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ROMANS 12
LESSON #16
THE GIFT OF PROPHECY AND THE GIFT OF TEACHING
II. SEVEN INDIVIDUAL MOTIVATIONAL GIFTS
THE GIFT OF PROPHECY/INSIGHT
1.DEFINITION:
THE ABILITY TO SEE THINGS AS THEY REALLY ARE; THE
ABILITY TO DISCERN PEOPLE’S INNER MOTIVES. A PERSON WHO PERCEIVES, PRAYS OVER,PROFESSES, AND PROMOTES THE WILL OF GOD.
2.CHARACTERISTICS:
a. LIFE IN EXTREMES–HE SEES THINGS IN BLACK AND WHITE, RIGHT OR WRONG, APPROPRIATE ORINAPPROPRIATE, TRUE OR FALSE, IN THE WILL OF GOD OR OUT OF GOD’S WILL. HE SEES LIFE AS AMATTER OF CHOICES WHERE IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT PEOPLE ACTIVELY CHOOSE RIGHT AND ACTIVELYAVOID WRONG. COMPROMISE IS NOT AN OPTION. HE ALWAYS TENDS TO ANSWER “YES” OR”NO” AND SELDOM “MAYBE”. HE HAS DEFINITE OPINIONS ABOUT ALMOSTEVERYTHING. THIS PERSON DOES NOT ALWAYS PRESENT HIS OPINION GENTLY. HOWEVER, HE USUALLYSEEKS GOD’S HELP IN FORMING HIS CONVICTIONS.
b. PERCEPTIVE–HE EASILY PERCEIVES HOW SPIRITUAL A GROUP REALLY IS. HE HAS A UNIQUESENSITIVITY AS TO WHAT IS GOING ON IN A PERSON’S LIFE. HE IS EAGER FOR PEOPLE TO REPENTAND THEN HAVE THEIR LIVES PROVE THEIR CHANGE OF HEART. ALL PEOPLE HAVE BLIND SPOTS(WEAKNESSES). LUK 6:41-42. THIS PERSON EASILY PERCEIVES THEM.
c. CALL TO REPENT–MOST OF US AVOID PROBLEMS. WE DO NOT VIEW PROBLEMS AS STEPPINGSTONES TO MATURITY. THAT’S NOT TRUE OF THOSE WITH THIS GIFT. THEY SEE NEGATIVE EVENTS ASGREAT OPPORTUNITIES TO WORK REPENTANCE AND TRUST IN GOD FOR LIFE. THEY SOMETIMES WEEPOUTWARDLY WHEN THEY SEE SOMEONE INVOLVED IN SIN BECAUSE THESE PEOPLE FEEL THE HEART OFGOD.
d. PEOPLE ORIENTED BUT LACKING FRIENDS–MANY PEOPLE WITH THIS GIFT GO THROUGH LIFE WITH
ONE OR TWO GOOD FRIENDS, OR NONE AT ALL. BECAUSE THEY HAVE HIGH STANDARDS, OTHERS OFTENDON’T MEASURE UP. OFTEN PEOPLE FEEL INTIMIDATED BY THE PRESENCE OF THIS PERSON.
e. BIBLE ORIENTED–HE STUDIES THE BIBLE A LOT AND
DISCOVERS THAT GOD OFTEN SPEAKS TO HIM THROUGH SPECIFIC SCRIPTURES. HE IS ABLE TOEXTRACT PRINCIPLES FROM THE BIBLE TO APPLY TO LIFE. HE IS A PERSON OF PRINCIPLE IN ALLASPECTS OF HIS LIFE. HE DISCERNS THE PLAN OF GOD AND DOES NOT LET PERSONAL DESIRES PREVENTTHAT PLAN FROM BECOMING REALITY. A CHARACTERISTIC PHRASE THAT HE SAYS IS, “YOU NEEDTO LET GO OF YOUR PLANS AND DISCOVER GOD’S PLAN!”.
f. OUTSPOKEN–HE IS BOLD AND OUTSPOKEN OFTEN WITHOUT
REGARD FOR PUBLIC OPINION. BECAUSE THIS PERSON HAS STRONG CONVICTIONS, HE IS VERYPERSUASIVE WHEN HE SPEAKS. THIS PERSON IS OFTEN IN
TROUBLE WITH OTHERS BECAUSE HE IS VERY OUTSPOKEN AND SOMETIMES HURTS PEOPLE.
