God Has Given Us Different Gifts

Romans 12:6-8

Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teach, on teaching; Or he that exhort, on exhortation: he that give, let him do it with simplicity; he that rule, with diligence; he that shew mercy, with cheerfulness.

 

Notice that when it comes to the gift of leadership, diligence is the measure.

Today we may want to emphasize networking, or the ability to sway people toward a goal, but the Scripture puts value in consistency.

Talent is not enough to lead well. It takes the daily application of leadership to be effective for God's purposes.

It is the daily grind that forms the leader to used by the Master; this is as true today as it was back then.

1.YOUR GIFT AND WHAT TO DO WITH IT

Romans 12:6a

A. We have different gifts

B. Whatever our gift, we must use it

2.  SOME REPRESENTATIVE GIFTS

Romans 12:6b-8

3. Prophecy = the gift of inspired utterance

A. THE PROPHET IS THE MOUTH PIECE FOR GOD

B. PROPHECY MAY HAVE A FUTURE (foretell) OR A PRESENT ORIENTATION (forthtell)

C. PROPHECIES COULD BE POSITIVE OR NEGATIVE

D. TODAY NO NORMATIVE TRUTH, BUT A MESSAGE TO SPECIFIC SITUATIONS

In proportion to “the” faith

2 Peter 1:19

4. PROPHETS EXERCISE CONTROL OVER THEIR GIFT

1 Corinthians 14:30-33

5.  Deaconing = Practical service to others

A. “SERVICE” IN GENERAL

B. CARE OF PRACTICAL MINISTRY OF THE CHURCH

6. Teaching = The ability to expound the Word of God

A. EXPLAINING WHAT GOD HAS REVEALED

B. INVOLVES ILLUMINATING MINISTRY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

C. AS AN OFFICE: PASTOR–TEACHER

7. Exhortation = The ability to encourage in the Lord

A.THE OPPOSITE OF JOB’S “MISERABLE COMFORTERS”

B. APPEALS TO THE WILL

C. BRINGS COMFORT

8. Giving = The ability to know how and when to give of your possessions

A. NOT HAVING MIXED MOTIVES

B. IN A SIMPLICITY THAT IS NOT SELF–SEEKING

With simplicity / generosity

9. Leading = The ability to be a pace–setter for a group or other individuals

A. MEANS “TO STAND BEFORE”

B.  MAY HAVE THE SENSE OF GIVING AID

With diligence

10. Showing Mercy = Helping those in distress

With cheerfulness

For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. Mark 10:45

Pray with Intense Power

God Bless You !!
Acts 12:5
Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church.

Acts 12 records the story of a crisis situation in the early church. James had been put to death by King Herod. Peter had been arrested and was clearly next. So what did the church do? They prayed. But they didn't pray just any old prayer. They prayed with passion. We read that "constant prayer was offered to God for him [Peter] by the church." I love that.

The phrase "constant prayer" could be translated "earnest prayer" or "stretched outwardly." It is reaching for something. Have you ever dropped an item that was just beyond your reach, and you were straining to get it? That is how the church was praying. Theirs was not a casual, yawning, Lord-help-Peter kind of prayer. This was a storm-the-gates-of-heaven kind of prayer. They were not backing down. And guess what? Their prayers were heard.

When a Gentile woman begged Jesus to heal her demon-possessed daughter, He told her, "It is not good to take the children's bread and throw it to the little dogs" (Matthew 15:26).

She could have stormed away, but instead she answered, "Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters' table" (verse 27). Jesus was not pushing her away; He was drawing her in. He knew her faith was great. And because of her persistence, her daughter was healed the same day.

Sometimes when the answer to our prayer doesn't come right away, we assume that God is saying no. Maybe. But maybe He wants us to keep praying—with persistence.

This is the kind of prayer that prevails with God, the prayer into which we put our whole soul, reaching out toward God in agonizing desire. Much of our prayer has no power in it because we put so little heart into it.

One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, 'Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.'

