“What Is a Healthy Church Member?” (Eastside Baptist/Sun AM/Nov. 10, 2013)

“What Is a Healthy Church Member?” (Eastside Baptist/Sun AM/Nov. 10, 2013)

 

Main Idea: A healthy church member uses their gifts for building and strengthening the body of Christ.

 

What are Spiritual Gifts? A spiritual gift is any talent or ability given or enhanced by the indwelling Holy Spirit for the benefit of the body of Christ.

 

1.  The Lord Jesus Christ sovereignly bestows the gifts through the Holy Spirit.

 

But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. This is why it says: "When he ascended on high, he took many captives and gave gifts to his people." (What does "he ascended" mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions? He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.) So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. (Eph. 4:7–13, NIV)

 

This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him. God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will. (Heb. 2:3-4, NIV)

 

There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. (1 Co. 12:4, NIV)

 

All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines. (1 Co. 12:11, NIV)

 

2.  Every believer possesses spiritual gifts, but not all have the same gifts.

 

Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. (1 Co. 12:7, NIV)

 

All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines. (1 Co. 12:11, NIV)

 

Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. (1 Co. 12:12, NIV)

 

But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body. (1 Co. 12:18-20, NIV)

 

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. For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 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; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 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. (Rom. 12:3–8, NIV)

 

3.  Spiritual gifts are given for use within the body of Christ, in order to build and strengthen it.

 

But God has put the body together... so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. (1 Co. 12:24-25, NIV)

 

When you come together, each of you has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. Everything must be done so that the church may be built up. (1 Co. 14:26, NIV)

 

Since you are eager for gifts of the Spirit, try to excel in those that build up the church. (1 Co. 14:12, NIV)

 

So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. (Eph. 4:11–13, NIV)

 

4.  Spiritual gifts should be developed and used with a motivation of love for others and the glory of God.

 

If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing. (1 Co. 13:1–3, NIV)

 

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. (1 Co. 13:13, NIV)

 

And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. (Col. 1:18, NIV)

 

Main Idea: A healthy church member uses their gifts for building and strengthening the body of Christ.