14th September 2023

14th September 2023


Pray (ACts)


Read (Romans 12v6)


Message (Scott Woodburn)


Have you ever heard of the "80/20" rule? It states that in any organisation 80% of the work is done by 20% of the people. Sadly many churches are "80/20" with a heavy burden carried by a small minority of the membership. Needless to say, it should never have been this way.


Paul declares that every Christian has been graciously gifted by God with abilities and talents that they are to use in the local church (v6). Some of these abilities will be "up front" gifts that the church and wider community will witness regularly. Other abilities will be "behind the scenes" that no one will ever pay any attention to. Regardless of their nature, our talents come as a gracious gift from God and give us no room for boasting or arrogance. Instead we are to use our talents in the service of Christ.


In the following verses we are not given an exhaustive list of gifts that Christians can expect to be blessed with, but seven gifts are listed with the first being prophecy. What is prophecy? John Murray answers "Prophecy refers to the function of communicating revelations of truth from God." and so in the church in the days after Pentecost there were men who received "revelations of truth from God." and subsequently passed them to the church. These messages were to be "in proportion to our faith" or in other words the prophet was not to go beyond that which was believed to be the orthodox Christian faith. If a prophet proclaimed anything contrary to Apostolic teaching, he proved himself to be a false prophet. 


The office of prophet is no more and Paul's office of Apostle is gone too. Why? Because these were foundational offices and the foundation has been long laid. Today we are blessed with the complete canon of Scripture and if we want to hear God's voice then all we have to do is turn to His Word. But you might be surprised to hear that prophecy is a weekly part of worship in both Edengrove and Lissara. How? When the Word is read and especially preached it is made "prophetic" by the work of the Holy Spirit. Your minister does not tell you brand new things which he heard from God during the week, instead he exercises a prophetic ministry as he faithfully preaches the Word of God.


Paul would not recognise an "80/20" church. His call continues to be found in the pages of Romans and it is a call to Christian service. To the preacher, preach! To the Christian, serve! As God has gifted us, so we use those gifts to His glory.


Pray (acTS)


Sing


WSC


Q44 What doth the preface to the ten commandments teach us? The preface to the ten commandments teacheth us, that because God is the Lord, and our God, and Redeemer, therefore we are bound to keep all his commandments.
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