The Gifts That Keep On Giving

Notes: The Gifts That Keep On Giving

Ephesians 4 / Romans 12

Pastor Greg Laurie

SERIES: Live, Love, Fight

Thursday, April 9, 2015 — 7:00 p.m.

Ephesians 4:11 NKJV

[11] And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers,

1. Apostles- from the Bible, their words were given to them by God.

Acts 17:11 NKJV

[11] These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.

The Bible tells us there will be false apostles in end times.

2 Corinthians 11:14 NKJV

[14] And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light.

2. Prophets - they have a message. In many cases they predicted the future.

Deuteronomy 18:21-22 NKJV

[21] And if you say in your heart, 'How shall we know the word which the LORD has not spoken?'- [22] when a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD, if the thing does not happen or come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously; you shall not be afraid of him.

There will be false prophets in end times as well.

There are times when the Lord will speak through you. The Lord can give you the words to speak.

3. Evangelist- "bearers of good news"

You don't have to be a preacher to be an evangelist.

4. Pastor/Teachers - it is their job to feed the flock of God.

The greatest need in the church today is for practical clear Biblical exposition.

2 Timothy 4:2-4 NKJV

[2] Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. [3] For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; [4] and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.

Tell us what the Bible says, not your opinion.

Harvest offers theology without apology.

Ephesians 4:12 NKJV

[12] for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,

Right now about 1500 people at Harvest volunteer. This is a church of people that get involved.

"Equipping" is meant as to restore to original condition.

Romans 12:6-8 NKJV

[6] Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; [7] or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; [8] he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.

If you have a gift, use it well.

There is a God-given gift of exhortation.

Acts 14:22 NKJV

[22] strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, "We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God."

Hebrews 10:24-25 NKJV

[24] And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, [25] not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.

There is a spiritual gift of giving.

You don't have to be rich with money to give.

Jesus Christ said where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Malachi 3:10 NKJV

[10] Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, That there may be food in My house, And try Me now in this," Says the LORD of hosts, "If I will not open for you the windows of heaven And pour out for you such blessing That there will not be room enough to receive it.

10% to 20% in a congregation give regularly.

1 Corinthians 16:2 NKJV

[2] On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come.

There is a spiritual gift of showing kindness and mercy.

There are those that give comfort to those in need.

Preaching is not the only gift out there. One is not better than the other.

Ephesians 4:15-16 NKJV

[15] but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head-Christ- [16] from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

We all have a part to play and everybody matters.

We were all babies at one time, but we grow up. Some Christians act like big babies still. It's time to grow up.

1. We know little kids can be fickle.

They can be unstable.

2. Babies - They want it now!

3. Children like exciting new things.

Hebrews 5:12 NKJV

[12] For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food.

The children must realize that they are children.

As a child, they must know that they are vulnerable.

You have to make sure they do not fall between the cracks,

Ephesians 4:14 NKJV

[14] that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting,

1 Peter 5:8 NKJV

[8] Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.

Our family is the church and Jesus Christ founded our organization.

We are a family in Christ!