serving gift — all are important and necessary for us to grow up into our maturity in Christ as a congregation and to make our God look glorious.
Again — we’ll look at Bible passages for all of these specific spiritual gifts in the coming weeks — but — for now — here’s Grudem’s list of the spiritual gifts. These will be in alphabetical order and the definitions of the gifts I’ve copied from giftstest.com as I think these are pretty easy to understand definitions.
Administration
The gift of administration is the divine strength or ability to organize multiple tasks and groups of people to accomplish these tasks.
Apostleship
The gift of apostleship is the divine strength or ability to pioneer new churches and ministries through planting, overseeing, and training.
Evangelism
The gift of evangelism is the divine strength or ability to help non-Christians take the necessary steps to becoming a born-again Christian.
Exhortation/Encouragement
The gift of exhortation is the divine strength or ability to strengthen, comfort or urge others to action through the written or spoken word and Biblical truth.
Healing
The gifts of healing is the divine strength or ability to act as an intermediary in faith, prayer, and by the laying-on of hands for the healing of physical, mental and spiritual sickness.
Helps
The gift of helps is the divine strength or ability to work in a supportive role for the accomplishment of tasks in Christian ministry with the ability to often see the need before others do.
Hospitality
The gift of hospitality is the divine strength or ability to create warm, welcoming environments for others in places such as your home, office, or church.
Intercession
The gift of intercession is the divine strength or ability to stand in the gap in prayer for someone, something, or someplace, believing for profound results.
Word of Knowledge
The gift of knowledge is the divine strength or ability to bring truth to a situation by supernatural revelation. This is often accompanied by a word from God.
Leadership
The gift of leadership is the divine strength or ability to influence people at their level while directing and focusing them on the big picture, vision, or idea.
Mercy
The gift of mercy is the divine strength or ability to feel empathy and to care for those who are hurting in any way.
Miracles
The gift of miracles is the divine strength or ability to alter the natural outcomes of life in a supernatural way through prayer, faith, and divine direction.
Pastor/Shepherd
The gift of pastor/shepherd is the divine strength or ability to care for the personal needs of others by nurturing and mending life issues.
Service
The gift of serving is the divine strength or ability to do small or great tasks in working for the overall good of the body of Christ.
Tongues (and Interpretation)
The gift of tongues is the divine strength or ability to pray in a heavenly language to encourage your spirit and to commune with God. The gift of tongues is often accompanied by interpretation and should be used appropriately.
Word of Wisdom
The gift of wisdom is the divine strength or ability to understand and to bring clarity to situations and circumstances often through applying the truths of Scripture in a practical way.
Two gifts that may surprise you — and know that these two are referred to in the original language of the Bible as spiritual gifts in Scripture — are…
Singleness/Celibacy
Marriage
Two final comments. First — don’t put all of your eggs in the “I took an online spiritual gifts test so these must be what I’ve been given” basket. Believe it or not, the people Paul wrote his letters to didn’t have online spiritual gifts tests to figure out their gifts. So don’t put all of your eggs in the spiritual gifts test basket, but also don’t take all of your eggs out of the online spiritual gifts test basket either. The tests can be helpful, but they are not infallible.
Second — in case you’re wondering — “If I don’t have the gift of mercy, does that mean I don’t have to be merciful?” The answer is “Yes, you do have to be merciful.” Why? Because God has commanded all of his people to be merciful. And to be generous — you don’t get out of giving either. And to evangelize. And to serve. Many of the gifts have commands associated with them that all Christians are to obey. Yet — though we’re all to obey the commands — some of us who are gifted with the accompanying spiritual gift — will see greater results in that area being a blessing to the church or the lost than others.
Now — to close — I thought I’d share with you what are my top five spiritual gifts. The gifts I listed earlier was actually incomplete. I left my top five spiritual gifts so I could share them now. And know that you too can have confidence in knowing your spiritual gifts like what I’m about to share. The Spirit of God wants to display himself through you for the benefit of others through these spiritual gifts — he’s not trying to make it impossible for you to know your gift. You just may need some informing — which is what this series is about.
Alright — Pastor Josh’s top five spiritual gifts. We’ll start with number five.
Discernment
The gift of discernment is the divine strength or ability to spiritually identify falsehood, to distinguish between right and wrong motives and the spiritual forces at work in situations.
Number four.
Prophecy
The gift of prophecy is the divine strength or ability to communicate God's truth and heart in a way that calls people to a right relationship with God.
Number three.
Giving
The gift of giving is the divine strength or ability to produce wealth and to give by tithes and offerings for the purpose of advancing the Kingdom of God on earth.
Number two.
Faith
The gift of faith is the divine strength or ability to believe in God for unseen supernatural results in every arena of life.
Closely associated with the gift of faith is the gifts of healing — which is also a way that the Holy Spirit chooses to display himself through me at times.
And my top spiritual gift is — any guesses?
Teaching/Preaching
The gift of teaching/preaching is the divine strength or ability to study and learn from the Scriptures primarily to bring understanding and depth to other Christians.
With all humility — I say this is how the Spirit of God has chosen to manifest himself in and through me for God’s glory, your good, and the reaching of the lost with the gospel. And what I hope we’ll all see in the weeks ahead — is that the way the Spirit of God has chosen to manifest himself in and through you — is just as much for God’s glory, our good, and for the reaching of the lost with the gospel. For — when we grasp this — we’ll be a church who experiences a new height in our Christlikeness and spiritual maturity — which is what we’re going to pray for right now. Let’s pray.
PRAYER
Heavenly Father, what a wonder to behold. Not only do you love. Not only did you send Jesus to live, die, and defeat death for us. But you have not left us as orphans — but with Jesus have sent the Holy Spirit to fill your people with the presence and power of God.
Jesus, you gave us promises about the Spirit. That the Spirit will lead us. Guide us. Teach us. Be with us. Unite us — along with many other promises. And — Jesus — we’re going to take you at your Word and believe what your Word says about the Holy Spirit and his gifts.
And to you — Holy Spirit — thank you for filling us with your presence and power. Thank you for leading, guiding, directing, and teaching us. Thank you for gifting all who believe in Jesus — in unique ways. With manifestations of your power and presence in ways that build us up as a church — help us to spiritually grow — ways that make our God look glorious through us as a people.
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit — we’ve learned two purposes of the spiritual gifts. To build up the church and to reach the lost world with the gospel. So work — Almighty and Saving God — in the hearts of all who hear my voice. Call out of spiritual darkness and death those who have been living in rebellion against you — and call them into your glorious light of eternal life. We ask you to do so because saving people makes you look glorious. And that’s what we desire — we want you to look glorious in our lives as individuals — and in our life as a church. And we pray all of this in Jesus’ name. Amen.
BENEDICTION (Prayer teams available)
Having believed in Jesus Christ — may you go knowing that the Spirit of God lives in you and desires to display himself through you for God’s glory and our good. Amen.
God loves you. I love you. You are sent.
