Refreshing Daily

in God’s Word Emphasis on

Spiritual Gifts

“Generally speaking the gifts enumerated by Paul in this section of Romans (Romans

12:6-8) have to do with expounding the Word of God and with expanding the work of God. The two are intimately related. Every believer has a gift, some

have several, and every believer is responsible before God to find

out what his gift is, develop it through exercise and use it in

the work of the kingdom.” ~ John Phillips

Your talent is God’s gift to you. What you do with it is your

gift back to God.

Spiritual Gifts ~ ProphecyAugust 1

Bible Reading: Romans 12:6 – Matthew 26:30-35Key Verse: Romans 12:6 – “Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to

us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;”

Key Words: let us prophesy

I personally believe that prophecy in our text is not predicting the future, but focusing on the truth of God’s Word.

The person with the gift of prophecy focuses on truth. Peter would be a great example of the gift of prophecy. As you read his writing from II Peter, he often warns about the false prophet.

The gift of prophecy in the church stresses the church holding to the truth.

Now, while the gift of prophecy in the Spirit focuses on truth, the person with this gift who is in the flesh sees only themselves as being right. In the flesh, they don’t care who they hurt so long as they “speak the truth” forgetting the spiritual admonition to speak the truth in love.

Years ago, The Betty Ford Story aired on television. This was a movie that told the story of her addiction and recovery. At a point during the movie, a fairly emotional scene took place. The family is still sitting around confronting Betty Ford. Her son says, “Mother, you are destroying yourself; you are destroying this family, and you are killing yourself. Mother, you are a drunk, you are an addict.” The mother was infuriated. She told her son that he was being very disrespectful and questioned his right to speak to her that way. She said, “How can you say these things to me? I am your mother!” The boy said, “Mother, I can say it because it is the truth.” This

confrontation was the catalyst for the establishment of the Betty Ford Clinic. Now this same place helps a lot of other people overcome their addictions. Many of the people who have come to the clinic were able to face their addictions because, like Betty Ford's son, someone had the guts to tell the truth.

Be thankful to others who hold the church to the truth. But may I remind all of those with the gift of prophecy to speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15).

What to do:✞ Speak truthfully, but do so in love.

********************

Spiritual Gifts ~ Ministry August 2

Bible Reading: Romans 12:7 – Luke 10:25-37Key Verse: Romans 12:7 –“Or ministry, let us

wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching;”

Key Words: Or ministry

The gift of ministry waits on or serves others so that the others are free to carry out their responsibilities.

The Good Samaritan, I believe, had the gift of ministry. He certainly ministered to the man who was beaten and robbed.

We don’t often think of the gift of ministry as being important:

Preparing food for fellowships,Cleaning toilets and floors,Setting up classrooms,Putting hymnals back in place, and

The list goes on and on.Think of the gift of ministry the way the gift of

prophecy tells the truth, there is a job to be done. The teacher teaches how others can do their job. The exhorter motivates others to do the job while the giver gives so the job can be done, and the gift of mercy shows compassion for those who do the job. But praise God for the gift of ministry for they are the ones who are doing the job that must be done.

What to do:✞ Thank those who have

the gift of ministry. If it weren’t for them the building would be dirty, the food for fellowships would be little, and the hymnals would remain out of place.

********************

Spiritual Gifts ~ TeachingAugust 3

Bible Reading: Romans 12:7 – I Timothy 4:1-15

Key Verse: I Timothy 4:11 – “These things command and teach”

Key Words: and teach

I believe Timothy had the gift of teaching. You see that in our text verse in I Timothy. You see it again in I Timothy 6:2.

Teaching means to turn the light on, not just in the mind but in the heart.

While we should all desire to teach others, the spiritual gift from the Holy Spirit stands out. Just as you can tell those who sing well from those who have the gift of singing, the same principle applies to the

gift of teaching. Some teach while others you sit in awe of – that’s the gift of teaching.

William A. Ward has said, "The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires.

An item in "The Report Card" told of a study done in Colorado in which 3000 high school seniors were asked about their best teachers. From their responses this composite was drawn. The ideal teacher (1) is genuinely concerned and interested in students as individuals; (2) requires students to work; (3) is impartial in dealing with students; and (4) is obviously enthusiastic about teaching. 

Praise the Lord for all who teach the Word of God!!

What to do:✞ For those who have the gift of teaching: teach on!

********************

Spiritual Gifts ~ ExhortationAugust 4

Bible Reading: Romans 12:8 – I Samuel 17:12-31

Key Verse: Romans 12:8 – “Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation; he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness”

Key Words: he that exhorteth

The gift of exhortation means to motivate. The exhorter is a motivator. I love the motivating words of David in I Samuel 17:29, “Is there not a cause?”

The motivator’s goal is to get people going without killing the spirit to go.

There is a story of a father who takes his son to the circus. The clowns were particularly good and the last one of them was a little fellow wearing a very wonderful high hat. While he was bowing elaborately to a dignified woman, his hat fell off and an elephant sat on it.

The clown gestured wildly at the elephant, but the beast sat still. He waved and shouted again and again, but the elephant never budged. Angrily the clown stepped behind the elephant and kicked with all his strength, and hopped away with a sore foot in his hands.

