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People have strange ideas about what a church is. Is it a building? No. Is it a meeting? “We’re having church tonight.” No. Is it a club you join? No. Is it a super-show with deafening music, lights, and fog show along with dancing singers? No. Is it a personality cult, an ego center? Is it all about the big guy up front? No, no, no.
What is the church?
- The church is a priesthood and a spiritual house to offer up spiritual sacrifices.
- The church is the family of God’s sons and daughters. God is our Father.
- The church is the bride of Christ. He purchased us with His blood and is loving us and growing us in His word, sanctifying us. We look forward to the time He returns to receive us to Himself and take us to the Father’s house.
- The church is a flock of sheep led by our good and great Shepherd. When we go astray, He restores us and brings us back.
- The church is an army, a band of brothers and sister equipped with the armor of God to withstand spiritual wickedness in high places.
- But most often the church is called Christ’s body. Every believer is baptized by the Spirit into His body and equipped with spiritual gifts to function and serve in this body.
So far in Romans 12 God has called us to present our bodies a living, holy sacrifice, to reject worldliness and be transformed and renewed by God’s Word to discern God’s will. Last week we saw the importance of humility in our serving in the body of Christ. No one is to think too highly of himself, but to think realistically as God has given each of us a measure of faith or spiritual giftedness to serve in His body. This morning we’re going to look at seven foundational gifts here in Romans, but first…
INSIGHTS INTO SPIRITUAL GIFTS
Before we look at these seven gifts or charisma – gifts given by God’s grace for the good of the body, here are several insights into spiritual gifts. Let’s look at 1 Corinthians 12:4-7.
1 Corinthians 12:4-7, Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord. 6 There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons. 7 But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.
If you are a true child of God, you have a spiritual gift. You don’t have to wonder about that.
These verses say there are many varieties of gifts. There are nineteen gifts listed in the epistles, but they represent many different kinds and blends of gifts. Peter tells us there are speaking gifts and serving gifts. In Ephesians 4 there are leadership gifts like apostles, prophets, evangelists, and pastor-teachers. Then we have the seven gifts in Romans 12.
The purpose of spiritual gifts is for the spiritual edification or building up of the body.
1 Corinthians 14:12, Since you are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek to abound for the edification (building up) of the church.
1 Corinthians 14:26, Let all things be done for edification.
There are three categories of gifts: sign gifts, serving gifts, and speaking gifts. Since the end of the first century after the apostles had died and the Scriptures were completed, the special sign gifts – miracles, speaking in tongues, raising the dead, various signs and wonders – have ceased. This is called cessationism. While God can and does heal and do amazing things–in fact every time someone gets saved it’s a great miracle–the Holy Spirit no longer uses individuals to perform miraculous signs. John Calvin wrote, “The gift of healing, like the rest of the miracles which the Lord willed to be brought forth for a time, has vanished away.” These spectacular gifts were given to authenticate the gospel through the apostles. Here are a couple of references.
2 Corinthians 12:12. The signs of a true apostle were performed among you with all perseverance, by signs and wonders and miracles.
Hebrews 2:3-4, how will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation? After it was at the first spoken through the Lord, it was confirmed to us by those who heard, 4 God also testifying with them, both by signs and wonders and by various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit according to His own will.
And here is a warning about signs and wonders. Jesus and Paul in Matthew 24:24 and 2 Thessalonians 2 warned us that in the end times the signs and miracles would be performed in Satan’s power to deceive.
Matthew 24:24, “For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect.
2 Thessalonians 2:9, (speaking of the Anti-Christ) that is, the one whose coming is in accord with the activity of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders,
There are groups today trying to restore the apostolic age, promoting signs and wonders and visions and dreams and all kinds of spectacular things. You’ll find this in the New Apostolic Reformation movement seen in Bill Johnson at Bethel Church in Reddington, California, and the International House of Prayer in Kansas City. Once people trust in experiences and the fallible words of men rather than the infallible Word of God, you can expect craziness like gold dust, angels’ feathers, and glory clouds. We are not to add to the Scriptures anymore; God is not giving dreams and visions or personal prophecies. We have all we need in the Scriptures alone.
Alright, let’s get back to these seven foundational gifts in Romans 12. These are not temporary gifts. Paul is saying, “You’ve got a gift. Use it. Exercise them accordingly.”
