Are You on the Ball?

What makes people successful? Are we intensively aware? Are we really efficient to be successful? Or are we complacent in our jobs? Or spiritually speaking, are we complacent in our calling? You know, complacency kills. And I think it ties into the sermon, it says, are we really dedicated to our calling? For instance, imagine that you are an electrical worker. You work on high-voltage, high-tension cables. You know, you see these things across the country. And they have to be very careful how they work. But if you are a very experienced and very capable technician, electrical technician, if you kind of become complacent in your job, in other words, you kind of, just because you've done it so many times, you kind of underestimate the risks and you overestimate your own abilities. And so believing that you are safe, you actually could place yourself in great danger. And that's complacency. And that's just a simple example. I'll give you another example in businesses. Companies, they try to do the same thing. A company that is very successful, and now I've seen it, I've lived it, for instance, in a specific part of its industry or in a certain section of its business, it's very successful, it's got a good market share, it's got good profitability, it's got good growth. So it becomes secure in its strengths and overlooks its weaknesses and other market opportunities or other market threats that came out. You see, I mean, when you do strategic planning in a company, you do what they call a SWOT analysis, strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. And if you just kind of become very focused on your strengths and are not looking at some of the weaknesses and different market opportunities that may arise or whatever it is, you miss out things that come out. For instance, you're very strong as a magazine, but you don't see the changes with internet, etc., and you stay on that business without embracing other opportunities, your business could go down a doubt, because things have changed, technologies change. In other words, you became complacent in your strengths and you also looked at certain potential threats or weaknesses. And the same thing with us spiritually, brethren. Same thing with us spiritually. We may have been blessed with certain talents, certain abilities, and we may be at a stage where it says, I'm okay, Jack. Things are running smoothly and you're just kind of floating down your Christian life without really being focused, without really being on the ball, and really keep working and developing and growing. In other words, we cannot be conformed to the situations around us. Turn with me, please, to Romans 12. Romans 12.

Romans 12. We'll start in verse 1. Romans 12 verse 1. I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice. So, fully saying, please, in God's mercy, please, really make a sacrifice. Really go over and beyond.

Really make an effort. Please, beyond the ball. Holy and acceptable to God that is a reasonable service, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world. Don't be conformed to this world, but be changed, be transformed. Work hard, starting in your mind, really renewing your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. You and I cannot be complacent with our calling. We're really going to be fully dedicated to our calling. Are we therefore, spiritually speaking, on the ball?

After, maybe, some initial changes, after we've been baptized, are we now coasting along with the status quo? Or are we meeting these new challenges in better ways, and therefore, being fully dedicated in achieving results beyond our normal routine, using, therefore, our abilities or talents or gifts that God has given us? You see, brethren, will God reward you for being on the ball with your gifts? My purpose to die, brethren, is that you and I need to use our gifts, our talents, whatever they may be, to produce godly works, and God will reward us for our works.

Turn with me to John 4. In John 4, Christ was talking to the Samaritan woman. And as we know, Samaritans were looked a little bit down by the Jews. And in John 4, John 4, says, Then the woman of Samaria said to Christ, How is it that you, being a Jew, ask a drink from me, a Samaritan woman? And the Jews, for the Jews, have no dealings with the Samaritans. And then Jesus answered and said to her, If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, Give me a drink, you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.

And it was Christ saying, If you knew who I am, I would give you eternal life. Now, brethren, I am not talking today about the gift of eternal life. I am talking about using our talents and abilities over and beyond to actually produce good fruits. You see, eternal life is a gift. Look at Romans 6, verse 23. Romans 6, verse 23 says, For the wages of sin is death. We're all going to die. And when you're dead, you're dead. But the gift of God is eternal life. Eternal life is a gift.

There's nothing you and I can do to attain it. There's no extra work, no extra effort, nothing. So I'm not talking about the gift of eternal life. What I am talking about today is the reward over and above and beyond eternal life. See, because there's going to be a reward beyond eternal life. Turn with me, please, to the last book in the Bible, the last chapter in the Bible, Revelation 22, and look at verse 12. Revelation 22, verse 12 says, In behold, this is Christ talking, I am coming quickly, and my reward is with me.