Then, frantic with anger, the little clown turned back to the elephant and tried to lift him off the hat. Defeated and in complete despair, the clown sat down and started to eat peanuts. The elephant was interested in peanuts and got up, ambled over, and begged for one!

That is a powerful illustration of exhortation. Realize that we have just witnessed a spiritual object lesson: You can't accomplish anything for God by crabbing and kicking at the world (or your spouse, child, neighbor or co-worker!).

The gift of exhortation is not just in encouraging others, but knowing how to get them moving.

What to do:✞ Call all exhorters! The Church of the Living

God needs some motivating!!

********************

Spiritual Gifts ~ GivingAugust 5

Bible Reading: Romans 12:8 – Philippians 4:1-15

Key Verse: Philippians 4:15 – “Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only.”

Key Words: no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only

While we are all to be givers, the gift of giving goes up and beyond what the normal person gives. The giver funds many “ministries” within the church. We have those who fund a great amount so we can have prime-timers’ luncheons and men’s prayer breakfasts.

Praise the Lord for those who have the gift and the wherewithal to give. They are a vital part of each and every church.

Charles Spurgeon and his wife, according to a story in the Chaplain magazine, would sell, but refused to give away, the eggs their chickens laid. Even close relatives were told, “You may have them if you pay for them.” As a result some people labeled the Spurgeons greedy and grasping.

They accepted the criticisms without defending themselves, and only after Mrs. Spurgeon died was the full story revealed. All the profits from the sale of eggs went to support two elderly widows. Because the Spurgeons were unwilling to let their left hand know what their right hand was doing (Matt. 6:3), they endured the attacks in silence.

My heart goes out to those whom God has given the gift of giving, and given them the wherewithal to give; but they become like the Dead

Sea and the Great Salt Lake, they are stagnant and dead because they take in but they never give out.

What to do:✞ If you have the ability to give, do it!! You cannot out give God!!

********************

Spiritual Gifts ~ RulershipAugust 6

Bible Reading: Romans 12:8 – Nehemiah 2:11-20

Key Verse: Romans 12:8 – “Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.”

Key Words: ruleth, with diligence

The word ruleth means to oversee, lead, be out front.

It’s easy to see that men such as Nehemiah, Moses, Peter, Joshua were all men with the gift of rulership.

It’s easy as a ruler to become lazy for who oversees the over-seer? That’s why the ruler is told to be diligent.

The ruler is someone who must have the quality and character of an ant “having no guide, overseer, or ruler provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest (Proverbs 6:7-8).”

One of the tests of leadership is the ability to recognize a problem before it becomes an emergency.

Submit to pressure from peers and you move down to their level.

Speak up for your own beliefs and you invite them up to your level.

If you move with the crowd, you'll get no further than the crowd.

When 40 million people believe in a dumb idea, it's still a dumb idea.

Simply swimming with the tide leaves you nowhere.

So if you believe in something that's good, honest and bright- stand up for it. Maybe your peers will get smart and drift your way.

That’s rulership!!!

What to do:✞ He that ruleth – do it with diligence, and I might add, faithfulness.

********************

Spiritual Gifts ~ MercyAugust 7

Bible Reading: Romans 12:1-8Key Verse: Verse 1 – “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye

present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.”

Key Words: by the mercies of God

Mercy is the showing of compassion. Those who have the gift of mercy hate to see people in need or hurting. Mercy doesn’t ask why: why people are hurting or why people are in need.

The truth is we all need mercy on occasion. Reminds me of a little boy who one day came to his mother. He said, “Mama, give me a peanut butter sandwich.” Mother made him a peanut butter sandwich, but then he looked at it and smiled. He said, “Mama, I asked you for a peanut butter sandwich and you put jelly on it too!”

You know what mercy is? Mercy is when God not only gives you what you ask for, but He adds a little extra on it too. He gives you more than you deserve.

A guy had his picture taken. He was very upset with the photographer and very upset with the picture. He rushed back in to the photographer and said, “Look at this picture of me! This picture does not do me justice!” The photographer looked at him and said, “Mister, with a face like yours, you don’t need justice, you need mercy!”

That’s exactly the situation we are in. We don’t need justice, but we need a whole lot of mercy.

Praise the Lord for those who have the gift of mercy!

What to do: ✞ Show your mercy with some cheerfulness.

********************

Seven Grace GiftsAugust 8

Bible Reading: Romans 12:6-21Key Verse: Verse 6 – “Having then gifts

differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;”

Key Words: Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us

Now that we have looked at the seven grace gifts, let’s do a review by looking at how each gift would handle someone who is hurting and are in need.

The prophet says, “They need to know the truth about why they are going through this situation so I will tell them.”

The gift of ministry says, “I will bake them a cake.”

The gift of teaching says, “I will help them learn from this situation.”

The gift of exhortation says, “I will prod them to keep them serving through this situation.”

The gift of giving says, “How much do you need?”

The gift of rulership says, “They need to be led through this trial.”

The gift of mercy says, “I will show them some compassion.”

So the next time you see someone going through a difficult time, understand that everyone may be trying to help, but all in a different way. Those are the grace gifts!

