A Sanctified Vessel for the Master’s Use - 2

A Sanctified Vessel for the Master’s Use - 2
2 Timothy 2:19-21

“19Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. 20But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. 21If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work.”

What We Have Learned

The Need to be Sanctified

• Infiltration of false doctrines (vv. 14-18, 23)
• Unwholesome, filthy, destructive communication (vv.16, 22).
• The pastor is charged to respond to such destructive attack of the devil on the church with appropriate teaching that men who are entrapped might be brought out (vv. 24-26).

The Encouragement to be Sanctified

v.19a

• “Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure”
• “having this seal”
• “The Lord knoweth them that are his”

The Process of Sanctification

v.19b-21

• Individual sanctification: “And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.”
• Strive to be a vessel of honour:"But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. 21 If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work."

The Rewards of Sanctification

v. 21b

• “he shall be a vessel unto honour”
• “sanctified”
• “and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.”

How should a Church Strive for Sanctification?

A call for individual sanctification must be made

• V. 19b – “And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.”
• V. 21 – “If a man therefore purge himself from these”

A classical example of a congregation of God sanctifying themselves: Ezra 10

Following are 12 important steps for the sanctification of a church that we can learn from Ezra 10. All of it ought to be pursued with total dependence upon God’s grace and His grace alone.

1. Every time when there is a serious infiltration and spreading of sin or falsehood there must be an effort to sanctify the whole congregation
2. Sanctification must begin with the leader of God’s people (Ezra 9:1ff; 10:1)
3. Let the people come voluntarily to sanctify themselves (Ezra10:2,3).
4. There must be genuine sorrow for the sins among the people and every one must humble and repent before the Lord (Ezra 9:1-10:1)
5. There must be a willingness to put away sin - “to put away all the wives, and such as are born of them”(Ezra 10:3a).
6. There must be a willing submission to the spiritual counsel of the godly leader(s) – “according to the counsel of my lord” (Ezra 10:3b).
7. There must be a grave or serious reverence for the Word of God and its commandments – “and of those that tremble at the commandment of our God; and let it be done according to the law” (Ezra 10:3c).
8. There must be a whole-hearted unity among the people (leaders and the congregation) to be sanctified - “Arise; for this matter belongeth unto thee: we also will be with thee: be of good courage, and do it” (Ezra 10:4).
9. There must be an avowal (taking of an oath or a pledge) in renewing our commitment to walk in holiness – “Then arose Ezra, and made the chief priests, the Levites, and all Israel, to swear that they should do according to this word. And they sware” (Ezra 10:5).
10. Let it be done with much prayer, and even fasting – “Then Ezra rose up from before the house of God, and went into the chamber of Johanan the son of Eliashib: and when he came thither, he did eat no bread, nor drink water: for he mourned because of the transgression of them that had been carried away” (Ezra 10:6).
11. Let there be a deliberate and meticulous effort to get people separated from the plague of sin – “And they made proclamation throughout Judah and Jerusalem unto all the children of the captivity, that they should gather themselves together unto Jerusalem; And that whosoever would not come within three days, according to the counsel of the princes and the elders, all his substance should be forfeited, and himself separated from the congregation of those that had been carried away” (Ezra 10:7-8).
12. Let there be prayers for God’s mercy for forgiveness and for His wrath to turn away that we might continue to progress in His work – “Let now our rulers of all the congregation stand, and let all them which have taken strange wives in our cities come at appointed times, and with them the elders of every city, and the judges thereof, until the fierce wrath of our God for this matter be turned from us.” (Ezra 10:14).

A Sanctified Vessel for the Master’s Use

A Sanctified Vessel for the Master’s Use
2 Timothy 2:19-21

“Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work.”

Introduction

Today, being led by the Spirit, I would like to bring to you a special, as we commemorate the 19th Anniversary Thanksgiving Service of Gethsemane B-P Church.

Several issues have evoked very deep emotions within me over the past two weeks and also caused me to draw close to God for his help and guidance.

• A place of worship and activities for our church
• Internet Pornography that affects men in the ministry
• 19th Anniversary of our Church
• God’s unfailing provisions for the church, for the ministers of the Word, full-time staff, theological students, and everyone in the church.
• All of those matters require appropriate response.

