Spiritual Gifts Romans 12 pt 1

As we conclude our sermon series next week let us recall what we have been talking about since Father’s Day. There are two different Scriptures that talk about Spiritual Gifts, 1 Corinthians 12 and Romans 12. According to 1 Corinthians 12, there are 3 types of gifts – each type has 3 individual gifts – 9 gifts in total; the three categories of gifts are gifts of revelation, gifts of inspiration, and gifts of power. We’ve covered those categories so this week and next week we will close out the Holy Spirit series with looking at the Romans 12 list of 7 spiritual gifts. As any blessing that God gives, if we are led by the Holy Spirit then we should not use to promote self or for selfish reasons. When the Holy Spirit gives one or more of these gifts to a person, and people receive different gifts, it is not make anyone feel spiritually superior or inferior. Part of today’s scripture that begins the list, Romans 12:4-5, “For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.” We are all members of one body, each with a different function; not every part of the body tastes or smells nor can every believer have the same gift. Some gifts like the Spiritual Gifts tongues, interpretation, healings and miracle, do not have a responsibility for all believers, but believers that have these gifts must use them responsibly. Remember that gifts like healing, miracles, that not every believer receives, but most of the ones in Romans 4-8, while some are given at a deeper level, a Spiritual Gift level, they are also the responsibility of every believer to use; knowledge, wisdom, discernment, giving, mercy, serving, encouragement. Spiritual Gifts are extraordinary abilities to build up and empower the church and reach the lost. And while some are given these Spiritual gifts at a deep level, we all have the spiritual responsibility to develop prophecy, knowledge, wisdom, discernment, faith, exhortation, serving, mercy and generosity.

Let us pray!

Romans 12:4-8 Spiritual Gifts – For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; 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.

1. Gifts of Prophecy

A. Understanding. The Greek word Paul uses here “prophecy” prophēteia. It is a noun and not a verb, meaning message from God, and does not grant power or authority. It is simply a discourse/message emanating from divine inspiration and declaring the purposes of God, whether by reproving and admonishing the wicked, or comforting the afflicted. This gift is a manifestation of God, divine revelation without any use or form of human knowledge. Basically, to speak forth the message of God, divine encouragement, which we are called to do.

B. Use.

1. Upbuilding, exhortation, encouragement, comfort —

1 Corinthians 14:3 – On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation.

1 Corinthians 13:2 – And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.

2. Not Predictive. God’s Word is closed and gives us what we need to know about future events.

Matthew 24:36 – “But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only.

2 Peter 1:19-21 – And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

3. Instruction and Testing.

1 Thessalonians 5:19-21 – Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast what is good.

1 Timothy 1:18 – This charge I entrust to you, Timothy, my child, in accordance with the prophecies previously made about you, that by them you may wage the good warfare,

1 Timothy 4:14 – Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you. Practice these things, immerse yourself in them, so that all may see your progress. 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.

4. Convict Outsiders or Unbelievers—

1 Corinthians 14:23–25 – If, therefore, the whole church comes together and all speak in tongues, and outsiders or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are out of your minds? But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or outsider enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all, the secrets of his heart are disclosed, and so, falling on his face, he will worship God and declare that God is really among you.

2. Gifts of Serving/Ministry

a. Understanding – When you have the gift of service or ministry when you see a need to meet the need, it is not about being in the spotlight or even recognized for it -

1 Peter 4:10-11 – As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: 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.

Colossians 3:17 – And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

v23 – Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men,

2 Corinthians 9:12-13 – For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God. By their approval of this service, they will gl

Proverbs 11:25 – Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered.

b. Uses and Examples

Matthew 10:42 – And whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.”

Acts 6:1-7 – Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” And what they said pleased the whole gathering, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch. These they set before the apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands on them. And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith.

1 Corinthians 16:15-16 – Now I urge you, brothers—you know that the household of Stephanas were the first converts in Achaia, and that they have devoted themselves to the service of the saints— be subject to such as these, and to every fellow worker and laborer.

Acts 20:35 – In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

1 John 3:18 – Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.

Galatians 6:2 – Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

Philippians 2:4 – Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.

Revelation 2:19 – To the church at Thyatira – “‘I know your works, your love and faith and service and patient endurance, and that your latter works exceed the first.

3. Gift of Teaching

a. Understanding

1 Timothy 3:1-7 – The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God’s church? He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil.

2 Timothy 3:16 – All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,

Ephesians 4:12-14 – to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 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, 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.

James 3:1 – Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.

Hebrews 5:12-13 – For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.

b. Uses and Examples

Acts 2:42 – And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.

2 Timothy 4:2 – Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.

Acts 4:2-4 – they greatly annoyed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. And they arrested them and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening. But many of those who had heard the word believed, and the number of the men came to about five thousand.

Acts 5:28-29 – saying, “We strictly charged you not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.” But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men.

Acts 5:42 – And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching that the Christ is Jesus.

4. Gift of Leadership

a. Understanding

First, what makes a good leader? You care about people, energized when you help others improve themselves, out front showing by example, live a life of integrity so others trust you.

Paul uses the word proistemi – meaning to assist, protect, care for others

1 Timothy 4:12 – Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.

1 Peter 5:3 – Not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock.

Hebrews 13:7 – Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith.

Titus 2:7 – Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity,

b. Uses and Examples

1 Thessalonians 5:12-13 – We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves.

1 Timothy 3:5 – for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God’s church?

Exodus 18:18-21 – You and the people with you will certainly wear yourselves out, for the thing is too heavy for you. You are not able to do it alone. Now obey my voice; I will give you advice, and God be with you! You shall represent the people before God and bring their cases to God, and you shall warn them about the statutes and the laws, and make them know the way in which they must walk and what they must do. Moreover, look for able men from all the people, men who fear God, who are trustworthy and hate a bribe, and place such men over the people as chiefs of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens.

Proverbs 11:14 – Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety

Proverbs 15:22 – Without counsel plans fail, but with many advisers they succeed.

Matthew 20:26-28 – It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Acts 20:28 – Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.

Leaders must guard their own spiritual life and integrity first so then they can lead

Philippians 2:3-4 – Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.

Romans 12:4-5, “For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.” We are all members of one body, each with a different function; not every part of the body tastes or smells nor can every believer have the same gift.

We are nearing the end of Spiritual Gifts series – next Sunday we will finish with the rest of the Spiritual Gifts of exhortation and encouragement, giving, and mercy. You can’t be born again and not have a Spiritual Gift - What are your spiritual gifts? Which gifts have been speaking to you? How is God wanting you to serve and utilize your gift?

Let us pray.