God’s Gifts of Service, Ministry, and Caring for the Needs of Others in the Church
Romans 12
I. Introduction
A. We have finally come to the last service gift, the gift of mercy. Maybe you are not a prophet, teacher, exhorter, servant, giver, or have the gift of leading. Well then, you might be someone who has the gift of Mercy. As we have looked at the gifts of the Spirit, my desire is that you have been able to identify with them to know which gift you have. Then you will be able to do as Paul wrote in 1 Peter 4:10 "As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God."
B. Also as Paul wrote to Timothy where he says "Neglect not the gift that is in thee... (1 Tim 4:14)." We are called to "...desire spiritual gifts “(1 Cor 14:1), and in doing so our desire will be to serve the body of Christ, this group of people. As the hand serves the mouth a refreshing glass of water, so we will be to our brethren as we seek to use the gift the Lord has bestowed on us. Maybe you're a finger and you will point someone to Christ as you ask this week for the Lord to use you. Maybe you're a foot and will support the body during long days of work. Maybe you're a knee and you will be used to lift someone up who is down.
C. The main purpose why you are saved is to serve, and God gave you a spiritual ability to do that well!
D. Basic Truths About Spiritual Gifts
1. Most everyone has ONE dominate gift that they are to use to serve with, and then a SECONDARY strength…
2. We must learn to know our strengths and our weaknesses as Christians, not just as humans…
3. There are many parts, one body… ALL ARE NECESSARY!
4. The List of Service Gifts
a. Prophecy (Preaching) – Proclaiming God’s Truth
b. Teaching – Instructing People in God’s Ways
c. Ministry / Helps – Supporting Weaker Brethren so they can Stay their Course
d. Exhorting – Urging and Encouraging Others to win instead of give up
e. Giving – Sharing what you have With Others so together God’s work can get done
f. Governments / Ruling – Governing and Managing People as a Team
g. Mercy – Showing Compassion to Others
5. ALL seven of these gifts should be functioning in part in each of our lives to some degree
6. But we will always have one that is the strongest…
E. It's important to develop all of the Motivational Gifts (the gifts that help you help others to serve the Lord together as a unified body) in yourself and those who you have influence with…
1. No motivational gift is better than another one…
2. Many parts, one body… ALL ARE NECESSARY!
3. Many believers are frustrated because they are operating in an area they are not equipped to handle… Their hearts are not in it… they are not internally motivated to do it… so they get easily discouraged!
4. Every task in a church needs to be done by God’s gift in you – just use whatever gift you have to accomplish the task – don’t try and use another gift you don’t have. Do the work of the ministry, but do it with your gift! Just because you don’t have what you think is the necessary gift to do something, if you are needed, then just do what you can with the gift you have!
F. The Truth about the Gift of Mercy - Not everyone has this gift (Job 16:2)! But everyone needs to develop this gift!
II. Message – The Service Gift of Mercy – Showing Compassion to Others
A. Best Definition (Psalm 51:1; Mt 9:12,13; Psalm 78:38)
1. The compassion, mildness or tenderness of heart which causes a person to overlook injuries, or to treat an offender better than he or she deserves. The act of inflicting less punishment than justice demands.
2. Other words for merciful are: Comforter; Counsellor; Helper; Feeler; Builder of broken relationships; Empathy; Pity.
3. In many ways, this gift is the exact opposite of the gift of prophecy!
4. Both have the capacity to look inside other people;
a. Where a Prophet sees a person's character and motives, a Mercy person will see and feel the joy or pain that is in them.
b. Where a Prophet has to rebuke and correct, a Mercy person weeps inside for the trouble, the pain, the burdens, the problems that lie behind a sin or a failure.
c. Where a Prophet is concerned with the challenge of presenting the Good News and expects a positive response, an obvious commitment, the Mercy person is concerned to express the overwhelming love of Christ and to share his restoration.