But nothing has been more distressing than the sin of pornography that is invading the computers of Christians, and causing many to be entrapped in it.

As I reflected upon God’s goodness in the past years and our duty to Him, the Spirit of God has impressed upon my heart that there is nothing more appropriate for Gethsemaneans, on this Anniversary day, than to be resolved to be sanctified vessels for the Master’s use.

The Need to be Sanctified

• Men will infiltrate the church with false doctrines (vv. 14-18, 23)
• Men will be affected by unwholesome, filthy, destructive communication (vv.16, 22).
• The pastor is charged to respond to such destructive attack of the devil on the church with appropriate teaching that men who are entrapped might be brought out (vv. 24-26).

Only faithful preaching of the Word that appropriately and adequately rebuke, correct, and nurture the church can protect it from the corruption of false doctrines and immorality.

The Encouragement to be Sanctified

“Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his” (v.19a).

the foundation of God standeth sure

• Regardless of all the attack of the devil, God’s foundation of the church is “sure.”
• What is “the foundation of God”?: The truth of God’s Word reveled by the apostles and prophets. Ephesians 2:20 - "And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner-stone."
• The foundation that God has laid for the church is “sure”. The word, “sure” (stereos - Greek) conveys the idea of something that is solid, stable, steadfast, and strong.
• As long as the church remains firmly on this foundation, there is no reason to be troubled from the few-instances of attacks by apostasy and sin.
• Every local church that is solely Bible-based can be sure that the Lord is still building the church, against all the hellish attack on it. Our Lord Jesus said in Matthew 16:18, “And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”
• All glory to Him for this comforting and encouraging truth that He is building the church. But this truth is exclusively belongs to those who are buidling upon the foundation of God, even the apostolic doctrines.
• So if we constantly respond to all the attacks of the devil by preaching, teaching, obeying the truth, we shall continue to enjoy the Lord’s power and goodness for the building of this church.
• At the same time let us remember Psalms 11:3 – “If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?” May Gethsemane B-P Church always remain solidly on the Word of God!

“Having this seal”

• Or rather a seal with this inscription.

What does the word “seal” indicate?

• A seal represents the authority with which a thing is secured. (Matthew 27:66 - So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch.)
• A seal is a mark of genuineness. (Revelation 9:4 - And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads.)
• A “seal” also indicated authenticity and integrity (cf. Rom. 4:11; 1 Cor. 9:2).( Romans 4:11 "And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also:" 1 Corinthians 9:2 "If I be not an apostle unto others, yet doubtless I am to you: for the seal of mine apostleship are ye in the Lord.")
• The allusion here is to the custom of inscribing the name of the builder and the design of the edifice on the corner-stone. It seems to refer to some inscription on the foundation-stone which denoted the character and design of the edifice.
• Likewise the church of Christ is like a building constructed by the hands of God, which has a foundation that has been firmly and securely laid, and on that foundation there is an inscription always remaining.

“The Lord knoweth them that are his.”

• This is one of the inscriptions on the foundation-stone of the church, which seems to mark the character of the building.
• It always stands there. It guarantees God’s authority and power in securing the church. No matter who would attempt to apostatize the church the Lord knows how to take care of His own faithful children.
• It is, at the same time, a fearful inscription - showing that no one can deceive God; that he is intimately acquainted with all who enter that building; and that in the multitudes which enter there, the friends and the foes of God are intimately known. He can separate his own friends from all others, and his constant care will be extended to all who are truly his own, to keep them from failing.
• Nahum 1:7, the following words are found: "And he knoweth them that trust in him;"
• It is clear that he meant to say that it was one of the fundamental things in religion, that God knew who were his own people, and that he would preserve them from the danger of making shipwreck of their faith.

The Process by which We Ought to be Sanctified (v.19b-20)

Individual sanctification:

“And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.”

