Grace Fellowship ChurchGrace Fellowship Churchwww.GraceDoctrine.orgwww.GraceDoctrine.org

Pastor / TeacherPastor / TeacherJames H. RickardJames H. Rickard

Thursday, Thursday, April 17, 2008April 17, 2008

Memory VerseMemory Verse 1 John 1:9, 1 John 1:9,

“If we confess our sins, He is “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all our sins and to cleanse us from all

unrighteousness.”unrighteousness.”

The Upper Room The Upper Room DiscourseDiscourse

John 13-16; John 13-16;

John 13:16, John 13:16, Servant-hood, Pt.13Servant-hood, Pt.13

Doctrine of DOULOSDoctrine of DOULOSSlave, ServantSlave, Servant

G. The DOULOS must G. The DOULOS must exercise his spiritual gift.exercise his spiritual gift.

Doctrine of Spiritual GiftsDoctrine of Spiritual Gifts

1. The Source of Spiritual 1. The Source of Spiritual Gifts.Gifts.

All three members of the All three members of the Trinity are the source of Trinity are the source of

spiritual gifts.spiritual gifts.

2. There are two categories 2. There are two categories of Spiritual Gifts.of Spiritual Gifts.

a. Temporarya. Temporaryb. Permanentb. Permanent

3. The function of 3. The function of Spiritual Gifts.Spiritual Gifts.

4. The team concept of 4. The team concept of Spiritual Gifts.Spiritual Gifts.

5. The Relationship 5. The Relationship between Spiritual Gifts between Spiritual Gifts and Ministry / Service.and Ministry / Service.

a. Spiritual Gifta. Spiritual Giftb. General Serviceb. General Servicec. Specific Servicec. Specific Service

General ServiceGeneral Service is not is not dependent on a spiritual gift. dependent on a spiritual gift.

It’s part of obeying the It’s part of obeying the commands of Scripture and commands of Scripture and

Biblical imperatives. Biblical imperatives.

Our spiritual gift equips us Our spiritual gift equips us for a particular ministry, but for a particular ministry, but it does not excuse us from it does not excuse us from

every other ministry.every other ministry.

Many Christians want to Many Christians want to minister only in the area of minister only in the area of

their gift, but God has their gift, but God has general requirements too.general requirements too.

General service is the key to General service is the key to discovering your spiritual discovering your spiritual

gift and particular ministry.gift and particular ministry.

The wrong idea is to think The wrong idea is to think you cannot have a ministry you cannot have a ministry until you determine your until you determine your spiritual gift. To do so is spiritual gift. To do so is reversing God's order and reversing God's order and

Plan for your life.Plan for your life.

Being obedient and faithful Being obedient and faithful in general service will in general service will

enable you to determine enable you to determine your spiritual gift and your spiritual gift and

specific ministry. specific ministry.

The Spirit of God is at work The Spirit of God is at work in the life and (general) in the life and (general)

service of every believer, service of every believer, “both to will and to work for “both to will and to work for

His good pleasure”. His good pleasure”. Phil 2:13Phil 2:13

It is only as you engage in It is only as you engage in service to one another and service to one another and

simply trust and obey God's simply trust and obey God's Word that you will discover Word that you will discover the God-given potential you the God-given potential you

have for ministry.have for ministry.

God's Word instructs every God's Word instructs every believer to admonish (Rom believer to admonish (Rom

15:14), to encourage or 15:14), to encourage or exhort (Heb 10:25), to exhort (Heb 10:25), to

witness (Col 4:5-6; 1 Peter witness (Col 4:5-6; 1 Peter 3:15), and to help (1 Thes 3:15), and to help (1 Thes

5:14) one another. 5:14) one another.

To discover your gift is to To discover your gift is to obey the Scriptures, serve in obey the Scriptures, serve in

vital functions within our vital functions within our church to the best of your church to the best of your

ability, and determine which ability, and determine which of them God most blesses of them God most blesses

you to do. you to do.

How do you discover your How do you discover your spiritual gift? spiritual gift?

How do you discover your How do you discover your spiritual gift? spiritual gift?

By obeying the imperatives By obeying the imperatives of the Bible related to of the Bible related to

general service / ministry.general service / ministry.

6. Determining your 6. Determining your Spiritual Gift on the basis Spiritual Gift on the basis of your specific ministry, of your specific ministry,

and not that of other and not that of other believers.believers.

If you have the correct If you have the correct motivation and are faithful motivation and are faithful

to respond to the to respond to the opportunities for service opportunities for service

before you, it will soon be before you, it will soon be evident that you do not do evident that you do not do

all things equally well.all things equally well.

This is no reason to excuse This is no reason to excuse yourself from every form of yourself from every form of ministry, but it certainly tells ministry, but it certainly tells

you the areas of service you the areas of service upon which you should upon which you should

concentrate. concentrate.

Out of your general service, Out of your general service, a more particular ministry a more particular ministry

will most likely emerge that will most likely emerge that is unique and that others do is unique and that others do

not seem to desire to not seem to desire to perform. perform.

Not only will your ministry Not only will your ministry become evident, but you become evident, but you should be more able to should be more able to

identify the spiritual gift identify the spiritual gift which equips you for your which equips you for your

service.service.

Be careful not to attempt to Be careful not to attempt to discern your gift by discern your gift by

comparing your service / comparing your service / ministry with those of ministry with those of

others.others.

Each Christian possesses a Each Christian possesses a spiritual gift, but they also spiritual gift, but they also

have a specific ministry and have a specific ministry and a particular degree of a particular degree of

effectiveness. effectiveness. 2 Cor 10:7-182 Cor 10:7-18

Grace Fellowship ChurchThursday, April 17, 2008

Tape # 08-027

Servanthood, Part 13 The DOULOS Must Exercise his

Spiritual Gifts, Part 3 Upper Room Discourse, Pt 169

John 13:16; 2 Cor 10:7-18; Phil 2:13

James H. Rickard Bible Ministries 2008