Essentials Of The Faith / Sunday Morning Sermon Series / Romans

Romans 12:6a

Intro: Don McCullough writes in 'Waking from the American Dream'  'During World War II, England needed to increase its production of coal. Winston Churchill called together labor leaders to enlist their support.  At the end of his presentation he asked them to picture in their minds a parade which he knew would be held in Picadilly Circus after the war.  "First," he said," would come the sailors who had kept the vital sea lanes open.  Then would come the soldiers who had come home from Dunkirk and then gone on to defeat Rommel in Africa.  Then would come the pilots who had driven the Luftwaffe from the sky. "Last of all," he said, "would come a long line of sweat-stained, soot-streaked men in miner's caps.  Someone would cry from the crowd, 'And where were you during the critical days of our struggle?'  And from ten thousand throats would come the answer, "We were deep in the earth with our faces to the coal.'"

EXP:  The Body of Christ, in order to function properly, depends upon the gifts God has given to each member. And not all these gifts are up-front and prominent. Some, like the coal miners, are rarely seen and even more rarely  receive any praise.
Paul, in Romans 12 has said that we must understand our gifting in light of our personal humility. Without humility, the use of our gifts will be as wood, hay and stubble that will burn up in the presence of our Lord. And will do nothing more than raise a dense cloud of smoke which will hinder our ability to work together. Which leads to Paul's second point about the exercise of spiritual gifts... they are used for the common good.

TRANS: In order for the body of Christ, as seen in the local church, to be healthy and growing in grace, maturing to the full measure which is Christ-likeness, Paul tells us in verse 6 to ....

II. By diligently using what you have been given.        (Rom. 12:6-8)
    A. First recognize the diversity of God's gifting.            (vs. 6a)
         The two words that stand out for me here are DIFFER and GRACE. Because what they imply is both exciting and challenging.

         1. They are exciting in that in any normal, healthy local church, we can expect to discover a wide variety of abilities
            specially given by the grace of God through the    Holy Spirit for the good of the local church and the ongoing work
            of the Lord.

             -God always provides the people with just the right spiritual gifting that He needs, to do His work, in  His church,
               in His time.
            -These abilities specially given by  God's grace  through the Holy Spirit for the benefit of the  local church and
              the ongoingwork of the Lord are called spiritual gifts.
            -They differ from natural talent in that they are used for God's glory first and always, they build up the Body of Christ
              and equip Believes to do  the work of the Lord.

         2. The words Differ and Grace are challenging because of the necessity to respect and encourage those gifts while
             at the same time deal with accompanying personalities, egos and pride that often are found in any local church.

              -You see, some in the church will see the different gifting of people as a  threat their position or that it will draw
                attention away from them and their  personal ministry.
              -That is why humility and interdependence must always be practiced by all in the church.

         3. And of the two words Differ and Grace, Grace is preeminent.

              -The word 'gifts' here is the Greek word 'charismata' which means grace or gracious gift'.
              -The  idea is that since God's grace is His  unmerited favor, God gives us these gifts according to His good pleasure,
                and not for anything we have done.

APP: God is saying: don't think that you did anything to deserve the spiritual gifts I have given you. You have them because it pleases me and because I want you to use them for the good of the whole church, not for the stroking of your ego or puffing up of your pride. However, the most common  problem in the church today is not pride or ego, although they do exist and are a blight on the church. No, the most common problem is apathy , indifference and disinterest, usually based on, hectic overextended, never ending can't take a break for a minute, lifestyles.

     Perhaps you know what gifts have been given to you by God. Perhaps you have even used them in the church in the past sometime, a long time ago, in a different church, when you were younger, before you had kids. But now you say there just isn't time in your schedule to get involved. Or perhaps you  feel there is someone else in the church who you think has the same gift as you so you are not needed.

     Well, I believe that if you were not needed, you wouldn't be here, at CBC, right now, in this time of your life. All of you are needed to do the work of the ministry and the time is now...not tomorrow. Not when the kids get older, not when the job lightens up. NOW is the time for the sleeper to awaken.

Trans: And that is exactly what Paul tells you and I in verse 6b

    B. Second, just do it! (vs. 6b)

ILL: It was Dwight Moody who said, "I am only one, but I am one.  I cannot do everything, but I can do something.  And that which I can do, by the grace of God, I will do."

     With that simple commitment, God used him to bring revival to England and America. I wonder what God wants to do through you...if you are willing?

     Willing to do what, you may be asking? To do whatever gift God may have given you. Paul mentions 7 here and we will look at them in detail next week. This is in no way an exhaustive list, so you can't say because my particular gift isn't mentioned here, God is not speaking to me.

     Spiritual gifts are specifically mentioned in 4 places in Scripture. Rom. 12; 1 Cor. 12; Eph. 4 and 1 Peter 4. But, in none of these places is an exhaustive list found. I believe God's gifting is even more diverse than what is mentioned in these Scripture passages.

Conclusion:  'And that which I can do, by the grace of God, I will do'

     And I will do it diligently, intelligently, faithfully, and in love I will use the gifts God has graciously given to me for the building up of His body which is the Church of God and for the fulfillment of His will.  Is that your desire?

    The story is told that Churchill sent Roosevelt a cable during the war and it said 'Give us the tools and we will finish the job'
Even though he didn't know it, Churchill was echoing the cries of the church today which often feels inadequate to be the People of God and to do the will of God.

    In God's Word, we have a message sent directly to us from the throne of God in response to our feelings of inadequacy.
'I have given you the tools, now finish the job!'.

     What tools has God given to you? Do you know? Do you care? This coming week, ask God to speak to your heart and reveal to you what He has given you that we need here at CBC.

      You are not here by accident.

      You are not here just because you have always come  here.

      You are not here because it is the closest church to   your home.

      You are not here because of the great preaching...

     You are here, at this time, in this place to share with us what God has given you.

     To use, by the grace of God and through faith in Him, the spiritual gifts and abilities He has given to you.

     And I have every right as your pastor and brother in Christ to demand that everyone who names the name of Christ, who is a true Believer in Jesus, who calls CBC their home, to use your gifts. Because until you do, this body of Christ will not function as ONE. It will not be healthy and will not produce the spiritual fruit that comes from properly exercising your spiritual gifts.

     Is it hard work?  Yes!

         Is it a demand on your time? Yes!

             Is it a real sacrifice? Yes!

                 Does God require it? Yes!

                     Is there a reward for even the most menial or thankless ministry? Yes!

     When you hear from the mouth of Jesus Himself, 'Well done thy good and faithful servant'.

                         Is each Believer who attends this fellowship and calls CBC their home, using their gifts for God's glory and the good of the fellowship?