He said to them, 'When you pray, say: "Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation." ' (Luke 11:1–4)

John the Baptist taught his disciples how to pray and our Lord's disciples also wanted to know how to pray. So Jesus said to them: 'When you pray, say this…' and he taught them what we refer to as the Lord's Prayer.

Before I was born again I used to say prayers: they came purely from my mind and not from my spirit. But when I was born again I started to pray. When a born-again Christian prays it comes from their spirit as the Holy Spirit leads. All true prayer is inspired by the Spirit of God.

Today is National Prayer Day. Let our prayers be heard. This nation need a revival to bring USA back to God. And we must also pray for other countries. God bless you all in Christ...

Pray Without Ceasing

 1 Thessalonians 5:17
We must never forget that prayer is not only for petition, but also for protection and for preparation. Prayer not only gives us what we want; it prepares us for and protects us... from what we don't want.

 In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus was in anguish as He contemplated the horrors of the cross. All He wanted the disciples to do was to be present and praying. Being God, He knew what was ahead. He knew every detail. And so He prayed, "O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will" (Matthew 26:39).

All Jesus asked for was some companionship. He didn't need a sermon; He needed some friends. But His friends were sleeping. And this was a direct result of the sin of self-confidence.
The same can be true of us. We pray when we think we need to pray. When a crisis hits, when we get bad news from the doctor, when we are laid off, when we are having problems with our marriage or problems with our children, what do we do? We pray. And that is good. It's what we should do.

But what about when things are going well? When the bills are paid, when the job is looking good, when there is no bad news from any front, do you pray then? Is it because you think you don't need to? Is it because of self-confidence?

Failure to pray actually can be a sin. Sin isn't just breaking a commandment, though it includes that. There is also the sin of omission. James 4:17 tells us, "Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is.

Are you committed with conviction in prayer? So tell me: What is your prayer life like? Do we pray only when you want something from God or On occassion when thing arises in your life. Do you set apart time in your day for God in prayer? 1 Samuel 12 Israel had demanded a king from Samuel, who had rule over them as one of the judges of Israel. They wanted to be like the other nations. Samuel told them that in so doing they had rejected God as their king. Nevertheless, God was going to give them their king. He says, “God forbid that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you.” In saying this he is saying clearly that it is a sin for us not to pray.

I'm going to show you a few reasons why prayerlessness is a sin!

1. Prayerlessness is negligence of a divine privilege purchased at a great price (Hebrews 4:14-16; 10:19-20). When Jesus went to the cross, suffered and died, the veil of the temple was ripped into. This signified there would never again be anything keeping man out of God’s presence when we come to Him through Jesus. Not to spend time with God in prayer is to neglect this divine privilege. When we consistently spend time with the Father in prayer we are taking advantage of this great privilege of entering God’s presence (Romans 5:2). Let’s utilize this precious privilege purchased for us on Calvary.

2. Prayerlessness opens the door for other sins (Luke 22:40; Matthew 6:13). Jesus commanded us to pray that we would not be tempted. Not to pray leaves us wide open to temptation and failure. We all experience times of temptation. Regular times, alone with God in prayer, minimizes temptation and failure. I wonder if things would have been different if the disciples would had been praying instead of sleeping (Luke 22:30-46)

3. Prayerlessness proves God isn’t first in our life (Matthew 6:22, 24, 33; 1 John 5:21; James 4:2-5). God demands to be number one in our life. Failure to spend regular times with Him in prayer reveals He isn’t first in our life. However, if we are praying regularly, this proves we are at least attempting to put Him first in our lives. Let’s commit ourselves to spending daily time with God in Prayer.

Saints as a strong Christian believer in Christ myself, I'm convicted and sold out for Jesus with devotion and I am dedication in my prayer life. Every living moment I have to consume myself in prayer, it does matter where I am. God is first. again I ask you. Where do you stand in your Prayer life? I love you all and God bless in the name above all names Jesus! Amen...