Rom. 12:3-8, "For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God Hath Dealt To Every Man the measure of faith. For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. Having Then Gifts Differing According To The Grace That Is Given to us, whether Prophecy let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; Or Ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that Teacheth, on teaching; Or he that Exhorteth, on exhortation: he that Giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that Ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth Mercy, with cheerfulness."

Introduction:

A. God has given different gifts to the body so that All The Needs of The Church Can Be Met.

B. Knowing Your Spiritual Gift will help you to understand:

1. The motivational drive that gives you the greatest sense of contentment.

2. Why you act the way you do.

3. How people act when they are walking in the Spirit --- and when they are walking in the flesh --- depending upon what Spiritual Gift they have.

C. Timothy --- Had The Spiritual Gift of Serving.

1. Phil. 2:19-20, "But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy shortly unto you, that I also may be of good comfort, when I know your state. For I have no man likeminded, who will naturally care for your state."

2. Timothy had the spiritual gift where he was very sensitive to and careful to meet the needs of people about him.

Characteristics of People With
The Gift of --- "Serving":

I. They Have The Alertness To Detect Practical Needs And The Desire To Meet Them.

A. They get their greatest sense of satisfaction and fulfillment in Seeing A Need Met by the Investment of Their Own Life.

B. They have a Tremendous Memory and the ability to recall specific Likes And Dislikes of people.

1. A Secretary, with the gift of service, will remember all the details of the likes and dislikes of her boss.

2. A Mother, with the gift of service, will remember the details of the likes and dislikes of each member of her family. (Fixing meals --- Shopping, etc.)

II. They Have A Joy In Serving When It Frees Others To Do More Important Things --- Not Just To Keep Busy.

A. A person with the gift of serving can become Very Grieved when they see the person they are serving Wasting Their Time on minor things.

B. But, they are Greatly Delighted in giving of themselves in serving others, when they see that the other person is Investing His Life In Worthwhile Projects.

C. The person with the gift of serving Expects You To Succeed --- because they are investing part of their life in you.

III. They Have A Tendency To Disregard Personal Health And Comfort In Order To Serve Others.

A. They will often forget about how they feel, and what they want --- as they give of themselves untiringly.

B. While everybody else is tired and wanting to rest --- they have in mind just one thing, "Get The Job Done."

C. Timothy served Paul even though he had "Often Infirmities." (1 Tim. 5:23).

D. Also Epaphroditus --- Phil. 2:25, "Yet I supposed it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, and companion in labour, and fellow soldier, but your messenger, and he that ministered to my wants." V. 27, "For indeed he was sick nigh unto death: but God had mercy on him, and not on him only, but on me also,.."

IV. They Have A Need For Appreciation To Confirm That Their Service Is Necessary And Satisfactory.

A. Their need for appreciation is:

1. Not just a desire to be recognized & appreciated

2. It Is to confirm that what they have done is Necessary, Important, and Satisfactory.

B. They Are Willing to give of themselves untiringly, But They Want to know that they are Not Wasting Their Time --- but rather have made a wise investment of their lives.

C. They are Greatly Fulfilled when they can see that You Have Been Helped by them giving of themselves.

1. They don't need the spotlight.

2. They don't need great places of leadership.

3. They don't need their names in print.

D. Paul gave this type of encouragement to Timothy.

1 Cor. 16:10-11, "Now if Timothy come, see that he may be with you without fear: for he worketh the work of the Lord, as I also do. Let no man therefore despise him:..."

V. They Have A Strong Desire To Be With Others --- Thus Providing More Opportunities For Service.

A. You won't find many people with the gift of service as Loners --- they want to be with people.

1. Timothy is almost always working with others.

(Acts 17:14-15; 18:5; 19:22; 20:4)

2. They do not get their greatest fulfillment --- off By Themselves --- studying the Bible.

B. They just need to know that their Lives Are Being Wisely Invested by meeting the needs of other people.

C. If the church has a desperate need of a Sunday School Teacher --- the person with the gift of service will:

1. Volunteer --- "I just can't sit here. Somebody has to teach them."

2. They may or may Not have the Gift of Teaching, but what they lack --- they will make up for in Love and Service.

D. These people will serve in any area where the church has a need --- Even If They Are Not Qualified.

VI. They Enjoy Short-Range Projects But Have A Tendency To Become Frustrated With Long-Range Responsibilities.

A. They like to see the project Completed.

B. If you have a five year, Long-Range Project, you have already wiped them out.

1. They are not interested in 5 years --- They want to see it Completed Today

2. They would rather you give them a little bite today and a little bite tomorrow and a little bite the next day.

C. If you have a long-range, 5 year, project; then give it to someone with the Gift of Organization.

VII. They Have A Tendency To Feel Inadequate And Unqualified For Spiritual Leadership.

A. If you ask this person to lead a Bible Study or Wednesday Night Prayer Meeting; they would be inclined to say that they are not qualified.

