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Nobleton Community Church
29084 Sentinel Street PO Box 224
Nobleton, Florida 34661
Rev. Paul V. Lehmann, Pastor
813-389-8683
Nobletoncommunitychurch.org
info@nobletoncommunitychurch.org
OUR VISION IS:
To experience SPIRIT-FILLED WORSHIP AND PRAYER
To be involved in EVANGELISM, DISCIPLINING AND TRAINING PEOPLE
To use our SPIRITUAL GIFTS
To SERVE AND REACH PEOPLE FOR CHRIST, BOTH
“ACROSS THE STREET AND ACROSS THE WORLD”
Nobleton Community Church
Date April 6, 2025
Text Romans 12:3-8 Corinthians 12:1-11
Pastor Paul Lehmann
Last week we looked at verses 1 and 2 of Chapter 12 of Romans. We saw that not merely ritual activity but the involvement of heart, mind, and will is the worship that the Lord wants. It is obedient service. Paul goes on to say basically that in order to worship this way there must be a radical change. He says we must not be conformed to the world. Being conformed to this age results in an “unfit mind.”Wise Christians decide that much worldly behavior and customs are off limits for them. Our refusal to conform to this world’s values, however, must go even deeper than just behavior and customs; it must be firmly planted in our minds. Let God transform you into a new person by changing the way we think. This world says; “Look out for number one (#1) ourselves” but
II Corinthians 5:15 says; “that we are to no longer live for ourselves, but we are to live for the one who died for us and rose again.”This world, with all its evil and corruption, plays on our minds and has formed us, whether we want it to or not. We must be transformed from that kind of thinking, thoughts, and will, as it relates to morality. Then after this spiritual transformation has taken place, we are able to do God’s will here and now, and every day. The Christian finds out the will of God not to contemplate it, but to do it.
When Christ comes into our lives, we are new people. Then he is at the center of our being and we are different and the driving power of our life is different, our way of thinking, our mind, is different because the mind of Christ is in us. II Corinthians 5;17 says; “the old is gone, the new has come.”
When Christ is at the center of our life, then we can offer him real worship, which is the offering of every moment and every action of life to God.
Romans chapter 12 and verses 3-8 is the emphasis of my message this morning. ONE FOR ALL AND ALL FOR ONE
In the days before the French Revolution, you remember, there was an elite group of swordsmen called Musketeers who had this as their motto in French; “un pour tous et tous pour un.” Meaning that they “had each other’s back,” so to speak. They would have understood what Paul is talking about here in verses 3-6.
“Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has distributed to each of you. For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.”
When we have this attitude towards our fellow Christians, we recognize that this measure of faith comes from God alone, and is given to each believer to fulfill various ministries in the church. Since the power comes from God, there can be no basis for a superior attitude or self-righteousness. An honest assessment of one’s own capabilities, without conceit and without false modesty, is one of the first essentials of the Christian life.
We also are urged in the first part of this passage, to accept ourselves and the gifts that God has given us. Now– you may look at this list in Corinthians 12, that Carol read today and say; “ I don’t believe I have any of these gifts mentioned.” Well you may be surprised at what God has for you, even though you haven’t discovered your spiritual gift yet. The other important thing to realize is; that these lists are not exhaustive. In Romans, we have many practical gifts, and in I Corinthians we have revelatory gifts, and practical spiritual gifts that are different from our talents and abilities. You see we may have a talent or ability that God has given to us—that we were born with, but never use it to glorify god. He wants us though, to use all of our talents and abilities to serve him, worship him, and glorify him. For instance, if you are able to sing well. If God has blessed you with a good singing voice, but you never use it to glorify him, he is not pleased with that. But if you use your talent to sing for him, he may also give you a spiritual gift such as prophecy—where you declare the Word of the Lord with power and the anointing of the Holy Spirit when you sing. Or maybe the gift of exhortation, where your singing just lifts people up and they are blessed. I believe our daughter Karen is blessed with an extraordinary talent. I may seem biased, but others too believe she has an exceptional singing voice. She could have chosen to study in Italy, as one of her voice teachers in New York wanted her to do. Or she could have sung on Broadway with the help of another voice teacher whose husband and son were in “Guys and Dolls” during the time she taught Karen. It is possible that she could have done either one of these professional things and God would have used her. But she also received spiritual gifts of prophecy, exhortation and service that is better-used within the Church, which she did by singing on worship teams and leading worship since she was 16 years old. I believe she and her son Zachariah (now known as Zauntee), who is a gifted songwriter will be able to use their talents which are anointed by the Holy Spirt, who has given them the spiritual gifts to touch people in ways that someone who is just talented but haven’t yielded their talent to the Lord would be able to do Now with the church, we are part of a body, and we shouldn’t be envious of someone else’s gift. We are not to complain and regret that some other gift has not been given to us. We are to accept ourselves as we are and to use that gift that we have.
