Use It

Use It
January 1, 2012 4:30 AM -0600
Manuscript
Outline
Notes
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The fifth stop in our quest for deeper faith is service. Every believer has been given a gift or talent that can be used to serve God. The key, then, is actually using it.
Thesis: Believers are each given diverse gifts and talents which are designed to be utilized in unity to advance the Kingdom.
Objective: Challenge believers to recognize their own gifts and talents and use them.
  1. We must be sensible (3).
    1. DEFINITION: sensible: In accordance with wisdom or prudence; likely to be of benefit.
    2. This definition is aligned with v 2: “be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.”
    3. We need to consider ourselves objectively so that we can figure – really – who God wants us to be and what God wants us to do.
    4. We must be humble (“I tell everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he should think;” We must not have the attitude that we're too good to serve with our gifts. Nor may we have the attitude that we're not good enough to serve with our gifts, which is actually a perverse, false humility. This is, in effect, thinking, “I'm the best worst person out there.” QUOTE: Paul's primary point would seem to be “that a Christian should appraise the gits God has given him fairly, glorifying God for their bestowal, and their exercise through dependence upon the Holy Spirit, and not in mock humility make light of them.” (Kenneth Wuest)).
    5. We all have something (“as God has distributed a measure of faith to each one;” Every one of us has some “measure of faith” - some gift – that we can contribute.).
    6. It's all through grace (“For by the grace given to me;” Literal translation: “For I tell you through the grace given to me.” The idea here is that Paul was very much aware that he himself, objectively speaking, was not worthy to direct the Romans. But God had given him a gift and a responsibility more than he deserved. And as such, he was compelled to use it.).
  2. We must be united (4-5).
    1. We must embrace diversity (“As we have many parts... and all the parts do not have the same function” (4); Just as the body depends on the diversity of its myriad parts (e.g., hand, feet, mouth, nose, appendix, spleen) to form a comprehensive, capable whole, the Body of Christ – the Church – can only function fully when everyone is contributing their unique gifts, talents, and personalities.).
    2. We must practice unity (“As we have many parts in one body.... We who are many are one body in Christ” (5); Just as the various parts of the body must work together to get one thing done (e.g., picking up something across the room), we who bring diversity to the Body of Christ – the Church – must work together to get one thing done. This is not uniformity or conformity, but unity.).
    3. We must practice service (“and individually members of one another” (5); Just as all of the various parts of the body take care of each other, we who are diverse in the Body of Christ – the Church – must take care of each other as well. QUOTE: “We are to do all the good we can, one to another, for the common benefit” (Matthew Henry). BOTTOM LINE: Use your gifts to serve the Church and each other.).
  3. We must be active (6-8).
    1. The NT identifies at least 17 varieties of spiritual gifts. Only 7 are mentioned here.
    2. This is NOT so much about the specific gifts that you have, as much as it is about using them.
    3. Use your gift (“use it” (6); Whatever your gift may be, use it. We in the church can help you discover your gift(s), talents, and temperaments if you don't know what they may be, but the ultimate responsibility for employing them is still yours, flowing from Romans 12:2: “Be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God” - and do it.).
    4. Use your gift in proportion (“according the standard of one's faith” (6); Whatever your gift may be, its use must be balanced with your amount of faith. This is where it is essential to think sensibly (v 3) so that you don't think too highly – or lowly – of your gift.).
    5. Use your gift simply (“with generosity” (HCSB) / “with simplicity” (KJV) (8); Whatever your gift may be, use it in the service of the Church and others with no strings attached. Don't make it a long, drawn out thing where, if I do this for you, then you must do this for me.).
    6. Use your gift liberally (“with generosity” (HCSB) / “with liberality” (ASV) (8); Whatever your gift may be, use it often and much. Do whatever is needed, whenever it's needed, without sparing.).
    7. Use your gift diligently (“with diligence” (8); Whatever your gift may be, couple it with “intense effort and determination” (Wuest). “Beware of laziness” (ESV Study Bible).).
    8. Use your gift cheerfully (“with cheerfulness” (8); Whatever your gift may be, use it gladly, not begrudgingly. Out of an earnest desire to use your gift, not out of a sense of obligation that you must do it. With the attitude that you get to use your gift; not that you must use it.).
Ryrie
  • (3) “In introducing the subject of spiritual gifts, Paul warns against high-mindedness and exhorts sober-mindedness, based on the measure of faith to work for God that has been given each one.”
  • (6) “according to the proportion of faith” = “the revelations that come through the prophet must be in agreement with the body of truth already revealed.”
  • (7) “ministry = service in a general sense.”