HE MOTIVATES BY APPEALING TO THE CONSCIENCE OF HIS HEARERS. PEOPLE OFTEN FEELPERSONALLY UNWORTHY IN HIS PRESENCE.
g. DESIRES SPIRITUAL GROWTH–HE VIEWS SPIRITUAL
GROWTH OF GROUPS AS THE RESULT OF CHANGE IN INDIVIDUALS, IN HIMSELF AS WELL AS INOTHERS. HE, THEREFORE, SEEKS TO WORK ON A ONE TO ONE BASIS STRENGTHENING INDIVIDUALS SO ASTO STRENGTHEN THE GROUP. GETTING RID OF IMPERFECTIONS IS A TOP PRIORITY. THEREFORE, HE ISNOT AFRAID TO LOOK WITHIN AND TO IDENTIFY THE THINGS THAT NEED WORK. HE IS NEVER SATISFIEDWITH LESS THAN HIS BEST EFFORTS. HE RECOGNIZES THE IMPORTANCE OF OBEDIENCE. HE HAS STRONGINTEGRITY (USUALLY VERY MORAL) BECAUSE HE HAS A KEEN AWARENESS OF GOD’S PRESENCE.
h. A CALL TO PRAYER–HE HAS A MORE POWERFUL MINISTRY OF INTERCESSORY PRAYER THAN ALLTHE SEVEN GIFTS.
i. DRAMATIC–HE FREQUENTLY HAS A DRAMATIC APTITUDE TO ILLUSTRATE THE TRUTH OF GOD.
3.BENEFITS OF THIS GIFT: 1COR 14:3
a.EDIFICATION: REPAIRING, BUILDING, IMPROVING
b.EXHORTATION: HELPING, STRENGTHENING
c.CONSOLATION: ENCOURAGEMENT, COMFORTING
d.MEETS THE SPIRITUAL NEEDS IN THE BODY OF
CHRIST
4.MANIFESTATIONS OF THIS GIFT: 1COR 14:24-25
a.BRINGS PEOPLE TO ACCOUNTABILITY
b.REVEALS INNER HEART MOTIVATIONS OF OTHERS
c.BRINGS INNER CONVICTION IN OTHERS
d.BRINGS AWARENESS OF GOD’S PRESENCE
e.MAKES PEOPLE FALL ON THEIR KNEES (OUTWARD
REPENTANCE)
5.CHILDHOOD EXPRESSIONS:
CHILD TENDS TO BE INTENSE, ACTIVE, PERFECTIONISTIC. ABSOLUTE PERSON ORIENTED, NOTLIKING TO BE ALONE.
DISLIKES PRETEND AND FANTASY. EITHER EXCELS AS STUDENTS OR THEY DON’T TRY. LIKE TO READMYSTERIES, ADVENTURE, & BOOKS WITH A MORAL. MAY BE REGARDED AS DIFFICULT CHILDREN. IFTHEY DO WELL, THEIR CONSCIENCE APPROVES. IF THEY DON’T, THEY PLUNGE TO
DESPAIR. THEY ARE PEOPLE ORIENTED BUT DON’T USUALLY HAVE MANY CLOSE FRIENDS. ANEXTERIOR TOUGHNESS COVERS A SENTIMENTAL HEART. THEY NEED MUCH LOVE AND PATIENCE. THEYFRUSTRATE WITH TOO MUCH LIBERTY BUT CHAFE UNDER EXCESSIVE RESTRICTION. THEY ARE QUICK TOLEARN BUT DON’T HAVE LONG RETENTION. ENGLISH, SPELLING, READING ARE THE FAVORITE SUBJECTS.
