PRACTICAL LIVING IN A PAGAN CULTURE Session 2 - Being an Influence

Session 2: June 17

Gifting – Being an Influence

Romans 12:3-8 (NKJV) ³ For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. ⁴ For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, ⁵ so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. ⁶ Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; ⁷ or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; ⁸ he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence;

he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.

This passage is a discussion of spiritual gifts; here is another one…

1 Corinthians 12:4–7 (NKJV) There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. ⁵ There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. ⁶ And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. ⁷ But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all:

Indebted to Bill Gothard and the IBLP staff; John Wimber for their impact on my life in this area.  Much of this was gleaned from their materials.

WHAT are spiritual gifts?

A spiritual gift is a supernatural ability that God gives to a believer.

Spiritual gifts are not the same as the fruit of the Spirit—aspects of Godly character that we cultivate (See Galatians 5:22–23). Spiritual gifts are sovereign manifestations of the presence and power of God to meet present needs.

WHO is given spiritual gifts?

Believers in Jesus Christ are given spiritual gifts.

WHEN does a Christian receive spiritual gifts?

At the moment of salvation, spiritual gifts are granted as the Holy Spirit takes up residence in his or her spirit.

WHERE in Scripture are spiritual gifts discussed?

I Corinthians 12–14; Romans 12:3–8; Ephesians 4:8, 11–16; I Peter 4:10–11; I Timothy 4:14, Acts 2:1–21, Romans 1:11, and II Timothy 1:6.

HOW do spiritual gifts influence the Body of Christ?

Each person who believes in Jesus is a member of the Body of Christ and has a specific role to play in the Church. God equips believers for their tasks through the gift of the Holy Spirit and a variety of spiritual gifts. Each member is valuable, because the members of the Church need one another in order to function as a whole.

Ephesians 4:16 (NKJV) from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

Spiritual gifts are gifts of grace used to strengthen the Church.

WHY does God give spiritual gifts?

The gifts are expressions of God’s nature, given to equip believers to fulfill His purposes on the earth.

Spiritual gifts can be placed in one of three categories described in Scripture:

Motivational Gifts: Diversities of gifts (charimata; gracelets) (I Corinthians 12:4). At the moment of salvation, a believer receives a motivational gift. This gift of God’s grace shapes how the believer views life, relates to others, and impacts the Body of Christ. A motivational gift can be compared to a set of eyeglasses from God, given so that the believer can see people and circumstances through that particular set of “lenses.”

Romans 12:6–8 (NKJV) Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; ⁷ or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; ⁸ he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.

Ministry Gifts: Differences of ministries (diakonia) (service; administrations) (I Corinthians 12:5). How God works with what a believer does to serve and meet the needs of others. Ministry gifts are the tools God uses to build up the Church. They are practical, essential, can-do types of gifts

Ephesians 4:11–12 (NKJV) And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, ¹² for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.

1 Corinthians 12:27–31 (NKJV) Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually. ²⁸ And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues.

Ministry gifts are often confirmed by ordination. The Apostle Paul told Timothy,

1 Timothy 4:14 (NKJV) Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership.

Manifestation Gifts: Diversities of activities (energema) (operations) (I Corinthians 12:6). How God works through a believer in a given situation to demonstrate His supernatural power. They are supernatural demonstrations of the Holy Spirit’s presence and power. The Spirit of God is the Source of these gifts, and they are manifested for the benefit of others and to bring God glory.

1 Corinthians 12:7–11 (NKJV) But the manifestation (phanerosis) (Latin: festive hand, dancing hand) of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: ⁸ for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, ⁹ to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, ¹⁰ to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. ¹¹ But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.

Because of time we can only talk in detail about the motivational gifts.  These are the ones mentioned in Romans.

Following are simple descriptions of the seven motivational gifts, explaining how a person with each gift would “see” his or her role in the Body of Christ, a Biblical example, and Scriptural instructions from Romans 12:9-15.

Prophet

Applies the Word of God to a situation so that sin is exposed and relationships are restored. He or she has a strong sense of right and wrong and speaks out against compromise and evil.

Biblical Example: Peter

Guidelines: Romans 12:9 (NKJV) Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good.

Life Principle: It is especially important for a prophet to apply the principle of responsibility and maintain a clear conscience. This discipline equips the prophet to speak the truth boldly with love.

Server

Is driven to demonstrate love by meeting practical needs. The server is available to see a project through to the end and enjoys doing physical work.