Reflecting God
  • (12:1-16:27) “Paul now turns to the practical application of all he has said previously in the letter. This does not mean that he has not said anything about Christian living up to this point. Chs 6-8 have touched on this already, but now Paul goes into detail to show that Jesus Christ is to be Lord of every area of life. These chapters re not a postscript to the great theological discussions in chs 1-11. In a real sense the entire letter has been directed toward the goal of showing that God demands holy living as well as believing and thinking. Faith expresses itself in obedience.”
  • (3) “measure of faith” = “The power given by God to each believer to fulfill various ministries in the church.”
  • (3) “Since the power comes from God, there can be no basis for a superior attitude or self-righteousness.”
  • (4-8) “Paul likens Christians to members of a human body. There are many members and each has a different function, but all are needed for the health of the body. The emphasis is on unity within diversity.”
  • (5) “in Christ” is “the key to Paul’s concept of Christian unity. It is only in Jesus Christ that any unity in the church is possible. True unity is spiritually based.”
  • (6) “gifts” in Greek is “charismata, referring to special gifts of grace - freely given by God to his people to meet the needs of the body.”
  • (6) “There is to be no false modesty that denies the existence of gifts or refuses to use them.”
  • (6) “in proportion to his faith” “probably means about the same thing as ‘measure of faith’ in v 3.”
  • (7) “serving” = “Any kind of service needed by the body of Christ or by any of its members.”
  • (8) “encouraging” = “Exhorting others with an uplifiting, cheerful call to worthwhile accomplishment. The teacher often carried out this function. In teaching, the believer is shown what he must do; in encouraging, he is helped to do it.”
  • (8) “contributing” = “Giving what is one’s own, or possibly distributing what has been given by others.”
  • (8) “showing mercy” = “caring for the sick, the poor, and the aged.”
  • (8) “Serving the needy should be a delight, not a chore.”

Archaeological
  • (8) “‘Let him govern’ may be a reference to an elder. The Ephesian church had elders by about this time.”

ESV Study Bible
  • (3) “God has granted a differing measure of faith to each of his children, and Paul calls upon each to assess himself or herself realistically.”
  • (4-5) “The diversity and unity of the church is illustrated by comparison to the human body. Just as the human body is one with many members (lit., body parts, limbs), so the church is united though it is composed of many members.”
  • (6) “The variety of the body is evident from the various gifts God has given the church.”
  • (6) “Paul instructs prophets to speak only when they have faith or confidence that the Holy Spirit is truly revealing something to them, and not to exceed the faith that God has given them by trying to impress others.”
  • (7-8) “Christians should concentrate upon and give their energies to the gifts God has given them, whether in serving others, teaching God’s Word patiently, or in exhortation and encouragement in the things of God. Thus Paul spotlights three attitudes necessary in exercising particular gifts: (1) those who have a special gift of helping others financially should never give grudgingly but always generously; (2) those who lead often have no one to whom they are accountable, and hence they must beware of laziness; (3) those who show mercy to the hurting must not grow weary but continue to minister with gladness.”


