Thursday's Lesson - Serve On Another

We each have been created with specific spiritual gifts for service. What are the various spiritual gifts and services found in the following verses?

Rom. 12:4–8

Prophecy - The gift of prophecy is the special ability that God gives to certain members of the Body of Christ to receive and communicate an immediate message of God to His people through a divinely anointed utterance

Service - Supernatural ability to do for others whatever needs to be done. Divine ability to carry another burden or task without notice or earthly reward

Teaching - Someone able to understand the more difficult things of God and explain them in a way that is easy to understand and live by in daily life.

Exhortation - the ability to motivate Christians to do the works of Christ.

Giving - being blessed by God with resources or time and being able to give them where and when they are needed with a cheerful heart.

Leadership - God-given insight into when something needs to be done, who can do it, how it can be completed, and how to lead those people to get it accomplished.

Mercy - A heart to care for and encourage those who are not able to care for themselves and whom no one else would care for. Knowing who to help and when to help.

1 Cor. 12:1–5

This passage lets us know that there are many different Spiritual gifts but they all come from the same Spirit. The bod of Christ thrives off of this diversity.

Eph. 4:8–11

Apostles - One sent by God with a holy mission to fulfill; and the supernatural power and spiritual gifts to fulfill the mission. Known by the fruit of the spirit overflowing. Apostolic ministry involves laying foundation. In the case of Paul and Barnabas, we see this expressed in 'church planting' by preaching the Gospel in new areas. Apostles in scripture worked in teams. An apostolic team shared a 'measure of rule' in churches started through their ministry in regions where they are the first to proclaim the Gospel of Christ. (II Corinthians 10.)

Prophets - One who speaks, or communicates a message, authoritatively, as moved by the Holy Ghost. Known by their good fruit.
Evangelists - Someone who desires that all should come to know the truth that God loves everyone so much that He sent His Son Jesus Christ to die for their redemption, or someone who is gifted to proclaim this message.

Pastors - A word that means 'shepherd.' Pastors are gifted to lead, guide, and set an example for other Christians.

Teachers - Someone able to understand the more difficult things of God and explain them in a way that is easy to understand and live by in daily life.

"You, brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love" (Gal. 5:13, NIV). What does it mean to serve one another in love? How can you take these words and apply them in a practical way in your own life right now?

When the passage speaks of serving each other in love it speaks to the motives behind the service that we render to others. We can serve each other but our service could be a service less than love.

We must become changed by the love of Christ so that we can love form hearts of divine compassion for all we come in contact with. We have opportunities all around us to minister we must ask God wisdom to open our minds and hearts to these opportunities.

Think of someone whom you can "serve in love" and do it, even if it takes self-denial on your part. After all, there is no question—Someone out there needs you.

Reference.

Prayer: Father thank you ,I pray that you may open our eyes to the ministries that you have placed in our grasp. Help us to understand where you have gifted us and give us opportunities to act upon them.