• This truth must be emphasized in the church.
• The commentator Barnes says, “This is the other seal or inscription which is made on the foundation which God has laid. The foundation has two inscriptions-the first implying that God knows all who are his own people; the other, that all who are his professed people should depart from evil.”
• The meaning is, that it is an elementary principle in the true church, that all who become members of it should lead holy lives.
• It is significant that every Christian would lead holy lives amidst all the defections by the disobedient and unbelieving. All their attempts to draw away others from the true faith, will be in vain if the people of God are determined to avoid evil.
• The church’s purity is dependant on individual members. We must not allow ourselves to sink in the miry clay of sin. We must fight to pull ourselves of every besetting sin.
• Especially in these days of moral decadence, we must not go down without a fight. Fight against every temptation and sin to the point of death. Hebrews 12:4 says, “Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.”
• Psalm 34:14 "Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it."
• Psalm 37:27 "Depart from evil, and do good; and dwell for evermore."
• Proverbs 3:7 "Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil."
• Romans 12:9 "Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good."
• 2 Corinthians 7:1 "Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God."
• Ephesians 4:17-22; Ephesians 5:1-11; Colossians 3:5-8; Titus 2:11-14; 1 Peter 1:13-19; 2 Peter 1:4-10; 2 Peter 3:14; 1 John 3:7-10.

V.20-21 elaborates the significance of the process of sanctification further.
“But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour.”

• In a large household are all sorts of containers. Some are made of gold and silver and others of wood and clay.
• More importantly, some are for noble purposes and some for ignoble.
• Since the reference so far is to the faithful and the unfaithful within the church, this metaphor should be understood to show how a sanctified Christian can be an instrument for noble purposes, and an unclean life of a church participant make him an ignoble vessel.
• In the church there are some vessels of honour and some of dishonour. Some dishonour the Lord and His church by their corrupt opinions and wicked lives; and others honour and credit it by their exemplary conversation.

Verse 21, clearly declares that “If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel of honour.”
o Every one in the church is not only called to depart from evil, but also purify himself of sins that have become part of his life.

• purge himself - ἐκκαθαίρω (ekkathairō): clean out, cleanse, get rid of (1Co 5:7; 2Ti 2:21).
• We shall study next Lord’s day how the Scripture teaches us to purge oneself of sins. Nonetheless, let us take not it is the will of God that every one who claims to be a Christian ought to rid of every sin that is in him.

The Reward of being a Sanctified (v.19b-20)

V. 21b tells us that the sanctified will be “meet for the Master's use.” In other words, the sanctified will be fit to be employed by the Lord Jesus in promoting His work on earth.

• A man must purge himself from these before he can be a vessel of honour, or meet for his Master's use.
• Every vessel must be fit for its Master's use. Every one in the church who desire to be in his Master's service must strive to be fit for His use.

Understanding Spiritual Gifts

Understanding Spiritual Gifts

Selected Scriptures

Introduction

“Spiritual Gifts” are one of the most misunderstood, abused, misused and underused blessing that Christ has bestowed on the church and its members.

This is particularly so since Pentecostal and Charismatic movements started to make appearances in Christian circles.

Pentecostalism & Charismatism

Pentecostalism is similar to the Charismatic movement, but developed earlier and separated from the mainstream church denominations.

Charismatic Christians, at least in the early days of the movement, tended to remain in their respective denominations.

• Pentecostalism first began to appear in the late 1800, as some members of “holiness movement” in the USA, started to advocate “baptism” of the Holy Spirit, tongue speaking and miracles.
• Although there were claims of Pentecostal expereinces of tongues prior to 1906, The Azusa Street Revival led by William J. Seymour is the watershed of the Pentecostal movement in the U.S and worldwide.
• Beginning April 9, 1906 in Los Angeles, California at the home of Edward Lee who claimed the infilling of the Holy Spirit as of such date.
• William J. Seymour claimed that he was overcome with the Holy Spirit on April 12, 1906.
• On April 18, 1906, the Los Angeles Times ran a front page story on the revival, "Weird Babel of Tongues, New Sect of fanatics is breaking loose, Wild scene last night on Azusa Street, gurgle of wordless talk by a sister".
• By the third week in April, 1906, the small but growing congregation rented an abandoned African Methodist Episcopal Church at 312 Azusa Street and subsequently became organized as the Apostolic Faith Mission.
• Almost all mainline Pentecostal denominations today trace their historical roots to the Azusa Street Revival.
• Since then the modern Christian world has seen constant growth of their teachings and practices.
• Today it has gone into almost all the mainline denominations and is generally known as Charismatism.
• From the beginning they have emphasized that ecstatic and miraculous gifts as proofs of the baptism of the Spirit.
• This fast wide spreading movement has been spinning farther and farther from the proper Scriptural teachings since its inception.

