Good morning!
Well, now we can all say that Christmas is behind us. Did you get all the gifts that you ever wanted? Did you give all of the gifts that you wanted to give? Did you find that perfect gift for someone extra special in your life?
As this Christmas season draws to a close, let’s talk a bit about gifts, and giving.
Not about gifts of the material kind, like we find under the Christmas Tree, but gifts of a different nature. Let’s talk about:
SPIRITUAL GIFTS.
The first logical question that you might ask yourself is: What are Spiritual Gifts? Well, each one of us, who are new creations in Christ when we accept Him as our Lord and Savior, has been given something that we can do to further His Kingdom.
How do we know that? Where am I coming up with that? Did I just make that up?
Scripture tells us so! In this church we preach what the Bible says. We don’t just come up with stuff to make you feel good or tickle your ears. If it can’t be backed up with scripture, it doesn’t belong in a sermon.
Unless of course it’s a goofy story about something we did once, then that’s OK.
So let’s look it up and see what it says about Spiritual Gifts. First let’s turn to Romans 12: 4-8. My Bible labels this paragraph that Paul wrote as “Humble Service in the Body of Christ”. That is a very good description of what I’ll be talking about this morning, and I hope that you will see why.
READ - Romans 12: 4-8
Paul uses the comparison of the human body to the body of Christ, which is the church. In the human body there are many parts, each with a different function. Likewise in the church there are many people, each with a different Spiritual Gift to perform their many different functions. He states that not all members, or parts, of the body have the same function. “We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us” he writes. He then goes on to tell us that whatever it is that we are gifted with, that we should be doing it. “If it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach”.
Spiritual Gifts are mentioned several times in 1st Corinthians as well. Let’s see what scripture tells us there. Turn now to 1 Corinthians chapter 12. We’ll look at 3 different passages in this chapter, so keep your Bibles open here for a bit. Let’s look at 1 Corinthians 12: 1 first.
READ - 1 Corinthians 12:1
In verse 1 Paul states that he does not want us to be uninformed about these Spiritual Gifts that we are talking about here. To me that means that he considers this an important topic. If it’s important to Paul, then it should be important to us as well, don’t you think?
Now let’s skip down a few verses and look at 1 Corinthians 12: 4-11
READ - 1 Corinthians 12: 4-11
Once again he says that there are different kinds of gifts, but that the same Spirit distributes them all. He says that there are different kinds of service, but that we serve the same Lord. I take that to mean that ALL service to our Lord is important, whatever form that takes.
In verse 7 Paul says “Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good”. That means that we are all working for the same goal, to further the Kingdom of God. Just as all parts of the human body function for the common good of the entire body.
Verse 11 tells us that “All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.” Our Spiritual Gifts come from God and the Holy Spirit. It is God who determines what gifts we are given. It is up to US to use them!
And further along in 1st Corinthians chapter 12 we come to verses 27 thru 31. Let’s look at what Paul has to say here.
READ - 1 Corinthians 12: 27-31
Here is where Paul refers to us, believers and members of the church, as “the body of Christ”. He states that each one of us is a part of it. As a part, each of us has something to do for the common good. And he goes on to state that it is God who has placed in the church all the parts needed to do the work of furthering His Kingdom. “Are all apostles, are all prophets, are all teachers, do all work miracles, do all have gifts of healing, do all speak in tongues, do all interpret?” he asks in verse 29. The answer is NO. All do not do all of these things. But verse 31 tells us to eagerly desire these greater things. In other words, we should use the gifts given us, all the while desiring the greater gifts.
Now turn to the book of Ephesians, chapter 4, verses 11 through 13. I’m starting to get the idea that these Spiritual Gifts that we are talking about this morning are kind of a big deal to Paul. He seems to mention them in several of his letters to outlying churches. It’s as if he REALLY wants these churches to pay attention to this issue. Do you suppose that’s because it is through these Spiritual Gifts that these churches grow? Or that it is through the use of our Spiritual Gifts that God’s Kingdom grows? Let’s see what he says here.
READ - Ephesians 4: 11-13
Verses 11 and 12 tell us that it is Christ himself who gave the apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers “to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up”. What is the body of Christ? The church! Christ gave people the talent and calling to do these things so that the church may be built up. He gave people Spiritual Gifts to accomplish that which He wanted done, the building up of His church.
And what does verse 13 mean when it says “until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ”? I take that to mean that we become unified and mature in our understanding of who Christ is and that ultimately we become more like Christ every day in every way.
Now let’s turn to 1 Peter chapter 4. This is the last piece of scripture that I want to read on this subject and it comes not from Paul this time, but from Peter. But as we’ll see, it sounds just like what Paul has been telling us in the earlier scripture that we have read. Turn to 1 Peter 4: 10-11.
READ - 1 Peter 4: 10-11
We are being told here that we should use whatever gifts we have been given to serve others, as faithful stewards of the Grace that has been given to us by God. And we are to do this so that “in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory and power for ever and ever. Amen”.
We are to use our Spiritual Gifts for the Glory of God. Not for our own glory, not so that others will say, “Wow, look at us and all that we are doing for our church”. Never for our own glory, but always for God’s glory. Beware of pride sneaking in. This isn’t about us, or using our gifts to further ourselves. It is about us using our Spiritual Gifts, which are gifts from God, to further HIS church and HIS Kingdom.
So, after hearing all that, do you know what your particular Spiritual Gifts are?
If not, how do we find out what they are?
If you are aware of your Spiritual Gifts, are you using them?
One way to find out what your Spiritual Gifts are is to pray about them. Simply ask God to reveal them to you. Ask Him to show you how you can be of service to Him. God answers prayers! Ask Him what He wants you to be doing, in service to others and to His church.
