The Seven Serving Gifts of Romans 12:3-8
July 7, 2024
Pastor Craig Ledbetter
Bible Baptist Church of Ballincollig
I. Introduction
A. For the next few weeks we are going to learn about God’s Gifts that enable all of us to meet the needs of others in the church
B. They are called Spiritual Gifts
C. We will look at each Gift and explore what are the signs that a person has a specific gift, how to use it, and how to not abuse it.
II. Background
A. Don’t Think Too Highly of Yourself (Romans 12:3-5)
1. Romans 12:3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
2. This kind of hard for a lot of people – people either think too low of themselves, or too highly.
3. Paul says START with thinking Soberly, Thoroughly, Honestly about ourselves
a. You are what you are by the grace and gifts of God
b. Not by your own abilities and talents
c. James 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.
d. Psalm 100:3 Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
e. We are usually like a 20-something young man walking into a Car Sales shop and buying a new car… not admitting that they are doing it because Mommy and Daddy GIFTED him the money – the ability to buy such an expensive item!
4. We Christians KNOW what we are, and it is not great!
a. You and I are sinners, saved from God’s judgment because of Jesus’ death in their place
b. But we are also now saints, and more than conquerors through Christ!
5. We are One Body, with many different members, each gifted with many abilities. A church is just like a human body made up of many different parts (hands, feet, ears, nose, mouth, eyes, heart, lungs, muscles, bones, neurons, skin, hair, toes, and so on)
a. Romans 12:4,5 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.
b. That is what a church is
c. And every part of a body is designed and enabled to help out the rest of the body
d. Muscles in this leg help the muscles in this arm and my back to lift and move a couch
e. So are a group of Bible believing Christians who are members of a church!
6. Lastly, We Need Each Other
a. This is not just a community of believers who gather on a Sunday and Wednesday
b. We are designed like a human body – interdependent.
c. We cannot live without each other – we need even the feeblest of us to minister to us
d. The tiny hairs in my inner ear are super fragile, and yet are the only reason why I can hear sounds and whispers and music!
B. All of Us Have Been Gifted – with spiritual gifts
1. Romans 12:3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
2. Every believer has been given a spiritual gift – just like the gift of eternal life
a. When we were born physically, we got certain natural abilities from our parents
b. Ability to speak, walk, work, sing, play the piano
c. The same is true when we were born again
d. We were given at least one spiritual ability, a spiritual gift, to enable you and me to help someone else
3. They were not developed skills or natural talents like:
a. Musical abilities (singing; playing an instrument);
b. Artistic talent (drawing; painting);
c. Mechanical skills (carpenter; plumbing; electronics; auto repair)
d. Oratory abilities (speech abilities).
4. God may use these talents along with other gifts like the gift of helps or preaching.
5. But our talents are NOT spiritual gifts!
6. DEFINITION: Spiritual Gifts are a divine enablement that was NOT in a person's life prior to salvation, and are given to be used to serve God through their church.
7. These are gifts of God’s GRACE – Received by someone without any merit of his own.
8. Gifts are not earned. Spiritual gifts are not dependent upon superior intelligence, physical power, spiritual maturity, moral character, or the fullness of the Holy Spirit.
a. Spiritual gifts do not mean a person is spiritual – GET THIS!
b. The Corinthian Church was carnal, contentious, confused, immature, immoral, selfish, and heretical. Yet, they had all the gifts of the Holy Spirit!
c. However, BEING SPIRITUAL will enable a person to exercise their gift effectively for God’s glory! When you see me preach, you are watching me exercise my gift, not my spirituality!
9. Spiritual gifts are given according to God's will, not our will (1Corinthians 12:11-14). Nowhere are Christians told to pray for specific gifts! Just use them!
a. 1Corinthians 12:11-14 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will. For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. For the body is not one member, but many.