Biblical Example: Timothy

Guidelines: Romans 12:10 (NKJV) Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another;

Life Principle: A server needs to diligently apply the principle of authority. As he honors the directions and wishes of authority figures, the server is better equipped to maintain proper priorities in time management and is often protected from individuals who might take advantage of his eagerness to help meet physical needs.

Teacher

Is passionate about discovering and validating truth. A teacher is particularly concerned with the accuracy of information, especially church doctrine, and is often gifted with research abilities.

Biblical Example: Luke

Guidelines: Romans 12:11 (NKJV) not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord;

Life Principle: A teacher should faithfully apply the principle of success and invest time in meditation on Scripture. The discipline of meditation helps the teacher stay focused on the truth of God’s Word instead of on the strength of his own mind.

Exhorter

Wants to see believers grow to spiritual maturity. An exhorter is an encourager at heart and is often involved in the ministries of counseling, teaching, and discipling.

Biblical Example: Paul; Barnabas

Guidelines: Romans 12:12 (NKJV) rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer;

Life Principle: It is essential for an exhorter to understand the principle of God’s design and to accept God’s design in his own life. An understanding of this principle establishes a firm foundation for understanding and accepting the sovereignty of God, which is a key to the exhorter’s ministry.

Giver

Wants to use financial resources wisely in order to give to meet the needs of others. A giver is usually good at finding the best buy, noticing overlooked needs, and maintaining a budget.

Biblical Example: Matthew

Guidelines: Romans 12:13 (NKJV) distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality.

Life Principle to Apply: A giver must learn to wisely apply the principle of ownership. When a giver understands that all things belong to God and should be used to bring glory to Him, he is ready to share his resources as God directs him to give.

Administrator

Able to accomplish tasks and solve problems through analysis and delegation. An organizer often discerns the talents and abilities of others and knows how those individuals can best serve within a ministry or on a particular project.

Biblical Example: Lydia

Guidelines: Romans 12:14 (NKJV) Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.

Life Principle: A person with the gift of organization needs to understand

the principle of suffering. Trusting God to use the tests and trials of life to develop his character and strengthen his faith helps an organizer respond to unexpected events with patience and wisdom and increases his sensitivity to the needs of others.

Mercy

Sensitive to the emotional and spiritual needs of others. A mercy-giver is drawn to people in need and seeks to demonstrate compassion, understanding, and love to them.

Biblical Example: John

Guidelines: Romans 12:15 (NKJV) Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.

Life Principle: It is important for a mercy-motivated person to apply the principle of moral freedom. An understanding of this principle will protect the mercy-giver from developing improper relationships or giving false impressions to those to whom they minister.

How can I discover my spiritual gift?

1.  Get involved with people.

2.  Ask key individuals how you have impacted their lives.

3.  Use questions or a survey.

Identify Your Basic Motivational Gift

The goal is to find out exactly why you gain satisfaction in doing something.

Start by discerning your basic motivation for an activity.  Let’s use the scenario of one who is teaching a Bible class.

Question: What is your basic motive for teaching the Bible class?

To encourage people to know and obey the truth. (prophet)

So that we can meet the practical needs of Christians and unbelievers. (server)

So that they can discern and appreciate the true message of the Bible. (teacher)

So that they will be able to grow spiritually. (exhorter)

So that they will prosper and be better equipped to give to the Lord’s work. (giver)

So that they can get their lives in order and be useful for God. (organizer)

So that they will not hurt each other’s feelings. (mercy)

Use Irritations to Identify Your Motivational Gift

What actions and attitudes really irritate you? The answer to that question can help you identify your motivational spiritual gift.

Identify What Disappoints You Most

What do Christians do (or fail to do) that frustrates and disappoints you most?

Discern which answer below reflects your heart:

A: They tolerate sin and compromise with the world.

B: They fail to demonstrate true concern for the needs of others.

C: They substitute experience for sound doctrine.

D: They do not grow to spiritual maturity.

E: They do not trust and obey God in financial matters.

F: They do not accomplish any major objectives.

G: They do not demonstrate genuine love toward one another.

How does this work out in real life?

 

The truth is that we need all the gifts! God works through the spiritual gifts in the Body of Christ to help the Church grow and remain healthy. By God’s grace, prophets warn believers of sin; servers guard against slothfulness; teachers steer us clear of heresy; exhorters watch out for hopelessness; givers stand against selfishness; organizers ward off chaos; Mercy-showers demonstrate God’s tender love.

Here’s another illustration…

All the gifts together…

Vested or situational…

OBSERVATIONS

Understanding and acceptance of ourselves and others

Greater fruitfulness

Joy, peace, and rest