So this is the reward that Christ is bringing. Sure, he's going to give us eternal life. That's a gift. But on top of that, there's a reward to give to everyone according to our works. So what do we do work with? We work with with what we got. For instance, you've got hands, you've got arms, you can move them, you can do things. That's a gift. Hey, you could do nothing without being able to walk.

And you know what? It's only when you lose an ability of doing something with your hands or with your legs, do you realize how much that a gift is? So, talking, thinking, capability of reason, all those are gifts that God has given us in different measures. Some people more in the side, some people the others as God has decided. We all have gifts, we all have talents, we all have abilities.

We all have received those from God.

Now, some people have certain gifts more than others. Think about it. Just recently, you've probably seen the Olympics, on TV at least. And sure, some people excel and you can say, well, they've got a gift. Yes, they do have a gift. But you know, they have worked hard with that gift. It wasn't just that gift, they had to work hard at it to achieve excellence. It's like some of you can play the piano. It's a beautiful gift. But you know what? You've still got to practice. You've still got to practice. And you've got to kind of work hard at it. And we appreciate your talent and your ability because you're serving the brethren. And that's great because you're using your gift to serve the brethren. How nice it is to have piano in church rather than just playing off a CD. It is a blessing. And we appreciate those of you that do different things, that set up, that do different things, use whatever talents you have to do those things. You're using that to serve. And that's what we're talking about. God has given us certain physical abilities and spiritual. And they are gifts. They are our unique gifts.

Each one of us has different talents and abilities. My wife's got certain talents, which I do not have.

And so you can look at everybody else. Everybody else. You all have some talent. You all have some thing.

And look at the paddable that Christ gave about the paddable of the talents in Luke 19.

Or of the meanest. Luke 19.

Luke 19 starting in verse 11. Luke 19.

Verse 11.

The paddable of the meanest.

Or the meanest. I'm not sure.

It says, now is the early things. He spoke another paddable because he was near Jerusalem, because they thought the kingdom of God would appear immediately. And then starting from verse 12. Therefore, he said, a certain nobleman entered into a far country to receive to himself a kingdom and return. Talking about himself. He went to heaven to receive a kingdom, and then he'll come back. And so he called ten of his servants in this analogy. In other words, he's given us, he's called some of us into the church, and he's given us some talents. Don't say God has not given you any talent. He has.

We all are. We'll go more into that. And he called ten of his servants, he delivered them ten minutes. In this paddable, he gave each servant the same quantity. And he said ten minutes, so it's ten servants, one minute to each servant. So think about it, it's like a hundred thousand dollars to each one. So he gave each one a hundred thousand dollars. See, Amina was not fifty cents or whatever. It was a considerable amount of money. And he said, do business till I come. But the citizens hated him, so he's talking about the nation. The nation, people hated him, and that's what happened to Christ. And said the delegation after he was saying, we'll not have this man reign over us. So he's bringing another point that people don't like Christ and try to kill him, and that's what happened. And but, you know, verse 15, and so it was when he returned, which when Christ returns, having received the kingdom, he then commanded those servants. Those he called and gave special talents in the church. And therefore, apply this to us in the church. And too, he had given the money, and he called to him that he might know how much each man had gained by training. We're going to have to give account to the talents God has given us, physical and spiritual. And then came the first time, asked that the talents he gave me, X, are produced ten times X. That's what it is. I multiplied tenfold. And he said to him, well done, because if that had been faithful in little, have authority over tens that is. So, ever that little is, to you might be one dollar, to somebody else might be a hundred dollars. The point is, multiply tenfold. That's what it is. Whatever the little is that you have. It's not comparing you against another person. It's comparing you against what God gave you, and what do you do with it?

The second one came, verse 18, and said, your minutes and five minutes. And likewise says, likewise, you'll be over five seconds. So, yeah, it's the point. He has rewarded us according, or rewarded in this parable, according to the works. And as we saw in Revelation 22, is there's He's coming with His reward according to our works.