What to do: ✞ Use your gift or gifts wisely and always with

love.

********************

Jesus, the ProphetAugust 9

Bible Reading: John 14:1-14Key Verse: Verse 6 – “Jesus saith unto him, I

am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

Key Words: the truth

While we as believers have at least one grace gift, and maybe two, Jesus demonstrates all seven of these gifts throughout His ministry.

The gift of prophecy, not foretelling, which Jesus certainly did, but He also told forth the truth because Jesus is the Truth.

It's amazing. People want objective standards when it comes to everything else, but not for how to live their life. But suppose you went to the doctor and he was getting ready to perform an operation and he said, “Now, I think this is where I need to cut. Other doctors have ideas of where to cut, but this is what I think. Let's just check it out and see if I cut right.” Is that the doctor whom you want?

Suppose you went to a pharmacist and he said, “Well, I think this is the medicine you should take. Now, the pharmacist down the street has another view, but this is what I think. Why don't you try it?”

Suppose you got on a plane and the pilot said, “Now, I think this is the button I'm supposed to push. Now, my engineer over here thinks I ought to push this button. My copilot over here thinks I should push that button. The flight attendant thinks I should push this other button. Well...let's try this button and see if it gets us off the ground.”

No! At the doctor's office, you want truth. At the pharmacist's, you want truth. In the airplane, you sure enough want truth. You don't want a pilot saying, “I think,” or a doctor saying, “I think,” or a pharmacist saying, “I think.” You're going to sue him if he thinks wrong. You want him to think right.

Well now, if you can respect the truth of a doctor and the truth of a pharmacist, and you can respect the truth of a pilot, how come God can't be trusted? He's truth – an absolute standard of reality found in the Word of God.

Jesus, the Prophet! He is the Truth!

What to do: ✞ Believe every word of Jesus for He is the

Truth!

********************

Jesus and MinistryAugust 10

Bible Reading: Mark 5:25-34Key Verse: Verse 34 – “And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague.”Key Words: go in peace, and be whole of thy plagueThrough the ministry of Jesus you find Him

waiting on or ministering to people.In Mark 5 alone, which I call the 3D chapter of

the Bible, Jesus ministers to the demon-possessed man, the diseased woman, and the dead girl.

One of the things that stands out to me about Jesus’ ministry is that he mingled with the people so he could effectively minister to them.

It’s from Jesus’ three years of earthly ministry that we see the importance of ministering to others.

There's a clever young guy named Somebody Else. There's nothing this guy can't do. He's busy from morning to way late at night just substituting for you. You’re asked to do this or you’re asked to do

that and what is your ready reply? Get Somebody Else to do that job; he’ll do it much better than I. So much to do in this weary old world – so much and workers are few. Somebody Else, all weary and worn, is still substituting for you.

The next time you’re asked to do something worthwhile, just give this ready reply: “If Somebody Else can give time and support, my goodness, so can I.” Stop giving Somebody Else your job. Become a servant and watch what God will do for you, because He can also do it through you. You will discover it really is more blessed to give than to receive. What kind of servant are you?

What to do: ✞ Follow Jesus’ example and don’t give away

your opportunities to minister.

Jesus, the TeacherAugust 11

Bible Reading: Matthew 5:1-12Key Verse: Verse 2 – “And he opened his

mouth, and taught them, saying,”Key Words: and taught them

Everywhere Jesus went He taught. He is the Master of teaching. At least on thirty-nine

different occasions, we read in God’s Word where He taught others.

Jesus was the Master Teacher because He communicated through stories. For example, the story of the rich young ruler in Mark 10, the story of the prodigal in Luke 15, the story of the adulterous woman in John 8; Jesus communicated and taught in many ways but primarily through telling stories of others.

Don Hewitt, creator of “60 Minutes,” on his special talent as a journalist:

My philosophy is simple. It’s what little kids say to their parents: “Tell me a story.” Even the people who wrote the Bible knew that when you deal with issues, you tell stories. The issue was evil; the story was Noah.

I’ve had producers say, “We’ve got to do something on acid rain.” I say, “Hold it. Acid rain is not a story. Acid rain is a topic. We don’t do topics. Find me someone who has to deal with the problem of acid rain. Now you have a story.”

Jesus: the Gifted Teacher, the Great Communi-cator, the Master Teacher!

What to do: ✞ Learn from God’s Word and you learn from

the greatest teacher of all time: Jesus!

********************

Jesus, the ExhorterAugust 12

Bible Reading: John 8:1-11Key Verse: Verse 11 – “She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.”Key Words: go, and sin no more

The gift of exhortation motivates to righteousness: “do right.” Jesus was the Great Exhorter. He knew and knows how to motivate. It is a gift not everyone has.

"I'm so depressed and I can't get any dates,” the 300-pound man told his minister. "I've tried everything to lose weight.”

"I think I can help,” said the minister. "Be dressed and ready to go tomorrow at 8 a.m.”

Next morning, a beautiful woman in a skintight exercise suit knocked on the man's door. "If you can catch me, you can have me,” she said, as she took off. He huffed and puffed after her.