5. Mercy is the HEART of a Body – this gift is at the heart of a Church, and should flow throughout every ministry
6. A merciful person is:
a. A compassionate and cheerful person; a mediator; their goal is a happy ending for everybody.
b. They are focused on the emotional needs of others, full of compassion, love, mercy, very forgiving; “can’t we all just get along?”
c. Their motivation is to notice and comfort those who are in distress.
d. Totally blind to the faults of the person they are working with – able to overlook a whole load of sin
e. The gift of mercy focuses on the needs of others, with special concern and care and sympathy in meeting those needs. Emotional support is very important to the Merciful, instead of just material support like the Giver may try and supply. Of these people there can never be too many.
7. Mercy is easily understood by a simple illustration:
a. Many times, what irritates us about others, educates us about ourselves. While driving, it is easy to get lost in thought so that we forget to watch our speedometer. That is until we see people around us quickly slowing down, and we starting looking around for a Garda car.
b. "Please don't let there be a Garda behind me," I often pray after noticing I was going well over the speed limit.
c. Letting up on the petrol, I nervously look in my rear view mirror to find I was being tailgated by, a Garda car. Unsure of what to do, I signalled and then merged into the slow lane. To my surprise, the Garda did not follow. Instead, he sped past, appearing relieved to have me out of the way.
d. Yes, I reminded myself as the Garda car disappeared into traffic, the greatest gift we will ever receive is the one we least deserve—mercy.
8. Many modern day Christian men are way-out of balance on this gift – either too effeminate, or too harsh
9. The CENTRE of God’s throne and Temple is more important than the absolute commandments therein – because above the ark of the commandments was a MERCY Seat, where sinful men, who have broken those laws can find mercy!
B. The Confusion With Grace.
1. Generally, the concept of mercy is often confused with the concept of grace as they are presented in Scripture. When we talk about God's grace or God's mercy, we sometimes don't distinguish between them.
2. Example of how mercy works out in practice
a. Grace is extended to men in relation to guilt, which is a result of their sin.
b. Mercy is extended to men in relation to misery, which is a result of their situation.
c. Grace is related to guilt; mercy is related to misery.
d. Grace is God taking care of our sin; mercy is God taking care of the mess we are in.
e. In the Old Testament, God in His mercy kept getting Israel out of their messes, and helping them when they didn’t deserve help.
f. In the New Testament, God has taken care of the REASONS for our messes – our sins, and our shame and guilt being removed by the cross!
g. Without God having Mercy, he would not be able to extend grace to us
C. Mercy is the Compassion of The Heart.
1. Sympathy in Suffering. The gift of mercy is the enablement to sympathize with a suffering person -- to come alongside the poor, the sick, the destitute, the orphan, the widowed, and those in prison, and minister. And maybe you won't give them anything, except your heart. 1 Corinthians 12:26: "And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it...."
2. Sympathy with Joy – what a contradiction (without the Lord, sympathy and sorrows can crush the helper)
a. Romans 12:8 says to show mercy with cheerfulness - to gladly, easily offer sympathy to the sufferer, believing in God, and His compassions and His comfort.
b. Some of you are gifted in the area of mercy. The Spirit of God has given you areas of ministry such as hospital visitation, convalescent homes and shut-ins, the poor, and the needy. Some people have this ministry, and God bless them for it. If God has given you this enablement, use it flat-out!
3. Most people only know cruelty because they have no mercy (Pr 11:17) – and they hurt only themselves!!!! They never bless and are kind to others, so they only harden and hurt themselves!
D. Some Important Scriptures.
1. Psa 89:1 I will sing of the mercies of the LORD for ever: with my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations.
2. Psa 106:7 Our fathers understood not thy wonders in Egypt; they remembered not the multitude of thy mercies; but provoked him at the sea, even at the Red sea.