How do you? How do I? How do we use the little that we have?

And that's a question you've got to ask yourself. So for me, I don't know what little you have. To you and God, of course. To me and God, to each one of us in God. But we need to analyze ourselves this way. God is given us something, whatever it is. Whatever it is, how are we doing it? Are we multiplying it tenfold? Or are we multiplying it fivefold? Or are we not doing anything with it? We just sit it down, play computer games, watch TV, come to church, talk nice things in church, then go home again, play computer games, go on Facebook.

And is that? And then, oh well, we come to church again. And we're nice, you know, but are we really using those talents?

Or are we burying them?

See, I'm not reading the rest of the parable, because you know what happens to one that buries them. You go and read it. I don't want to be negative today. I want to be positive. I want to say, right, let's use them. Let's use them. Again, please, brethren, I'm not talking about the gift of eternal life.

That's a gift. I'm talking about going over and beyond, being dedicated to the calling and putting that effort and going over beyond being on the ball and using our talents, our abilities, our gifts, physical and spiritual, to do whatever God wants us to do.

Look at Colossians 3, verse 18-24. Colossians 3, verse 18-24.

Why submit to your husband as expecting in the Lord?

As expecting in the Lord. In other words, you're not going to submit to your husband if he's telling you to disobey God. But, as it's fitting in the Lord, be submissive. In some cases, for some ladies in the church, that may be a serious trial because some men are not really nice men to some of our ladies in the church. For some ladies in the church, that is a serious trial.

And we don't even know how some people are going through that serious trial. They're going through it quietly. They're submitting to their husbands in the Lord under most difficult conditions.

They are using some of spiritual gifts really in ways that you and I don't even see it.

Husbands love your wives and are not better towards them. Oh, why do we have to submit to their husbands? Husbands don't have to submit brethren to love.

When Christ said, and He gave His life as love to the church, that was an act of submission, wasn't it?

To really have true love is an act of submission because you're giving your life to your spouse. And that's what it says. They are love you want and they're not being better towards them. How easy it is for us to be better. And we've got to be careful. We've got to be careful. Children or by your parents in all things. You see, we get to an age.

As children or as young men, we get to age when we know it all.

Don't we? Sometimes it's teenage. Sometimes it's as young as the young adults. We know it all. We know better than our parents. And in fact, we become successful. So we get to the 40 years old, 50 years old. You know, it's that success kind of, oh, we know better than our old man or old lady. You know, we know better than them. See, we've got to be careful. He says, children or by your parents in all things.

Father, do not provoke your children unless they become discouraged.

So there's again something for us as parents to look at our children and grandchildren to say, how can we be encouraging them and not provoking them in the wrong way? Bond servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh. In other words, your boss at work, because that's according to the flesh. Your master is according to the flesh.

Not with eye service. It was not when they can see, but when they're not looking, we just do something else. But in sincerity of our heart, hearing the God, because He says, verse 23, whatever you do, whatever you do. In other words, that does not mean be complacent. And whatever you do, whatever you're dedicated to, be dedicated and consider God, not man, as your boss.

That's what it is. Consider God and not man as your boss. So, physically speaking, we can look at that. We can say, yes, we'll honor our managers, our boss, our parents and all that. But what about looking at it from the spiritual angle?

We have been baptized. We have received God's Holy Spirit. And those physical gifts, some of them may have been enhanced.

And you might have received a few extra ones.

You know, maybe you have a little bit of a gift, physically speaking, and maybe that has been enhanced. I'll give you an example.

When I was at school, my weakest subject was languages.

I failed English. I had to repeat it on what they called in South Africa, Matriq, which is the last year of high school. I had to redo the exam. I think it was three times to actually pass. The language was terrible. Now God is using me in English and in Portuguese.

He's enhanced it because I had a bit of it, but God's using it. So God can take some physical thing and enhance it with His Spirit. But He can also give you some other gifts, and we're going to touch some of those in a moment.