This routine went on every day for the next five months. The man lost 115 pounds and felt confident that he would catch the woman the next day. That morning he whipped open his front door and found a 300-pound woman in a jogging suit waiting for him. “The minister said to tell you,” she began, “that if I can catch you, I can have you.”

This minister knew how to exhort and motivate others.

Jesus, the Great Exhorter, knew how to “move” people!! Well, we would do well to follow His example, not by condemning but by saying to the sinner, “Go, and sin no more.”

What to do: ✞ Learn from Jesus’ example.

********************

Jesus, the GiverAugust 13

Bible Reading: Luke 6:28-38Key Verse: Verse 38 - “Give, and it shall be

given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same

measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.”

Key Words: Give

We are told by those who study such things that two-thirds of Jesus’ message was on giving. But not only did Jesus teach on giving, He gave His very life so you and I could have eternal life.

There is a guy named Billy Taylor. He is a junkyard specialist. Billy Taylor goes to junk yards to find stuff that other folk have thrown away, discarded, and considered no good or worthless. Billy Taylor brings it back to his garage and turns the junk into contemporary art pieces, which he then sells for upwards of $5,000 per piece. He goes and finds junk that is worthless in everybody else’s eyes and then turns it into a masterpiece. When Billy Taylor looks at the junk, he sees more than meets the eye. He sees a masterpiece in the making. He takes things that are worthless and makes them into something beautiful.

Well, you may have been worthless before you met Jesus, but once you meet Him, even if you were in the junkyard, He’s able to go into that yard, save you, and turn you into a valuable masterpiece. Because of His grace, you are now a divine design.

Jesus gave His life so you and I could become a masterpiece of His.

What to do: ✞ You, as well, can be a masterpiece of Jesus’

by trusting in Him today as your Savior. If you need counsel, email or call us.

********************

Jesus and RulershipAugust 14

Bible Reading: Matthew 4:12-22Key Verse: 19 – “And he saith unto them,

Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”

Key Words: Follow me

The gift of rulership means a person is an organizer and a leader. When I think of the gift of rulership, the name Nehemiah comes to mind; but even more predominant than that is the name of Jesus.

Jesus is the greatest example of all the grace gifts, including rulership.

Jesus was the greatest of all leaders. He knew where He was going (Heaven) and He wanted others to go with Him.

Matthew Henry went to London, met a young lady of nobility, who was also wealthy, and they fell in love. She went to her father to ask if she could marry him. He responded, “He’s got no background. You don’t know where he is from.” The daughter’s response was, “Yes, I know, but I know where he’s going and I want to go with him.” Well, we know where Jesus is from and we know where He is going; and we should desire to follow Him, not only to Heaven, but to do His will on earth.

Matthew 28:19-20, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”

What to do: ✞ Be a good follower of the

Greatest Leader.

Thought: A good leader is a person with a magnet in his heart and a compass in his head.

********************

Jesus and MercyAugust 15

Bible Reading: Luke 18:35-43Key Verse: Verse 38 – “And he cried, saying, Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me.”

Key Words: have mercy on me

It is said that grace is God giving us what we do not deserve, and mercy is God not giving us what we do deserve. If that is the case, the blind man was asking Jesus to remove from him the blindness that he rightfully deserved.

Today each of us should be thankful for mercy. Think about this: what if we were all made mutes because we gossiped and said things we should not say? What if we were all blind because we looked at things we should not have? What if we were all made deaf because we listened to things we ought not? What if we were all made lame because we went where we should not go? Thank God for His mercy

that we do not get what we deserve. If so, we would all be bound for hell.

A mother once approached Napoleon seeking a pardon for her son. The emperor replied that the young man had committed a certain offense twice and justice demanded death.

“But I don’t ask for justice,” the mother explained. “I plead for mercy.”

“But your son does not deserve mercy,” Napoleon replied.

“Sir,” the woman cried, “it would not be mercy if he deserved it, and mercy is all I ask for.”

“Well then,” the emperor said, “I will have mercy.” And he spared the woman’s son.

Mercy: not getting what we do deserve.

What to do: ✞ Be thankful for Jesus and His gift of mercy.

********************

Diversities of GiftsAugust 16

Bible Reading: I Corinthians 12:1-16Key Verse: Verse 4 - “Now there are diversities

of gifts, but the same Spirit.”Key Words: there are diversities of gifts

We are a diverse people. We are not all the same color, not all the same gender, we don’t all look alike, nor do we all speak the same language or like the same things. We are a diverse people. God made us that way. The same is true when it comes to our spiritual gifts.

The grace gifts found in Romans 12 were primarily given to be a blessing to other believers.

The gifts found in I Corinthians 12, while being a blessing to other believers, were primarily used to reach unbelievers.

You find nine of these spiritual gifts in I Corinthians 12. Just as we do not all have the same grace gifts, we as well do not all have the same outreach gift. The Spirit gives us the gift He so chooses (verse 7).

Not only do we have different gifts, we each use our gift in different ways (verse 6). For example, I’ve seen different styles of preaching. We all know of preachers who pace back and forth, and others who never move. Some preachers pound the pulpit, while others do not. Some raise their voice while others are just steady in their tone of voice. Some are Bible-thumpers and others aren’t, but they all have the same gift: preaching; and their goal is the same: to preach the Word, reach the lost, motivate the saint, and to glorify God. I try not to get all caught up in style as much as I do content and character.

