Gifts of the Spirit 5
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Gifts of Service
Gifts of Service
For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.
For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function,
so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.
Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith;
or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching;
he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.
We come to the Apostle Pau’s exhortation to put others first in service to their Lord
Faith should drive our actions not our actions driving our faith!
I don’t give to get! I don’t serve to be served! I give because my faith says this is what I should do!
Faith is like a muscle - the more you exercise it the stronger it becomes
Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.”
It is clear here that the meaning is about giving.
Most dry goods when placed into a container have air space in between them. When the vessel is shaken and tapped it compresses more allowing for more product. If one shakes, taps, and compresses, then even more product can be added until there is no more room left so it overflows!
It is clear here that the context here is one of a financial transaction but the overall contextual flavor is the show of love to others through service or application of your gift or talents, physical, financial, and Spiritual
While we see a short list of services gifts above it is by no means a total one!
Verse 6 tells us that we al have varying gifts “having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us...”
Gifts - Karismata - the results of Grace
It is always stressed that the talent and abilities you have are simply a gift from God! Not of your own making
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
The chapter focuses on service from a pure heart
Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good.
Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another;
not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord;
rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer;
distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality.
We find it agin in
by purity, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Spirit, by sincere love,
by the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,
Paul was addressing the marks of a minister (servant) of God
The verse clearly implies that the demonstrated characteristics mentioned are wrought in the Christian’s life by the Holy Spirit and the power of God!
“These are weapons to keep us steadfast and active in the midst of all the pressures of the world. It is saying with unadulterated clarity, unfeigned simplicity, and unreserved totality , that the love of God is expressed through the application of these gifts to each other.”
The opposite of deceit, dissembling, and division
“unfeigned love is true brotherly love”
Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking,
as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby,
if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious.
Desire - “to learn in one’s own experience” - “to come to an inward awareness of”
Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith,
Love is the fruit of pure belief!
For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function,
so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.
So the Apostle encourages the use of the functional gifts of the believer to be employed in a demonstration of love for the furthering of the Kingdom of God
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
If we are consumed with unconditional practice of our gift then we will never be disappointed in the outcome or be sucked into vain and worthless arguments that lead to disruption and arguments!