This is one of Paul’s favorite thoughts, to think of the Christian Church as a body. This is how he describes it in I Cor. 12:12-27—The members of the body neither argue with each other or envy each other or dispute about their relative importance. Each part of the body carries out its own function, however prominent or however humbly unseen that function may be. To grasp this truth fully will mean that there will be less friction, less quarreling and fewer question marks with regard to the way God is using some of his servants. And yet, there are Christians who do not believe that any Christian doing something different than they are doing is in the will of God.
This line of thinking seems to be found in almost every part of Christian service. There used to be some missionaries who couldn’t imagine that anyone could be in the will of God—- unless he or she was —–
an overseas missionary. There are some evangelists who think that anyone in the will of God must be an evangelist. The key is obeying God and doing what we are called to do. Every Christian is called to witness for Christ, and as they are going about their everyday tasks they are to make disciples. It is essential then, that we think of the Body of Jesus Christ as composed of those with different gifts. In fact, this is exactly what the Apostle Paul indicates in Romans 12:6, where he says; “We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then “prophesy in accordance with your faith.” Prophecy is only one of many gifts and, of course, is to be used for the purpose intended by God. Foretelling is not its main purpose. It is more particularly forth-telling, which is the presentation of God’s truth to people. Some people have the God-given ability to dig into God’s Word and present it in such a way that God’s people are helped by it. This is a special gift from God, and anyone who has it is to use it to the glory of God.
Verse 7 of Romans 12 says; “If your gift is serving—-then serve. This gift of practical service is simply doing whatever needs to be done around the church, and doing it with a joyful attitude. This is ministry. It may be that you are able to administer some type of Christian enterprise. You may never have the opportunity to prophesy with anointing and preach a message, but high on Paul’s list is serving in other ways. There is no one who cannot every day in life show the love of Christ in deeds or service to others, both inside the body of Christ, and also to our neighbors and all those outside the church. The next gift mentioned is teaching. Exposition of the Word I possibly the thought here, and those who have the gift should cultivate it and use it to the utmost. It may be that someone who feels called to teach in a school, and is a certified teacher, doesn’t have the spiritual gift of teaching the Word of God. There is a difference. It is a wonderful blessing to see someone who has the ability and training to teach, and who also has the spiritual gift of teaching. They make the Word come alive and understood as the Spirit of God anoints them for the task. It is a requirement for deacons and elders in the church. We read that they should be “able to teach.” (I Tim. 3:2) along with a number of other requirements. Following that, in verse 8, we have the word exhortation (RSV) or to give encouragement (NIV). The one who exhorts, or who has the gift of exhortation or encouragement, is to concentrate on that particular
Gift. This, of course, must be done on the basis of the Word. The truth we find in the Word becomes the foundation for the appeals we make to God’s people to follow him. It must be, however, what the Word says, and not our own thoughts or desires.
The subject of giving is next presented, and it is to be done with simplicity (KJV) or, let him give generously (NIV) or contribute liberally (RSV). Giving for the sheer joy of giving. Giving in a single-mindedness or simple manner. Not all can be administrators in God’s work or expositors or preachers of the Word, or pastors, evangelists, or even exhorters, but God may have given someone the gift of making money.