HCSB Study Bible
  • (3-8) “As part of a renewed mind, the Christian is to think wisely about himself and what his function is to be in the body of Christ (the church; see 1Co 12:12-28).”
  • (3-8) “Measure of faith may mean a person should measure himself by the gospel. Others see it as different apportionments of faith. Either way, Paul exhorts Christians to be humble and to use what God has given for the good of the body. Based on Rm 12:3; 1Co 12:8-10; Eph 4:11; 1Pe 4:10, Christians are given gifts to use for the good of others.”
  • (3-8) “The NT lists at least 17 kinds of gifts.”
  • (3-8) “Christians are defined not just by their personal faith but also by their inclusion in local faith fellowships that are expressions of the body of Christ (see 1Co 12:12-31).”
  • (3-8) “Prophecy in the NT churches was direct revelation from God before the canon was completed. This gift was to be used and measured in concert with the objective body of Christian truths.”
  • (3-8) “Service (Gk diakonia) is the origin of the word "deacon." A deacon here is not a member of a board of directors but a servant. It describes not a title or office but a gift of ministry. Pastors should have this gift.”
  • (3-8) “Teaching is an essential gift. Parents teach children, older believers teach younger believers, vocational pastor-teachers are the primary instructors in a church, and elders should be able to teach also. All believers can teach to some level, but those who have a special facility for teaching are responsible to develop and utilize it.”
  • (3-8) “Exhortation is the gift of motivating and encouraging. This gift is similar to the Holy Spirit's function.”
  • (3-8) “Giving is to be done with generosity. All can give, but capacities differ. Some delight to give out of very small means (Mk 12:41-44); others give a "reverse tithe"—they give 90 percent and live on 10 percent.”
  • (3-8) “Leading is a gift of vision and direction that is effective but should not be overbearing.”
  • (3-8) “Mercy is helping the sick, the poor, and the sorrowful. This gift is to be exercised with cheerfulness. Practical assistance to needy members was a main emphasis of the early churches. This same emphasis should characterize churches today.”

Henry
  • “Pride is a sin in us by nature; we need to be cautioned and armed against it.”
  • “We are to do all the good we can, one to another, for the common benefit.”
  • “If we duly thought about the powers we have, and how far we fail properly to improve them, it would humble us.”
  • “But as we must not be proud of our talents, so we must take heed lest, under a pretence of humility and self-denial, we are slothful in laying out ourselves for the good of others. We must not say, I am nothing, therefore I will sit still, and do nothing; but I am nothing in myself, and therefore I will lay out myself to the utmost, in the strength of the grace of Christ.”
  • “Whatever our gifts or situations may be, let us try to employ ourselves humbly, diligently, cheerfully, and in simplicity; not seeking our own credit or profit, but the good of mny, for this world and that which is to come.”

People’s
  • (8) The person who encouraged or exhorted was someone “whose peculiar strength was to encourage feeble saints, and to stir up Christians to duty.”

Wuest
  • (3) “The gar (for) indicates that 'humility I the immediate effect of self-surrender to God' (Gifford). Paul illustrates in his own person, in giving this advice, the rule he is laying down for the Church.”
  • (3) “Everybody in the Church needs this word. To himself, every man is in a sense the most important person in the world, and it always needs much grace to see what other people are, and to keep a sense of moral proportion.”
  • (3) Paul's primary point would seem to be “that a Christian should appraise the gits God has given him fairly, glorifying God for their bestowal, and their exercise through dependence upon the Holy Spirit, and not in mock humility make light of them.”
  • (8) The word rendered “diligently” “speaks of intense effort and determination.”

Other
  • (8) The word rendered “exhort” (HCSB) or “encourage” (NIV) is parakalon, from parakaleo: “to call near, i.e., invite, invoke (by imploration, hortation or consolation): beseech, call for, (be of good) comort, desire, (give) exhort(-ation), intreat, pray.”

  • Ryrie, Charles C. Ryrie Study Bible Expanded Edition. Chicago: Moody Press, 1994.
  • Barker, Kenneth, ed. Reflecting God Study Bible. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 2000.
  • The ESV Study Bible. Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008.
  • The HCSB Study Bible. http://www.mystudybible.com
  • Archaeological Study Bible. Grand Rapids, MI: The Zondervan Corporation, 2005.
  • Johnson, Barton Warren. The People's New Testament. The Christian Publishing Company, 1891.
  • Wuest, Kenneth. Word Studies in the Greek New Testament. Wm B Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2000-2010
  • Glo Bible. http://www.globible.com
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