10th Jan, 2010
Written By Rev. Law Hui Seng
Posted By Teresa Han
Romans 12:1-8
Main Idea: Need to exercise your spiritual gifts
Objectives: a. To explain how to present our bodies as living sacrifice. b. to teach the congregation to identify their spiritual gifts and exercise them.
- Introduction
- When we become christians and disciples of Jesus, we are given by God many blessings and privileges. But a lot of times, we do not know the word of God/ the bible well, so we are unaware of blessings and privileges. So, even though has given us a particular blessing, example, a spiritual gift, we do not know and of course we do not use it to build up the body of Christ.
- 1Corinthians 12:7, “Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.” Apostle has put it so clearly that every christian or disciple of Jesus is given the manifestation of the Spirit. Then it is followed by verses 8 to 11, where it lists the spiritual gifts like message of wisdom, message of knowledge, gifts of healing, miraculous powers, prophecy, speaking in tongues, interpretation of tongues, etc.
- Do you know what spiritual gifts God has blessed you with?
- Apostle in his wisdom and revelation of the Holy Spirit, he taught the Roman Christians and disciples of Jesus at that time how to present their bodies as living sacrifices and in the process, he exhorted them to exercise their spiritual gifts.
- How can you present your body as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God?
- Apostle Paul, in the first 11 chapters of Romans spoke very much about Christian doctrinal beliefs and how Christians should relate to Jews. Then he went on in chapter 12 today, he taught them to live as a christian, as disciple of Jesus.
- I am always amazed by the teachings of Jesus, Paul and all the biblical writers of God’s word. One thing I notice about our Lord Jesus and apostle Paul is this: they always teach us to surrender our life totally to God.
- You see in verse 1, he exhorted us to offer our bodies as living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God. And you do it, he says this is your spiritual act of worship.
- Apostle Paul went on to teach us how to present our bodies as living sacrifice.
- He taught in verse 2, for us not to be conformed to the pattern of this world.
- And then, in verse 3, he taught us not to think of ourselves more highly than we ought to, but rather think of yourself with sober judgement, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given us. So, you see whatever spiritual power we are given by God, we need to use it in all humility. We have no basis for a superior attitude or self righteousness.
- After dealing with our attitude, then, he went on to mobilize the Roman Christians and all christians today, in the context of offering our bodies as living sacrifice, he exhorted us in verses 4-8 to exercise our spiritual gifts.
- Basically, in these few verses, he exhorted us to see that we are different parts of the body of Christ, and like different body parts, each one of us has different functions. We need to exercise our God given functions, in this case different spiritual gifts.
- That is why in verse 6-8, he says, “We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging; let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.”
- Applications
- Part of the process of offering your body to Christ is exercising your spiritual gifts to build up the body of Christ.
- And so, my first point of application today to you is you need to identify your spiritual gifts in order to exercise it. If you do not you possess it, then, you need to find out. I have a 125 questions test to help you to identify your gifts. You may like to get it from me or brother Tien Cheh Onn.
- Secondly, use the spiritual gifts according to God’s purpose of building up the body of Christ; strengthening it; making it more matured; at the end of the day, we all become stronger disciples of Jesus.
- Thirdly, we need to help one another to find out our spiritual gifts. You need to test your ability in various ministries. Example, by coming for prayer meeting; leading worship or singing in worship; praying for the sick; counseling or helping the troubled; giving to the needy; teaching in Sunday School, GB, BB, MJYF, small group bible studies, etc. If you see someone who is effective in doing something for the Lord; affirm him or her by encouraging him or her, or go to him to tell him you have been ministered by him or her. Also, we all can pray to God to seek for the spiritual gifts.
- Conclusion.
- Be a good steward to spiritual gifts which God has blessed you with.
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