Their preoccupation with the ecstatic experiences has produced some very strange, totally unbiblical phenomena in their midst, such as

• Mass hysteria of gibberish (Tongues)
• Claims of healing, signs and wonders (Faith Healing)
• Prosperity and health to all who believe and receive blessings from their anointed leaders (Health-Wealth Gospel)
• Falling backward and rolling on the ground (Slain in the Spirit)
• Uncontrolled laughter, accompanied by animal like sounds and behaviour (Holy Laughter)

Are these true manifestations of the Spiritual Gifts that the Lord Jesus Christ offered to the members of His Church?

If those modern manifestations are not consistent with the Scripture, then they are not from God, but self-generated or satanic.

The Scriptures warn us that in the last days there will be an upsurge of spiritual deception through miracle workers. The Scriptures clearly teach us that in the last days many will be deceived to follow false teachers by their wonders and signs. The false prophets would mislead people through their miraculous, ecstatic deeds. In fact, a sure sign of the end times is the form of godliness that is devoid of truth and holiness, and yet with manifestation of miraculous.

• Mathew 24:4-5, 11-13, 24
• Matthew 7:21-23;

Foundational Gifts

• These were generally miraculous gifts.
• They were given as part of the revelation of God’s Word in the early church
• They were either “revelatory gifts” or “sign gifts”
• These are non-permanent gifts. They ceased as soon as their purpose was accomplished.

Revelatory Gifts – Not to be continued

In 1 Corinthians 13:8, Paul emphasizes the permanence of love by contrasting it with spiritual gifts that are meant to be temporary.

Verse 8 says,

• “Charity never faileth” (Hē agapē oudepote piptei): Love never faileth. It is expressive of the perpetuity of love. Love survives everything.
• “but”
• “whether there be prophecies, they shall fail” ("shall fail": katargēthēsontai): First future passive of katargeō (from argos): to make idle, to be inoperative. Prophetic gift will be made inoperative (when the Bible, complete revelation of God’s truth, comes to existence cf. vv.9-10).
• “whether there be tongues, they shall cease” ("shall cease": pausontai): Future middle indicative of pauō, which means “to make cease.” The middle voice suggest that the gift of tongues shall make itself cease or automatically cease of itself.
• “whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away” ("shall vanish away": This word is also from the same Greek word as “fail” (katargeō). The gift of knowledge shall no more take place.

Paul clearly said that all of these special spiritual gifts, that were given for the purpose of revelation would pass away.

The Reason for their cessation:

1 Corinthians 13:9-10
9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.
10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.

• Through those revelatory gifts, the early Christians were given portions of God’s truth each time when one was led to exercise them.
• The word “in part” (appears twice in v.9) is translated from the Greek word, meros, which means, “one of the constituent parts of a whole, or in a measure, or severally, or individually.”
• In the early church, the truth of God was given to edify the congregation through these revelatory gifts, but the truth was revealed in portions.
• The New Testament was not yet written. So those gifts continued until the revelation (N.T) was complete.
• After the revelation (the Scripture / the New Testament) was complete (apostolic period) and then put together (canonization 350 A.D – 451 A.D), these revelatory gifts were vanished.
• We have plenty of credible testimony from the church fathers that those revelatory gifts and the accompanied confirmatory gifts or sign gifts ceased after the completion and acceptance of the New Testament.

John Chrysostom (347-407) concerning the spiritual gifts of 1 Corinthians:

“This whole place is very obscure: but the obscurity is produced by our ignorance of the facts referred to, and by their cessation, being such as then used to occur but now no longer take place” (“Homilies on 1 Corinthians,” Vol. XII, The Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Hom 29:2).

John Calvin (1509-1564):

“...the gift of healing, like the rest of the miracles, which the Lord willed to be brought forth for a time, has vanished away in order to make the preaching of the Gospel marvellous for ever” (Institutes of the Christian Religion, Bk IV:19, 18).

John Owen (1616-1683):

“Gifts which in their own nature exceed the whole power of all our faculties, that dispensation of the Spirit is long since ceased and where it is now pretended unto by any, it may justly be suspected as an enthusiastic delusion” (Works IV, 518).