R.G. LaTourneau, who early on in the 20th century established himself as the inventor and manufacturer of huge earth moving equipment, and founded an Engineering University. He became a multi-millionaire who gave 90% of his income to the Lord, and he used 10%. Stanley Tam, who founded a Plastics Corp. and other businesses. He wrote the book “God Owns My Business.” His business was so successful that he gave over one million dollars to missions, and 50% of his business was formally and legally owned by God (Even though at first his lawyer said it couldn’t be done.). Walt Meloon, who invented and manufactured “Correct Craft ski boats. He supplied the boats for Cypress Gardens before they sold out to Lego. Early on in his business during World War 2 he contracted with the military to manufacture troop boats. He was asked to do so many that he had shifts 24/7 to meet the contract. Then when the war ended they said they didn’t need them and he was stuck with the bill. He had to go bankrupt but he told all of his creditors that he would pay them back every cent he owed them, which he did. Because of his integrity and faithfulness in giving his tithe and offerings to the Lord, God blessed his business. There are many others who have made money and given to the Lord and had the right motives. When God’s people make a lot of money, this is not for themselves, but for his purposes. God gifts some of his servants to earn much more in order that they might distribute it with no ulterior motive of securing influence and advantage for themselves, a vice too frequently indulged by the affluent in their donations to the church, but rather with a sincere motive of glorifying Christ and his work. Then if your gift is to lead, do it diligently (NIV); He who gives aid do it with zeal. (RSV). There are fewer and fewer people who have a sense of service and of responsibility. This gift is closely linked with serving. It may involve leadership, but it may involve giving aid wherever it is needed. Paul says to do it with zeal—do it enthusiastically. We can combine this with the one last thing Paul mentions; If your gift is to show mercy, or kindness to others, do it cheerfully. Now the one who rules or leads must do it with diligence. The one who leads must do so with sensitivity and kindness. Showing mercy to those who are hurting. The Lord expects us to do his work harmoniously. The one who leads or rules should not dictate over others like a tyrant, but to inspire others with the enthusiasm which God has put in his or her soul for the work. There are some who have the ability to bring sympathy to those who are in sorrow.[PL1] [PL2] If that is your gift, then bring that sympathy, “with God’s sunlight in your face”, as one translator says. Encourage those in sorrow and in trouble.do not be guilty of pouring your own troubles into their already troubled hearts. God to them with the “sunlight of the Son of God in your face.” Leading people to understand forgiveness is a way of also showing mercy, but real forgiveness is always based on love and never on superiority. The Love of God is what people need to see, as each one of us, uses our practical spiritual gifts.
There is a hypothetical scene that I have mentioned before, illustrating some of these gifts. Suppose someone at a house party is carrying a tray of drinks across the room. They trip and fall over a footstool; the glasses fall and break and the person is lying on the floor. The one with the gift of prophecy might say; “If you would have been more careful and watched where you were going, that wouldn’t have happened.” The person with the gift of mercy would say right away; “Are you all right? –and would knell down to make sure they weren’t cut, and help them up. The person with the gift of serving would immediately go get a rag, a broom and a dustpan to clean up the mess. The person with a leadership gift might begin to tell that person where to find what they need, and if the person really is hurt would call 911. The one with a gift of encouragement would begin to comfort and encourage the one who fell saying; “I’m glad you’re all right. It could have happened to anyone. The footstool was out way too far. -You’ll be okay—or something along those lines. You get the idea. All of these reactions are needed, and——-
In the body of Christ, all of our spiritual gifts are needed, and we need to work together in the church.
When we are totally surrendered to Jesus Christ and are walking in the Holy Spirit, the enemy of our souls cannot disrupt the church, or stop the outreach and ministry of The Church. When Christ is fully in control of our lives we can walk in VICTORY, because there is victory in JESUS.