So there are some additional spiritual gifts that have been given to you individually.

Now this is so important for us to understand.

God gives you and you and you and you something different. To you individually.

Just like your daughter might be very good playing, for instance, the piano, but your son might be very good playing the violin, but not the piano. Or may have some other talent. He may be very good in computers or whatever. Each one has their own little talents that God has given them. Doesn't make them better. Doesn't make them worse. Just makes them different. And spiritually speaking is the same thing. Spiritually speaking, God has given you, individually, and me, individually, given us all, individually, specifically, specific talents, specific abilities, specific spiritual gifts.

Turn with me to 1 Corinthians chapter 12. 1 Corinthians chapter 12.

Let's start in verse 1. So we'll just read a few verses, the hour of 1 Corinthians 12. Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, an interesting word, gifts in this specific instance is in the archaeology, which means not in the Greek, which is the case. Concerning spiritual things, gifts in brethren, I don't want you to be ignorant.

Brethren, they are different gifts that God gives us. Look at verse 4. They are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. God gives us gifts according to His love and grace towards us.

Think about that.

What is the word, grace, in Greek? Charisma.

What is the word, gifts, in Greek? Charisma.

Wow!

Because it's His grace, gives us these gifts.

These gifts, diversities of gifts. If you look in the concordance, you will see diversities of charisma.

But one Spirit, through His Spirit, He decides to give different people different things. Look at verse 11.

But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one, individually, as He wills.

As God decides, He gives you individually your own little gift. A package of gifts, according to His grace. Because He's got a purpose for you, which is different than a purpose it's got for me. And it's got a different purpose than somebody sitting next to you. But He has considered each one of you individually. He has taken time to consider you and to give you a specific gift. For you to use that, sell that. When He comes back, Christ comes back, He will then reward you, according to how you use that gift, to do something in the Kingdom of God. And therefore, that's why He says there are many mansions, and He's got one prepared for you.

Let no man take your crown. In other words, use that gift, albeit small in Jesus. And you might think, well, mine is very small. That's okay. If you multiply 10 times, you'll have a great reward.

Look at verse 18. But now God has set the members. You and I are members of the Church of God. In other words, we are members of the spiritual body of Christ. And God has set you as members, each one of them, in the body, just as He pleased.

So God has decided and has looked at you individually, and He has made a decision. Put your name there to give you certain specific talents and abilities and gifts and charisma.

In view of what He wants you to do, well, tomorrow He's already visualized what He would like you to do. Let no man take your crown. Or woman. Let no one take your crown.

Because God has that hope for you.

But I want this to be encouraging to you. I'm not trying to discourage you, but you and I need to be dedicated. We need to be on the ball. We need to use what God has given us. We need to make an effort. We must not go home and just spend time and playing on Facebook, or playing games on Facebook, or whatever it is. We've got to be dedicated and work and produce fruits and multiply. That's what I'm talking about. And look at verse 31.

But earnestly desire the best gifts.

And I'll show you a more excellent way, the best of all gifts. And then He goes on to 1 Corinthians 13. And you know what 1 Corinthians 13 is? It's talking about the best gift.

Though I speak to you with tongues of a man and of angels, I could speak to you in Chinese. It will benefit you nothing. No, I can't because I... But I'm just saying, I could speak to you in Portuguese. It will benefit you nothing. But you know, what I'm saying is I could speak to you in a different language. It will benefit you nothing.

It says, yeah, but if I don't have a kind of concern for you, it's useless.

It says, I've become as a sounding brass or a claying cymbal. Imagine talking here in a different language. None of you understand. It's just like a dang, dang, dang. It's just... it's just noise.

Verse 2, and though I have the gift of prophecy, oh, I can't understand everything. Oh, you know, this is it, and this and that, and I know times and dates and... I'm great, skilled, whatever these things. And I stand all these ministries and all knowledge, and I have all faith. Man, I've got so much faith. I can even move mountains.

