Stewarding gifts

Romans 12:1-13 1 Peter 4:10-11
In the last 30 to 40 years there has been much confusion and discussion about spiritual gifts. A church is only healthy when its members exercise their gifts.
SPIRITUAL GIFTS MEAN STEWARDSHIP
Paul speaks the most about gifts, Peter takes it up. God’s grace and gifts are multicoloured. Nothing is too small for God to use. God will ask: how have you used the gift I gave you?
a) Some gifts all have and some have particular ones. To be a real Christian you must have received the Holy Spirit – the gift of grace.
b) All gifts, whether continuing or temporary are spiritual gifts. All the gifts that God gives come from the same source – the Holy Spirit. Some were temporary –signs and wonders. Others continue.
c) The lists of gifts found are not exhaustive or perfectly organised. Paul lists by authority.
d) Some of the gifts overlap in function with other gifts mentioned. The gift of service embraces many activities as does showing mercy, do not put gifts into air tight containers.
e) Not every gift is supernaturally bestowed in a moment of time. Some are given like that, some develop over time as the believer exercises them. People are prepared for a life of service before they are converted. Pastors and elders have often been leaders in business.
f) Spiritual gifts empower saints to perform spiritual ministry. They are not natural abilities, they are supernatural given to each believer.
g) Spiritual gifts are given to every Christian 1 Corinthians 12:7. Each one should use whatever gift he has received. No believer has been excluded. We all have at least one.
h) Spiritual gifts are ‘gracious’ in nature. 1 Corinthians 4:7. They are undeserved and unasked for. What do we have that we have not received? It is a donation of God himself.
i) Spiritual gifts are given to Christians as a stewardship. They are entrusted to us. We need to discern what gift he has given to us.
j) Spiritual gifts are given to us as the means of edifying others. Edifying means to build others up.
k) Spiritual gifts are to be exercised in love – see 1 Corinthians 13. It is placed between the other two chapters on gifts, acts have no value without love.
l) Spiritual gifts should be exercised to the glory of God 1 Corinthians 10:31. Do all to the glory of God, not for recognition or reward but for God’s glory, there are two basic divisions – speaking and serving.
SPIRITUAL GIFTS ARE SOMETIMES SPEAKING GIFTS.
Verse ll – these are verbal – privately and publicly.
a) Peter is urging those who teach to speak scripturally – see verse 11. No diluting or adulterating the word of God. God will help us to remember what he has said.
b) Peter is urging those who speak to communicate authority. It is God’s authority – the prophets said ‘this is what God has said - we bring people face to face with God’s authority – see Mark 7:28. The rabbis often had opinions and did not speak what God had said – see Deuteronomy 29:29.
c) Peter recognizes different speaking gifts – see Romans 12:6. God has always had someone speaking his word, sometimes people foretold, usually they forth told. Prophets usually told what was in God’s word as did the apostles. When the Bible was completed, so was God’s word. This is not given to many who proclaim.
(i) Prophecy - Romans 12:6. It is the gift of proclaiming publicly.
(ii) Teaching - Romans 12:6. The ability to pass on the truth in a systematic way. It is like a choir director, so the music proceeds in an orderly way. The teacher should be organised.
(iii) Exhortation - Romans 12:8. The ability to motivate others to respond to the truth, the ability to get alongside , build and encourage. See Acts 4:36. It can be private or public. It is good to have people who can do this.
(iv) Knowledge - 1 Corinthians 12:8, the ability to discover and understand biblically. To observe Biblical facts and conclusions. Knowledge of the original languages and the background of the Bible – ie Biblical commentators.
(v) Wisdom - 1 Corinthians 12:8, the ability to apply principles practically. It is applying knowledge, to use well what has been learnt. An experienced Christian counsellor does this.
SPIRITUAL GIFTS ARE SOMETIMES SERVING GIFTS
a) Leadership – the ability to make decisions and determine direction. They will be good at delegating and steering the ship. Some are good leaders and are well fitted for this.
b) Service - Romans 12:7 – the ability to identify and care for needs and helps. The word ‘deacon’ and ‘ministry’ come from it. It is practical and designed to help people to take a burden off someone and bear it yourself. It is perhaps the most common gift and it is often unsung – nothing gets done without it.
c) Mercy - Romans 12:7 – the ability to empathize and show compassion. It is a heart that cares for physical and emotional and mental distress. God cares for us in the mess we are in. Proverbs 14:31, also see the parable of the Good Samaritan. The Samaritan got nothing back – he did it out of compassion. Sometimes we have nothing to give but a merciful and compassionate heart. To cry with the bereaved is to give all we can sometimes.
d) Giving - Romans 12:7 – the ability to be super givers, beyond the normal. Down the years there have been remarkable givers, they give away their fortunes.
e) Faith - 1 Corinthians 12:8, this gift was the watchdog of the church. It was often connected to remarkable events such as Hudson Taylor, George Muller and other who acted in the face of great obstacles.
f) Discernment - this was especially so before the written word was given. Today we still need people to discern impure doctrine and false teachers, who can see dangers. We need to ask for this gift.
Let’s use the gifts as good stewards, ask for wisdom to know how best to serve, and then do so in the strength God supplies. As a church we need to discern our gift so we can be part of a believing community.