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.
1 Peter 4:10-11
Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.
Devotion
Last week we saw how we were not to compare ourselves to others. This week we look at some of the different ministry gifts that are represented in the Body of Christ. According to Paul, the Spirit of God graciously gives ministry abilities, “spiritual gifts,” so that every believer can make a valued contribution to the health of the whole body. “The church operates as the Body of Christ when each person seeks to know and function in accord with their role assigned by God.” – G. Ogden
In other words, every believer is a gift to the church and is divinely gifted to use their gifting to benefit the church and its ministry. The Body of Christ is designed in such a way that each of us has a valued role particularly suited for us, but the problem is that we don’t always know what it is. In thirty years of vocational ministry, I have seen people burn-out from doing ministry because they were not aware of their spiritual gifting, or they were not suited for the task they were given. I believe this is a failure in the discipleship process.
In our discipleship primer study called “The Eight,” we encourage people to discover their spiritual gifting by going to gifts.churchgrowth.org. If you do not know how God has uniquely shaped you for ministry, I would encourage you go to this website and do the spiritual gifts assessment. This will help you to discover your ministry gift and be more effectively used by God. After completing this assessment, get with a spiritual mentor and/or Community Pastor to discuss your results.
Questions to Ponder:
Have you ever felt “burned-out” doing ministry? Do you know how God has uniquely shaped you for ministry? What energizes you in ministry? What drains you in ministry? Where are you serving and giving for the work of God’s kingdom?
Prayer Points
- Bow down before the LORD in worship. Kneel before our holy and righteous Father from whom His whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name.
- Tell Him how much you love Him, like Him, trust Him, adore and revere Him using your own words.
- Tell our merciful Father that you are sorry for any sin you have committed. Wait quietly before Him to bring any unhidden sin to the forefront of your mind. Receive His forgiveness and rest in His unfailing love.
- Pray for yourself, our church family, and Christians who serve our country, state, and cities. Ask God to enable us all to use the gifts He has given us to further His kingdom and to teach, encourage, lead, serve, govern, prophesy to those in our church and the greater one church.
Suggested Prayer
Abba, Father, I praise You for being a righteous, just God who holds the universe in the palm of Your hands. I thank You, LORD, that You have created Your church so that we cannot function fully alone. We don’t even belong to ourselves, rather we belong to You and to each other. We are each other’s gifts, and every gift is used to further Your kingdom. I praise You, God, for we are Your workmanship created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which You, oh God, prepared in advance for us to do. I ask that every brother and sister at Oak Pointe Church would know the gift that You have given them. I ask that this week they move in the gift You have given them or that they take time to sit with others and talk/pray with You, LORD, about what gives them pleasure. Guide each person, Abba, by Your Spirit so they move in their gifts, and we at Oak Pointe will be mature and fully assured in Your will. I pray these things in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.