Essentials Of The Faith / Sunday Morning Sermon Series / Romans

Romans 12:6b-8 Part 2

Intro:  The Psalmist cried out 'I wait for the Lord, my soul doth wait. And in His Word do I hope. My soul waits for the Lord. More than the watchman for the morning, Indeed, more than the watchman for the morning.'

     It is essential that the Believer wait on the Lord. That he/she not move forward until given a clear direction by God. And we find that direction in God's Word, as the Psalmist tells us.  We can also sense God's leading through His indwelling Holy Spirit who speaks to us both directly and through other Believers whom God leads into our  lives.

    It is not, however, enough just to hear God speak through His Word, His Spirit and His people, we must act upon what we hear. James 1:22 says 'but prove yourselves doers of the Word and not merely hearers only, deluding yourselves.'

     I want to challenge you this morning...don't just sit there and use your ears to hear the words coming from my mouth.
Remember Rom. 12:2 'be transformed by the renewing of your mind'. Think differently this morning. As the words you hear come into your mind, think about how you can make them alive. How you can act upon them. How you can be a doer of the word. Not just a hearer who thinks because you are here and listening that you will receive a blessing.

     It is in the doing that blessing comes. It is when our faith is demonstrated in action that God is honored and others are drawn to Him. Faith w/o works is dead, James says. Having faith w/o being faithful  is fruitless, pastor Bob says.

     We have been discussing spiritual gifts and  the exercise of these grace gifts is one way we can be faithful to God in our actions.

Trans:  As we did last week, we will  look at what the gift given by God is and how that gift is exercised. Open to Romans 12:8  The next gift mentioned is  exhorting.

4. If exhortation, by exhorting
    a. What is this gift?

 DEF: It is the supernatural ability to deliver challenging words. To come alongside another in need of encouragement, challenge or advice. To move Christians to a deeper dedication to the Lord.

      The Greek word for exhortation is 'paraklhsi"'. It comes from the same root as  'paraklhto"' found in John 15:26. There  Jesus said He will send His people, a  helper, a comforter, an advocate'. I find it interesting and humbling that those who exercise this spiritual gift have a similar ministry as the Holy Spirit.

    b. How is it to be exercised?
     This gift is similar to prophesy and teaching but it is more intimate and personal in nature and practice. It involves persuading people to Christlikeness by the power of love, understanding and sympathy.  The aim is to bring people to a closer relationship with Christ.

     It is exercised by coming alongside someone to challenge and encourage them. To stand by and with them and really be their helper, comforter, advocate, encourager and challenger.

Question: What are some of the ways this gift can be exercised in the local church?
(discipling, teaching, explaining something about the sermon to someone after service, being an example, praying with people, sending people cards and notes of encouragement)

Trans: Paul says, if you have the gift of exhortation, come alongside someone and encourage them. The next spiritual gift mentioned is giving.

5. If giving, with simplicity
   a. What is this gift?

 DEF: It is the supernatural ability to accumulate, manage and give large amounts of money to the Lord's work. To sacrifice financially for the needs of others. To do so with exceptional willingness, cheerfulness and liberality.

   b. How is it to be exercised?
     With single minded generosity, liberally, happily. There are no ulterior motives, no hidden agendas, no strings attached. It is simply to give out of love. To give for only one purpose, to bring glory to God.  All are to faithfully give to support of the Lord's work, no one is left out. But there are some who have this supernatural gift to give in abundance .

Question: What are some of the ways this gift can be exercised in the local church? (tithes, offerings, special donations, missions, deacon fund, private benevolence, food pantry)

     If your answer is no, I want you to consider accepting for yourself what Christ has given through His death on the cross. He has given Believers...Forgiveness of sin, peace with God and life everlasting.

     Will you accept His marvelous saving grace, by admitting to God that you are a sinner who is unable to be forgiven apart from Jesus' death  on the cross.  And by believing that Jesus' death on the cross completely paid your sin debt to God.