3. Lam 3:22 It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.
4. Dan 9:9 To the Lord our God belong mercies and forgivenesses, though we have rebelled against him;
5. 2Co 1:3 Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;
6. Php 2:1 If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,
7. Col 3:12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;
8. Psa 103:8 The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.
9. Psa 116:5 Gracious is the LORD, and righteous; yea, our God is merciful.
10. Luk 6:36 Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.
11. Psalm 136
E. Characteristics of a Person full of Mercy.
1. Joyful when people are happy, and sad when people around are sad
2. Emotional, not always rational – not sure why they end up helping some people, and being taken advantage of
3. Personal in their efforts with others – they don’t know how to separate their help from their heart!
4. They get hurt a lot!
5. They have a need for deep friendships in which there is mutual commitment (John 13:23)
6. They have a greater concern over mental joy or distress than physical concerns (1 Jn 3:17)
7. They have a tendency to attract people who are having mental and emotional distress.
8. They have a desire to remove the causes of hurts rather than to look for benefits from those hurts.
9. They express love, grace and dignity to those facing hardships or crisis (1John 4:8)
10. They serve in difficult or unsightly circumstances, and do so cheerfully in spite of the undeserving nature of the needy without grudging or complaint.
11. They serve others with extraordinary patience.
12. They concern themselves with individual or social issues in which people are treated unjustly.
13. They have the least noticed, but most appreciated gift (along with the ministry of helps).
14. They have the ability to feel genuine pity and compassion for people in trouble (not like politicians).
15. They have the God-given ability to sense the pain of individuals and groups, often by just walking into a room.
16. Those with the gift of mercy can discern, feel, and, on occasion, actually suffer the distress of other people - especially affliction or adversity which is undeserved. They identify with and adapt their own feelings to the feelings of others. They may actually take on themselves the hurts and heartaches of others m(Cf Heb 4:14,15)
17. They are very sensitive to words and actions that may hurt others.
F. Problems with modern view of this Gift.
1. We all want mercy, but we do not like to give it – we don’t want the other person to NOT have to pay
2. Merciful people forget the need for truth and sincerity. This is way-over emphasized today, so that everybody just overlooks sins today thinking it is a good thing to neglect righteousness and obedience
3. Failing to be firm and decisive when necessary.
4. A tendency to react harshly when intimate friends are rejected (Luke 9:53-54)
5. Basing decisions on emotions rather than on reason. They must not allow themselves to be guided by their emotions. Their gift is to our emotions, but they must learn to control their own feelings or problems such as depression or confusion will arise.
6. Promoting improper affections from the opposite sex. Attraction to the troubled can be misinterpreted by opposite sex as having a romantic interest rather than spiritual service. Must be sure to avoid allowing improper affections from those of the opposite sex.
7. Cutting off fellowship with those who are insensitive to others.
8. Reacting to God’s purpose in allowing people to suffer. Can react negatively to God's purposes in allowing people to suffer. Unlike exhorters who look at suffering as a means of growing spiritually, those with the gift of mercy find it hard to believe that God would not allow a person to suffer for a good purpose. Their main concern usually is to remove the cause of suffering as soon as possible. They need to understand God’s timing. (Example: Bailing people out financially who don’t have their priorities in order.)
9. Sympathizing with those violating God’s standards.
10. Establishing possessive relationships with others.
11. Becoming an enabler to those who need to make some difficult changes in their life. Can be clouded by emotions, sympathizing with those who directly violate God’s laws.
12. Need to guard against feeling unappreciated, since some of the people helped will not show or express any appreciation.
13. Because it is the most tender and sensitive of all gifts, it is easy to become ultra sensitive and offended. They may sever fellowship with those who reflect insensitivity or harshness, especially towards their friends. They must learn to always walk in forgiveness (Colossians 3:13)
14. They react deeply to criticism from others and tend to close their spirit to those who try to correct them, especially if they sense a lack of sensitivity and understanding.
15. Often have a lack of firmness; an inability to say "no" to others. Mothers who have this gift may have trouble disciplining their children or saying "no" to harmful things the child does. They need to be sure to follow through on discipline. Failure to be firm will cause greater harm.
16. They can sometimes attract people who have been corrected and are rebellious toward church leadership. They may coddle, continue to listen to them, and take up their cause and offence. They must not allow themselves to be taken advantage of and become a verbal dumping ground for those walking in offence.
17. Can take on too many issues of others and get caught up in their problems - resulting in depression. They must rely upon God’s strength and give mercy with cheerfulness. They must carry other people’s burdens only long enough to place them in God’s hands and into His provision. They need to keep their own emotional and spiritual tank full with consistent devotions.