You know, imagine that. So that I could remove mountains, but I have not love. I'm nothing.

And I'll bestow all my goods to feed a poor. I do all these good works and give away everything to the poor. And I give my body to be burned. Wow. But I don't have love. Prophets mean nothing. Love suffers long and is kind. Love does not envy. Love does not parade itself. It's not puffed up. Does not behave rooted. Nor does it seek its own. It's not easily provoked. Thinks no evil. Does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in truth. Bears all things, believes all things, helps all things, endures all things. Love never fails.

Yeah, we got faith, we got hope, and we got love. But the greatest of these is love. That's the greatest gift. And then it continues in verse 14. In chapter 14, pursue love.

Yes, pursue love and desire spiritual gifts. Desire spiritual gifts. Especially that you may prophesy. In other words, especially that you may be able to speak spontaneously out of the abundance of your heart. Because out of the abundance of your heart, the mouth speaks. And that's what prophesy is. It's basically talking to people, and the abundance of your heart is God's truth. And you can expound and then speak to people in an encouraging and uplifting way with the hope that you have.

Keep your finger there, but just look at Acts chapter 2. Acts chapter 2, verse 17 and 18. Acts chapter 2, verse 17 and 18.

Acts chapter 2, verse 17 and 18.

It shall come to pass. This is the sermon here by Peter. And he says, it'll come to pass what was spoken by, you know, talking about what the prophet Joel said. And he says, in the last day, he says, God, I'll pour out my spirit on all flesh.

Now, even though he was using this scripture on the Day of Pentecost, and it did happen that God's only spirit was poured out on a lot of people, this is still a prophecy for the future. When in a world tomorrow, God's spirit will be poured out on all flesh. This is the dual meaning. Right? So in God, in the world tomorrow, in the Kingdom of God, when the Kingdom of God is ruling on earth, the truth of God will be abounding on earth, and it will be poured on all flesh.

And therefore, look at it from a prophecy also into the future. But he says, your sons and your daughters shall prophesy. And your young man shall see visions, and your old man shall see dreams. In other words, your sons and your daughters will speak in a way that is inspired. Let's not say that they will, your sons and daughters, be giving a sermon in church. That's what it's talking about. What it's talking about is that they will have inspired speaking. When they talk, they will talk with God's spirit, and they can see that that conversation is inspired. It's like when we sit around the table for snacks, and we encourage one another, and our conversation is inspired, is uplifting. That's what it is.

It's not about public preaching of the Gospel. You understand that? So look at verse 18 as well. On my servants and on my maid's servants, I'll pour out my spirit in those days, and they shall prophesy. So it's talking about inspired speaking. So continuing in 1 Corinthians chapter 14, so if you're thinking of a story there, you'll go through it quickly, and continuing in verse 2, for he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to man, but to God, for no one understands him.

But he doesn't speak any other language. He doesn't speak any other language. Well, I just said exactly the same thing that I just finished reading in Portuguese, and you didn't understand a thing, right? Well, God understood it, but you didn't, and you've got the point. If I speak to you in a different language, it goes on one side, it goes out the other, you'd get nothing. That's what it is. That's what he's talking about. If you speak in a foreign language that the audience does not understand, he's not talking to the audience.

He's talking to God. God understands it, but the audience, no one understands it.

However, in the Spirit, he speaks mostly, so yeah, he could be talking this, but he who prophesies, if you have inspired speaking, if you are speaking to other people in an encouraging way, that edifies, that builds up the brethren around you.

And the exhaustion and comfort to men, in other words, you encourage, and you give comfort. So when you speak in a way that is inspired, that is uplifting, it builds the church, builds the brethren, you finish, and you go home off the church, and off the snacks we have, and you go home and you feel, man, that was a great Sabbath. I enjoyed it. It was so uplifting to be with the brethren, and our fellowship, it was just so great.

That's what it is. It's encouraging, it's exhorting, it's uplifting.

