Grace Fellowship Church Pastor / Teacher James H. Rickard Thursday, April 10, 2008

Memory Verse 1 John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

The Upper Room Discourse John 13-16; John 13:16, Servant-hood, Pt.11

Doctrine of DOULOS Slave, Servant

G. The DOULOS must exercise his spiritual gift.

A servant is one who is willing to serve and sacrifice, willing to give up their way for the good of a greater agenda, God’s way.

It goes against everything in our nature to give rather than take, to serve rather than to be served, and to promote another rather than promote yourself.

The person who is truly a servant at heart will demonstrate Christ's servant-hood to others with the effect of waking them from the dead as they see Christ in you.

1 Tim 4:6, “In pointing out these things to the brethren, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus.”

This includes the application of your spiritual gift.

1 Tim 4:14; “Do not neglect the spiritual gift (found) within you.”

You have at least one spiritual gift and should be centering your energy and attention on the cultivation of it.

A good servant will pay attention to, develop, and test their gift without worry of failure, while trusting in the Lord and the ministry of God the Holy Spirit.

Doctrine of Spiritual Gifts

Spiritual Gift(s) is the noun CHARISMA from CHARIS - grace and the verb CHARIZOMAI - to show favor or give freely.

CHARISMA means a gift of grace, a free gift or a spiritual endowment. A favor in which one receives, without any merit of his own.

1. The Source of Spiritual Gifts. All three members of the Trinity are the source of spiritual gifts.

a. God the Father is the source - Heb 2:4.

Heb 2:4, “God (Father) also bearing witness with them, both by signs and wonders, and by various works of power, and by various distributions (of spiritual gifts) from the Holy Spirit in accordance with his will.”

b. God the Son is the source of Spiritual Gifts. Eph 4:7-8

He was involved in the initial distribution of Spiritual Gifts, which were communication gifts to begin building the Church / Body of Christ, Eph 4:

c. God the Holy Spirit gives a Spiritual Gift to each of us at salvation as He wills. 1 Cor 12:11; Heb 2:4

1 Cor 12:11, “But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills.”

Sometimes spiritual gifts are ascribed to God without distinguishing which member of the Holy Trinity is the giver. Rom 11:29; 12:6

2. There are two categories of Spiritual Gifts.

a. Temporary Spiritual Gifts were operational during the pre-canon period of the Church Age, A.D

Temporary Gifts were designed to take up the slack in the Church Age until the New Testament canon was completed and circulated. 1Cor 13:8-10

b. Permanent Spiritual Gifts also functioned from the day of Pentecost and will continue until the Rapture of the Church, whenever that occurs.

Grace Fellowship Church Thursday, April 10, 2008 Tape # Servanthood, Part 11 The DOULOS Must Exercise his Spiritual Gifts, Part 1 Upper Room Discourse, Pt 167 John 13:16; Eph 4:7-8, 11-13; 1 Cor 12:11; 13:8-10; Heb 2:4 James H. Rickard Bible Ministries 2008