18. Emphasis on immediate priorities may appear as disorganization.
G. Best Examples of Mercy in Action.
1. John 8 verses 3 to 11; the story of Jesus dealing with the woman who has been caught in the act of adultery.
a. The people wanted justice – false pretence, but it was valid
b. Jesus showed mercy
c. Jesus did not ignore the fact she had sinned
d. She had been humiliated and was in fear of both men and God
e. She was caught – she had no excuse
f. She was NOT judged, but was given another chance
g. But she was told to sin no more – mercy should free us from bondage, not return us to it!
2. 1Samuel 22:1,2 - Young David was a great leader who was strong, and firm, and confident, and authoritative – yet the distressed, and the depressed flocked to him – because he knew how to show mercy to them!
3. Jesus empathized with the needs of the crowds when He saw they were harassed and faint with their troubles. They were helpless, cast down and dejected by their affliction. They were as sheep without a shepherd to guide them out of their misery. The gospels indicate that Jesus was stirred to mercy and compassion whenever He saw people afflicted by disease, injustice, grief, hunger, or loneliness.
4. God towards Lot and his family (Gen 19:16)
5. Good Samaritan (Luke 10:33-35) – he had no other reason to help than it was part of his make-up
H. How to tell if you have This Gift.
1. You are deeply loyal to friends and will defend even their sinfulness for fear of losing them
2. You need deep relationships, not just superficial uncommitted ones
3. You empathize with people’s troubles and hurts and pains – even to the point where you feel what they feel (Rom 12:15)
4. You usually make benefit-based decisions – you choose what is best by the outcome, not by what is just right to do
5. You find it hard to firm in your decisions
6. You are hurt most of the time by the people you are trying to help because they will usually only take advantage of your mercy (just as they do with God’s mercy).
7. You delight in removing burdens from off of people, and relieving their pains and troubles. An Exhorter will try and show where a troubled person can find benefit from their hurts, but a merciful person will just try and take away that pain, and even take it onto themselves, to their own hurt!
I. Rightly Using Mercy – Don’t be Out of Balance in Your Mercy!
1. How to show this gift (Colossians 3:12-14):
a. Feel what the other person feels - Empathy
b. Care about the little things - Attentiveness to people, and their needs in fine detail
c. Be Compassionate
d. Comfort others instead of judging them only
e. Show more attention to people who are hurting than to the rest of the church
f. Don’t look out for your own prestige, but rather that someone’s hurt is lessened
g. Be very gentle with others, to a fault
h. Be sensitive
i. Tolerant
j. Kind
2. The Four-Step Rule to Mercy (Prov 16:6)
a. Extend Mercy – it needs to be available to everyone – no matter what they have done
b. Require Repentance – no one should receive mercy without humility (that’s why people in court act so sorrowful and quiet)
c. Show Mercy – hold back on exacting justice in direct proportion to their repentance and softness. If they are still hard and unrepentant, allow justice to bring them low (Jam 2:13).
d. Explain that the payment has been made by the blood of Christ, and offer grace now! An enablement that makes up for our failures, and restores us to a right standing!
3. Practical wisdom:
a. Don’t go to a prophet for mercy. While they may have it, don’t place unrealistic expectations upon them. But don’t go to a mercy person when you know you need to be “adjusted”, corrected or exhorted.
b. Every Christian is expected to be merciful. This is a role that reflects the fruit of the Spirit (longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, etc.). We are to behave mercifully, even though we may not be thoroughly motivated to do so by our own gift.
J. Ministries for the Person With This Gift.
1. Ministering to children
2. Deacons
3. Counselling and Emotional Healing
4. Community services
5. Hospital visitation
6. Nursery/Creche ministry
7. Prison ministry
8. Providing meals
9. Recovery group leaders and helpers
III. Conclusion
A. Luke 18:13
B. Rom 12:1
C. Colossians 3:12-14
Craig Ledbetter
Bible Baptist Church, Ballincollig, Cork, Ireland