6.PEOPLE WITH THIS GIFT IN THE BIBLE:
a.JOHN THE BAPTIST MAT 21:32 LUK 3:2-20;
LUK 7:18-29
READ LUK 3:2-3,7-20
OBSERVABLE CHARACTERISTICS:
DESIRES THE PLAN OF GOD (2)
RECEIVES REVELATION BY INTERCESSION (2)
IDENTIFIES EVIL (3)
DISCERNS CHARACTER (3)
ENCOURAGES REPENTANCE (3)
VERY FRANK AND OUTSPOKEN (3)
GRIEVES OVER SINS (3)
OBEDIENT TO GOD (3)
SEES BLIND SPOTS (7)
DRAMATIZES (7)
HAS STRONG OPINIONS (7)
NO GRAY AREAS (11)
DEMANDS SPIRITUAL FRUIT (11)
PROMOTES GROWTH (11)
A STANDARD OF BLACK & WHITE (13)
b. OTHERS:
ANNA LUK 2:36-38
MARY MAT 1-2 MAR 6:3 LUK 1:26-56
ANANIAS ACT 9:10-17; 22:12-16
HOSEA HOS 1-14
JEREMIAH JER 1-52
ISAIAH ISA 1-66
JONAH JON 1-4
PROBLEM AREAS AND CAUTIONS THAT LEAD TO IMPROVING A GIFT:
EACH GIFT HAS ITS OWN SET OF PROBLEMS. THE PROBLEMS SIMPLY HIGHLIGHT OUR NEED FORTRUSTING CHRIST TO HELP US USE OUR GIFT MORE FULLY. THEY ALSO SHOW THAT OUR GIFT IS NOTPERFECT AND HOW WE NEED OTHER PEOPLE’S GIFTS TO HELP BALANCE US.
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7.PROBLEM AREAS AND CAUTIONS THAT LEAD TO IMPROVING THIS GIFT–A CHALLENGE:
a. CRITICAL–THIS PERSON NEEDS TO BE CAREFUL THAT HE DOES NOT DEVELOP A CRITICALSPIRIT. LIKE JONAH, GOD WILL DEAL STERNLY WITH THIS PERSON IF HE DOES NOT LEARN TO PRAYMORE AND CRITICIZE LESS. PRAYER IS THE SAFEGUARD AGAINST A CRITICAL SPIRIT. THE ONLY TIMETHIS PERSON SHOULD CONFRONT SOMEONE IS AFTER PRAYING AND RECEIVING GOD’S DIRECTION TOSPEAK. BECAUSE THIS GIFT CAN BE HARSH HE NEEDS TO DEVELOP NEW DEPTHS OF LOVE AND EMPATHY.BECAUSE THE GIFT IS OFTEN NEGATIVE IN ITS APPROACH, THE PERSON MUST CONCENTRATE ONSPEAKING POSITIVE ATTITUDES.
b. HIGH EXPECTATIONS–AT TIMES HE PRESSURES PEOPLE TO CHANGE FASTER THAN THEY ARE ABLE.HE NEEDS TO SEE THAT A STEP OF PROGRESS IF VALID. HE NEEDS TO LEARN TO COMPLIMENT THEPROGRESS.
c. INTOLERANCE–HE IS CONVINCED HIS OPINION IS RIGHT AND MOST OFTEN HE IS, BUT TRUTHHAS MANY DIFFERENT FACETS. HE NEEDS TO LEARN TO VALUE AN ENCOMPASSING PERSPECTIVE.
d. SELF IMAGE–BECAUSE HE IS INTROSPECTIVE, HE IS AWARE OF HIS OWN SHORTCOMINGS.THEREORE, HE OFTEN JUDGES HIMSELF AS INADEQUATE. HE NEEDS TO SEE THAT HIS GIFT IS A GIFTORDAINED BY GOD.
HOMEWORK:
1.IF YOU THINK THIS IS YOUR GIFT, SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES TO SEE HOW THE GIFT OPERATESFOR GOD’S GLORY.