There are diversities of gifts. What’s yours? And are you using it to reach others and glorify the Lord?

What to do: ✞ Find your spiritual gift and use it! Not abuse

it!

********************

The Gift of WisdomAugust 17

Bible Reading: I Corinthians 12:8 and 2:1-7Key Verse: Verse 2:7 – “But we speak the

wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden

wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: “

Key Words: hidden wisdom

While God has promised to give wisdom to those who ask (James 1:5), there is a gift of wisdom, that being the ability to pull out the golden nuggets of the Scriptures.

Have you ever sat under a pastor, evangelist, missionary or teacher and said, “Wow, I never saw that before!” I personally believe that what this gift of wisdom is, is the ability to teach others and find those golden nuggets of truth from God’s Word that others may overlook.

I want to share with you something really encouraging. Most of us don’t aspire very high in our reading because we don’t feel like there is any hope. But listen to this. Suppose you read about 250 words a minute and that you resolve to devote just 15 minutes a day to serious reading to deepen your grasp of Biblical truth. In one year (365 days) you would read for 5,475 minutes. Multiply that times 250 words per minute and you get 1,368,750 words per year. Now most books have between 300 and 400 words per page. So if we take 350 words per page and divide that into 1,368,750 words per year we get 3,910 pages per year. This means that at 250 words a minute, fifteen minutes a day you could read about 20 average sized books a year! I believe you will be absolutely elated: reading more than you ever thought you could in a 15 minute slot that would have been wasted anyway.  Start with the Bible and then choose some great commentaries.

Now, automatically there are those who will say “I can’t do that!” Maybe that’s the reason you don’t have the gift of wisdom.

What to do: ✞ If you have the gift of wisdom, use it wisely

or you won’t have it long.

********************

The Gift of KnowledgeAugust 18

Bible Reading: I Corinthians 12:8 and 1:1-9Key Verse: 12:8 – “For to one is given by the

Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;”

Key Words: the word of knowledge

Knowledge is constantly changing. What some of us learned in high school is already outdated. Remember the old 8-track tapes? Outdated! How about the old copy machines we used to use? Outdated! We used to have a percolator coffee pot. Now we have a Keurig. Things change. Knowledge changes. But the knowledge here is the knowledge of God’s Word. The natural man receives not the things of the Spirit of God; but not every saved person has the knowledge of God’s Word.

Let me explain it by using music. We have all heard people play around with the piano and we’ve heard others who could play the piano, but every now and then someone comes along and when they play the piano, our ears perk up and our eyes turn to see who this person is for they make the piano come to life. So it is with the person who has the gift of knowledge. They make the Bible come to life!!

May God bless those who have the gift and may they use it wisely.

What to do:

✞ Thank God for those you know who have the gift of knowledge.

********************

The Gift of FaithAugust 19

Bible Reading: I Corinthians 12:9 andMatthew 17:14-21Key Verse: Verse 12:9 – “To another faith by

the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;”

Key Words: To another faith

God gives to every man the measure of faith. Some build their faith and others don’t.

This gift of faith given to some should never be used as an excuse for our lack of faith. It is a gift given to some to encourage us through the very tough and trying times of life. For example, in Acts 27 Paul stands up and begins to proclaim by faith that (verse 22) men should be of good cheer “for there shall be no loss of any man’s life among you, but of the ship.” Now, they are in the middle of a typhoon, the ship is sinking, no doubt men are in total fear (as most of us would be), but Paul’s gift of faith was used to encourage others during the most trying time of life.

J. Vernon McGee writes: Faith, we are told in the Scriptures, is the substance of things hoped for. That is a gift. Some people have the gift of faith.

“I have a combination of Scottish and German blood in me. When you get that combination, it’s bad. I have pessimist blood in me, and I look at everything from that point of view. In every church in which I served, God gave me several people who had the gift of faith. Many a time an officer has come and put his arm around my shoulder and said, “Look,

preacher, this thing is going to come through just right.” And you know, it did. He had the faith; I didn’t. Faith is a gift of the Spirit.”

What to do: ✞ Praise God for those who have faith during

the most trying times of life.

********************

The Gift of HealingAugust 20

Bible Reading: I Corinthians 12:9 and James 5:14-20

Key Verse: Verse 12:9 – “To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;”

Key Words: the gifts of healing

I do not believe in faith healers, but I do believe that faith can heal.

Faith in God can heal the alcoholic from his drunkenness.

Faith in God can heal the addict from his addiction to drugs.

Faith in God can heal the thief from their stealing and the adulterer from their fornication.

I believe that God uses the prayers of those who pray, believing, to work miracles.

The word healer means physical treatment, those who know how to treat illness and disease, and prescribe medicine. These are used by God to “heal” but it is ultimately God Who does the healing.

I do not believe in the faith healing of today that so many false teachers are proclaiming to have. Remember, we are told in Matthew 7:21-23: “Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter

into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then I will profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”

What to do: ✞ I praise God for modern medicine, but I

praise Him more for He makes them work.

