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Psalms 78:58-72 For they
provoked Him to anger with their high places, And moved Him to jealousy with
their carved images. When God heard this,
He was furious, And greatly abhorred Israel, So that He forsook the tabernacle
of Shiloh, The tent He had placed among men, And delivered His strength into
captivity, And His glory into the enemy's hand. He also gave His people over to
the sword, And was furious with His inheritance. The fire consumed their young
men, And their maidens were not given in marriage. Their priests fell by the
sword, And their widows made no lamentation. Then the Lord awoke as from sleep, Like a mighty man who
shouts because of wine. And He beat back His enemies; He put them to a
perpetual reproach. Moreover He rejected the tent of Joseph, And did not choose
the tribe of Ephraim, But chose the tribe of Judah, Mount Zion which He loved.
And He built His sanctuary like the heights, Like the earth which He has
established forever. He also chose David His servant, And took him from the
sheepfolds; From following the ewes that had young He brought him, To shepherd
Jacob His people, And Israel His inheritance. So he shepherded them according
to the integrity of his heart, And guided them by the skillfulness of his
hands. Father God I ask that you bless us and our
loved one each day. Touch our minds and hearts so that we will have a desire to
live a life style of holiness. We give you all the glory and praise. Amen!
Romans 12:6-8 NKJV
Starting
with this week’s lesson Paul starts telling us about gifts that are poured out
on the believer. These gifts are a result of giving our heart to Jesus. They
are part of the change that happens to a regenerated saint. They are part of
the assurance that God has accepted one into His family. These gifts and many
other things are all bundled together in that gift of Grace that God gives us.
Some of these gifts are manifested in a believer right away while others like
teaching and ministering have to mature the first few years of a new born
believer’s life. Why, if a new believer is new to the teachings of God’s word,
the word has to be studied with the guidance of the Holy Spirit so the truth
will be revealed. One must obtain a solid foundation to draw from.
Romans 12:6-8 Gifts:
6 Having
then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our
faith; This verse
starts out with reference to previous verses, that being members of Jesus
Church each person is bestowed a certain gift through grace and that we are to
use them to Glorify God.
The first gift mentioned
is prophecy. Prophecy is a foretelling; prediction; a declaration of something
to come. As God only knows future events with certainty, no being but God or
some person informed by Him, can utter a real prophecy. We think of prophecies
pertaining to the OT, but it is also for current times. Many people of current
times will not talk about visions or messages from the Holy Spirit that comes
from within a Born Again believer because non-believers think the person is
crazy. These prophecies also come in a form of speaking in tongues and
interpreted by someone within the church. There are two forms of speaking in
tongues; one is when an utterance is given among a gathering of true believers
and is interpreted, which usually is to edify the church body in the return of
Jesus, to stand firm in the faith, and be ready. The other is a prayer language
that edifies the individual through the Holy Spirit praying to God for ones’
self. Paul tells this in 1
Corinthians 14:2-6 For he who
speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks
mysteries (This
is referring to the prayer language through the Holy Spirit). 3 But he who prophesies speaks edification and
exhortation and comfort to men (Gives utterance in a group of believers that is interpreted.). 4 He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself (prayer language), but he who prophesies edifies the church (Gives utterance in a
group of believers that is interpreted.). 5 I wish you
all spoke with tongues, but even more that you prophesied; for he who
prophesies is greater than he
who speaks with tongues, unless indeed he interprets, that the church may
receive edification (Utterances should not be given in a group setting unless it can
be interpreted.). 6 But now,
brethren, if I come to you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you
unless I speak to you either by revelation, by knowledge, by prophesying, or by
teaching?
7 or
ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in
teaching; Ministry is referring to a Pastor or a
Deacon. Ministry comes from the Greek word “diakonia” also meaning servant. It
represents a servant or one who serves the Lord. Teaches is referring to a
master or teacher that teaches the truth of the Gospel.
8 he who
exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with
diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.
Exhortation - This word properly denotes one who
urges and encourages others. One who presents the warnings and the promises of
God to excite men to use their gift that God has bestowed upon them at
conversion. It also falls under the category of preaching.
He
who gives, with liberality
– The KJV uses the word “giveth” that denotes two things. First being, one who
imparts or distributes that which he has been assigned to do within the church.