Thomas Watson (1620-1686):
“Sure, there is as much need of ordination now as in Christ's time and in the time of the apostles, there being then extraordinary gifts in the church which are now ceased” (The Beatitudes, 140).

Matthew Henry (1662-1714):
Speaking of the ‘gift of tongues,’ he said, “These and other gifts of prophecy, being a sign, have long since ceased and been laid aside, and we have no encouragement to expect the revival of them; but, on the contrary, are directed to call the Scriptures the more sure word of prophecy, more sure than voices from Heaven; and to them we are directed to take heed, to search them, and to hold them fast ...” (Preface to Vol IV of his Exposition of the OT & NT, vii).

Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758):
“Of the extraordinary gifts, they were given 'in order to the founding and establishing of the church in the world. But since the canon of Scriptures has been completed, and the Christian church fully founded and established, these extraordinary gifts have ceased” (Charity and its Fruits, 29).

George Whitefield (1714-1770):
“... the karismata, the miraculous gifts conferred on the primitive church ... have long ceased ...” (Second Letter to the Bishop of London, Works, Vol. IV, 167).

James Buchanan (1804-1870)
“The miraculous gifts of the Spirit have long since been withdrawn. They were used for a temporary purpose” (The Office and Work of the Holy Spirit, 34).

Robert L. Dabney (1820-1898)
“After the early church had been established, the same necessity for supernatural signs now no longer existed, and God, Who is never wasteful in His expedients, withdrew them ... miracles, if they became ordinary, would cease to be miracles, and would be referred by men to customary law” (‘Prelacy a Blunder,’ Discussions: Evangelical and Theological, Vol. 2, 236-237).

Charles Haddon Spurgeon (1834-1892)
Speaking of the office of the apostles, “an office which necessarily dies out, and properly so, because the miraculous power also is withdrawn” (Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit 1871, Vol. 17, 178).

Benjamin B. Warfield (1851-1921)
“These gifts were ... distinctively the authentication of the apostles. They were part of the credentials of the apostles as the authoritative agents of God in founding the church. Their function thus confirmed them to distinctively the apostolic church and they necessarily passed away with it” (Counterfeit Miracles, 6). After the revelation (the Scripture / the New Testament) was complete (apostolic period) and then put together (canonisation 350 A.D – 451 A.D), these revelatory gifts were vanished.

Sign-Gifts

Together with the revelatory gifts, the Lord also bestowed upon those who were called to be the Apostles, miraculous gifts for the confirmation of their message. These miraculous were not found with every believer. They were seen being performed only by those who were in the Apostolic band.

The following verses and all the evidences in the Acts and elsewhere in the epistles point to this truth.

• 2 Corinthians 12:12 - "Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds.”
• Acts 2:43 - "And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.”
• Acts 5:12- "And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; (and they were all with one accord in Solomon’s porch."
• Romans 15:19 - "Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God; so that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ." These signs were done by the Apostle Paul.

Conclusion

All the foundational gifts have been ceased with completion of the New Testament.

Now we must build upon that is revealed and confirmed, the Bible.

Ephesians 2:20 – “And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone”

• The apostles and prophets were the two major offices of the early which the Lord has given to the church, that they may reveal the Word of God, which will be the foundation of the church. Their gifts were foundational and temporary. Those gifts have vanished with them. Today, as Paul said in Ephesians 2:20, we ought to build upon using the gifts that are for our times, such as preaching, teaching, ministering, etc.
• Anyone who claims to have those foundational gifts and their confirmatory (sign) gifts is a pretender and deceiver. Christ has already laid the foundation through the revelation of His Word through the apostles and prophets, He Himself being the chief cornerstone. The Lord is no more in the work of laying the foundation. The foundation is already laid.
• Today the members of the church, must proclaim, teach and live according to the foundational truth of His Word, which is given to us by the Apostles and prophets. If anyone today appears with the claim that he is an apostle or a prophet, we must reject such. Their miracles are not of God (Matt 7:21-23; 24:24), they are counterfeits, like those of the ancient Egyptian magicians who performed the miracles that Moses did.
• Let us therefore do not seek after the charismatic ecstasy and miracle signs because they are counterfeits. But let us seek to build upon the Word of God, which is handed down to us by the Apostles and prophets of the church.