********************

The Gift of MiraclesAugust 21

Bible Reading: I Corinthians 12:10 and Hebrews 12:1-4Key Verse: Verse 12:10 – “To another the

working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:”

Key Words: working of miracles

Again, I repeat, I believe in the God of miracles, but I do not believe in man-made miracles.

In the early church, miracles were a part of the credentials of God’s servants. The gifts of healing, miracles, and tongues were sign gifts of the early church. I believe these gifts are “passed away.”

But I do believe in the God of miracles and with God nothing is impossible.

I believe these miracles come from God through our prayer life.

A man was putting a tin roof on his barn when all of a sudden he slipped and began to slide down

the roof. He cried out to God to save him when no sooner he got the words out of his mouth a nail caught his pants and stopped him. When he stopped he said, “Never mind God, I took care of it”. The problem isn’t that God doesn’t perform miracles anymore, the problem is we’re not looking for God to perform miracles.

An alcoholic [who] became a believer, was asked how he could possibly believe all the nonsense in the Bible about miracles. “You don’t believe that Jesus changed the water into wine, do you?” “I sure do, because in our house Jesus changed the whiskey into furniture.”

Yes, I believe in miracles. I see God perform them every day (but not man)!!

What to do: ✞ The greatest of all miracles is the salvation

of a soul. Are you saved? If not, call us. We want to tell you about the great miracle of salvation.

********************

The Gift of Discerning SpiritsAugust 22

Bible Reading: I Corinthians 12:10 and I John 4:1-10

Key Verse: Verse 12:10 - “To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:”

Key Words: to another discerning of spirits

You may have noticed that we did not cover the gift of prophecy, foretelling the future events has failed (failed means to lose authority, not be valid).

The discerning of spirits I believe is still viable today.

I personally know a pastor that will fall for every sob story that vagabonds off the street tell him. Over the years, I’ve cautioned him in regard to those who take advantage of his gracious but naïve spirit. This gracious pastor will tell you over the years he has trusted those who have let him down even though he was warned in regard to these “fakes.”

My wife, who seldom gets involved in the inner workings of the church, will say to me, “Now, you be careful. Watch out”… for this and that; and then she will say, “Isn’t ‘so and so’ wonderful?” She is almost always right. She has the spirit of discernment.

Duck hunters use decoys. Today, these decoys have gotten pretty fancy. The decoys quack like ducks, move like ducks, look like ducks, and act like ducks. In fact, the ducks think that they are ducks and the real ducks end up being dead ducks because they can’t tell what’s real.

What to do: ✞ Praise God and listen and heed those who

have proven that they indeed have the gift of discerning spirits.

********************

The Gift of TonguesAugust 23

Bible Reading: I Corinthians 12:10 and Acts 2:1-4

Key Verse: Verse 12:10 - “To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:”

Key Words: divers kinds of tongues

We are told in I Corinthians 13:8 that tongues will cease when that which is perfect is come.

There are those who believe that the “that” in the verse is the second coming of Jesus. I certainly do not want to make this devotional a commentary on the Scriptures, but I would be amiss if I did not say that the context of Scripture is not the second coming, but the context is love and the Scriptures. Prophecy was the Scripture, knowledge was and is a gift involving the Scripture… “that which is perfect” is the complete Word of God. When the Word was completed, tongues ceased.

In Acts 2 the Jews spoke in tongues as a sign that the Holy Spirit had come upon the Jews. It was a one-time event.

In Acts 19 it was a sign that the Holy Spirit had been given to the Gentiles. Again, a one-time event.

Tongues for today has ceased. Instead of wasting time trying to invent an unknown language, let’s spend our time and money getting the Bible translated into those known languages that do not have the Scriptures.

In his sermon, “A Dangerous Pentecost,” Halford Luccock tells of Lorenzo de’Medici, the great Florentine patron of the arts who was very proud of the spectacles he staged for the citizenry. Among his productions were several amazingly realistic religious pageants performed in church. But one Pentecost, Lorenzo went too far: he used actual fire to depict the descent of the tongues of flames on the apostles. The fragile stage set caught fire and, before horrified onlookers, the entire church burned

to the ground. The moral is clear: pray for Pentecostal power, but don’t try to manufacture it.

What to do: ✞ Use your tongue to share the Gospel

everywhere you go in the language you know.

The Gift of VocationAugust 24

Bible Reading: Ephesians 4:1-10Key Verse: Verse 1 - “I therefore, the prisoner

of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,”

Key Words: walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called

The vocation here is not our secular job but of the sharing of the Gospel. See Ephesians 2:10; 3:1, 7, 8, 11, and of course, 4:1.

The command to win souls and witness is given to every believer.

The gift of God in Jesus Christ and our vocation as believers is to tell others what Jesus has done for us and to glorify Him by and through our life.

Did you notice how often Paul starts both chapters 3 and 4 with the word prisoner? A prisoner is someone with no rights, only responsibilities. It is our responsibility, yes even our vocation, to tell

others about Jesus and to show others Jesus through our life.