1. Even though they may not feel qualified, they are usually the Most Qualified because of their --- Loving, Giving, Service to other people.

2. This person feels much more at ease at being Practical Oriented.

B. If you asked them to teach a Bible Study, they would be Inclined To Say:

1. If you will teach the Bible Study, we can have it at my house.

2. I'll make sure everything is clean, I'll have snacks ready.

3. I'll keep the lawn mowed and everything will be great, you just do the Bible teaching.

C. You give a person, with the gift of service, a job he feels Inadequate And Unqualified for, he get Frustrated or even Angry and just might Quite.

1. You may think that they are not very faithful to God, but --- That Is Not It.

2. You are just Not Using Them In The Area That God Equipped Them To Serve.

Misunderstandings of People With
The Gift of "Serving".

I. Their Quickness In Meeting Needs May Appear To Be Pushy.

A. They may Appear to be pushy because they are So Willing To Volunteer.

B. They are willing, not only to forget How They Feel, but also How Others Feel --- in order to get the job done.

II. Their Avoidance of Red Tape May Result In Excluding Others From Jobs.

A. "If that is what needs to be done --- just get out of my way and I'll get it done."

B. Have you ever heard a woman say, "If you will just stay out of the kitchen, I'll get the meal on the table."

What she is saying is, "I appreciate your help, but all of these hands are just slowing me down."

III. Their Disregard For Personal Needs May Extend To Neglecting Their Own Family's Needs.

A. The Plumber's faucet leaks --- the Builder's roof leaks --- the Auto Mechanic's wife's car won't run, etc.

(( Preacher's Kids --- Because of His Gift of Service ))

B. Their Inability To Say "No" to others, robs them of time to help at home.

C. Their Need For Sincere Gratefulness from those whom they help (which they May Not Get At Home), causes them to turn to others.

D. Also, their Inability To Avoid Helping others in need may result in being Sidetracked from Their Own Responsibilities:

In their home --- In the church --- On their job...

IV. Their Eagerness In Serving May Prompt Suspicion of Self-Advancement.

A. However, their sense of fulfillment is Not in "Getting Ahead of You."

B. Their sense of fulfillment is in seeing their Project Completed.

C. After completing a job, in the next breath they ask: "What's the next project?"

V. They May React To People Who Do Not Detect And Meet Obvious Needs of Others.

A. They think that everybody else is Insensitive, Don't Care, Unconcerned, and Indifferent.

B. The person with the gift of service can sometimes be Very Critical (Judgemental) of someone with a different gift.

C. Whereas We May Think that the person with the gift of service --- always wants to be first --- always wants to get credit.

D. When someone with the gift of service is trying to help you --- and you brush them off --- you grieve their spirit.

VI. Their Insistence on Serving May Appear To Be Rejection of Being Served.

A. It is Difficult to do something for someone with the gift of service because --- they are already two steps ahead of you.

B. If you are eating supper and look around like you want something, they are the first to notice and say, "What do you need? Here, let me get it for you."

C. Their need of "Doing For You" Is Not because:

1. They have a poor self-image.

2. They feel inferior and are trying to feel important.

3. They are trying to make you look bad.

4. They are trying to take charge or take over...

5. The can do it better than you.

D. It Is because of a God Given Spiritual Gift.

E. They are often Misunderstood because it is very difficult for them to sit and let you serve them.

(A guest, with the gift of service, comes to your house for dinner.....)

VII. Their Desire To Sense Sincere Appreciaiton May Result In Being Easily Hurt.

A. If you don't complement them, they don't know whether their work was satisfactory or not.

They don't know what to do next --- They are frustrated.

B. They are Greatly Fulfilled when they can see that You Have Been Helped by them giving of themselves.

1. They don't need the spotlight.

2. They don't need great places of leadership.

3. They don't need their names in print.

C. They Need To Know that what they have done is a Wise Investment of their time.

VIII. Their Quickness In Meeting Needs May Interfere With Spiritual Lessons God Is Teaching Those With Needs.

A. Here is a person in need because God Is Trying To Get Their Attention.

B. You see the need and You begin to Meet That Need:

1. You get in God's way.

2. You get between that person and God.

3. You begin to receive the pressure.

C. The person with the gift of serving must be Very Discerning and pray about decision he makes to help someone.

IX. Meeting Practical Needs May Be Judged As A Lack of Interest In Spiritual Matters.

A. You may say, "Why don't they lead in prayer, teach a class, or Do Something 'Spiritual'."

B. That Not It At All, they Are doing something spiritual.

C. It's Just That:

1. God Hasn't Call Us All To Do The Same Thing.

2. God Has Gifted Them With This Giving, Helping, Spirit To Assist You.

X. Their Stamina May Be Interpreted As Insensitivity or Impatience With Others Helping.

You May Want To Take A "Break" And They May Say, "What Do You Mean Take A Break, We Have Work To Do."