The Gifts of the Holy Spirit
Part 9
of our study of
the Person & Work of the Holy Spirit
Welcome!
Intro
√ Exhortation
√ Giviing
√ Mercy
The gift of Exhortation
√ Another gift of the Holy Spirit is that of exhortation.
Rom. 12:6 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;
Rom. 12:7 or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching;
Rom. 12:8 he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.
Notice first of all that the gift of exhortation is listed separately from the gift of teaching. The point is that it is a distinct gift, it may be manifest through teaching – but not all with the gift of exhortation are teachers.
Exhortation = “to advocate or comfort”
The gift of exhortation can be expressed in two modes:
Encouragement: the ability to encourage others to grow in maturity in Christ. They help to bring out the best in a person so that they reach their full potential in Christ.
Correction: exhortation includes rebuking fellow believers who are in sin.
Ex. Barabas
Acts 4:36 And Joses, who was also named Barnabas by the apostles (which is translated Son of Encouragement), a Levite of the country of Cyprus,
Note how the gift worked in his life…
Acts 9:26 And when Saul had come to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, and did not believe that he was a disciple.
Acts 9:27 But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. And he declared to them how he had seen the Lord on the road, and that He had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.
Acts 9:28 So he was with them at Jerusalem, coming in and going out.
A person with the gift of exhortation, like Barnabas, is willing to put their reputation on the line for another believer so that they might grow in Christ.
Later, we find that Paul also had the gift of exhortation and used it with the one who had first encouraged him.
Acts 14:21 And when they had preached the gospel to that city and made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch,
Acts 14:22 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."
Note the content of their exhortation…
"We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God."
…exhortation is not candy-coating the truth, rather, it’s encouragement in to press on in spite of the opposition of the world.
Ap. The church today needs more people with the gift of exhortation, and who use it!
The gift of Giving
√ Back to Romans 12 for the next gift – the gift of giving.
Rom. 12:8 he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.
Let me make one point before we go any further, the gift of giving is different from the encouragement of scripture to all believers to give.
II Cor. 9:7 So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.
And…
Luk. 6:38 "Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you."
There is, however, a spiritual gift of giving that goes beyond the general admonition to give.
Those with the gift of giving are those who are uniquely gifted to meet others needs through the giving of their…
…Time, Talent, Treasure
We’re not talking about loaning their possessions to others, rather, giving them – often times sacrificially for the benefit of others.
Ex. Two examples of giving…
A church
2Co 9:5 Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren to go to you ahead of time, and prepare your generous gift beforehand, which you had previously promised, that it may be ready as a matter of generosity and not as a grudging obligation.
And an individual
Luk. 21:2 and He saw also a certain poor widow putting in two mites.
Luk. 21:3 So He said, "Truly I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all;
Luk. 21:4 "for all these out of their abundance have put in offerings for God, but she out of her poverty put in all the livelihood that she had."
Which brings up a great point, the gift of giving is not restricted to the wealthy!
Ex. Our hosts in Africa
The gift of Mercy
√ Back to Romans 12 for the next gift – the gift of mercy.
Rom. 12:8 he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.
Like giving, all believers are encouraged, even commanded, to show mercy.
Matt. 5:7 Blessed are the merciful, For they shall obtain mercy.
And…
Gal. 6:10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.
However, there is a distinct gift of the Holy Spirit given to some for the showing of special acts of mercy.
Showing mercy involves the giving of one’s time and self through deeds of compassion on behalf of other people who are experiencing difficult times.
Ex. Onesiphorus – showing mercy to Paul while in prison.
II Tim. 1:16 The Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain;
II Tim. 1:17 but when he arrived in Rome, he sought me out very zealously and found me.
II Tim. 1:18 The Lord grant to him that he may find mercy from the Lord in that Day--and you know very well how many ways he ministered to me at Ephesus.
Ex. Bring a meal to someone who is sick; or cleaning someone’s home when they’re recuperating from an injury. Working at a homeless shelter, etc.
The person with the gift of mercy doesn’t do these things on occasion, rather, they’re always looking for and ministering in this way.
Ap. We support children through Compassion, but the person with the gift of mercy is the person you’d find involved on a regular basis.