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Sermon Notes of Rev.Dr.I.J.W.Oakley (9-4-1978 Strandtown Baptist Church)
Last week commenced the practical section of the letter to
the Romans. In light of God’s Salvation, we have to live and behave in a
certain way. Foundation is laid when there is consecration of the body and
progressive renewal of the mind. This leads us to appreciation of God’s will
for our lives.
Now Paul moves from general to
particular. Deals with Christian service, daily work, fellow Christians,
neighbours, state and so on. Right relations to God leads to right relations to
fellows. From spiritual emerges social.
In vv3-8 Paul discusses our place in the body of Christ, our gifts, and the way in which they are to be used.
The Christian has faith in Christ as Saviour and Lord,
and becomes part of Christ’s body. The church is a spiritual organism, not a
human organization. Each believer has a place and a part to fulfil. All belong
to one another. All have part to play in body of Christ. All are meant to build
one another up. All are necessary if Body is to function properly and
effectively. One branch does not make a tree, one flower does not make a garden,
one wave does not make a tide, one grain does not make a harvest, one instrument
does not make an orchestra, one limb does not make a body, one member does not
make a church. All are necessary and all have a place in the Church.
In order to play our part, each
has been given different gifts. These are from God, not our attainment. They are
often natural gifts and abilities and capacities, strengthened by the Holy
Spirit. Reach a new peak of effectiveness because under the control of the Holy
Spirit. Therefore we must be yielded to the indwelling Spirit. Diversity of
gifts is according to grace, grace that is within.
All Christians have gifts. When
all cooperate under the head, the body is in healthy condition. No one has all
the gifts, but each one has some. All gifts are necessary if whole body to
function properly. Think soberly about these things – weigh the matter
up in a sensible way, as God has given us faith to do so (v3). J.B.Philips
translates this as “Have a sane estimate of your capabilities by light of
faith that God has given to you all.”
Two dangers here, the first of
which gets special emphasis: not to think of selves more highly than we ought to
think. Do not have exaggerated idea of own importance. We do not have all the
gifts, and, in any case, what we have, have been given to us. Be aware of
limitations, and work accordingly. Recognize our province, and stay there.
The other danger – not only
self admiration, but self-depreciation. We do not have all the gifts – but we
do have some. Do not pretend we have nothing. Do not hide talents in ignorance
or false humility. To Paul, a Christian without Christ-given gifts is a
monstrosity. Must not act as though God has given us nothing. If a Christian man
is fit for no Christian work, he must ask himself if he has any Christian life.
Easy to be bone idle because unable to see or unwilling to recognise gift, and
therefore not do a thing, and hide behind false humility and a lie.
We are called to know ourselves,
our strengths and weaknesses, our capabilities and limitations. Observe self.
Make honest assessment without conceit or false modesty. Accept self as we are.
Often means doing the humble and unseen task. Do not try to be someone else. Do
not envy someone else. Appreciate others. Not complain or be envious. Be
ourselves as God has made us in our natural faculties, as transformed by new
life in Christ. Recognise that all are different, all are necessary, all have a
part to play. Jealousy, concern over who is more important than another,
criticism which is unjust and unnecessary, are entirely out of place.
All have a job to do. Only we
can do properly the job which is ours. Only when we do our job will the Body of
Christ function as it should. Bounden duty to make own contribution to the
common good. Not “How can I shine?”, but “How can I serve?” Not to
further own ends or our own personal prestige. Each is only a part of the great
whole. Unless our opinion of selves agrees with God’s, the result is
inevitable failure.
Three great words – Unity,
Diversity and Harmony. When all three are blended, the church can live its true
life and do its proper work. “A place for everyone, and everyone in their
place” is the key here. It matters not what special form of Christian service
may be ours. The smallest and greatest are all alike to the Lord. Whether we are
a cup-bearer or a counsellor is of little moment to God. The main thing is
faithfulness in the sphere to which we are called. The Church would be really
effective if these things were remembered. There would be no more “schisms
rent asunder and heresies distressed”.
