Romans 12:4-21
We have been starting in Galatians 3:5, but today we will go straight to Romans 12. We have been looking at Spiritual gifts. We started out by looking at the gifts that are not in use today, why they are not in use today, and why they are not needed. We also confirmed this by Scripture and by church history. Our focus today will be on the gifts that are still active in the church today. All of us have gifts given to us by the Holy Spirit (I Corinthians 12:4-11). We exercise these gifts according to the measure of faith God has given us (Romans 12:3). In order to function to the maximum ability with the gifts God has given us, we must start by obeying Romans 12:1-2. One of the results of obeying Romans 12:1-2 is that we will think soberly. We will not think more highly of ourselves than we ought to. We will have the right view of God, and we will have the right view of ourselves. We are sinners saved by God's grace. We are also children of God and enjoy all those benefits as well.
There is the danger of thinking more highly of ourselves than we ought to, but there is also the danger of focusing on our limitations. This is why it is so important to have a balanced view of ourselves. Remember it is God who gave you your gifts, and it is God who gives you the grace to operate those gifts. In a sense you are a gift given to the local church from the Lord. No one else is like you. All of us will have similarities with others, but there is no one like you. Have a balanced view of yourself, serve the Lord in and through His church, and go the maximum. Give it your all.
"For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office," Romans 12:4. The word "office" in this verse means to practice, i.e. (concretely) an act; by extension a function:- deed, office, work. None of us have the exact same function, but all of us have a function. It is very important that we do not covet someone else's gifts, but use ours to the best of our ability. If we find ourselves coveting what someone else has, we must ask ourselves why. Is it because they are popular? Are we not happy with what the all knowing God has given to us? If we find ourselves coveting, first confess it as sin, then refer back to Romans 12:1-3.
"So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith," Romans 12:5-6. The word "gifts" in verse 6 means spiritual endowment. We must keep reminding ourselves that our gifts are from the Lord. Notice that all these gifts are "differing". This simply means they are all different. It is obvious that we have a problem remembering these truths because we are constantly reminded of this is Romans 12 and I Corinthians 12. These gifts are given to us according to grace. "Grace" in this verse means specifically of the divine grace and favour as exercised in conferring gifts, graces, and benefits on man. These gifts are given to us by God without our input, and are used to edify His church.
The first gift we have in Romans 12 is prophecy. This means the prophetic office, the prophetic gift. The office and gift is public speaking, not foretelling future events etc. This gift is given to preachers and teachers. You not only stand before people, but you must be able to communicate truths so that the church is edified, and God is glorified. We must give the maximum when doing this. This means we prepare to stand before people. We prepare by praying and studying. The person who has this gift usually gets a lot of attention, but this person is also held accountable by God (James 3:1). When we are doing this for the Lord, we will find much joy. We must also remember that this gift is given out according to the proportion of faith. This gift, like all others, is given out in measure. All preachers and teachers do not and will not have the same platform as others. Just because someone is not well known does not mean they are failures. A preacher and teacher is to be faithful where, with who, and with what God has given to them. "Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content," Philippians 4:11. The preachers and teachers are not to covet other congregations, and congregations are not to covet other preachers and teachers. If all of us would practice Romans 12:1-3 we would all be exercising our gifts at the maximum.
"Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching," Romans 12:7. "Ministry" in this verse is the Greek word "diakonia." It means deacon. Service, attendance, ministry. This is someone who serves others. How many of you enjoy serving others? God gives all these different gifts to His church so that one person is not doing all the work all the time. If no one else is doing what they are to be doing, then the people who are doing everything all the time will get burnt out. The gift of ministry is the gift that helps the preachers and teachers the most. This in turn benefits the church because the preachers and teachers are able to spend more time in prayer and in the study instead of taking care of tables. According to the bible, deacons do not run the church (elders run the church), they serve the church. They are to do this according to the measure of faith that God has given to them.
The next gift in these verses is the gift of teaching. This is the art or manner of teaching. To teach or instruct. Just like all the other gifts we are to use this gift according to the measure of faith the Lord has given us. The church is in desperate need of people who have the gift of teaching. We need teachers who are willing to labour in studying the Scriptures, and are able to communicate what they have learned to others. Before someone starts teaching, they should be grounded in the doctrines of the bible. The elders in the church will make the decision on when a person can start teaching. This is also beneficial to the church. This is also beneficial to the new teacher. They know the people they are teaching love them, will encourage them, and hold them accountable. The teacher uses their God given gifts in and through the local church, to edify the church, and to glorify the Lord.
God gives gifts to His church. This is another reason it is biblical to be a member of a local New Testament church. The church needs you, and you need the church. Lord willing next time we will pick up in verse 8.
Please send questions and comments to richardsonbaptistchurch@gmail.com. Soli Deo Gloria.