10. But your gift is ONLY active when you use your gift by faith “according to the proportion of [YOUR faith”
a. What matters is the size of your faith, not the size of the gift
b. In other words, your gift is as big as you believe GOD’S ability is! Just lean upon Him
c. So many Christians have a gift they don’t know they have, or refuse to use
C. What Gifts are Available? (Romans 12:3-8)
1. Romans 12:6-8 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.
2. Seven gifts, abilities, empowerments that you were given by the Holy Spirit of God when HE moved into your life!
a. Prophecy (Preaching) – Proclaiming Truth (super important ability, needed)
b. Ministry / Helps – Supporting Weaker Brethren
c. Teaching – Instructing People in God’s words, history, promises, prophecy, etc
d. Exhorting – Urging and Encouraging Others to stay faithful
e. Giving – giving away your money to help reach people with the Gospel
f. Ruling / Managing – Governing and Managing People and projects
g. Mercy – Showing compassion on others who don’t deserve it
3. Everyone wants the gift of miracles, raising the dead, walking on water, speaking in toungues, moving mountains…
4. Those were gifts and abilities at the beginning of church history, but were selfish and childish, and were done away with at the end of the First Century
5. These are the gifts mature Christians need to grow and thrive, and they are forever!
D. What Do These 7 Spiritual Gifts Do? What Good Are They?
1. They help you glorify God, the Giver of the gifts - 1 Peter 4:10-11.
a. 1Peter 4:10,11 As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
b. The proper use of spiritual gifts never draw attention to self
c. But directs all attention to God and Hisd Son Jesus Christ!
2. They enable believers to edify one other in the church - Ephesians 4:11,12 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.
a. To edify is to build up, improve, reinforce, encourage
b. God knew we need to be strengthened and encouraged
c. It is so easy to tear down and destroy
d. I am so glad for encouragers!
3. As a servant (1Peter 4:9,10) Use hospitality one to another without grudging. As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
a. Doing everything for the benefit of other people – especially Christians
b. Serving, helping
4. And that is it!
a. They do NOT enable you to become rich, or famous, or powerful, or popular
b. They help you to be a servant of the Lord Jesus Christ!
c. Romans 1:1 Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,
d. Romans 16:1 I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea
e. Colossians 4:12 Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.
f. Titus 1:1 Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness
E. How Many Gifts does each Christian have?
1. At least one
2. But maybe as many as all seven!
a. All of the seven Service Gifts could be given to a person at salvation for them to use
b. But every Christian has at least one of these gifts
3. Do the work of every gift even if you don’t have them all
a. This is very important
b. We are commanded to live out the work of each and every gift even though we may not possess that gift.
c. In other words, even if I don’t have the gift of Mercy, I must still be merciful to the best of my ability.
d. If I don’t manage my money very well, I still need to be a giver
e. So, just because you are gifted with one ability, and not another does not mean you don’t have to do the work of that gift!
f. You just won’t be able to do it like someone who IS gifted!
F. The Blessing of Having Spiritual Gifts
1. They Help you UNDERSTAND God’s WILL for your life. What God calls you to do, He has gifted you to do and what He has gifted you to do He has called you to do (1 Thes. 5:24). Just knowing that we have a special gift from God beyond our salvation helps us in the following ways:
a. It helps us know we have a high purpose in THIS life
b. And it helps us know that God thinks we can do something great for His glory (with His help only)
c. It is so wrong that most Christians today have NO idea what their purpose is
d. Feminists say a woman’s purpose is to excel and excede at everything a man can do
e. Progressives say a person’s purpose is to have everything everyone else has
f. The movies and music teach that the highest purpose is doing what makes you happy
g. None of that is true
h. The will of God is found in serving, not being served!
i. In giving, not being given to!
2. Spiritual Gifts Relieve you from serving only out of DUTY.
a. Many are serving out of duty rather than because of it being a great gift to serve.
b. use your gift is like using a debit card with a lot of money in it! It is NOT much of a duty when there is so much you can do with all that credit!
3. Spiritual Gifts Build Unity among Christians
a. Hebrews 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
b. Assembling together is when a church gathers together and assembles into their place for a big purpose
c. When we help each other serve together, we become unified (focused) like a football team helps to get a ball through the obstacles and into the goal!
d. Not because we are superior, but because we are gifted to build and help!
4. It also allows us to use the fruit of the Spirit in us that is meant to flow outward, not inward
a. Every fruit that the Holy Spirit plants in a believer is meant for us to give away
b. NOT to hold onto
c. “Love, Joy, Peace, Longsuffering, Gentleness, Goodness, Faith, Meekness, Temperence” (Galatians 5:22,23)
d. All of that fruit is rotting in us simply because we do not give it away!
e. It is not that you are unfruitful, but that the fruit you have is kept hidden and unused!
