Christian Life Church

BROUGHT IN: RESPONSIBILITIES AUGUST 8, 2021


SCRIPTURE
The Father has adopted us as children through Christ & infused us with the Spirit to complete an unstoppable work in the earth.

Now, dear brothers and sisters, regarding your question about the special abilities the Spirit gives us. I don’t want you to misunderstand this. There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit is the source of them all. There are different kinds of service, but we serve the same Lord. God works in different ways, but it is the same God who does the work in all of us. A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other. It is the one and only Spirit who distributes all these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have. The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ. Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, and some are free. But we have all been baptized into one body by one Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit. Yes, the body has many different parts, not just one part. If the foot says, “I am not a part of the body because I am not a hand,” that does not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear says, “I am not a part of the body because I am not an eye,” would that make it any less a part of the body? If the whole body were an eye, how would you hear? Or if your whole body were an ear, how would you smell anything? But our bodies have many parts, and God has put each part just where He wants it. How strange a body would be if it had only one part! Yes, there are many parts, but only one body. The eye can never say to the hand, “I don’t need you.” The head can’t say to the feet, “I don’t need you.” In fact, some parts of the body that seem weakest and least important are actually the most necessary. And the parts we regard as less honorable are those we clothe with the greatest care. So we carefully protect those parts that should not be seen, while the more honorable parts do not require this special care. So God has put the body together such that extra honor and care are given to those parts that have less dignity. This makes for harmony among the members, so that all the members care for each other. If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad. All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it. Selections from 1 Corinthians 12, NLT

RESPONSIBILITIES IN ANCIENT ISRAEL
Being part of God’s family has always meant playing a role & sharing responsibility.

General Responsibilities:
Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves… Proverbs 31:8, NIV

Specific Responsibilities:
The Levites were commissioned to the Tabernacle for construction & service.

RESPONSIBILITIES IN THE CHURCH ERA
General Responsibilities:
1/ We contribute to the family through love & care.

“By this all people will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:35, ESV

2/ We contribute to the family through fellowship.

Coming together for fellowship & worship is modeled in Acts & commanded in Hebrews.

3/ We contribute to the family through giving.

Tithe, offerings, & patterns for giving are taught throughout Old & New Testaments.


4/ We contribute to the family through prayer.

I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority… 1 Timothy 2:1-2, NLT

5/ We contribute to the family through witness.

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father…” Matthew 5:16, KJV

“The Christian shoemaker does his duty not by putting little crosses on the shoes, but by making good shoes…” Martin Luther

Specific Responsibilities:
A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other. 1 Corinthians 12:7, NLT

1/ Natural Gifts

R.T. Kendall calls these abilities a “common grace” from God for all people, regardless of their spiritual commitments.

Christians should consecrate natural gifts to the Lord for spiritual purposes because God can anoint natural gifts as much as spiritual gifts.

The Lord said to Moses, “See, I have called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with ability and intelligence, with knowledge and all craftsmanship, to devise artistic designs, to work in gold, silver, and bronze, in cutting stones for setting, and in carving wood, to work in every craft.” Exodus 31:1-5, ESV

2/ Spiritual Gifts

Spiritual gifts are given primarily for the furthering & maturing of the Church.

Gifts in Ephesians 4:11-12
1/ Apostles 2/ Prophets 3/ Evangelists
4/ Shepherds (Pastors) 5/ Teachers

Gifts in 1 Corinthians 12:8-10
1/ Wisdom 2/ Knowledge 3/ Faith
4/ Healing 5/ Miraculous Powers 6/ Prophecy
7/ Distinguishing Btw Spirits 8/ Tongues 9/ Interpretation of Tongues

Gifts in 1 Corinthians 12:28-30
1/ Apostles* 2/ Prophets* 3/ Teachers*
4/ Miracles* 5/ Healing* 6/ Helping
7/ Administrating 8/ Tongues*

Gifts in Romans 12:7-8
1/ Prophecy* 2/ Service* 3/ Teaching*
4/ Exhortation 5/ Giving 6/ Leadership
7/ Acts of Mercy

* Mentioned more than once

(David) served the purpose of God in his own generation… Acts 13:36, ESV

WE ACCOMPLISH MORE TOGETHER
“They are better individually, but they can be beaten as a team.” Evan Fournier

Remember Rocky!

FIVE PRACTICAL STEPS
1/ Discover your gift(s).

Pray, read, & ask those who are spiritually mature.

“You write because there’s fire in your bones. You’ve got to do this whether anybody ever reads it or not.” Eugene Edwards

2/ Appreciate the gift(s) God has given.

Lesser on earth does not mean lesser in Heaven.

3/ Embrace your gift(s).

4/ Use your gift(s).

Spotlights may come but strive for selfless service.

For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others… Matt 20:28, NLT

5/ Develop your gift(s).

Be a life-long learner & embrace opportunities to exercise your gift(s).

5/ Ask for more gifts.

Paul says we should “earnestly desire the higher gifts.” 1 Corinthians 12:31, ESV