2.IF YOU THINK THIS IS NOT YOUR GIFT, CONSIDER OTHER MEMBERS OF YOUR FAMILY AND THOSEIN YOUR CHURCH WHO FIT THIS PROFILE. WRITE THEIR NAMES HERE AND WHY YOU THINK SO.
B.THE GIFT OF TEACHING
1.DEFINITION:
THE ABILITY TO IMPART KNOWLEDGE AND TO LEAD OTHERS
INTO REVEALED TRUTH; CLARIFYING TRUTH AND
DOCTRINE. THE MOTIVATION IN TEACHING IS TO SEARCH
OUT AND VALIDATE TRUTH AND THEN SHARE IT WITH OTHERS. THE PRIMARY JOY GAINED IS THESEARCH AND
STUDY, NOT THE PRESENTATION.
2.CHARACTERISTICS:
a. ORGANIZED–HE IS SYSTEMATIC AND PUNCTUAL IN ALL AREAS OF LIFE.
b. VALIDATES TRUTH–HE LIKES TO READ, STUDY, AND DO RESEARCH. HE IS FACT ORIENTED. HEFEELS CONCERNED THAT TRUTH BE ESTABLISHED IN EVERY SITUATION. HE CHECKS SOURCES AND PEOPLEFOR ACCURACY. HE BELIEVES THAT TRUTH PRODUCES CHANGE. HE HAS STRONG CONVICTIONS BASED ONTRUTH. FOR THE CHRISTIAN TEACHER, THE BIBLE IS THE SUPREME AUTHORITY.
c. LANGUAGE–HE LIKES LANGUAGES, WORDS, WORD STUDIES AND GRAMMAR. USUALLY HE HAS ALARGE VOCABULARY.
d. OBJECTIVE–HE IS MORE OBJECTIVE THAN SUBJECTIVE. HE LOOKS AT LIFE WITH MOREDETACHMENT. HE DOESN’T LET HIS EMOTIONS INTERFERE.
e. INTELLECTUAL–HE IS SELF-MOTIVATED, SELF-DISCIPLINED, EMOTIONALLY SELF-CONTROLLED.
f. FRIENDSHIPS–HE HAS A SELECT CIRCLE OF FRIENDS. HE TENDS TO BE ALOOF. HE IS SELDOMDRAWN INTO SUPERFICIAL FRIENDSHIPS. HE IS UNEASY IN UNSTRUCTURED SITUATIONS. HE USUALLYHATES MEANINGLESS CHIT CHAT.
3.BENEFITS OF THIS GIFT:
a.HELPS TO KEEP PEOPLE IN THE WORD OF GOD
b.HELPS TO KEEP A GROUP SOLIDLY BASED ON SOUND
DOCTRINE
c.THEY TAKE UP WHERE PROPHETS AND APOSTLES LEAVE OFF, & BUILDING ON THE MINISTRY OF
OTHERS
d.MEETS THE MENTAL NEEDS IN THE BODY OF CHRIST
4.MANIFESTATIONS OF THIS GIFT:
a.BRINGS PEOPLE TO THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE WORD OF GOD
b.FACILITATES SPIRITUAL GROWTH
c.HELPS PEOPLE APPLY PRINCIPLES OF THE WORD OF
GOD TO THEIR EVERY DAY LIVES
5.CHILDHOOD EXPRESSIONS:
THE TENDENCY IS TO BE MORE QUIET AND ALONE THAN
OTHER CHILDREN. THEY LIKE PEOPLE AND ARE LIKED BY
THEM. NOT NECESSARILY BRILLIANT, BUT THEY HAVE A
THIRST FOR KNOWLEDGE AND A WIDE TASTE IN READING.
THEY RESPOND TO SCHOOL ASSIGNMENTS BY OVER
PREPARATION. IF THEY ARE NOT INTERESTED IN A
SUBJECT, THEY IGNORE IT AND SUFFER A POOR GRADE.