Verse 4, he who speaks in a tongue, edifies himself. Oh yeah, finally I told you to Portuguese, I may feel I'm more important to you because I can speak Portuguese. But others are not feeling that way. But I'm just saying, you know, if you're doing that, you would... But he who prophesies, in other words, he was speaking in a way that's inspired, building up, you edifying the church. I wish you all spoke in different languages. Yes, I wish you could all talk Spanish and Italian and French and Japanese so we could go and travel the wall and talk to other people. Wow, that would be great. I wish you could. But even more, that you would speak in a way that's inspiring, that is uplifting. I'd rather have you do that. For he who speaks, who prophesies, in other words, inspires other people, he's greater than he speaks with a foreign language, unless somebody is interpreting it. Because otherwise, you're not going to get anything.

That the church may receive edification.

So brethren, spiritual gifts, therefore, what prophesies, like speaking in an inspiring way, is to serve others.

If you have the gift of speaking in a way that is encouraging and uplifting to others, and you use it to uplift others, to edify the church, you are using it to serve others, not to serve yourself, not to exalt yourself, but you're using it for the better of others.

And when we do that, and when you're dedicated to do that in a way that you're not complacent, you are then using that gift, that talent, in a godly way to produce good food. So let's look at one section of Scripture that mentions seven spiritual gifts that you may have to one or greater extent. And that's in Romans 12. We were there a little while ago when we talked about, do not be conformed. But then, started in verse 6 through verse 8, mentions seven spiritual gifts that we just want to touch on them very briefly. I think they're gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us. Let us use them. Let us be dedicated. Let us be on the ball and use them obviously to serve others for the benefit to identify the church. His prophecy let us prophesy in proportion to our faith. And we already talked about prophecy. So in other words, we'll prophesy in other words, to speak spontaneously out of the abundance of your heart. Do it according to your heart. Do it according to your faith, according to your belief. And do it to uplift others in a conversation. But then let's look at the next one. So that's number two in this list of seven. Or ministry, let us use it in our ministry. Oh, that doesn't apply to me because I'm not a minister.

Do you know what the word in Greek is for ministry? Diacon. Deacon.

A deacon serves ministers, other people.

So if you have a gift of serving other people, serve in whatever way. You've got a gift in serving by doing beautiful flower ranches. Do it. You've got a gift in serving by setting up the power or the pia. Do it. You've got a gift in serving by setting up the video camera. Do it. You've got a gift in serving by helping out in setting out the tables or distributing the emails or whatever it may be. You can think about whatever gift you have to serve. Do it. That's what it says. Or ministry. Let it use it in your ministry, in your serving.

Let's look at some examples of ministry that you may have not noticed.

And I want to just highlight them to you very briefly. One is in 2 Corinthians chapter 8, verse 1 through 5. 2 Corinthians chapter 8, verse 1 through 5.

Moreover, brethren, we might know to you the grace, caress of our God, we sell to the churches of Macedonian, that in a great trial of affliction, the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded in the riches of their liberality. You know, it was they served other people. For our bare witness, according to their ability, there was, maybe, turns out a little bit, but they did that a little bit. You do what the ability is. And beyond their ability, they were freely willing, imploring us with much urgency that we should receive the gift and the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.

The ministering to the saints, to the Yakuna of the saints, serving by giving of whatever it is. They went out, the saints in Judea had some difficulties, and there was a time in which they did something so that Paul could carry, or whatever it was, that they could serve other people.

And not only as we had hoped, but they first gave themselves to the Lord and then to us by the well of God. So first, you do things to God, but then go over and beyond and serve others. What was the result? Look at chapter 9, verse 12 and 13. Look at chapter 9, verse 12 and 13.

As he threatened, he has dispersed abroad, he has given to the poor, he is righteous and endures forever. Sorry, verse 12. For the administration of this service, not only supplies the needs of the saints, but he is also abounding through many thanksgiving. The administration of this service, this the Yakuna.

It's very interesting to look at that, this service. While through the proof of this ministry, the Yakuna, they glorified God for the obedience of your confession to the gospel of Christ and for your liberal sharing with them. And in all many other words, they served, they ministered to others, and therefore there was a buildup in the church and they helped one another through that service. Look at another example in Romans 16, Romans 16, verses 1 and 2.

