| | Explore | | |

November 1, 2009

Romans 12:4-8

1 Corinthians 12:4-13

Ephesians 4:11-12

Vocal Gifts of the Spirit

 

We all have the ability to run on with our mouths.

 We all have the “gift of gab”.

  You might exercise that gift more with some people than with others.

   These days, however, even the “gift of gab is facing perilous times.

    Now two people sit beside each other and send text messages and twitter.

     Maybe someone here is doing that right now.

      It is inconceivable that anyone here is totally inept at being verbal.

       If you feel strongly enough about something you are going to talk about it.

        God created with this remarkable ability.

         He knows the power of words.

          In 6 days God created the physical universe.

           He created out of nothing with nothing but words.

           His words were the raw material of everything good that we see.

            God knows the power of the spoken word.

             God created with this remarkable ability.

God created us with this remarkable ability.

 God wants to do something creative with this ability He has given to you.

  He has given spiritual gifts to help you use the “gift of gab”.

   We need to surrender our gift of gab to His glory.

    Our words which are a part of our life need to be a tool in God’s hands.

     Our words are a reflection of our heart’s condition.

      “A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart.  What you say flows from what is in your heart.”  (Luke 6:45)

Let’s look at some of the creative ways God can use our “gift of gab”.

 Mixed into the gifts of the Spirit Paul identifies those that are vocal.

  He enables some of us to use words for prophecy.

   He enables some of us to use words for teaching.

    He enables some of us to use words for encouragement.

    He enables some of us to use words for evangelism.

     He enables some of us to use words for messages of wisdom.

      He enables some of us to use words for messages of knowledge.

       He enables some of us to use words for speaking to others in their language.

        These are all vocal gifts of the Spirit.

         God wants to maximize the effectiveness of what you say.

          He doesn’t want to see a single word squandered or wasted.

           Jesus fed 5,000 men plus women and children with 5 loaves and 2 fish.

            There was an abundance of food that came from a child’s blessed lunch.

             Everyone was filled.

             They didn’t want to eat anything else.

              And yet Jesus refused to waste a scrap of that food.

               The leftovers were gathered up and accounted for.

                 The Holy Spirit has the same attitude.

                 He doesn’t want any of our words to be wasted.

                  He wants every word that we speak to be spoken for good.

“So since we find ourselves fashioned into all these excellently formed and marvelously functioning parts in Christ's body, let's just go ahead and be what we were made to be, without enviously or pridefully comparing ourselves with each other, or trying to be something we aren't.”  (Romans 12:5 TM)

 

I   God has given the vocal gifts of the Spirit to PROTECT YOU.

     You know the damage that words can do.

      You have inflicted that damage on others.

       Others have inflicted that damage on you.

        Words can damage and destroy relationships.

         God wants to protect you from that damage.

          It is His desire that all be filled with His Spirit and be gifted.

           It is because people reject Him that this world is dangerous.

           When we come to repentance and the fullness of the Spirit the tongue is tamed.

            James recognized what the gift of gab was capable of doing on its own.

    “And the tongue is a flame of fire.  It is a whole world of wickedness, corrupting your entire body.  It can set your whole life on fire, for it is set on fire by hell itself.”  (James 3:6)

             God wants to protect you with the vocal gifts of His Spirit.

    “‘In the last days,’ God says, ‘I will pour out my Spirit upon all people.  Your sons and daughters will prophesy.  Your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams.”  (Acts 2:17)

    “But mark this:  There will be terrible times in the last days.  People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy,”  (2 Timothy 3:1-2)

    “First of all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires.”  (2 Peter 3:3)

    “For I am afraid that when I come I won’t like what I find, and you won’t like my response.  I am afraid that I will find quarreling, jealousy, anger, selfishness, slander, gossip, arrogance, and disorderly behavior.”  (2 Corinthians 12:20).

    “I solemnly urge you in the presence of God and Christ Jesus, who will someday judge the living and the dead when he appears to set up his Kingdom:  Preach the word of God.  Be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not.  Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching.  For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching.  They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear.  They will reject the truth and chase after myths.  But you should keep a clear mind in every situation.  Don’t be afraid of suffering for the Lord.  Work at telling others the Good News, and fully carry out the ministry God has given you.”  (2 Timothy 4:1-5)

More and more the church will need the vocal gifts of the Spirit.

 And more and more the church will reject the vocal gifts of the Spirit.

  Paul feared for the Corinthian church if the vocal gifts were not exercised.

   When Jesus returns for His church and He won’t like what He sees.

   He will find the church filled with people who don’t know the Spirit.

    Those people will be incapable of speaking the name of Jesus to others.

     It is only by the Spirit that we can say “Jesus is Lord!”

      As Jesus’ return nears people will say, “I can’t tell others of Jesus.”

       He has given the vocal gifts of the Spirit to PROTECT YOU in this life and

       the next.

 

II  He has also given the vocal gifts of the Spirit to PRODUCE FRUIT.

     What better way to use words than draw others into His kingdom?

      What does God want to do through you with the gift of gab?

       How will you yield your words to God?

        Jesus has poured out His Spirit on us so our words will build up.

         He has poured out His Spirit on us so our words will encourage.

          He has poured out His Spirit so our words will express His love.

           He has poured out His Spirit so our conversation will reflect Jesus.

           Jesus spoke only what He first heard from the Father.

            Can you imagine what the church would look like if that is all we said?

             What if we spoke to others only what God has spoken to us?

              What would that do to our relationships?

               How would our church impact the world right around us?

                What creative work would we do as a congregation?

                 Imagine your friends hearing the voice of God through you!

                  Whose life might be transformed by your conversations?

William Barclay translates this Spirit filled life described by Paul.

“Your love must be completely sincere.

Hate that which is evil and cling to that which is good.

Be affectionate to one another in brotherly love.

Give to each other priority in honour.

Do not be sluggish in zeal.

Keep your spirit at boiling point.

Seize your opportunities.

Rejoice in hope.

Meet tribulation with triumphant fortitude.

Be persevering in prayer.

Share what you have to help the needs of God’s dedicate people.

Be eager in giving hospitality.”

These are the marks of the Spirit-filled believer.

 What kind of words and conversation would you expect from that heart?

  We would expect the words from that heart to PRODUCE FRUIT.

   On your handout this morning is a list of the vocal gifts of the Spirit.

    Are you able to identify any in your life?

     As the praise team comes to lead our last song reflect on that list.

      Check those you are currently experiencing and thank the Lord.

       If there are none, pray the prayer at the bottom of the page.

        Seek to experience the entire purifying of love by the Spirit!

         Can you rejoice and lift your voice to the glory of the Father?

          If so, sing out on our closing song.

           Use your gift of gab musically to exalt our Heavenly Father.

           What a privilege to lift your voice in praise to God.

 

Closing Song   I Will Rejoice