Our Service in the Church - II

Our Service in the Church - II

Romans 12:4-8

Introduction

• God has called us to be living, active, serving members.
• Every Christian ought to function like a member of the body (cf. vv.4-5).
• The Church is Christ’s body. We, the members of the church, though diverse in our abilities function in unity.
• A non-serving member weakens the Church, as its members remain dysfunctional.

Basis for Our Service in the Church

• The basis is God’s gracious bestowing of spiritual gifts.
• Romans 12:6a - "Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us.”
• “having then gifts”- All true believers are bestowed with “gifts” to equip them to serve.
• Those gifts are given “according to the grace that is given to us.”
• We can/must serve in the church because God has given us “gifts” to enable us to serve.
  – While speaking of the gifts, Paul said in 1 Corinthians 12:7 “But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.”
  – 1 Peter 4:10 “As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.”
  – We ought to be “stewards” or faithful servants in managing God-given gifts by using it appropriately and promptly.
  – Because God has bestowed all Christians, every one who claims to be a Christian is without excuse for not serving the Lord actively in His church.
• The Greek word for “gift” (charismata) speaks of God’s grace in blessing us with spiritual abilities.
  – God is the giver of the spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 12:4-6). He has graciously given us the gifts.
  – The Spiritual gifts are not cultivated or earned by oneself, but “received” from God’s hands.
  – So spiritual gifts do not reflect a person's greatness, but the greatness of God who gave the gift.
  – Since we are enabled by His grace, none of us should be proud of our gifts and service.
  – We must serve in the church with thankfulness, humility, willingness and vigour.
  – Not to serve God is to neglect the grace and gift of God. (1 Timothy 4:14; 2 Timothy 1:6).

Use of Gifts in Our Service

• Seven spiritual gifts are mentioned in verses 6-8.
• (i) Prophecy (v.6), (ii) Ministry, (iii) Teaching (v.7) (iv) Exhortation, (v) Giving, (vi) Ruling (Administration), and (vii) Mercy (v.8).
  – Only one of this is a “sign-gift”
  – In the Scripture, there are about 18 catgegories gifts are mentioned.

i) Prophecy (v.6):

“let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith”

• Purpose of prophesying—communicating God’s message, to strengthen, encourage, and comfort (1 Cor. 14:3).
• One’s “prophesying” ought to be proportionate to the (not his) faith.” (tes pisteos).
• It is to be in right relationship to the body of truth already revealed (“faith” as doctrine in Gal. 1:23; Jude 3, 20).

ii) Ministry (v.7):

“Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering”

• Ministry (diakonia): All kinds of services, let us be occupied with it.

iii) Teaching (v.7):

“he that teacheth, on teaching”

• Acts 13:1; 1Corinthains 12:28
• Pastors ought to be good teachers. There is no such thing as “music-pastor”.
• Only diligent students of God’s Word can be teachers. God equips some for the feeding of the flock by giving them the gift of teaching; and they should labour in the word (1 Timothy 5:17).

iv) Exhortation (v.8):

“he that exhorteth, on exhortation”

• The gift of exhortation is about comforting, encouraging, and consoling fellow brethren (paraklesis).
• This does not necessarily involve public teaching. It is calling along side an individual to admonish, correct, guide, comfort and strengthen in the Christian walk.

v) Giving (v.8):

“he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity”

• When we give we must give with sincerity, without hypocrisy, (simplicity –Greek – haplotes).
• We should not seek self-promotion. No fanfare, when it comes to generosity.

vi) Ruling (v.8):

“he that ruleth, with diligence”

• The gift of ruling refers to leadership administration. The Greek word for rule” (proistemi) means “to be over,” “to superintend,” or “preside over.”
• This gift is to be carried with “diligence,” which in Greek(spoude), means “haste,” “forwardness” “earnestness,” etc.
• Every leader (elder) must fulfil the duty of his office with great earnestness. He must strive after in accomplishing the leadership roles.
• Leadership is not a promotion given, but a call to duty, which must be diligently fulfilled.

vii) Mercy (v.8):

“he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.”

• Showing mercy (eleeo) is about having compassion to the needy and the troubled. This is a believer being efficient in helping the afflicted or seeking aid, or one’s ability to bring help to the wretched.
• This gift ought to be done with “cheerfulness” (hilarotes). It is impossible to show mercy with a grumpy spirit. Showing mercy is often a very demanding and exhausting work. So those with this gift need not only patience but also “cheerfulness”.
• A ready and joyful heart must characterize those who are called by the Spirit to the ministries of compassion and mercy.