Another way is to take a personal assessment of your skills and talents. Some time back we did such a thing in our church. This is something that we could do on a Wednesday night, and it involves answering a series of questions designed to reveal what your gifts for ministry to others might be. I have done this and it is helpful. If there is interest in doing this, let me know and we’ll see about setting it up in the future.
Yes, I said your ministry to others. That’s the main way that we serve God’s Kingdom, by helping others.
What does that look like? What do you have to do to be of service to God? How do you use those Spiritual Gifts that you have been given?
It can take any number of forms. It can be almost anything.
Maybe it’s reading scripture and leading the congregation in prayer at the beginning of a Sunday worship service. What? You’ve never done that and it sounds scary? It’s not. If Pastor asks you to do this some time, give it a try. Step up here. You might find that you enjoy it.
Maybe it’s helping with meals at church, cleaning up, washing dishes. There is always a need for this. I’m glad to say that we have seem to have this well handled in this church, but pitch in and help out when you can. You might find that something as menial as washing dishes after a church meal can provide blessings in ways you never imagined.
Maybe it’s helping to decorate, and then un-decorate, the church at Christmas. I have to say that this is NOT my Spiritual Gift, but that just may be the Scrooge in me coming out. I do have to say that I enjoy looking at Christmas decorations, I just don’t enjoy putting them up and taking them down. But for those that do, that is a use of their gift for serving others in this way.
Your Spiritual Gift may be something as simple as faithful attendance at church. It’s hard for your class leaders, teachers and Pastor to prepare a study or sermon for Wednesday night, Thursday night or Sunday morning when only a few or none show up. It’s discouraging. Encourage your church leaders by your regular attendance.
Maybe your Spiritual Gift is encouragement, as was mentioned in Romans 12 verse 8, and you can do that by your faithful attendance.
Perhaps it’s compassion for those in need, the poor, the addicted, the incarcerated? HEY, THAT’S OUR CHURCH! I have seen those in financial need get that help from this church. Remember what Paul said in Romans 12:7 ? “If your gift is giving, then give generously.” I have seen that in this church, and that is using the Spiritual Gifts that God gave those who were able to help. Not just the financial ability to give to others, but the HEART for giving.
Our food pantry is a blessing for this community and gets used a lot. I see our church keeping this stocked up and available so that those in need have it there for them when they need it.
More than a few members of this congregation have made it a life’s work to minister to the incarcerated, in several different ways. If this isn’t making use of your Spiritual Gifts then I don’t know what is. Spending your own time and money to travel to prison units throughout the state, to spread God’s word to the lost, has to be a Spiritual Gift. It’s not something we all can or should do, but for those that do I’m sure that it is God’s Spiritual Gift that allows them to keep going.
All of those who are doing this work are making use of their Spiritual Gifts.
Maybe your gift is helping with the nursery on Sundays. Perhaps it’s painting and fixing up. It could be organizing our clothes ministry upstairs.
All of this can be considered as using your spiritual gifts to further the Kingdom of God.
How about teaching a Sunday School class or leading a Wednesday night Bible study? These would be uses of your gifts too. There is always a need in our church for this. Always. Give it a try. It’s not scary, and you’ll find that the one who leads the class is always the one that learns the most from it.
Like the scripture that we read says, some have the gifts for prophesy, performing miracles, speaking in tongues, interpreting tongues. Obviously we don’t all have these gifts. Few have these gifts. We have probably never met anyone with such gifts. Does that mean that our gifts are less worthy or less important? Not at all.
We are to use the spiritual gifts that we have been given, no matter what they are. Remember what Peter said in 1 Peter 4:10 ? “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in it’s various forms.”
What if we don’t use our Spiritual Gifts? What if we just sit on the sidelines and watch others?
Think about it this way: Imagine that you are shopping for someone extra special on your list, someone you love, and you find them a gift, a really wonderful, expensive gift. You give this gift to them ….. and they don’t show any appreciation for it and never use it. How does that make you feel? You probably feel hurt and disappointed, right? Well think how God feels when we don’t use the Spiritual Gifts that He has given us to help others, and to further His Kingdom?
Is there such a thing as a true believer in Jesus Christ with NO spiritual gifts? No! We all have something we have been given a talent for, a heart for. If you don’t do anything to further His Kingdom, you are not pleasing God. You are not using the gifts that He gave you.
Sometimes it may take trying something new or different to discover whether or not you have a talent for it. It might even be intimidating or scary to you. That’s OK. I never in my life imagined that I had a gift for standing up here, in front of you all, on a Sunday morning. I’M STILL NOT SURE THAT I DO, but I’m up here trying it anyway.
Sometimes we have to pray for the boldness to try something new, something we have never done before. God answers prayers! Ask Him to reveal your Spiritual Gifts to you, and then pray for the boldness to use them.
And now, as the music softly plays, let’s bow our heads and close our eyes.
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If you want to, ask God … RIGHT NOW … to reveal to you what Spiritual Gifts He has given you to help others. To help further His Kingdom. Maybe pray for the boldness to use the gifts that you know you have already been given.
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If you don’t have that personal relationship with Jesus Christ, and you know in your heart that He is calling you, please come forward and talk to me or Pastor Todd about that now. Jesus said in the book of John chapter 14 verse 6 “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” That means that there is no other way to heaven, or to come to know God, except through Jesus. Let’s start that relationship today, if you haven’t already done so.
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Perhaps you’d like to join the church, or talk to Pastor Todd or me about God’s plan of Salvation for you. We are here for that too. God’s Spiritual Gifts are waiting for you. It all begins with asking His Son Jesus into your heart and life as your own, personal savior. If so, please come forward now. Maybe you just need someone to pray with you about a pressing need in your life. We are here, available for that too.
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