A black man who could neither read nor write was handed a tract. He asked, “What is this?” When he was told it was a tract, he said, “Well, I can’t read it; so I’ll watch your tracks.” That was the greatest short sermon this Christian could ever have had preached to him. Someone was watching his tracks…thus the gift of your vocation.

What to do:✞ Walk worthy of your vocation.

Baptism of the SpiritAugust 25

Bible Reading: I Corinthians 12:1-13Key Verse: Verse 13 - “For by one Spirit are we

all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have

been all made to drink into one Spirit.”Key Words: For by one spirit are we all

baptized into one body

The baptism of the Spirit is not a separate event apart from salvation. It is not a second blessing. The baptism of the Spirit according to I Corinthians 12:13 is a “one-time” happening.

Often the confusion in regard to the baptism of the Spirit comes because of a misunderstanding of the Holy Spirit in the book of Acts.

In Acts, just as tongues was a sign for classes and groups of people such as the Jews, Gentiles, and the followers of John the Baptist receiving the Holy Spirit, so is the baptism of the Spirit.

In Acts 1:4-5, the baptism of the Spirit was on the Jews.

In Acts 8:14-15, the Samaritans.In Acts 10:44, the Gentiles.Acts 19:1-6, the Jewish proselytes.Much of the theology today is based upon

someone’s experience. We call that “experience theology.” The experience theology in many cases opposes the true teaching of God’s Word.

I heard Evangelist Ron Comfort say, “I heard a false teacher say on the radio to those in need put your hand on the radio and feel the baptism of the Spirit.” Ron Comfort went on to say, “If you really want a feeling, put your hand in the radio…that will give you a feeling.”

Let me close by saying, “Make sure you know who you are following before you follow them.”

What to do: ✞ Live by the Word of God, not by your

experiences.

********************

The Purpose of GiftsAugust 26

Bible Reading: I Corinthians 14:1-12Key Verse: Verse 12 - “Even so ye, forasmuch

as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church.”

Key Words: to the edifying of the church

The purpose behind any of the gifts of the Spirit is to edify the church. I know you do not need to be reminded that the church is not the buildings but the people. We build up the people by using our spiritual gifts.

A Builder Or A Wrecker?

I watched them tearing a building down,A gang of men in a busy town.

With a ho-heave-ho and lusty yell,They swung a beam and a sidewall fell.

I asked the foreman, "Are these men skilled,As the men you'd hire if you had to build?"He gave me a laugh and said, "No indeed!

Just common labor is all I need.I can easily wreck in a day or two

What builders have taken a year to do."And I tho't to myself as I went my way,

Which of these two roles have I tried to play?Am I a builder who works with care,

Measuring life by the rule and square?Am I shaping my deeds by a well-made plan,

Patiently doing the best I can?Or am I a wrecker who walks the town,Content with the labor of tearing down?

"O, Lord, let my life and my labors beThat which will build for eternity!"

What to do: ✞ Use your gift(s) to edify the church.

********************

Good GiftsAugust 27

Bible Reading: Matthew 7:1-11Key Verse: Verse 11 - “If ye thenm being evil,

know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in haeavn give good things to them that ask him?

Key Words: good gifts

The word gifts is an interesting word. It comes from the Greek word demo, the roof of a building. I believe the idea is to build our children up in Christ and character.

The beautiful gift of Christ and character is called good gifts.

How can parents give good gifts to their children?

Parents must teach God’s truth (Dt 4:9, 32:46).Parents must lovingly discipline children because they are immature and need guidance (Prov 22:15, 29:15).Parents should not exasperate their children (Eph 6:4).Parents’ wise decisions bring blessing to their children (Dt 30:19-20).Parents who are godly teach their children to obey (Eph 6:1, I Tim 3:4).Parents who faithfully train their children can be confident that their efforts are not in vain (Prov 22:6).

Always remember that children are like wet cement: whatever falls in them leaves an impression.

What to do:✞ Make sure you give your children good gifts.

********************

A Gift We Should All HaveAugust 28

Bible Reading: Luke 10:25-37 Key Verse: Verse 33 - “But a certain

Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him,”

Key Words: he had compassion

The word compassion means to move into action. Someone has said that compassion is your burden in my heart. I would add “compassion is your burden in my heart that motivates me to action.”

To the thieves this traveler was a victim to exploit.

To the priest and the Levite he was a nuisance to avoid.

To the inn host he was a customer to serve.But to the Samaritan he was someone to whom

to give aid and compassion.The story is told of General William Booth, the

founder of the Salvation Army, and the day Queen Victoria of England asked to meet with him. Because she had heard so many favorable things about his work in the slums, she asked him for the secret of his success. “Your Majesty,” he replied, “Some men have a passion for money. Some people have a passion for things. I have a passion for people.”

Finding his newly-appointed pastor standing at his study window in the church weeping as he looked over the inner city's tragic conditions, a layman sought to console him: "Don't worry. After you've been here a while, you'll get used to it." Responded the minister, "Yes, I know. That's why I am crying."

You may not see compassion as a gift, but ask those who have received it in a time of need what they think!

What to do: ✞ Have compassion.

********************

The Gift of TimeAugust 29

Bible Reading: Psalm 39 and Job 7Key Verse: Verse Job 7:6 - “My days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle, and are spent without hope.”Key Words: My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle

Time is God’s gift to us all, twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year…time!!