May God bless us abundantly by His grace through His blessed Spirit to carry out each of our gifts that our church may be edified and strengthened for His glory.

Our Service in the Church - I

Our Service in the Church - I

Romans 12:4-8

Introduction

• A large number of Christians give little consideration to their service in the church.
• It weakens the Christian, as he fails to appropriate God’s grace that is made available to him to serve God in His church.
• It also weakens the Church, as its members remain dysfunctional.
• Paul has already told us in the previous verses that we should not to think and act as we deem best, but according to God’s plan and decrees (vv. 2-3).

We are exhorted

• “ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” (v.2)
• “not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.” (v.3)

Church’s Body Functionality (vv.4-5)

Body Metaphor (v.4)

In verse 4 Paul introduces human body as a simile or an image to teach us the divine plan for the functionality of His church.

• “For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office” (v.4).
• The conjunction “for” introduces this verse as the reason why we should not think individualistically, an admonition he mentioned in verse 3. The reason for not thinking individualistically is that we are called to be joined to one body as its members.
• The term “as” tells us that Paul is using the concept of body functionality as a metaphor to teach the function of the church and its members ought to function.
  1 Corinthians 10:17 – “For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.”
  1 Corinthians 12:12 – “For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.”
  1 Corinthians 12:27 – “Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.”
  Ephesians 1:22-23 – “And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.”
  Ephesians 2:16 – “And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby.”
  Ephesians 3:6 - “That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel.”
  (cf. Ephesians 4:4,12,16; 5:23)
  Ephesians 5:30 – “For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.”
  Colossians 1:18 – “And he is the head of the body, the church . . .”
  (cf. Colossians 1:24; 2:17,19; 3:15)

Two major points of comparison

• The church is made up of believers, like the body that is made up of many members - “For as we have many members in one body”
• Believers in the church functions like members of the body – “and all members have not the same office.”

Church’s Functionality Explained (v.5)

“So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.”

• Diversity: “So we, being many”
• Unity: “are one body in Christ”
• Functionality: “and every one members one of another”

Diversity: “So we, being many”

• God has designed the church as a living organism with many members with various functions
• v.4b - “and all members have not the same office.”
• 1 Corinthians 12:14 says, “For the body is not one member, but many.”
• God has designed the church as a living organism with many members with various functions
• Church is not a “one man show.”
• The church has leaders, but it functions the best when all the members serve with their different abilities.
• 1 Corinthians 12:15-19

Unity: “are one body in Christ”

• Diversity does not mean that we stand disunited.
• In Christ, we function as one body.
• Members work out their diverse gifts as they like, but as Christ, the Head, would direct. Thus they function as members of one body
• 1 Corinthians 12:20-27

Functionality: “and every one members one of another”

• Mutual care and support are emphasised by these words.
• 1 Corinthians 12:25 - That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.
• Ephesians 4:11-13

Conclusion

• As a Christian, have you joined the church to be a functioning member by baptism (or transfer of membership)?
• As a member of the church, have you been actively serving other members according to the will your Saviour?
• Let us rise up to serve the Lord like one united body of Christ, as He instructed us this day.

Walking with God

Genesis 5:24 tells us that “Enoch walked with God.” Many Christians today find it so difficult to walk consistently with God, even for a single day. But Enoch walked with God for 300 years! A Biblical study of the term “walk” tells us that it is expressive of something more intimate than just taking a walk with God.

Firstly, walking with God suggests that there is no enmity between God and Enoch.

Enemies do not walk together. Amos 3:3 asks, “Can two walk together, except they be agreed?” The Scriptures in many places assert that the mind of the unconverted is carnal, sinful, and therefore at enmity with God. Romans 8:7 says, “The carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.” Thus, walking with God implies that the converted man who walks with God is no longer an enemy of God, but has been reconciled to God through the all-sufficient righteousness and atonement of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

Jesus Christ is our peace as well as peacemaker. Romans 5:10 says, “For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.” Colossians 1:20 says, “And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.” If you have believed on Him, you are justified and you are reconciled to God; and consequently you can walk with God. Jesus Christ brings us to God and helps us to walk with Him.

