…but by My Spirit XXV

gifts - Spirit - heart

 

Sunday 12/11/16 

Series: …but by My Spirit XXV

Message – Knowing the Holy Spirit through your Gifts II

Click HERE for Video

 

Point #6 We express the heart of our Father through giving ourselves entirely to our giftings.

Key Text:

1Tim. 4:14-16,

(14) Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership. (15) Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all. (16) Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.

Last week we used Paul as our examples of giving yourself entirely to your ministry….and we learned a few things.

Today we are going to use Paul as our example of giving yourself entirely to your ministry….

Adding an 2 additional points:

  • God does this revealing to qualify your ministry.

  • All MINISTRY reveals the Father through the Son!

Gal 1:15-24,

(15) But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace, (16) to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately confer with flesh and blood, (17) nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; but I went to Arabia, and returned again to Damascus. (18) Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and remained with him fifteen days. (19) But I saw none of the other apostles except James, the Lord’s brother. (20) (Now concerning the things which I write to you, indeed, before God, I do not lie.) (21) Afterward I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia. (22) And I was unknown by face to the churches of Judea which were in Christ. (23) But they were hearing only, “He who formerly persecuted us now preaches the faith which he once tried to destroy.” (24) And they glorified God in me.”

Only God’s Grace qualifies you!

Remember Paul said in Phil. 3 that as Christians we are those who place NO confidence in the flesh.

If Paul had followed his natural flesh talents he would have gone to the Jews and NEVER fulfilled his MINISTRY of going to the Gentiles.

Remember Paul was….

  • was a Jew

  • I strict Hebraist

  • studies under Gamaliel

  • KNEW the scriptures

  • Understood the fulfillment of the Old Testament writings in the person of Christ Jesus.

In the FLESH Paul was the PERFECT Apostle to send to the Jews!

Which was our next point…

Callings are not always obvious

  • Not everyone who is called into the ministry – desires the ministry they are called into.

  • Conventional “christian” wisdom is that the things that have happened to you both determines your call and qualifies you for it.

But that is NOT what we see in scripture…in fact as we read concerning Paul…those very things may disqualify you to be used in that capacity.

1Cor. 15:8-11,

(8) Then last of all He (Jesus) was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time. (9) For I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.

(10) But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. (11) Therefore, whether it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.”

Grace Gift

Let’s look at Timothy…

Timothy is important because it’s easy to look at Paul and think “Well he was an Apostle” as if somehow that relieves you of YOUR stewardship.

Some think Timothy was an Apostle.

Others think Timothy was “the Pastor” of the church of Ephesus because Pal left him there and wrote him letters on how to minister in that place.

Howver, the only descriptive title the entire New Testament affords Timothy was……..?????

Deacon (or minister)

1Thess. 3:1&2,

“(1) Therefore, when we could no longer endure it, we thought it good to be left in Athens alone, (2) and sent Timothy, our brother and minister of God, and our fellow laborer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you and encourage you concerning your faith,”

The word “minister” is Diakonos – and simply means a servant or one who serves another.

Turn to Acts 6:1-7,

(1) Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a complaint against the Hebrews by the Hellenists, because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution. (2) Then the twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, “It is not desirable that we should leave the word of God and serve tables. (3) Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business; (4) but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” (5) And the saying pleased the whole multitude. And they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Ni-can-or, Timon, Parmen-as, and Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch, (6) whom they set before the apostles; and when they had prayed, they laid hands on them. (7) Then the word of God spread, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith.”

SIDE JOURNEY

Deacons were originally servants or assistants to the Apostles. It wasn’t until the appointment of Elders (shepherds) in all the churches that deacons assisted them.

So in the case of Timothy with Paul, Timothy was Paul’s servant and fellow minister – he was an Apostolic delegate.

Teaching was and is NOT a requirement for modern deacons, and probably wasn’t for the original deacons either, but Timothy was well versed in the Word due to his upbringing and Paul’s mentoring so, he served in the capacity of Paul’s representative.

1Cor 4:15-17,

(15) For though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. (16) Therefore I urge you, imitate me. (17) For this reason I have sent Timothy to you, who is my beloved and faithful son in the Lord, who will remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach everywhere in every church.”

What did Paul encourage Timothy to do?

1Tim. 4:12-16,

(12) Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in (the) faith, in purity. (13) Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. (14) Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership. (15) Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all. (16) Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.

Word example = A pattern TO BE FOLLOWED

  • In word – DOCTRINE – is everything!!!!

    • Matt. 9:35-38 (Someone Read) (also 10:5-8) PREACH!

