Day #181: Romans 12:6-8

BACKGROUND:

The emphasis in these three verses today is that God has given these abilities to his people. These are God’s gifts to his church, and he gives faith and power as he wills. Our role is to be faithful and to seek ways to serve others with what Christ has given us.

The gifts Paul mentions in this list fall into two categories: speaking and serving. Gifts are given that God’s grace may be expressed. Words speak to our hearts and minds of God’s grace; acts of service show that grace in action. This list is not exhaustive; there are many gifts, most of them hidden from the public—those “behind the scenes” words and actions that serve and magnify God.

The ability to prophesy, according to the New Testament, is not always predicting the future. Often it means effectively communicating God’s messages (1 Corinthians 14:1-3). These gifts are not for having, but for using. In other words, God’s gifts fulfill their value as they are utilized for the benefit of others.

If a person has the gift of serving, then he or she should use it where and when it is needed, and use it to its best and fullest capacity. The same goes for the other gifts that Paul mentions: teaching, encouraging, sharing, leading, showing kindness. Whatever gift a believer has, he or she should faithfully use it in gratitude to God. By focusing on the application of the gifts, Paul is removing the tendency toward unhealthy self-congratulation in the discovery of gifts. If we are busy using our gifts, we will be less taken up with concerns over status and power. Genuine service controls pride.

This list of gifts is representative, not exhaustive. It would be difficult for one person to embody all these gifts. An assertive prophet usually would not make a good counselor, and a generous giver might fail as a leader. When people identify their own gifts and their unique combination of gifts (this list is far from complete), they should then discover how they can use their gifts to build up Christ’s body, the church.

At the same time, they should realize that one or two gifts can’t do all the work of the church. Believers should be thankful for each other, thankful that others have gifts that are completely different. In the church, believers’ strengths and weaknesses can balance each other. Some people’s abilities compensate for other people’s deficiencies. Together all believers can build Christ’s church. But all these gifts will be worthless if they are used begrudgingly out of duty, or if they are exercised without love.

SO WHAT? (what will I do with what I have read today?)

It's not enough to just possess a spiritual gift, we must activate that gift(s). v. 6 "We have different gifts according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophecy let him use it in accordance to his faith. If it's serving let him serve. If it's teaching let him teach. If it's encouraging let him encourage. If it's contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously. If it's leadership, let him govern diligently. If it's showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully." Paul gives seven examples of spiritual gifts.

The scripture says that when you're born physically you get some physical endowments: ability to think, etc. When you're born again spiritually you are given a spiritual gift, an ability. It's not a natural talent. It may coincide with it but it's more. It's an ability that God gave you the moment you became a believer to be used for ministering to other people. Many Christians go their whole lives and never discover their spiritual gift.

Many times they use it and don't even know they have it. But whether you know what it is or not, you have one and one of your responsibilities is to find out what is my gift or gifts. The Scripture teaches there are many kinds of gifts. Nobody receives all of the gifts. No one gift is given to all. Everybody receives some gift. The reason for that is that we will be dependent on each other. If I had all the gifts I wouldn't need you. If you had all the gifts, you wouldn't need me. Nobody has it all together. That way we need each other. Just like the pieces of a jigsaw puzzle.

What is the basis for spiritual gifts? v. 6 "We have different gifts according to the grace..." The basis for spiritual gifts is grace. That's why they're called gifts. If you had to work for it would they be of grace? You would have earned them. The fact is you were given the gift so it's an issue of grace.

1 Peter 4:10 says, "Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms." God's grace is manifested in the church in many different formats. We're all given a grace gift and we should use it -- we're responsible to use it -- to serve others. God gave me my gift, not for me, but for you. God gave you a gift, not for you, but for me. We're given them to benefit each other. That's because we need each other.


1 Corinthians 12 expands on what Paul is teaching in Romans 12 and has a lot more to say about it. v. 4 "There are different kinds of gifts but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service but the same Lord. There are different kinds of workings but the same God works in all of them. To each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good."

We're given gifts to benefit all of us. v. 11 "All these are the work of the one and the same Spirit and He gives them to each man just as He determines." How do you decide who gets what gift? You don't. God decides who gets what gift. That's why you don't need to pray for a specific gift. If God wants you to have that gift, you get it. He sovereignly decides. It's futile and worthless to pray for a particular gift when God says, I sovereignly decide who gets what.

The grace of God determines sovereignly who chooses what. That's why at COV we don't believe in pressuring people into any particular thing because it's God who makes the decisions.

What is the purpose of spiritual gifts? To build up the body of Christ. Gifts are only to be used in the context of the body of Christ. Not for individual glory.


It's interesting, there's only seven gifts listed in Romans 12. In 1 Corinthians 12:8-10 there's nine other gifts listed. In v. 28-29 there's a couple more listed. 1 Peter lists a couple more. Ephesians lists a couple. Why are they not all in one place? We love to categorize things. God, in Scripture, makes no effort at all to (a) categorize the gifts, or (b) list them all in one place, or (c) even define them. Why? In Romans He lists seven; in Corinthians He lists a bunch of other ones. The people in Rome didn't get the letter to the Corinthians until probably about 40 years later when it started circulating. So for 40 years did they have only seven gifts to work on?

My opinion is that the gifts listed in the Bible are simply examples. I believe that it is not a closed system. People argue Are there 17 gifts or 19 gifts? I happen to think there are those plus a lot of others. For instance, the gift of music is not mentioned in Scripture as a spiritual gift. But I think that's a gift. I think some people have the gift of intercession. They are prayer warriors. I think there are others. The point he's making in Corinthians and Romans is that all of the gifts are important.

What is the responsibility of spiritual gifts? God expects me to use the one He gave me -- or ones. I don't think necessarily you only get one. But I do believe you don't get them all. There are many stories Jesus told, like the parable of the talents. One guy takes his talents and multiplies it and another guy buries his in the ground. Jesus says that is wicked. That's the wrong thing to do. Don't bury your talents in the ground. If you've got a gift you have a responsibility. God will hold you accountable for what you did with your gift. He doesn't expect us to be like another person, but He does expect us to be ourselves. "What did you do with what I gave you?" Very simple - Exercise.

Many times in Scripture we're told to develop or sharpen the gifts. Paul told Timothy, "Stir up the gift that you were given". Develop it. God gave me the gift of exhortation or encouragement when I became a believer but I'm getting better at it. The more I grow I get better at it. Fortunately I'm not the same person I was two years ago. Fortunately I'm not the same person I'm going to be two years from now. Fortunately you're not the same person you're going to be two years from now. We're all growing, developing and becoming what He wants us to be. What are your gifts? Are you using them to build the body? If not, why not?

I love you guys. Stay faithful. Stay the course.