Romans 12:6-8, “God’s Gifts to the Church.”
Last week I told you the signs and wonders gifts displayed by the Apostles, were given to them to validate their authority to speak for God, and that these gifts came to an end when the apostles passed from the scene and the New Testament was completed.
I told you that the next time “signs and wonders” appear, will be after the church is caught up to be with the Lord; false messiahs and false prophets will appear doing signs & wonders, and the Antichrist, empowered by Satan himself, will rise to power (Matthew 24:24; 2Thessalonians 2:9-10; Revelation 13:13-14).
I also want to reiterate that the gift of “tongues” [lit. languages], used during the transitional years after the birth of the Church, was never intended to be permanent in the work and function of the Church, this “gift” ceased to be operative before 100 A.D. (*For further study on this topic, on our website under the Heading Resources, select What Does the Bible Say About... then select Speaking in Tongues?)
Romans 12:6-8... There are seven spiritual gifts given here, all of which fall into the categories of speaking gifts and serving gifts; you’ll notice there is no mention of sign gifts, i.e., healing, miracles, or speaking in tongues.
Paul begins, the first part of verse 6, by stating that there are different gifts in the body of believers, provided by the grace of God (1Corinthians 12:7), “for the common good,” (1Corinthians 12:11) “[God] gives them to each one, just as He determines.”
Verse 6b... prophecy - This literally means “speaking forth,” in other words, proclaiming God's Word. This was done by revelation, prior to the completion of the Bible, and then by reiteration [repeating, explaining, re- emphasizing], after the completion of the Bible.
1Peter 4:11a, “If anyone speaks, he should do so as one who speaks the very words of God.”
1Corinthians 14:3, “Everyone who prophecies speaks to men for their strengthening [instruction], encouragement [edification], and comfort [consolation or support].”
Verse 7a... service - This is every kind of practical service like [waiting tables, mowing the lawn, doing laundry], it is translated from a Greek word from which we get the term “deacon" [lit. minister, servant], i.e., wherever there is a need among the body of believers, this gift moves the believer to
fulfill that need.
1Peter 4:11b, If anyone serves, he should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ.”
In 1Corinthians 12:28 it is called the gift of “helps,” i.e., to help out in the church (via social committee, buildings & grounds, music, audio visual, making slides, janitorial, ushering, greeting, arranging flowers, making refreshments, serving in the nursery, etc.).
Verse 7b... teaching – This is the ability to understand, interpret, expose, clarify, and to systematically explain God's Word, whether at a large church gathering, a home Bible Study, or more intimately, person to person.
This is pastoral teaching, Bible College and Seminary teaching, Sunday School teaching, Child Evangelism Fellowship and Vacation Bible Adventure teaching, i.e., wherever God’s truth is being taught.
Acts 20:20-21, “You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house. I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus.”
Matthew 28:19-20, “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.”
Verse 8a... encourage – This is the ability to come alongside other believers, calling them to obey and follow God's Word; warning and reproving them concerning sin in their lives, while also consoling and strengthening those who are struggling or injured, in order to bring comfort and counsel from the Word of God.
1Corinthians 4:14, "I am not writing these things to shame you, but
to warn [counsel] you as my dear children.”
1Thessalonians 5:11, “Encourage one another and build each other
up.”
Hebrews 10:24-25, “let us consider how we may spur one another
on toward love and good deeds...” “let us encourage one another.”
Verse 8b... giving – Not out of your abundance, but is sacrificially sharing what you have with those who are in need; doing so with openhearted and open handed generosity, not looking for personal recognition, but giving quietly, out of a genuine and compassionate response to observed needs. Acts 2:44-45, “All the believers were together and had everything in
common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need.”
Verse 8c... lead - This is literally “to stand before,” i.e., to steer or pilot, to guide, govern, or manage, with diligence [vigor and earnestness].
This word is used to describe leadership in the home and in the church:
1Timothy 3:1, 4-5, “Here is a trustworthy saying: If anyone sets his heart on being an overseer, he desires a noble task.” He must manage [lead] his own family well and see that his children obey him with proper respect. (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?).”
Verse 8d... show mercy - This is to express sympathy and sensitivity to those who are suffering, in a way that helps lesson their afflictions, burdens, or sorrows.
James 2:15-16, “Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, ‘Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,’ but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?”
1John 3:16-18, “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down His life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.”
Showing mercy is often expressed when someone visits those in hospitals, those confined to their homes, those in jail, those who are homeless or friendless, those who recently have suffered loss, and those who have special needs that aren’t being met or fulfilled by others. Proverbs 14:31, “He who oppresses the poor taunts his Maker, but he who is gracious to the needy honors [God].”
Showing mercy is most exemplary of Christ Himself, and if it were up to me to select a gift from God that all believers would have in abundance and would use with great frequency, it would be showing mercy.
Luke 4:18-19, “The Spirit of the Lord is on Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the good news to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
What a difference it would make in this world, if every Christian had this gift, or at least, those who do have it would exercise it openly, freely, and
frequently.
Can you imagine what it would be like? There would be fewer needy people within the Family of God, because their needs would be mercifully met; not only that, but perhaps more unbelievers would come to salvation in response to the mercy shown them by Christians, those who have already received God’s mercy through Christ, in abundance.
All spiritual gifts (and natural talents ) given by God, to those who belong to Him, are given for God’s own glory and for the edification of the Church, in order that we might fulfill our purpose on earth - and that is to share the message of Christ with all who will listen because (1Timothy 2:3-4), “God our Savior wants all men to be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth.” God is patient (2Peter 3:9), “not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”
Every Christian’s duty is to proclaim and share the good news, calling people to repentance and salvation in Christ (see 2Corinthians 5:17-21).
Romans 11:32, “God has bound all men over to disobedience, so that He may have mercy on them all.”
Romans 10:12-15, “For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile— the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on Him, for, ‘Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’ How, then, can they call on the One they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the One of Whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching [proclaiming] to them? And how can they preach [proclaim] unless they are sent? As it is written: ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!’”
Matthew 28:19-21, “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
God’s greatest gift is Christ, through Him, we not only receive forgiveness and eternal life, but also “gifts” that we are to use in the Church, where we are to serve one another as if serving the Lord Himself; for we are to be working together as individual believers, unified for one purpose, bringing the good news of salvation to everyone who will listen: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, that He then appeared to His Disciples and many followers over 40 days, after which, He ascended back
into heaven, and He is coming back to get all who belong to Him, to take us to be together with Him in heaven, forever!
In His Grip, Pastor Mike