Wrong ways to use a Spiritual gift.

Illustration: When Niccolo Paganini willed his finely crafted and lovingly used violin to the city of Genoa, he demanded that it never be played again. It was a gift designated for preservation, but not destined for service.

On the other hand, when the resurrected Christ willed his spiritual gifts to the children of God, he commanded that they be used. They were gifts not designated for preservation, but destined for service.

I. Introduction

A. Neglect them

B. Use them with Pride

C. Rank them on which is better.

II. Neglect them

A.1 Timothy 4:14

1 Timothy 4:14 NASB95

14 Do not neglect the spiritual gift within you, which was bestowed on you through prophetic utterance with the laying on of hands by the presbytery.

1 Corinthians 12:1

1 Corinthians 12:1 NASB95

1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware.

illl.For two years the hydraulic earthquake stabilizers in the thirteen-story “Nuevo Leon” apartment building in Mexico City were left out of service. Then, unexpectedly, at 7:30 a.m. on September 19, 1985, a devastating earthquake shook Mexico City. The thirteen-story building began to sway. Without hydraulic stabilizers to cushion the shocks, the building continued to sway until finally a third of it broke loose at the foundation and fell over sideways. Another third came crumbling down, floor on floor, crushed like a tin can. Only one third was left standing. For fifteen days rescuers dug through the rubble to search for survivors. Unfortunately, for most, the results of neglecting the inner defects were tragic.

So it is with our inner spiritual life and sin. To neglect the one is to open ourselves to the tragic results of the other.

III. Using Gifts with Pride

A. 1 John 2:16

1 John 2:16 NASB95

16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world.

B. Proverbs 29:23

Proverbs 29:23 NASB95

23 A man’s pride will bring him low, But a humble spirit will obtain honor.

IV. Rank our Spiritual Gifts

A.1 Corinthians 12:14–17

1 Corinthians 12:14–17 NASB95

14 For the body is not one member, but many. 15 If the foot says, “Because I am not a hand, I am not a part of the body,” it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body. 16 And if the ear says, “Because I am not an eye, I am not a part of the body,” it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole were hearing, where would the sense of smell be?

Ill. The mountain does not speak ill of the river just because it is high and mighty. Nor does the river scorn the mountain just because it moves swiftly and gracefully. They both are great in their own way.

V.Conclusion

Don’t treat your gift like the violin do not preserve use it.