Spiritual gifts, and how to use them.

Peter is going to in the verses below, state a truth about spiritual gifts that has to do with every Christian. And, then, he is going to identify two gifts, and explain how to use them. 

1Pet 4:10 As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

 1Pet 4:11 If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

First of all, each Christian has at least one gift. We have received that gift(s) from God. The Holy Spirit is the one who distributed the gift(s) to us. See 1st Cor 12. 

Secondly, we are to use those gifts in ministering to one another, and in doing so, we are good stewards of God's grace. Gifts are not given to sit on the shelf of our lives as it were, but rather, they are dispensed to us, to be used for the benefit of others. See 1st Cor 12. 

Thirdly, if you have a speaking gift, that is, a teacher, a pastor teacher, an evangelist and so on, then we are to speak as the oracles of God, or to speak the Word of God. We are to teach God's Word, and not something else. 

Fourthly, if you have been given the gift of ministry, or service, that is, a gift to help, it is to be used with God's ability, or the power of the Holy Spirit. We are to seek God's power in the use of gifts, and helping others requires God's power. But, more then just needing God's power, it's really so that God can be the one who is glorified by and through the use of our gifts. All of the glory and the dominion belong to Him anyways. 

Jesus said, ( it's recorded in Acts 20 ) that it's more blessed to give, then it is to receive. May I suggest that by our using the gifts God has given us, we are indeed giving, there is a great blessing waiting for the one who serves the Lord through their spiritual gifts. 

Application/Promise.

1. God has given you gifts.

2. He wants to bless your life in using them.

3. Are you at this time using your gifts for the Lord?

4. May His power come upon your life as you do.

5. And, may others benefit by your service.

6. Many blessings to you in the name of Jesus Christ. 

When Jesus sang...

He was signing from Psalms 113-118. This is what Jews did following their celebration of the Passover meal.

Mark 14:26 says, "And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives"

These Hymns, or Psalms are primarily about one thing. They are about the Mercies of God. Can you imagine Jesus singing there with the disciples about Mercy.

What is mercy? It can be explained by comparing it with some other attributes or characteristics of God.

Justice is when we receive what we deserve.

Grace is when we get what we don't deserve.

Mercy is not getting what we deserve.

God is merciful and He has been merciful to us, and He will continue to be merciful to us forever and forever.

Jesus said, blessed are the merciful for they will obtain mercy. Matt 5.

May today be a day where we are reminded of God's mercy towards us, and may we extend that same mercy to others. In fact, may it be a day where we at some point can sing like Jesus did about the mercy of God.

Pastor Bob Grenier

Calvary Chapel Visalia

P.S Some applicational thoughts.

1. Being merciful to others is a sure way to receive mercy ourselves.

2. Showing mercy to others is what we would want shown to us.

3 God is pleased when we are merciful to others.

4. Being merciful is being Christ like.

5 We can pray for and receive God's mercy today in our lives.