Secondly, walking with God implies an abiding communion or fellowship with God.

1 John 1:6-7 says, “If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: but if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.” So walking with God or in His light would mean having fellowship with God. Such a person would not allow anything to distract him from his communion with God. He keeps his life in tune with God all the time.

We all know that when friends walk together, they would engage in close and interesting conversation. They derive strength and encouragement from their close communication. And this idea is clearly intended in the figure of speech “walk with God”. Every child of God must keep on communing with God. A Christian must draw his pleasure and comforts not from his worldly friends but from his God. He must have constant fellowship with God.
The child of God must have fellowship with God in prayer. He must view the daily seasons of prayer as sweet and wonderful. So the man who walks with God speaks with God – telling Him all his doubts and fears, struggles and sufferings, all his desires and needs. The prayerful Christian will receive God’s kind exhortations and comforting answers in return.

I remember a story told by Charles Spurgeon about a sickly Christian in Scotland who was on his death bed, and visited by a friend who felt very distressed for him. This Christian told his friend, “Could these curtains, or could these walls speak, they would tell you what sweet communion I have had with my God here.” O prayer! Prayer! It brings and keeps God and man together. It raises man up to God, and brings God down to man. If you have been there, you would like to be there again. O believers, keep up your walk with God; pray, and pray without ceasing.

Believers must also maintain their walk with God by reading His Holy Word. “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me” (John 5:39). We meet our Saviour in this Holy Book, the Bible. There we hear His voice, gentle and sure, guiding and strengthening, comforting and emboldening us for each day’s task.

How can we maintain a Christian walk without having God to speak to us? So God preserved His inspired Word for His people. It shall not pass away for the sake of His people’s blessing. And the royal Psalmist tells us, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path” (Psalm 119:105). Walking in the light of God’s Word is to walk in His presence.

Thirdly, walking with God is a description of the renewed life of a believer.

The word “walk” is descriptive of the manner in which God’s people ought to walk. Romans 6:4 says, “Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.” A man who is united with Christ should not walk like a worldly person. Anyone who desires to walk with God cannot walk with those who have no fellowship with God.

Ephesians 2:2 tells us, “Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience.”

Ephesians 4:17 – “This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind.”

Those who walk with the Lord will be characterised by godliness. Consider what the Scripture says about the manner in which Christians ought to walk:

(1) Walk by faith: 2 Corinthians 5:7, “(For we walk by faith, not by sight).”

(2) Walk according to the Holy Spirit and not according to carnal feelings: Romans 8:1, “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” Romans 8:4, “That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” Galatians 5:16 “This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.”

(3) Walk honestly, without hypocrisy: Romans 13:13, “Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.” 2 Corinthians 4:2, “But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.” Ephesians 5:8, “For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light.”

(4) Walk in Christ’s love: Ephesians 5:2, “And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.”

(5) Walk circumspectly: In Ephesians 5:15, believers are exhorted to “walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise.”

A believer who walks with God will be wise to always please Him. One ought to walk with God in the same direction and to the same destination. The man who walks with God must conform to God’s moral character and will. His feelings and aspirations ought to be in accordance with the holy law. He ought to love righteousness and hate iniquity.

The New Testament names Enoch as a man of faith, and comments on his life as one that pleased God. Hebrews 11:5 says, “By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.” Enoch was certainly a remarkable man of faith. When the time came for this extraordinary man of piety to leave the world, God took him suddenly and supernaturally. He was the first of two in the Old Testament who did not see death.

Fourthly, walking with God implies that one is advancing or making progress in his spiritual life.

Walking, in the very first idea of the word, seems to suppose a progressive action or motion. A person who walks, moves and goes forward. So it is with those who walk with God. They will go on “from strength to strength” (Psalm 84:7); they are “changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord” (2 Corinthians 3:18).

In the epistle of Jude, we are told that Enoch prophesied about the last days: Jude 14, 15 – “And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, to execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.” What a blessing Enoch received from God to be given a glimpse of the glorious return of Christ with His saints in the end-times!

It certainly pays to walk with God. And only those who walk with Him below will walk with Him above. The Lord took Enoch into His presence without letting him see death. That is a very great honour indeed!