THEY ARE BORED BY SMALL TALK. THEY HAVE A
FASCINATION WITH LETTERS AND NUMBERS. THEY ARE
PERSONALLY ORGANIZED AND HAVE EMOTIONAL STABILITY;
NOT GIVEN TO EMOTIONAL HIGHS AND LOWS. THEY ARE
SOMETIMES THOUGHT OF AS COLD, ALOOF, CONCEITED.
THEY TEND TO BE FAITHFUL, LOYAL, AND PUNCTUAL. THEY MAY GIVE THE IMPRESSION OF BEINGRIGID,
DOGMATIC, UNEMOTIONAL. THEY HAVE AN INDEPENDENT,
INDIVIDUALISTIC AIR. THEY GENERALLY DO NOT GO OUT
FOR SPORTS IN SCHOOL AND THEY ARE NOT DRAWN TO
PETS AS THEY ARE TOO TIME CONSUMING.
6.PERSONS WITH THIS GIFT IN THE BIBLE:
a.APOLLOS READ ACTS 18:24-28 1COR 3:6
OBSERVABLE CHARACTERISTICS:
LOGICAL (24,25)
KNOWS THE SCRIPTURES (24)
AN ELOQUENT VOCABULARY (24)
INTELLECTUAL (24)
ACCURATE FACTS (25)
STUDENT, RESEARCHER (25)
BIBLICAL FOCUS (25)
TEACHING FOCUS (25)
DILIGENT (25)
OPEN TO NEW TRUTH (26)
SPEAKS IMPRESSIVELY (26)
HAS STRONG CONVICTIONS (26)
USED BIBLICAL BASE (28)
TRUTH PRODUCES CHANGE (3:6)
b. OTHERS:
AQUILA AND PRISCILLA ACTS 18:1-3, 24-28
ROM 16:3-5 1CO 16:19
2TI 4:19
TIMOTEO 1&2TIM ACTS 16:1-3 1CO 4:17;
16:10-11
THOMAS JOH 20:24-28
LUKE (BOOKS OF LUKE AND ACTS)
7.PROBLEM AREAS AND CAUTIONS THAT LEAD TO IMPROVING THIS GIFT–A CHALLENGE:
a. HE NEGLECTS THE PRACTICAL APPLICATION OF TRUTH. WHEN TEACHING, HE DOES NOT OFTENGIVE MUCH IN THE WAY OF PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS. HE NEEDS TO LEARN HOW TO GIVE PRACTICALSUGGESTION FOR PUTTING THE FACTS INTO PRACTICE.
b. HE IS SLOW TO ACCEPT THE VIEWS OF OTHERS. HE SHOULD AVOID A “KNOW-IT-ALL”ATTITUDE. DON’T RESIST OPEN DISCUSSION. BE AWARE THAT OTHER’S OPINIONS ARE IMPORTANT.THEREFORE, ALLOW FOR THEIR EXPRESSION.
c. HE TENDS TO DEVELOP PRIDE IN INTELLECTUAL ABILITY.
d. HE TENDS TO BE LEGALISTIC. HE THINKS HIS OPINION IS ALWAYS RIGHT.
e. HE IS EASILY SIDE-TRACKED. BECAUSE HE HAS MANY INTERESTS, FOCUSING HIS TIME ANDEFFORTS ISN’T ALWAYS EASY.
f. HE IS NOT ORIENTED BY FEELINGS. THEREFORE, HE SHOULD DEVELOP AWARENESS OF THEFEELINGS OF OTHERS. THEY TEND TO BELIEVE THEIR GIFT IS FOUNDATIONAL TO OTHER GIFTS.THEREFORE, HE NEEDS TO DEVELOP TOLERANCE FOR THE GIFTS OF OTHERS.
HOMEWORK:
1.IF YOU THINK THIS IS YOUR GIFT, SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES TO SEE HOW THE GIFT OPERATESFOR GOD’S GLORY.
2.IF YOU THINK THIS IS NOT YOUR GIFT, CONSIDER OTHER MEMBERS OF YOUR FAMILY AND THOSEIN YOUR CHURCH WHO FIT THIS PROFILE. WRITE THEIR NAMES HERE AND WHY YOU THINK SO.