PROPHECY
Romans 12:6, Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly: if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith;
In the first century there were prophets who received direct messages from God or foretold events. Agabus was a prophet and foretold what would happen to Paul in Jerusalem (Acts 21:11). But the word “pro-phetes” simply means to speak forth, in this case, the Word of God, pleading God’s cause and urging people to respond to it. You stand up in front of people and fire out the Word of God with authority and call people to obedience. It’s basically preaching. Notice that prophecy is first on this list. Some people ridicule or belittle preaching God’s Word, but the proclamation of the Word is the engine of the church under the power of the Holy Spirit. That’s why when Spurgeon walked up the stairs to preach, he reminded himself, “I believe in the Holy Spirit.” Without the Spirit, preaching is just a lot of hot air. And without the preaching of God’s Word, you don’t have the church. The first responsibility of the church is to proclaim God’s truth. One of the biggest changes in churches during the Reformation was moving aside the so-called altar where the so-called priest performed the so-called mass and placing the pulpit front and center. The church is the pillar and support of the truth and prophecy proclaims that truth. It’s primarily the Word of God proclaimed with authority to instruct, exhort, edify, encourage, reprove, rebuke, and comfort that God uses to build His church.
Notice in verse 6, “according to the proportion of the faith.” Some think this means don’t try to be what God hasn’t made you. Every preacher has his own style. Phillips Brooks described preaching as “truth through personality.” It’s true. Sproul is different from MacArthur and Lawson is different from Baucham. Leon Morris suggested the measure of the faith might mean if you have nothing further to say, stop speaking! That’s a good idea. Some preachers have a hard time landing the plane. We think he’s concluding, but up we go again for another oratorical flight! But really, the phrase means preach within the boundaries of what God has revealed in Scripture. Beware of preaching that promotes prosperity or psychology or finding hidden meanings to impress and astound the hearers. First Corinthians 14:29 urges others to weigh carefully what is said, “Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others pass judgment.” First Thessalonians 5:20-21 warns, “Do not despise prophetic utterances. But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good.” I always like to ask, “Got a chapter and verse for that?”
So, this gift is a God-given capacity to take the Word of God, stand up in front of people, and proclaim that truth sincerely, passionately, accurately according to the faith, with the goal of persuading people to faith and obedience. It doesn’t mean you don’t have any fears or aren’t nervous. In seminary we had a class called homiletics where you got up in front of your classmates and preached for ten minutes to 7 or 8 guys who were sitting there jotting down ways you could do it better. That’s scary. I’ve seen grown men get in front of a class with knees visible shaking. It’s humbling.
SERVING
Romans 12:7, if service, in his serving….
“Service” is the word diaconia. We get our word deacon from it, but it applies to more than the deacon ministry. It means to serve at tables, to run errands, to execute the command of another. It’s the support ministry for the ongoing function of the church. It involves self-denial to meet the needs of another. You see it in 1 Corinthians 16:15, the house of Stephanas “devoted themselves for ministry to the saints.” What exactly they did we don’t know except that lots of serving was needed when the church gathered in houses. Setting up chairs and tables, preparing water for washing feet, cleaning up after the gathering, and more. Leon Morris said, “The ability to do lowly service well is a gift…. There’s a lot of lowly service to be done and anyone who has the gift of doing it should rejoice at the wonder of divine grace.”
While God has gifted some people with the gift of serving in practical ways, that doesn’t mean the rest of us are off the hook. Somebody spills their coffee in the fellowship hall, but you sit back thinking, “I can’t help cleaning it. I don’t have the gift of a servant.” No, that’s not how it works. First, Christ was among us as one who served (Luke 22:27). He washed the disciples’ feet. Galatians 5:13 says, “For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity of the flesh, but through love serve one another.” We are all here to serve. When Paul says “in his serving,” he means get with it; God gave you this gift, so use it.
TEACHING
Romans 12:7b, he who teaches, in his teaching;
One author described the teaching gift as “the ability to take profound biblical and theological truths and communicate them in a lucid way so ordinary people can readily grasp them.” We’ve all heard people speak up front and when they were finished you’re thinking, “Uh, what did he say?” He was more like a fog machine than a teacher. But then you’ve heard people take a portion of Scripture, unfold and explain it and you are amazed, “Man, I never saw that before.” Some have the gift of teaching and not the gift of preaching. Elders must be apt to teach, able to communicate truth in an understandable way, and to refute false teaching. Paul told Timothy to teach faithful men so they might be able to teach others (2 Timothy 2:2). Paul told the older ladies to teach the younger ladies in Titus 2:3. A good percentage of believers in any church have the gift of teaching. You don’t have to be up front to teach. Teaching takes place in homes, at work, sitting down for a Bible study, and in the SS room of 4 and 5 year-olds. One of the most helpful opportunities I had while in seminary was teaching a class of junior-age boys. If you can get them to be excited about God’s Word, you’ve got the gift of teaching. By the way, all these gifts can be developed. You don’t become a perfect teacher when you get saved. And you need a good grasp on biblical doctrine before teaching the church.