     Don't just sit there passively listening  what I am saying...Act upon these Word of Life and ask  Jesus to be your Savior.
 Do that and then join us in this celebration of salvation as we share the Lord's Supper .
 

6. If leading, with diligence
     'Nearer my God to Thee, Nearer to Thee.' ought to be continually on the lips and evident in the life of those who have the next spiritual gift mentioned in Rom. 12:8 leadership.

   a. What is this gift?

 DEF: The supernatural ability to organize, administer and promote the various affairs of the local church. To set goals and motivate others towards their accomplishment in the church. To effectively keep the church on a course toward God.

  b. How is it to be exercised?
     With diligence. A solemn  determination to  lead individuals and God's local church in the direction of faithfulness to God.
And this must be done by the leaders example of godly living. Leaders must not use this gift for their own benefit because they function in the name and under the authority of their head, Jesus Christ.

     Leaders are to have no other purpose than the purposes of God. And when you lead others and ask them to follow, it is imperative that you diligently seek the Lord's face. That 'Nearer my God to Thee' is more than just a hymn, it's your life's desire.

Question: What are some of the ways this gift can be exercised in  the local church?
(Church officer, teacher, ministry coordinator, chairperson of a committee)

Trans: Paul says, if you have the gift of leadership, lead faithfully with all diligence and determination. The final spiritual gift mentioned here in Romans 12 is mercy.

7. If mercy, with cheerfulness
     Some of you may be thinking why does showing mercy need supernatural help. We are all to show mercy aren't we? Yes, we are. But the gift of mercy takes that responsibility to greater lengths.

   a. What is this gift?

 DEF: The supernatural ability to minister to those sick and afflicted. To aid the suffering or deserving .

     It is compassion in action. It is caring for those who no one else cares for. Meeting the needs of those who are abandoned.  It means loving the unlovely.

   b. How is it to be exercised?
     With cheerfulness. The Greek word is the one we get halarious from. We exercise this gift with a smile, a genuine smile. This doesn't sound too difficult but those with this gift will seldom find rest. They will sense a heavy demand  for their time as people today are more interested in justice and retribution than in showing mercy, kindness and compassion to those in need.

     Paul says, don't tire of doing good. Don't get angry and begrudge every request for help. Exercise this gift cheerfully and faithfully.

Question: What are some of the ways this gift can be exercised in the local church?
(hospital, nursing home visitation, being a listening ear, having telephone friends, donating time and resources to food pantries, soup kitchens, cloths closets, shut in visitation, giving someone a hug and praying with them)

Conclusion:
      Ultimately our call to use our God given spiritual gifts rests on our vision of God. A great God must be served. The greater our vision of God, the more compelling our desire to use His gifts becomes. And the greater our vision of God, the more we will understand what He desires from us. Faithfulness.

    When we have a great vision of ourselves, in the exercise of our spiritual gifts, we are compelled toward success.

ILL: A missionary once wrote Corrie Ten Boom and said: "Sometimes adversity tempts me to discouragement in the face of seeming failure.  But I take courage and press on anew, as I remember that God does not hold me responsible for success, but for faithfulness."

    Jesus will not say "Well done, thy good and  successful servant."  1 Cor. 4:1-2; Josh 1:7-8; 2 Cor. 11:27-29 and 2 Cor. 12:9-10 all tell us that it is faithfulness that God requires. Success, results, numbers that's God's domain.

     The challenge this morning and every day of our lives is faithfulness. Faithfulness to God and to His people by exercising the gifts of grace, the spiritual gifts He has given to us for the building up of His body and the fulfillment of His will.

     Prophesy, serving, teaching, exhorting, giving, leading and mercy all lead to a rich bounty of spiritual fruit in the community of the faithful. 7 beautiful graces. Perfumes for the body of Christ. Think, if Paul's advice was followed what a healthy and fragrant church He would have.

     The faithful exercise of spiritual gifts is the fertile ground upon which the fruit of the Spirit flourishes. CBC, be faithful, be fruitful, to the glory of God.