Introduction: This lesson is the fourth and final lesson in our Spiritual Gifts series. First we had an Introductory lesson regarding the Spiritual Gifts and the ignorance we can have towards the Spiriutal Gifts. Then we went through the Spiritual gifts found in Romans 12 and I Corinthians 12, describing a little bit about each of them. Last week, we talked about identifying YOUR spiritual gift. And finally, this last lesson will deal with the benefits of using Your Spiritual Gifts in the local church.
Your Spiritual Gift(s) Will:
I. Profit Others- I Corinthians 12:7 “to profit withal”. To profit means to benefit, to advantage, to improve. That’s a big deal, way more than we think. This church cannot function with just our Pastor, that’s impossible. It needs every gifted person to function properly. I Corinthians 12:14 “For the body is not one member, but many”. These gifts are not to benefit ourselves but to benefit others.
- Example of how this benefits others: In Ephesians 4:12-14, the gifts to the church do what they’re called to do and the saints are perfected, the work of the ministry gets accomplished, the body is edified. You and I learn and we don’t fall for other doctrines, for the sleight of men, and the cunning craftiness of man who is waiting to deceive you.
- With your teaching, children are helped, with your singing, saints are prepared to listen to God, with your kitchen abilities, we all eat good food and desserts, etc.
- I Peter 4:10 “As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God”. The gift you have receive is developed by exercise. The more you use your gift, the more it profits others. The more you feel fulfilled for doing something God gifted you to do and you enjoy doing. With that being said, don’t miss church, others will lose out on what you have been given that profits and benefits others.
II. Are Necessary– I Corinthians 12:20-22 “I have no need of thee” “I have no need of you”. Don’t ever talk yourself out of serving God because you think you don’t bring much to the body of Christ. The same is also true, don’t think you are important to the body because you are more gifted. GOD gave YOU those gifts. Every member is important and significant, and must be considered.
- The eye needs the eyelid, eyebrow, and eye lashes. Even the least gifted is just as important as the most gifted person in order for the body to function properly – I Corinthians 12:15-17.
- The eye is to see and the body benefits greatly from it however, it’s not as important as these things that help the eye. The eyelid is to keep the eye moist and spread tears with every blink. The eye lashes are to prevent irritation, protect the eyes from debris that can obstruct the vision. The eye brows moves moisture away from eyes- sweat or rain, they also block out light. The eye is important, but it can only function properly with the other members.
- The “feeble”- those that are the weaker members, vs 22 are “much more necessary”. We make it seems as if those Christians are necessary to the body and are not needed. Why?, because we’re selfish and worldly, BUT they are “much more, necessary”.
- Example- Those that clean this church, or keep up with the look of the building, they have the gift of helps and are just as important as those who usher, provide security, sing, teach, and preach. Without them, the church would look horrible and no one would want to come in.
- As a result, we don’t have to argue over what gifts are essential, valid, important, needful, or honorable. We just have to use whatever gifts we have because whatever we bring, is exactly what is needful.
- I Corinthians 1:27-29 This is whom God has chosen- “chosen the foolish things, weak things, base things, despised things, and things that are not”.
III. Are Sufficient– I Corinthians 12:23-25 “but God hath tempered (mixed) the body together”. However it is, that you’ve been gifted, is exactly what God wants you to bring with you to the body, you come as you are. The gifted and the less gifted are combined and mixed together, and there is not one more comely than the other- not to God. Notice vs 23 “which WE think”. That’s the problem, we think some are not worth being a part of the church because of their “little gift or little profit”. That ought not to be so.
- We have been tempered (mixed) so that there is no clashing, jealousy, pride, divisiveness, etc. “The I can do that better attitude”. We have been gifted to complement each other and to function together in harmony. Not as a dysfunctional family. I Corinthians 1:10 “but be perfectly joined together”. Ephesians 4:3 “Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bod of peace”.
- “less honourable” “uncomely parts”. The one who sings and the prayer warrior. The one who ministers to the sic or elderly and the Sunday school teacher. All of these are sufficient. The most honorable may not be the ones that are seen but the ones that are unseen.
- There shouldn’t be favoritism or partiality shown to anyone. Vs 26- The body suffers together or it is honoured together. Everyone’s gift is sufficient and should be welcomed in the local church.
Conclusion: You will not be satisfied unless you are doing what God wants you to do and using the gifts that God has given you. In order to have a fulfilled life, you have to get involved in the local church. God took the time to gift you in a special way, let others in the church profit from it. Don’t let someone talk you out of being involved in church, the gift you have been given, is what is needful in this local body, the arm cannot function without the leg, etc. Lastly, God has tempered (mixed) the body so you come as you are, don’t think you have such a small part that it wouldn’t profit anyone, what you have is sufficient. There is a place of service for every believer in the body.