Church of the Nazarene – East Rock
What Does God Want from Me? Gifts
What we do with what we’ve been given matters to God
Throughout this series we will seek to understand and answer the question:What does God expect of me?
We believe whole heartedly that it is only by the grace and mercy of God that we can be saved. There is absolutely nothing we can ever do to EARN our salvation.
But truths such as the grace, mercy, and forgiveness of God do not nullify the fact that He has expectations about how we are to live our lives.
Our teaching series is based on the parable of Jesus in Matthew 25 known as the parable of the talents.
What we do with what we have been given, matters to God. God expects his people to utilize what they have been given for the growth of his Kingdom. That’s exactly what Jesus wants us to see in this parable.
Within our teaching series we are seeking to understand what God expects with our time, our money, and ultimately our very lives.
Today we are focusing on spiritual gifts. Those abilities, passions, and strengths God has graciously given you, for the growth of his Kingdom.
1 Peter 4:10
Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.
Here this truth today friends: If you are in Christ, you have been given at least one spiritual gift.
So, the question is not “Do I have a spiritual gift?” God’s word says you do-the question for you today is this- What are you doing with the spiritual gift you’ve been given?
1 Corinthians 12:1-6
Now about the gifts of the Spirit, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed. You know that when you were pagans, somehow or other you were influenced and led astray to mute idols. Therefore I want you to know that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus be cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit. There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.
Where do spiritual gifts come from? They all come from the Lord.
The New Testament records some 20 spiritual gifts, while leaving the door wide open to include more. But despite their varied type and function, all spiritual gifts come from the Lord.
1 Corinthians 12:7-11
Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.
Who has spiritual gifts? Each and every one who is experiencing life in Christ.
What are spiritual gifts for? Serving others in the body of Christ.
In the New Testament there are (4) lists that contain spiritual gifts.
1 Corinthians 12, also in Romans 12, Ephesians 4, and 1 Peter 4.
There are 20 or so different gifts mentioned in the New Testament.
Gifts like Faith and discernment. Giving and Administration. Healing and wisdom. Encouragement and leadership. Teaching and evangelism.
Let’s pause just a second to distinguish between natural abilities or talents and spiritual gifts.
Natural abilities or talents are certainly related to spiritual gifts and they often overlap, but they are in fact different. Natural abilities or talents are things that come naturally to us, through genetics or practice and refinement.
Spiritual gifts on the other hand come from God supernaturally- and they have ONE purpose, and that is serving the Kingdom.
Spiritual gifts are abilities and passions specifically given by God, to be utilized in the growth and flourishing of his kingdom through the church.
1 Corinthians 12:12-18
Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many. Now if the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be.
Our gifts are going to be different, and that’s by design.
God has arraigned us together to form the body he has called to be on mission here in this community- for such a time as this.
If you are in Christ today, God has given you special gifts of grace-and he expects you to use them as part of the Church, as part of the Body of Christ.
Some here have gifts of helping, others have gifts of leading, others, gifts of administration, others gifts of healing, still others gifts of encouragement, etc.
Friends, what you do with what you have been given matters to God.
So, What does God expect of me in regards to my spiritual gifts?
First- God expects that you have a spiritual gift, because he’s given you one in Christ Jesus. If you aren’t sure about which of the 20 or so spiritual gifts mentioned in the Bible are yours, I would encourage you to explore the different spiritual gifts this week.
Second- God expects you to use the gift that He has given you, to serve the body of Christ, His church. Jump into serving now!
Begin a journey now to discover your gifts, and put them to work in his kingdom.
There is no one who is part of our church family who is expendable or unnecessary. He made you with a purpose. So you can obey him, serve him, and love others well.
That’s what he expects of you!
Updates on the new Waynesboro campus
God is inviting us to step out in faith to plant a Spanish-speaking campus in the Waynesboro community. Join us on the journey!
Check out the link below for more information and for frequent updates throughout the journey.
Giving at COTN
If you ever have questions or need help with online giving, please let us know: finance@cotnaz.org Thank you for your partnership in building the Kingdom of Christ as you impact others!