Gift Giving Part 2 Series

Gift Giving Part 2

Serving Gifts

1 Corinthians 12:4-9; Romans 12:7-8

Do you know what the hottest toy is this year?

Maybe you remember some from years past

The Razor scooter was one

A few years ago the state of the art Tickle Me Elmo was a huge one

There seem to be stories every year about people getting into fist fights over the hottest toys of the season

But what is it this year?

Well it seems that Elmo may be on the top of the list again

Elmo Live is atop many shoppers list this year

Along with that remote control dinosaur you may have seen on TV or in the stores

Now you do know that boys never grow out of wanting toys for Christmas?

Their toys just get more expensive

Whether it’s a flat screen TV, Blue Ray DVD player, or a new rifle, we still want our toys

But did you ever get your kids a certain toy, and you personally couldn’t wait to play with it yourself?

Oh, I have

A few years ago Emily got this baby doll that looks real

And Jayna was nearly as excited about holding it as Emily was

As we continue to look at spiritual gifts this morning we have another important truth about them to remember

Last week we learned a few things

Every believer has been given spiritual gifts

Your gifts fit you perfectly

And these gifts are vitally important in your ministry for the Lord

Another important trait of spiritual gifts is the gifts belong to God

And are given for the believer to use for the glory of God

We see this truth in 1 Peter 4:11

1 Peter 4:11 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.

God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ

These gifts are God’s

And we only have them on loan while we are here on earth

The only thing we can do with them is glorify the Lord

That is their only purpose

Last week we studied the temporary spiritual gifts, that were simply that, temporary

These were used during the early church age, to authenticate the Messiah and His apostles

They are healings, miracles, tongues and interpretation of tongues

We also looked at the speaking gifts of prophecy, wisdom, knowledge, teaching, and exhortation or encouragement

Those are gifts that God allows us to have to speak the truth of His Word

And to edify and comfort those who are hurting or struggling with sin

Those gifts are most often found among preachers and teachers

But can be present within any child of God

This morning we will focus on the non-verbal spiritual gifts

The serving gifts

Since these are non-verbal, they are often exercised behind the scenes

Without much fanfare and recognition

But they are just as important and can be used in amazing ways within the body of Christ

STAND AND READ 1 Corinthians 12:4-9 and Romans 12:7-8

Faith

Discernment

Serving

Giving

Leadership

Mercy

These six spiritual gifts compliment each other as well as the speaking gifts

Do you ever feel like you are in something just over your head?

That is precisely where God wants you

Something like this happens in the movie, "The Legend of Baggar Vance."

Baggar shows up, almost like the voice of God, to help a young golfer, distressed by the events of his life, to find his soul again

He says this "Inside each and every one of us is our one true, authentic swing

Something we was born with

Something that is ours and ours alone

Something that can’t be learned ... something that's got to be remembered."

"However, he has given each one of us a special gift according to the generosity of Christ." -Ephesians. 4:7 NLT

I hope after this study you will decide to use your discovered spiritual gifts here at church and in your daily walk

What are you doing with your spiritual gifts?

We have to remember these gifts come from God

Paul warned the Roman Christian about becoming too proud of their God given spiritual gifts

God’s Will was the same for every believer

Rome, Corinth, Ephesus, Philippi, Thessalonica, (insert your church name here)

Humbly use their God given spiritual gifts

Some believers were pretty full of themselves because of their spiritual gifts

Apparently, some of the Roman believers were believing their gifts were pretty special

Don’t get to full of yourself, be humble

If anybody had a right to be proud of their accomplishments, it was Paul

V:3, "For by the grace given me I say to every one of you."