Sermon Tone Analysis

“Using God’s Gifts for God’s Purpose”

1 Corinthians 12

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*Ó**Copyright 2003 by Rev. Bruce Goettsche, January 12, 2002*

Last Sunday we began a study of Spiritual Gifts . . . the Biblical teaching that God has equipped us to perform various ministries in the church and for the Kingdom of God.

Last week I introduced the topic with three observations,

·        God Designed us to Work Together

·        In Order to do that We Must Know Ourselves

·        The Church is Handicapped Unless We Use What We Have Been Given

 

This morning we continue along the same vein by turning our attention to 1 Corinthians 12.

In this passage the Apostle Paul addresses the issue of spiritual gifts and gives us some very valuable information.

This morning we will look at the general principles and next week we will look at the specific kinds of spiritual gifts.

Let me give you a little background on this particular text.

It appears that the issue of spiritual gifts was a “hot button” issue.

In other words it was a point of contention in the church in Corinth.

It appears that wanted the flashy gifts, especially the gift of speaking in tongues.

The church was dividing.

In fact, it seems that some of those who claimed to be “gifted” were really not honoring the Lord at all.

Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 12 help us to understand several points.

*SPIRITUAL GIFTS ARE GIVEN BY GOD NOT EARNED BY MEN*

 

The people of Corinth seemed to be using spiritual gifts as a way of measuring a person’s spirituality.

Having certain gifts (in this case tongues) seemed to be a “badge of honor”.

Paul scolds the people by reminding them that these gifts are not earned . . .

they are gifts from God.

/"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 working, but the same God works all of them in all men." (1 Corinthians 12:4-6, NIV) /

/"All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines."

(1 Corinthians 12:11, NIV) /

God is the author of our spiritual gifts.

Before we can really understand what spiritual gifts are, we have to understand what they are not.

Gifts are not the same thing as talents.

Spiritual gifts are not the same thing as having a talent.

Everyone has talents.

Even atheists have talents.

Consequently, spiritual gifts are different from talents.

Our talents are often genetic.

Our spiritual gifts come to believers only from the Lord.

We need to understand that

·        A person can be a good speaker and not have the gift of Pastoring or Teaching (speaking in ways that communicate with the soul of another)

·        A person may be a teacher by profession and not have the spiritual gift of teaching (being able to communicate spiritual truth in clear and powerful ways)

·        A person may be an optimist and still not have the gift of faith (believing God in extraordinary ways)

·        A person may be a talented musician but still not touch the soul of a person, encourage a person, evangelize a person with their music.

·        A person may be compassionate and caring and still not have the gift of mercy (extending God’s mercy and grace to another).

A gift is something that impacts people for the Kingdom of God.

It may be a new ability since you became a believer or it may be a transformation of an existing talent.

In my case I can look back on the days before I became a Christian and remember that I was terrified to stand in front of a group of people.

Now, I was only 13 when I became a Christian, but the transformation was dramatic.

In most circumstances I still don’t like to get up in front of people.

However, when I am speaking for the Lord I know freedom from that fear.

I’m not saying that God does not sometimes take our talents and use them for His purpose.

There is no such thing as the gift of athletics.

However, God will sometimes use our talent in the area of athletics as a vessel for a gift of evangelism, teaching, or encouragement.

A person who is talented musically may find their talent used by God to teach, encourage, comfort and help people.

A person with talents in the area of craftsmanship may find that God uses their talent as the vessel to help others (Like Jimmy Carter with Habitat for Humanity) or to serve the body of Christ in some other way.

Talents are natural.

Gifts are supernatural.

Gifts are not the same as Roles.

We must also make another distinction when we talk about spiritual gifts.

Spiritual gifts are not the same things as a role we are given.

Unfortunately, there are many who are Pastor’s by profession but who don’t seem to have the gift of Pastor and Teacher.

There are many people who are in positions of Leadership who don’t seem to have a gift of Leadership.

There are many who teach who don’t seem to have a gift in that area.

Just because you have a title doesn’t mean you have that gift.

By the same token, not having a particular gift does not excuse us from doing what we are commanded to do.

There are certain things that every believer is supposed to do.

·        Evangelize (or share your faith) with the lost

·        Help Others

·        Encourage one another

·        Live by faith

·        Pray

·        Give to the Lord

 

These are all things every believer is supposed to do.

A person who has a gift in one of these areas has an augmented and sometimes extraordinary ability in these areas.

They seem to be able to communicate the gospel in an extraordinarily effective manner (like Billy Graham); they seem to have a sense of when and what kind of help a person needs; they seem to always have “just the right word”; they may have a deep passion for intercession and God may have touched their heart in a way that leads them to give well beyond what most of us would ever dream.

They are given as God determines.

The third thing we must notice is that the gifts of the Spirit are given to us “as God determines”.

We do not campaign for or earn any spiritual gifts.

God chooses the gift that we are to have and He does so by His wisdom and for His purpose.

There is no reason for pride when it comes to our spiritual gifts . . .

they are given by grace and should be received with humility.

*EVERY BELIEVER HAS A SPIRITUAL GIFT OR GIFTS*

 

In verse seven we are told that “to each one” a manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.

Every believer is given at least one of these spiritual gifts as their contribution to the body of Christ.

If you are a follower of Jesus Christ, you have been gifted for some ministry in God’s Kingdom.

There are various gifts (the lists are different).

There are several places in the Bible where there are lists of various spiritual gifts.

The main locations are Romans 12, 1 Corinthians 12 and 14 and Ephesians 4.  As you combine these lists you notice something immediately, the lists are different!

I don’t think Paul ever intended to give us an exhaustive list.

We should examine these lists and not be overly concerned if we do not find some label for our particular gift.

Our job is to find that special something that God has called us to do for the body of Christ and do it.

No gift is universal.

By very definition, no gift is possessed (or intended to be possessed by all believers).

The body is designed so that it has to be interdependent.

Paul’s argument in 1 Corinthians is that not everyone is a “eye” or an “ear” or a “foot” or a “hand”.

At the end of the chapter (v.

29-30) Paul asks a series of rhetorical questions, “ Are all apostles?

Are all prophets?

Are all teachers?

Do all work miracles?

Do all have gifts of healing?