Exhortations for Spiritual Gifts

Romans 12:6-16

6 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; 7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 8 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.

9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13 Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.

Overall topic: Living together in Christ harmoniously.

  1. The Structure of the Passage
  2. Emphasis on humility and mutual service

        Bracket verses 3: 3 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.

        Bracket verse 16: 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position.[c] Do not be conceited.

  1. A listing of gifts

        We mentioned these last week and will talk more about them again here: Prophecy, Service, Teaching, Encouraging, Giving, Leadership and Mercy

Some of these things we are all called to exhibit! Giving, Mercy, Service. But they are gifts nonetheless.

 

  1. A series of exhortations that match the gifts

The gifts listed are listed which are indications of different strengths that people have, or different ministry emphases. And then Paul gives a rapid fire set of exhortations that circle back to personal humility and honoring others in verse 16.

It is my contention that the set of exhortations in verses 9-15 are stated in specific application to the list of spiritual gifts stated in verses 6-8

As such, they will help the gifted ones to speak and serve in a manner that will continue to unite instead of divide. With service can come disillusionment or bitterness. People do not agree. The number one reason that missionaries leave the mission field is conflict with other missionaries.

And I want us to see that each of these gifts listed falls into the two categories listed in I Peter 4:10-11

 

  1. The Gifts and Exhortations United
  2. A. Prophecy:

I am defining this like the Old Testament Prophet, calling people to accountability to the word of God. Prophets can be blunt, black and white and demand repentance. Prophets are often ignored unless they say what people want to hear already!

This is a speaking gift in accordance to I Peter 4:10-11

10 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. 11 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.

The exhortation for the prophet is

v.9 9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.

Make sure you are reflecting love, then hate evil, not people.       Cling to what is good in all of creation!

  1. Service:

Service relates to meeting the needs of others. Service is task oriented and is first to God, then others. Service lives sacrificially and takes on the burden of making sure tasks are completed so that ministry can occur.

The women who followed Jesus caring for his needs: That is service. They also provided for Him financially, that is giving, but that is getting ahead of ourselves.

v.10 is the exhortation for the gift of service:

10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.

People who serve can easily be taken advantage of! Serve God first, then serve people because you are serving God.

Service is a grace gift of service with the strength that God provides. It is a gift of action, according to I Peter 4:11

11 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.

 

  1. Teaching:

Teaching is the second of three speaking gifts in this passage.

Teaching is information oriented and I would say is more systematic than exhortation and more general that prophecy.

According to I Peter 4:11 11 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.

This is another gift where we are called upon to speak the very words of God.

v.11 is the verse of exhortation for the teacher: 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.  A word about this instruction: Information for the sake of information risks a loss of fervor and zeal. We are serving God, not information and speculation.

  1. Encouraging: The gift of encouraging, also called exhortation is the last of the three speaking gifts in this list of seven.

As such according to I Peter 4 one should exhort as if you are speaking the very words of God to someone.

11 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.

 

Exhortation is communication directed toward encouragement of another individual. This is, I believe my speaking gift. Encouragers are positive, they want to see people move in a good direction. They are the people you want to talk to when you want to vent.

v.12 is the verse of exhortation for the exhorter: 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.  Encouragement will make you joyful as you wait patiently in hope. It will direct one to patience in difficulty and will direct people to prayer in faithfulness to the idea that God is at work and is always available to fellowship with us!

  1. Giving:

The gift of giving relates to using our resources to meet the needs of people. People with the gift of giving may give more than money, they will give what they have that will work to meet the needs of others. While we are all called to be givers, just as all are called to be servers or exhorters, some will excel in giving and really love giving to others.

v.13 is the exhortation for givers: 13 Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality. 

Giving is the second gift that relates to serving with the strength that God supplies in I Peter 4:11 11 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.

 

  1. Leadership: The gift of leadership is just that. Leadership recognizes the best path forward for people and groups. And then they get out front and direct. Some might think they drive or push. In any event, leaders work to create positive change.

v.14 is the verse of exhortation for leadership: 14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 

Why is this necessary for those in leadership? Because people are hard to lead. And there is push back. Leadership can be described as herding cats. It is easy to be reactionary and mean in leadership. Change can be costly and painful. Leaders are on the front of the pushback and the pain. So they must be especially careful to bless those who are pushing back. Or, those who abandon ship because they do not like the direction. Etc.

Leadership is the third gift from I Peter 4:11 where we are to lead with the very strength that God supplies. 11 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.

 

  1. Mercy: Mercy is the last gift described here. Mercy is working in the life of someone to help them with their troubles. Mercy solves problems that people have. Mercy gives, mercy serves, but is directed at saving people from their troubles.

v.15 is the verse of exhortation for the mercy givers: 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.  This is a verse that obviously relates to empathy, which is a part of showing mercy to others.

Showing mercy is the last of the four gifts mentioned here that will serve others with the strength that God supplies.

I Peter 4: 10 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. 11 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.

Now, some closing exhortations about these gifts.

  1. They work together.
  2. They contain actions and attitudes that are applicable to all. So, when you see these verses directed to specific gifts, know that they apply to you whether or not you have the gift, because all are to be givers, all are to be merciful etc.
  3. I believe that the more life experience you have and the more you are involved in ministering in the lives of other people, the more you will operate in each of these gift areas. But, you will have an area that drives you. For me in this list it is exhortation. Let me give you an example: Lady at a Russellville High School football game.