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Lesson 4<\/p>\n
Membership Matters<\/p>\n
Gifts Turned to Serving<\/p>\n
Romans 12:1-12<\/p>\n
August 23, 2015<\/p>\n
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To teach or not to teach, prophesy or to not prophesy, to be hospitable or not to be hospitable are the questions that many seem to ask themselves. These are only three of the many gifts God has given to mankind to be used to serve Him in his church. Even though I did not know about gifts many years ago I decided to respond to the call to teach a class of wild eleven year old boys. Somehow both they and I survived that year and the years to follow. Long before I knew anything about spiritual gifts I had a sense that I was doing something that not only did I enjoy but also was meant to do. By responding to that plea to fill a void I have been blessed beyond measure by the relationships and friendships that have been formed with those who have been in classes I have a led. Surprisingly, for me the other gifts that I have discovered only reinforce the ability to use my primary gift. Knowledge and wisdom round out the top three. Two of my favorite verses are Ezra 7:10 and 1 Corinthians 9:16-18. I serve because I am expected to use what God has given me. Not to do so is a sin. See James 4:17.<\/p>\n
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Churches do not grow because there are many who do not use the gifts God has given to them to serve. They do not realize that they are denying the church the use of their many abilities, talents and gifts. I think much of this stems from the fact that somehow we have not excited them about becoming true disciples. Their lives have not been changed in a way that leads them to serve. They have not discovered the way God has wired them and therefore live in darkness. Disciples are those who have become followers of Christ having been changed in their minds and hearts. When this happens they desire to complete God\u2019s mission in this world.<\/p>\n
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We can continue to allow many of the members to remain in that condition or help them become viable disciples. It will take a great deal of effort to change the mindset of many but all of the work will be worth it in the long run. Paul deals with those who had recognized God as he explained in chapter 11. Let us see the lessons that we can learn in chapter 12 of Romans as Paul encourages the church to get involved in ministry.<\/p>\n
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Romans 12:1<\/p>\n
Paul connects this part of the letter with the discussion of God\u2019s mercies on his people shared in chapter 11. Since God had allowed the Gentiles to become part of His forever family, he urged them to give themselves totally to Him as a living and holy sacrifice. They were to hold nothing back. Their willingness to give themselves to Him made them acceptable in the sight of God. Since He had done so much for them it was only reasonable that they would want to worship Him by their service.<\/p>\n
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Romans 12:2<\/p>\n
The danger each man faces is compromising with the ever-changing culture of the world in which they live. Contrasted to the man who is swayed by every new idea or thought the man of God has changed into someone different than the person he had been previously. The Greek work for renewing is \u201cKainos\u201d which means \u201cnew in point of character and nature.\u201d Man must realize that this metamorphous is the desire that God has for each person. It is good acceptable and perfect in the eyes of God.<\/p>\n
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Romans 12:3<\/p>\n
Having been called by God to preach the gospel and minister to the Gentiles Paul felt qualified to deal with issues that would separate man from God\u2019s plan for him. He admonished them to be humble and not arrogant or haughty. Throughout the Scriptures the men of God condemned those who held themselves out as better than others. In Ezekiel 34:7-10 God spoke out against the shepherds who did not take care of the people in their care. Paul wanted them to understand that each of them had limitations that did not go beyond how God had gifted them. They were to think about themselves the way God viewed them and had provided for them.<\/p>\n
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Romans 12:4<\/p>\n
God has gifted every person so that he can take his rightful place in the body of the body of the church of Christ. Man has been gifted in such a way as to carry out the different functions in the church. There are some warnings as to how he is to view his place.<\/p>\n
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Romans 12:5-8<\/p>\n
Paul to let the Roman Christians know that even though each person is an individual and shaped differently they are only one part of the whole. It takes each and every one of them to make up the body and complete the work of the church. Every person is dependent on each and every other member of the church. He called on the believers to exercise the gift given to them and leave others to use their gifts. He listed the ones that were needed in every church. Looking at the list of gifts in other books there are more than 20 different ones. Here Paul listed:<\/p>\n
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Romans 12:9<\/p>\n
Although not in any of the list of Spiritual Gifts God\u2019s kind of love is the driving force behind man\u2019s willingness to serve. In 1 Corinthians 13 Paul indicates that nothing man does has any value unless it is done in love. The word used here is agape. Agape is the unconditional love that wants nothing but the very best for others. It is the love of the will and not built on emotion. Paul stated that man is not to fake love but it is to be genuine and not hypocritical.<\/p>\n
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Romans 12:10-12<\/p>\n
Based on the love in the above verses and the Spiritual Gifts listed in different place, Paul gave some specific ways to live out a life of true discipleship in the body. They are to:<\/p>\n
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These are not some kind of checklist that might lead to legalism. They are to be done because man has chosen to follow the words given in the first verses to be transformed by the way one thinks. If his focus is on God he will want to do those things that are pleasing to Him.<\/p>\n
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God has given us an opportunity that no other group has. It is to serve Him as disciples. Remember a good definition of a disciple is to follow Him, to be changed in our hearts by Jesus and be committed to the mission of Christ to save those who are lost in their sins. We can only do this if we discover who we are and how God can use us. There are a number of ways to find out about ourselves through personal study and formal training classes like \u201cThe Real Me.\u201d Once we have found out how God has wired us then it is time to put our gifts to work. Here again there are many opportunities in the church to serve. We are also to carry the word of God beyond the doors of the church. The church is not to be a convent but a place to be prepared to face the world. None of us have the excuse that we are not equipped to serve. God prepares all of us for some type of ministry.<\/p>\n
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