In the early church someone was assigned duties to distribute the donations of
the church in a fashion equally to all in need. It was an important matter
among the early Christians to support the poor, and provide for the needy.
Second it is telling the members of the Church to give generously of their
private property/earthly possessions ungrudgingly. Giveth in the Greek is
“metadidomi,” and means to impart of one’s earthly possessions. Liberality
means to give freely without reservation. This is the way that God gives, and
it is the way we ought to give as well.
He who leads, with diligence – The KJV uses the term “ruleth”
instead of “leads”. Leads/ruleth designates one who is set over others, or who
presides or rules. In 1 Thessalonians it is used in relation to ministers in
general: 1 Thessalonians 5:12 And we urge you, brethren, to recognize those
who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord and admonish you. In 1Timothy it is applied to the head of a
family, or one who diligently and faithfully performs the duty of a father: 1 Timothy 3:4-5 one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all
reverence 5
(for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of
the church of God?); In 1Timothy it is applied to elders in the
church: 1 Timothy 5:17 Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy
of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine. In the church it is anyone placed in a
position of authority, whatever that may be, Pastor, the head Deacon, Superintendent
of a department in the Church, etc. This pertains to the local individual
churches. It doesn’t refer to a hierarchy of a denomination. In the book of
Acts or the Epistles nowhere does it refer a denominational hierarchy outside
of a local church. “Diligence” in the
Greek, is “spoude,” and means “to make haste, do one’s best, take care,” etc.
The word speaks of intense effort and determination.
He
who shows mercy, with cheerfulness
- This refers to those who care for the sick and infirm, the aged and the needy.
Within the church body there were those with the gift of caring for those with
needs and it was very possible some were assigned this duty. There were no
hospitals or assisted living complexes. Christians felt it was their duty to
show personal attention to the infirm and the sick.
This caring is to be done
with cheerfulness, pleasantness, and joy, with a kind, benign, and happy
temper. Nothing tends so much to enhance the value of personal attendance on
the sick and afflicted, as a kind and cheerful temper. If at any time where a
mild, amiable, cheerful, and patient disposition is needed, it is near a sick
bed, and when administering to the needs of those who are afflicted. The needy
and infirmed, the feeble and the aged, have enough to bear without the
impatience and harshness of those giving the care.
Our example of cheerful
care giving is our Lord Jesus Christ. Though constantly surrounded by the sick,
lame, blind, dumb, etc., he was always kind, gentle, and mild. Jesus has left
before us exactly what Paul means when he said, “he that shows mercy with
cheerfulness.” The example of the good Samaritan is another instance of giving
with a cheerful heart. This is applicable to all in care giving; doctor, nurse,
aid, relative, friend, parents, etc. 2
Corinthians 9:7 So let each
one give as he purposes in his
heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.
It is very clear that
these gifts that Paul is referring to addresses preachers and laypersons. Ministry,
teaching, and exhortation applies for the most part to pastors but not
exclusively. Prophecy applies to pastors and the congregation. Giving, leading,
and showing mercy applies to all. Each and every believer should know what they
are called to do in serving God. All of these gifts can be exercised by all to
some extend but there should be one gift that stands out head and shoulders
above all others, and that is the one the individual should practice and refine
within the body of the church. Paul only mentioned a few of the Gifts here
in Romans, but there are many more. For instance, there are nine Gifts of the
Spirit in 1 Corinthians, but Paul only mentions one of those Gifts here in
Romans and that being Prophecy. 1
Corinthians 12:7-11 But the
manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: 8 for to one
is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of
knowledge through the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another
gifts of healings by the same Spirit, 10 to another the working of miracles, to another
prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of
tongues. 11
But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one
individually as He wills. Here
is just a few more that are distributed and guided by the Holy Spirit within
the body of the church, prayer, music, singing, business knowledge, leadership,
organizing, etc.
Romans
1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ,
for it is
the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes…...
Psalms
51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit
within me.
John 3:3 Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you,
unless
one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."
Bill Wiesbrock
Last Week’s Trivia: Who was Abital?
Answer: Abital was one of David’s wives.
Abital stayed with David at Hebron and was the mother of his fourth son,
Shephatiah. 2 Samuel 3:4; 1 Chronicles 8:11.
This week’s Trivia: Who was Abner?
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