EXHORTING
Romans 12:8, he who exhorts, in his exhortation…
This is the word parakaleo, called alongside. It describes a coach as he comes alongside his players to correct or instruct, or motivate, or challenge, or encourage. Barnabas was good at this, coming alongside Paul and encouraging him on. His name means “son of encouragement.” An exhorter motivates others to obedience or brings encouragement or comfort to another believer who is flagging or weak. Remember Joseph in prison noticed those two officials were discouraged and asked, “Why are your faces so sad today?” He wasn’t all absorbed in his own issues but alert to others. An exhorter listens, asks questions, and seeks to encourage or motivate to obedience.
“I’m thankful God knows what He’s doing.”
“Sure is wonderful Romans 8:28 is still in the Bible.”
“You’re going to need to go to her and ask her forgiveness.”
“Let’s just pray right now about this.”
Some of you are really good at this. You don’t even know you have this gift, but you do. An exhorter lovingly builds up others, helps them through rough times, and keeps pointing them to God’s Word. An exhorter is genuinely concerned for the spiritual growth of others.
GIVING
Romans 12:8, he who gives, with liberality…
Second Corinthians 9:7 says God loves a cheerful giver. Every believer is to give cheerfully. But there are people who have been unusually blessed with the world’s goods and find great joy in giving to meet needs. But he’s not the guy who stands up in church and says, “I’d like to give $1000 anonymously.” The word “liberality” really means with pure motives, not for selfish gain or to secure influence. He just finds great joy in giving generously. He doesn’t blow a trumpet when he gives or lets his left hand know what his right hand is doing, reminding himself of all the money he’s given.
R. G. LeTourneau (1888-1969) was an engineering genius, a designer of heavy-duty earth moving equipment, huge offshore drilling platforms, and other large construction equipment. He was also a sold-out believer in Christ. They described him as a man with a slide-ruler in one hand and a Bible in the other. His guiding principle was “God runs my business.” For many years he lived on ten percent of his income and gave away ninety percent to Christian work. “The question,” he said, “is not how much of my money I give to God, but rather how much of God’s money I keep for myself.” “He who gives, with liberality.”
LEADING
Romans 12:8, he who leads, with diligence…
Boy are these people important. Someone has to organize, schedule, arrange, delegate responsibilities, and endure criticism and disappointment. God uses godly leadership, people who have a God-given ability to see where we ought to go and what we ought to do and what has to be done. Nehemiah was a great God-given leader, surveying the walls of Jerusalem and then organizing the people to rebuild. Godly leadership is always out of a heart of humility. Moses led Israel with humility for forty years! When people opposed him, where do you find him? On his face before God. You need a good set of spiritual shock absorbers when in a leadership position.
Leaders must lead with diligence. You are excited about serving God and others. You are a self-starter, a disciplined person. You can be counted on. It doesn’t mean driving people but leading, going before, being patient, kind, flexible, and understanding people.
MERCY
Romans 12:8, he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.
We’re all to be merciful as our Father in heaven is merciful to us. But some believers have a special sensitivity to people who are struggling in some way, physically or spiritually. They have a desire to relieve the need. And notice, they are to show mercy with cheerfulness or “hilarity.” Imagine being in the hospital and here come a pair of miserable comforters to your bedside. “Oh, you look terrible. Worse today than yesterday, that’s for sure. You really need a new doctor. I had an aunt with the same thing you have, and she died within five weeks.”
SO WHAT?
Let’s wrap up our study of the gifts in the body of Christ with these thoughts.
- Your giftedness is a God-given capacity to somehow build up others in the body. You have a gift. Use it! “I don’t know what my gift is.” Don’t worry about it. Just get involved serving in the body of Christ.
- Gifts for ministry are always for Christ’s glory, not our own. You may never be recognized by others, but Christ recognizes you.
- Gifts must never become more important than the fruit of the Spirit and fellowshipping with Christ, enjoying Him and walking with Him.
Pray that our church will thrive as each member is faithfully committed to serving in any way they can to build up or edify the body.