I commend you, Phobi, our sister, who is a servant of the church in St. Crea.

That you may receive her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the saints and a sister in whatever business she has for you, for indeed she has been a helper of many and of myself also.

Look at that. She was a servant. She was a Diakuna, a servant.

Look also in 1 Corinthians 16. 1 Corinthians 16, verse 15 through 18.

I heard you, brethren, you know the household of Stephanas, that it is the fruits of, that it is the fruits of Achaia and that they have devoted themselves, so we're talking about the Abin, devoted themselves, devotionally, on the ball that they committed to the ministry of the saints, to the Diakuna ministry, that you may also submit to such and to everyone who works and labors with us. I am glad about the coming of Stephanas for Ternatus and Achaia for what was lacking in your part they supplied. You see, so they supplied through their service.

So, going back to Romans chapter 12. So, if you have a spiritual gift of speaking spontaneously from the abundance of your heart, use it. If you have a spiritual gift to serve the body of Christ, serve. That's what we're saying. If you have a gift of teaching, that's the next one, he would teach us in teaching. If you have a gift to give instruction to teach, teach! Look at Acts 18 verse 24-28.

Now a certain Jew named the Paulus, born of Alexandria, an eloquent man and mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus. This man had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things of the Lord, though he knew only of the baptism of John. So, he began to speak boldly in the synagogue.

Now, when a killer and a chrysalis, a couple, a man and a woman, and they took him aside and explained him the way of God more accurately. So, yeah, privately, this woman and this man showed a Paulus, hey, there's a little bit of extra knowledge here that you're missing.

And so they taught. And when he had, and when he desired to cross to Achaia, the brethren wrote, and so on, and he went and he taught a Paulus. So, he provided great service to the church. But YH is an example to give instruction. It's not even wrong, as in the case of a woman to give instruction. In this case, she went with her husband, but privately, and showed or highlighted some things that were missing there. Elders are expected to use that gift. You read in the sections of To the Elders, for instance, in 1 Timothy 3, when he talks about To the Elders, that they ought to teach. And even Paul told Timothy to do the things that he had been taught, to pass them on to others, so to pass on their teaching. Let's go on to the next one in Romans chapter 12. Now we're reading verse 8, and this is now the fourth one. He will exhort in exhortation. Exhorts. That's encouragement. Exhorting, encouraging people to help people in encouraging them. You know about Barnabas? Barnabas was the son of encouragement, because he was exhorting. He was helping people. And so if you had a talent that you can encourage people when you see people are down, for instance, you see people have a certain illness, and they're down. And maybe you have had a similar illness, and you've seen how God intervened for you. You can now use that gift of encouragement to encourage that person that is down with a certain illness, and encourage that person. And that is the spiritual gift, that now you're using it, that gift to build people up with the help of God's Holy Spirit. Look at the next one in verse 8. He says, he who gives with liberality.

Do we have the ability to give? Some of us don't have a large ability, but you know the story of Dokkis? Dokkis was the lady that did always things, and different arts and crafts, and gathered to the church and to people. And next thing she died. Then Christ went there. No, it wasn't Christ. It was one of the apostles went there. I can't remember who, probably Paul. But anyway, he went there, and she was dead. And they showed him all the things they'd done. He said, would she be near? And Paul was still moved. He quietly prayed. And next thing, God, through his prayer, intervened and brought her back to life. So her act of giving was a motivation to bring many people to the knowledge of the truth. You read that section, which is in Acts 9, verses 36 through 42, and gave great results. Because there was, the church was edified. There was a great bond of love because of that, and all triggered initially by acts of giving that she was doing while she could. Simple things. But she was giving, and therefore that act of giving and sharing and passing on to others was rewarded. Continuing in verse 8, it says, he will lead with diligence. Leading means give directions, maintain with diligence, helping people in the practice of doing. Give an example. Let's look at two specific examples. First Timothy chapter 3. First Timothy chapter 3.