What we do with God’s gift of time is the ultimate question. One day our gift of time on this earth will end, and then time will be no more.

What we do today and all of the tomorrows is important.

Take your hand, doesn’t matter left or right, hold it up and spread your fingers. Now compare that size of your hand to everything around you. Your hand is very small in comparison, is it not? Well, the spread of your hand is a handbreadth; and compared to eternity, our life on this earth is small indeed.

In Kensington Gardens, one of London’s pleasant open spaces, there stands elevated a clock which has four dials, each showing respectively north, south, east and west, and underneath each dial is carved in large letters: TIME FLIES.

A very plain and truthful message this is, and no one living will deny this plain fact. Many thousands have passed this clock and have no doubt been glad to avail themselves of the knowledge of the hour; but are not the timely words as to the fleeting of time a plain and solemn warning to all?

Each day brings us most certainly nearer to the close of our career here; and the well-known words are very fitting “brief life is here our portion.”

What to do:✞ Spend your time wisely – it’s more valuable

than money.

********************

The Gift of BlessingsAugust 30

Bible Reading: Psalm 104Key Verse: Verse 35 – “Let the sinners be consumed out of the earth, and let the wicked be no more. Bless thou the LORD, O my soul. Praise ye the Lord.”Key Words: Bless thou the LORD, O my soul.

The psalmist starts the psalm and ends the psalm with the same words, “Bless [thou] the LORD, O my soul.”

The psalmist is thanking God for His creation. In verses one through four, we see days one and two of Creation while in verses five through nine, we have day three. In verses ten through eighteen we see days four and five. Then in verses nineteen through

thirty we have day six, and in verses thirty-one through thirty-five we have day seven.

The point being that even in the day-to-day events of life, we have so much to be thankful for that we really take for granted.

There is an imaginative story of that morning when the sun did not rise. Six o’clock came and there was no sign of dawn. At seven o’clock there was still no ray of light. At noon it was as black as midnight and no bird sang. There was only the hoot of the owl and the swoop of the bat. Then came the black hours of the black afternoon. No one slept that night. Some wept, some wrung their hands in anguish. Every church was thronged to its doors with people upon their knees. Thus they remained the whole night through; then millions of eager, tear-wet faces were turned toward the east. When the sky began to grow red and the sun rose once more there was a shout of great joy. Now millions of lips said, “Bless the Lord, O my soul.” Why were these people so thankful? Just because the sun rose after one day of darkness. The very constancy of God’s blessings sometimes seems to kill our gratitude. Whereas the wonderful thing about the mercies of God is that they are fresh every morning and new every morning. We all should cry out daily, “Bless the Lord, O my soul.”

What to do:✞ Make it a daily practice during your prayer

time (You do have a prayer time, don’t you?) to thank God for His wonderful blessings.

✞ Make a small list of things you often take for granted and thank God for them.

********************

The Greatest GiftAugust 31

Bible Reading: John 3:16-21Key Verse: Verse 16 – “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”Key Words: For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten SonTwo little girls were acting very badly one day.

They were misbehaving. It was Thanksgiving Day and their father told them, “Girls, go to your room. You are dismissed from Thanksgiving dinner.”

Sad and dejected, the girls went to their rooms. A few moments later, they heard their mother calling, “Girls, girls, come down to dinner.”

A little baffled in light of what their father had said, they sheepishly walked down to the dinner table and sat down. But, they noticed something. Dad was not there. So, they naturally asked, “Mother, where is Dad?”

“Dad went to his room.”“But why, mom?”“Because Dad loves you so much. He couldn’t

change his standard but he didn’t want to deny you dinner. So, Dad said he would go and pay the price so that you could come and eat the meal. While you enjoy the meal, remember that your dad has picked up the tab and is paying the penalty.”

Brothers and sisters, when you forget to say thanks for everything else, don’t forget to say thanks for Jesus…for He is God’s greatest gift to mankind.

What to do:

✞ Accept Jesus as your Savior. He is God’s greatest gift for you to you.

Dwight L Moody, evangelist and preacher (A.D. 1837-1899), was preaching one day and lifted an empty glass. “Tell me,” he said, “How can I get the air out of this glass?” One man answered, “Suck it out with a pump.” Moody replied, “That would create a vacuum and shatter the glass.” After many suggestions, Moody smiled, picked up a pitcher of water, and filled the glass with water. “There,” he said, “all the air is now removed.” Then he went on to explain that victory in the Christian life is not by “sucking out a sin here and there,” but rather by being filled with the Spirit. The ministry of the Holy Spirit includes more than being filled with the Holy Spirit. The Spirit has also given us spiritual gifts and God wants us to use them.

Unwrap Your

Spiritual Gifts

Today!

Notes:

I deeply appreciate the help of

Mary Parsons

Glenda Myrick

And my lovely wife, Linda

Without God using these people to help, this

devotional would not have been possible.

Dr. Mike Rouse

is a ministry of

5568 Chalkville Mountain RoadBirmingham, AL. 35235

(205) 854-2741www.mountainviewbaptist.org