5. As we use our gifts and see them grow, we will experience personal fulfilment and joy
6. And when things are done by the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives, we will produce the maximum results (fruit) with the minimum weariness.
a. If God has gifted you with something, it will be His abilities that do the work, not yours. Yes, you will be weary, but not like it was all on you
b. Example of carrying a 25kg bag of grain for 100 metres on your own back
c. It would be far better to use the gift of a wheelbarrow!
d. Both require effort, but one is so much easier!
G. How Do We Discover Our Service Gifts?
1. Only available to a believer – a follower of Jesus Christ! (1Corinthians 2:14,15) But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man
2. Discovered only as we clear away any sin and get victory in our lives over anything that can block the Spirit of God (Ephesians 4:17-32). These are all sins of the heart that bury God’s gifts:
a. Ephesians 4:17-32 This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.
1) Lasciviousness – indulging in pleasures without restraint
2) Greediness – discontentment with what God already has given you
b. Ephesians 4:20,21 But ye have not so learned Christ; If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:
c. Ephesians 4:22-24 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
d. Ephesians 4:25-32 Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another. Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: Neither give place to the devil. Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth. Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
1) Habitual Lying – can never just be who they are
2) Sinful anger
3) Stealing
4) Laziness – lost the desire to work
5) Corrupt communication – filthy words and thoughts coming out of your mouth
e. Ephesians 4:30-32 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.
1) Bitterness – holding grudges against someone - unforgiveness
2) Wrath – taking out your bitterness on someone - revenge
3) Anger – repeated because it is so wrong
4) Clamour - yelling
5) Evil speaking – saying evil things about other people
6) All malice – hatred towards people
f. That is just one list – examine yourself, your heart!
g. Confess and repent of any and all this! It should be a natural step each day!
h. Why? Because these things grieve, and quench the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives, and hinder us from both knowing, and using the gifts that God has given us – they are massive roadblocks to God’s use of a person
3. Look for ONE main gift – ask God to show you your main gift to use in serving Him
4. Concentrate on the needs of others ahead of your needs (Ephesians 4:12,13) and you will start to discover an ability that you never knew you had!
5. Attempt to meet the needs of others. Only as we begin to use our gifts will we be able to confirm them, and also see the need for others to use their gift to meet the needs of the church body as a whole.
6. Be careful not to misuse your gifts, or fake a gift in you (Proverbs 25:14) Whoso boasteth himself of a false gift is like clouds and wind without rain.
a. Misusing gifts means using God’s gifts for your own benefit instead of for others (like a corrupt politician, who was elected to serve, and yet is making loads of money)
b. There are always many fake preachers, helpers, teachers… you must be cautious!
III. Conclusion
A. Without THE gift of God (eternal life), none of this matters (Romans 6:23)!
1. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, came to this earth to save you from the GUILT and POWER of your sins and to RECONCILE you unto God.
2. Through faith in the shed blood of Jesus you will escape the wrath to come and joyfully look forward to heaven--and you'll live an overcoming life. God will be your Father instead of your enemy--but only because of something God calls a gift
3. Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
4. And, that gift, that was feely given for the whole world was through the blood of Jesus “...the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.” (1 John 1:7)
5. THAT is the greatest gift of all time! AND the most neglected!
a. Most are trying to get forgiveness by their best efforts (Ephesians 2:8,9) For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.
b. Some are trying to live good and clean lives (Isaiah 64:6) “filthy rags”
c. But none are without sin, and all are commanded to be born again (John 3:3) Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
d. You need Jesus Christ to save you – not your church!
B. If you have NOT been born again, today is the day
C. If you are saved, born again – then you have received a special gift to serve the Lord with.
1. Maybe it is Teaching, or ministry, or exhorting, or giving, or governing, or mercy.
2. You’ll have to come back , and learn some more from the Bible, to see just what it may be.
D. Just make sure you find out!
1. And THAT is when you will start enjoying the life more abundant that Jesus promised His followers!
2. The life of a SERVANT