Verse 4 and 5.

And the eyes talking about, he says, he will rule his own house well, having his children in the commission of all reverence. And that is an act of leadership to rule. It's not dictatorship, it's actually leading in love in, it's a rule. Yes, it's rule, but it's a leading. Leading by example, and setting a good example, giving a direction, and maintaining that house in good order. That is all part of leadership. Ladies, you also can do that in your home with the children, making sure the house is tidy and the children are trained well. That's an act of leadership. And so, use God's only spirit to put that to practice.

Look at verse 12. Let Dickens be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own house as well. In other words, it's an act of leadership, of maintaining it in good order. Look at Titus chapter 3 verse 8. Just a few pages ahead. Titus chapter 3 verse 8. It says, and this is a faithful sign, and these things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works. It's the same word there, which is lead or preside or rule. In this case, he's maintained good works. You know, it was lead by example, by practice. That is leadership. And so, continuing with Romans 12, says, he who leads with diligence, be diligent, be dedicated to that leadership, be beyond the ball, and be a true leader. And the seventh one here, and he who shows mercy with cheerfulness. You know, it talks about blessed are the merciful. It's one of the beatitudes.

And you also know, in James, there's mercy, triumphs over judgment. So, there isn't a a spiritual gift that we all have to one greater or lesser extent that we all can use.

Now, let me give you homework. You're not going to leave now for homework, right? So, let me give you some homework. Think of people that are an example of using these gifts. What? Think of people meditate, discuss it with your husband, with your wife, whatever. Results that are evident in the church by doing by some people in this congregation, other congregations that use that. And therefore, how can we, individual, me, myself, you, individually, encourage others, uplift others, use these gifts to help others do the same? So, used by that example, think how you can put that to practice in your life. So, your specific situation is different, but that is something that you could do as an example to say, how can I use some of these spiritual gifts to benefit others? There are two dangers I want to leave with you, just briefly mention. One is, these spiritual gifts are not great powers with great miracles and signs. For instance, John the Baptist was one of the greatest men in the inevitable miracle. You see, these gifts are quiet, are silent, but they serve others. So, don't expect great miracles. No. And number two, don't use these spiritual gifts to promote yourself to self-exaltation. It's not to exalt yourself, it's to glorify God through your acts of service to others and to help others. We saw about tongues that people can exalt themselves with that. You know about knowledge. Knowledge is a wonderful gift, but can puff up, right? Knowledge puffs up. There's a danger. Exalt yourself. There's another example. Look at Paul. Paul had the capability of tremendous spiritual gifts that God gave him, but he also had a thorn in the flesh.

You just take note. 2 Corinthians 12 verse 7, when he says, God, you allowed me to have this thorn in the flesh so that I would not exalt myself. He says that twice in the same verse.

You see, so the gifts are not to exalt ourselves. It's to serve God, to serve God's people. Look at Solomon. He had a wonderful gift of being wise. And what he did? He exalted himself. Look at Moses. God did a lot of miracles through him, but he allowed those gifts to get to his head, because right at the end he says, you got crossed, and he says, what are we gonna do for you? And he went and hit the rock, remember? Well, it wasn't him. Rock I or we, it's God. And he was not taught to hit the rock. He was taught to speak to the rock. And there's other analogies on that. But we've got to be careful. Let's not exalt ourselves as these gifts are being put to practice. So, brethren, we cannot be complacent with our common We need to be on the ball spiritually speaking. Are we meeting these new challenges that we encounter in our lives as we get older? There are more health issues and people that need encouragement and help, and they need our spiritual gifts, our prayers, and our concerns for them. Are we being dedicated to really make sure we commit that time to serve our children? We need to be on the ball commit that time to serve these people, even if it's just in prayers, even if it is just in writing a card or signing a name down. Remember, God will reward you for being dedicated, spiritually speaking, and using your gifts and talents to produce Godly works. Indeed, God will reward you, you and I, for our works in using our unique gifts.