  • In Conduct – what you do

  • In love – How you do it

  • In spirit – The divine influence by which the temperment or disposition of mind in a Christian is affected.

  • In (the) Faith – Remember two primary words for faith Pistis and Pistiou. One acts like a noun the other a verb. In this case it is the noun Pistis but is being used in the genitive case making “faith” – “THE faith”.

  • In Purity – free from defiling influences and thus behaviors

Notice that out of the 6 things listed – ALL but ONE are actions.

You lead in your gifting by how you live NOT what you say alone!

So Paul tell’s Timothy HOW to produce actions which support his gifts and calling.

In closing, let’s look at them –

  • Don’t Neglect the gift (charismatos)

    • 1 Cor. 12:1-7 (to EACH ONE)

  • Meditate on them (the word and your calling)

    • Calling = invitation

  • Give yourself ENTIRELY to them

    • Paul used the example of Olympics…

1Cor. 9:24-25 “Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown.”

Php. 3:14 “I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”

  • Pay attention to yourself & the doctrine

    Without giving heed to his life, Timothy might suffer shipwreck (as in 1Tim. 1:18-19). Without giving heed to his doctrine, Timothy might lead others astray or into shipwreck themselves.

What are prophecies? God inspired words. It is essentially RHEMA that came through another person for edification, exhortation and comfort. This can be done directly by God in the form of revelation or through man in the form of prophecy.

We are NOT led by prophecy, but prophecy often serves as a confirmation of something God has already said to you directly. We are LED by the Spirit of God, in agreement with the written word!

Blessings! 

 

 

I hope this teaching will challenge you and encourage you to place your trust in the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.

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Blessings!

 

Hi my name is Mark and though I am opposed to titles, I am currently the only Pastor (shepherd/elder) serving our assembly right now.

I have been Pastoring in one capacity or another for nearly 30 years now, though never quite like I am today.

Early in 2009 the Lord revealed to me that the way we had structured our assembly (church) was not scriptural in that it was out of sync with what Paul modeled for us in the New Testament. In truth, I (like many pastors I am sure) never even gave this fundamental issue of church structure the first thought. I had always assumed that church structure was largely the same everywhere and had been so from the beginning. While I knew Paul had some very stringent things to say about the local assembly of believers, the point of our gatherings together and who may or may not lead, I never even considered studying these issues but assumed we were all pretty much doing it right...safety in numbers right?! Boy, I couldn't have been more wrong!

So needless to say, my discovery that we had been doing it wrong for nearly two decades was a bit of a shock to me! Now, this "revelation" did not come about all at once but over the course of a few weeks. We were a traditional single pastor led congregation. It was a top-bottom model of ministry which is in part biblical, but not in the form of a monarchy.

The needed change did not come into focus until following 9 very intense months of study and discussions with those who were leaders in our church at the time.

We now understand and believe that the Bible teaches co-leadership with equal authority in each local assembly. Having multiple shepherds with God's heart and equal authority protects both Shepherds and sheep. Equal accountability keeps authority and doctrine in check. Multiple shepherds also provide teaching with various styles and giftings with leadership skills which are both different and complementary.

For a while we had two co-pastors (elders) (myself and one other man) who led the church with equal authority, but different giftings. We both taught in our own ways and styles, and our leadership skills were quite different, but complimentary. We were in complete submission to each other and worked side-by-side in the labor of shepherding the flock.

Our other Pastor has since moved on to other ministry which has left us with just myself. While we currently only have one Pastor/Elder, it is our desire that God, in His faithfulness and timing, may bring us more as we grow in maturity and even in numbers.

As to my home, I have been married since 1995 to my wonderful wife Terissa Woodson who is my closest friend and most trusted ally.

As far as my education goes, I grew up in a Christian home, but questioned everything I was ever taught.

I graduated from Bible college in 1990 and continued to question everything I was ever taught (I do not mention my college in order to avoid being labeled).

Perhaps my greatest preparation for ministry has been life and ministry itself. To quote an author I have come to enjoy namely Fredrick Buechner in his writing entitled, Now and Then, "If God speaks to us at all other than through such official channels as the Bible and the church, then I think that He speaks to us largely through what happens to us...if we keep our hearts open as well as our ears, if we listen with patience and hope, if we remember at all deeply and honestly, then I think we come to recognize beyond all doubt, that, however faintly we may hear Him, He is indeed speaking to us, and that, however little we may understand of it, His word to each of us is both recoverable and precious beyond telling." ~ Fredrick Buechner

Well that is about all there is of interest to tell you about me.

I hope our ministry here is a blessing to you and your family. I also hope that it is only a supplement to a local church where you are committed to other believers in a community of grace.

~God Bless!