Knowing How To Use Our Gifts
Romans 12:3-8
Ro 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.
4 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office:
5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.
6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;
7 Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching;
8 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.
I have entitled this today: “Knowing How To Use Our Gifts”
God does not want us to be ignorant in the church world. He has given us gifts and He wants us to know how to use what He has given us.
What has He given you and do you know how to use that which He has given?
Ro 11:29 For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.
When God gives you a gift, He is not going to take it back.
That gift or even calling on your life might be dormant but God has not taken it away.
1Co 12:1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.
God wants us to know about the things He has given us.
Some might ask the question, “Does God give everyone the same gifts?” That is one of the questions that we will answer as we go along today.
According to Romans 12:3, Paul is saying: For I say, through the grace given unto me,
This is referring to Paul’s Apostleship given by the grace of God.
Ephesians 3:8
Eph 3:8 Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;
Paul was letting the people know they should not think more highly of themselves than what they should.
During this time, Israel had fallen, and the reason, at least in part, was this very thing, a prideful, unscriptural evaluation of themselves.
They were to think soberly. In other words, they were not to be so highly minded.
According to Romans 12: 3, God has given to every man a measure of faith.
Romans 12:4
4 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office:
We are all members in the same body of Christ, but we do not all have the same offices; we don’t all do the same things.
Paul was saying we have many members in one body.
Verse 5 says: So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one member’s one of another.
This speaks of unity that ought to prevail within the body of the church.
What this is saying is that what is true according to one is also true according to another.
This is not speaking of offices but rather being a member of a body.
2Co 13:1 This is the third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.
God will always confirm what that He is doing within a body of believers.
Remember the question that I asked earlier, some might ask the question “Does God give everyone the same gifts?”
.
Romans 12:6-8
6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;
7 Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching;
8 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.
This is speaking of different gifts and offices in the things of God.
It does not matter if it is prophesy, or ministry, teaching or exhorting.
All of this has to do with, according to your faith, the call that God has given to you.
This text carries the idea that a wise man will stay within the sphere of service which God has called him and fitted him for.
We are not to invade that which God has not called us or fitted us for.
Last week we talked about “Knowing Your Call”.
How do you know what it is that God wants you to do and how do you learn to hear His voice speak to you?
Romans 12:1-2
1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Paul is begging the Romans, by the mercies of God.
All is given to the believer, not because of merit on the believers part, but strictly because of the mercy of God.
We are to present our bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
That is what we are supposed to do as believers.
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
We have to renew our minds that we may prove that what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
I have entitled this today: “Knowing How To Use Our Gifts”
Here is the reason why:
Dream 2-14-09
I dreamed I was observing a first class private and a sergeant in the Army. The sergeant had a really nice specially made old television. The sergeant told the first class private to stay away from it. He didn’t, and he broke the old television. I asked him, “Why don’t you take it to the church and have them fix it?” The sergeant agreed with me. The private felt bad and felt that he could fix it. The sergeant told him no. The private found out where it was at and he went there. They would not let him be where the television was. They brought out the old specially made television and it was as good as new.
Interpretation
Romans 12:4
4 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office:
We are all members of one body, but we do not all have the same office.
The dream was an observing dream: message dream.
Specially made old television-television means-vision: message prophecy, preaching.
Specially made old television something that has been used in time past:
Most likely Prophetic
The sergeant has more experience in certain matters where a private is still learning the ropes.
A new person in the church might see us operate in our gift or calling, but they have to learn what their gift or calling might be.
If I would let just anyone who came in this building have the opportunity to speak words over people, I would be opening myself up for a disaster.
1Th 5:12 And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you;
1Ti 3:15 But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.
If someone would have a word for someone else and they want to tell someone else what it is, come to me first.
The reason is this:
2Co 13:1 This is the third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.
A few weeks ago, a man came in here and he had a word for someone. He told me first what the word was and it hit, so I let him proceed.
That is the way we are supposed to do something in the House of God.
I heard a story once of a man who walked into a church and he was dressed up like an old time Prophet of God. He stood up and he declared, “the Lord pronounces Michelob over this church”.
If God does not know the difference between Michelob beer and ichobod then we are in big trouble.
“Knowing How To Use Our Gifts”
Romans 12:3-8
Ro 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.
4 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office:
5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.
6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;
7 Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching;
8 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.
God wants to give us insight on how to use the gifts and callings that He has given us.
De 4:9 Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them thy sons, and thy sons’ sons;
De 4:10 Specially the day that thou stoodest before the LORD thy God in Horeb, when the LORD said unto me, Gather me the people together, and I will make them hear my words, that they may learn to fear me all the days that they shall live upon the earth, and that they may teach their children.
We need true teachers, fathers and mothers of the faith to rise and start teaching what “thus saith the Word of God”.
2 Timothy 4:1-4
2Ti 4:1 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;
2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
Closing
“Knowing How To Use Our Gifts”
We all have different gifts and abilities and maybe we don’t even know what they are.
If you want to know your call and how to use what God has given you, come up and stand around the Altars today.
