Romans 12:3-8
For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.
Acts 15:32
For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.
Devotion
Yesterday we learned about the spiritual gifts of prophecy and serving. Today we will look at the spiritual gifts of encouraging and teaching. Before we go there, I would like to share something from Greg Ogden’s book Discipleship Essentials. In his chapter on ministry gifts, he shares several reasons why we “bury” or don’t exercise our spiritual gifts. Assuming you know what your spiritual gift is, he shares that there are several fears that keep us from exercising our spiritual gifts.
First is the fear of failure or taking risk. When our gifts are not used, they atrophy like unused parts of the body. In second Timothy, Paul encourages Timothy to “fan into flame” his spiritual gift of evangelism. Timothy was afraid of taking the risk for fear of what might happen. “The fear that locks you up inside yourself does not come from God.” – G. Ogden
The second fear is the fear of commitment. Sometimes we claim ignorance of our gifts because it is safer. We know intuitively that to name our gifts makes us responsible for using them. As soon as we identify our gifts, we are accountable. We have to give up straddling the fence and keeping our options open. God know what the Body needs and provides exactly what is required.
The third gift that Paul writes about is teaching. This gift is the ability to acquire, organize and communicate God’s truth effectively so that there is life transformation in Christ. The person with this gift has a passion for God’s Word and using it to build up the Body of Christ. We are blessed at Oak Pointe Church to have a Senior Pastor that is a gifted teacher.
The fourth gift that Paul mentions is the gift of encouragement. This gift is easy to spot. People with the gift of encouragement are always ready to speak a kind and positive word to others. This gift is very versatile in that every person who is serving the Lord and every ministry of the church could use encouragement. People with this gift have the capacity to motivate people through comfort, challenge, exhortation, or rebuke. They seem to encourage others effortlessly.
Questions to Ponder:
Do you hesitate to exercise your spiritual gift? If so, why? Do you have a passion to know and teach God’s Word? Do you automatically encourage others regardless of their circumstances? What is the difference between natural talents and abilities and spiritual gifts?
Prayer Points
- Getting in the posture of humility and praying on our knees or face to the floor is one way to drive out distraction and fix your eyes and heart on the Lord who is holy and righteous. Worship Him along with all creation as the Lord of Heaven and earth.
- Ask the Lord to remind you of a song, hymn, or melody that you can sing back to Him. It’s okay if you don’t consider yourself a singer. Google “Bow Down and Worship” if you want a little help.
- Thank the Lord for inviting you into a relationship with Him, for sealing you with the Holy Spirit. Thank Him for the gift(s) that He has given you.
- Ask the Lord to reveal more about the gift(s) that He has given you. Pray for other people with the same gift as you to come into your sphere of influence so you can grow together, learn from one another, and use the gifts to further His kingdom.
Suggested Prayer
Oh God, You are worthy of all my praise, honor, and glory. I adore and love You and declare Your faithful love. Thank You, Abba, for Your mercy, grace, and forgiveness. Lord, thank You for blessing Oak Pointe Church with Bob and Shirley who are gifted and anointed teachers. Thank You for how they use their gift to help us grow. Thank You, Lord, for our life group leaders, women, men, and student teachers who teach Your Word. What a joy it is to sit under so many humble teachers who love You, love Your Word, and love us. Thank You, Abba. Father, I want to also thank You for those in our midst who have the gift of encouragement. Thank You for reminding me how important that gift is and how those who have it use it effortlessly. Help me to encourage and thank those in my circle for using their gifts to benefit and bless me and others. Lord, You are so creative and wise, making it so that what You give us benefits and blesses others, and we bring You glory when we work together to bless You. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.