Learn to be true to ourselves, acknowledging rich variety and diversity in work of Spirit. Alexander McLaren said “Dreary monotony and uniformity amongst us which impoverishes us … we all tend to look with suspicion at the man who is himself and who is true to his convictions and gifts… there would be a new life in all our Christian circles if we allowed full scope to diversities of operation and realized that in all there is one Spirit”
Where there are different functions, there will be one
Spirit pervading the whole and filling the whole. Then seven gifts are
mentioned. Not an exhaustive list, for there are other gifts, as we know from
other Scriptures. Four are official , concerning public ministry, with special
reference to the Church. Three are private, for general use, with special
reference to the world.
1.
Prophecy – the inspired declaration of God’s will. Not necessarily
prediction. Included proclaiming Gospel. Utterance under immediate Divine
guidance. According to proportion of our faith within limits of his trust in
God. Speak according to convictions. Fully faithful to all God has revealed.
Carlyle’s father said “What this parish needs is a man who knows Christ
other than at second hand.”
2.
Ministry. Just practical service. “Minister” in A.V. is normally
servant. Ministry is practical Christian service. Notice how high on the list
this comes. Nothing to do with public preaching of the Word, but showing love of
Christ in deeds of lowly service. We should concentrate on this, really be in
it. Practical service in church and to others includes wide variety of work.
Grace fits us for lowliest as for the most exalted work in the church. To
understand any form of service requires spiritual character. Original seven in
Acts Ch. 6 were men full of faith and the Holy Spirit, though all they had to do
was to hand their pittances to poor widows (Acts 6:3).
3.
Teaching. Give all we have to our teaching. Message of Christ is not only
to be proclaimed, but to be explained. Exhortation and invitation, without being
backed up by teaching, are empty things. Explaining, expounding and applying are
crucial.
4.
Exhorting. Whereas teacher appeals mainly to the mind, the exhorter
addressed himself to the will and emotions. He seeks to console, encourage,
stimulate and rebuke. The work of the evangelist.
5.
Giving, the first the three gifts mentioned for more private purposes.
Giving is to be done with simplicity. Sheer pleasure of giving for giving’s
sake. In generous, warm way. Not out of vanity or duty. Not flinging a gift from
a height, like a bone to a dog. Done without show or self-interest, otherwise we
add poison into the gifts, and this makes them bitter to the receiver. To give
as God gives.
6.
Ruling with diligence. Reference to someone who takes the lead or
occupies a prominent place and position. One of the most difficult jobs in so
many churches is to get people to take the lead and assume responsibility.
Increasingly fewer are willing to give up leisure and pleasure to undertake
leadership. Unfitness and unworthiness are often a smokescreen for laziness and
self-interest. To be taken up with zeal. Need leaders who are enthusiasts.
7. Showing mercy with cheerfulness. Truest sympathy brings bright face into darkness and comes like sunshine into shady place. “Sunbeam penetrating a sick chamber” Cheerfulness and brightness in our service. “Joy of the Lord” to be evident. Vicar advertising for curate in a religious journal, looking for someone to be “pious but cheerful”! Little girl said of certain clergyman – “He must be an excellent man – he looks so sad.”
Oneness in Christ’s body means we all have a part to
play. Paul mentions a few of the gifts which are amongst us. All of us have at
least one of these gifts. Must yield bodies to God, as Christ yields Himself to
us. What peace, energy and dignity comes into a life when we are consciously and
deliberately surrendered. This delivers us from over-anxiety and ruinous
self-importance. Quiet greatness born of presence and will of God.
“Move and actuate and guide
Diverse
gifts to each divide
Placed
according to thy will
Let
us all our work fulfil.
Never
from our office move
Needful
to each other prove,
Use
the grace on each bestowed
Tempered
by the art of God”
Charles Wesley
