I'm Pastor Darryl Beatty. Thank you for tuning in to our morning sermon, Identifying Marks of Our Spiritual Gifts. Here, as we look at our series in Colossians chapter 3, verses 23 down to verse 25. December the 7th, 20,025. The 17th of Kislev. 5786 in the Hebrew calendar. Thank you for joining us as we get into the wonderful word of God. Amen. As we look at the identifying marks of our spiritual gifts in Colossians chapter three verses 23 down to verse 25, This message, we call it the identifying marks of our spiritual gifts because Colossians chapter 3 verses 23, 24 and 25 reveals the characteristics, the marks that show whether the gifts God has placed in us are being used in the way that he intended. You see, Paul doesn't list specific gifts in these verses. Instead, he gives us the attitudes and the actions that identify a genuine God honoring use of our spiritual gifts. These virtues teach us that the true mark of a spiritual gift is not simply the ability itself, but the heart behind it. And so from the passages of Colossians chapter three, we learn several marks of a wholehearted service that whatsoever you do, do it hardly. And a real spiritual gift is recognized by the passion and the sincerity with which it is used. Also, we recognize a Christ-centered motivation as the Lord and not under man, because the true mark of a spiritual gift is that it aims to please Christ and not people. And an eternal perspective on this, knowing that of the Lord, you shall receive the reward. You see, a spiritual gift is identified by a focus on God's approval. and eternal reward, not earthly recognition. As the accountable living that we are here that do it wrong shall receive for the wrong using spiritual gifts properly. includes integrity, responsibility, and fear of the Lord. It gives us an equal standing before God. There is no respective person. God sees every believer's gift as valuable, and he judges all with fairness. So these nine identifying marks, excuse me, help us to recognize not only what our gifts are, but how they should be expressed in our daily life. When we carry these gifts We carry these gifts As a whole heartedness Christ centered motives that are eternal that focus integrity and humility and then when we do this We know that we're using them in the way that the Lord intended. This is why the message carries the title the identifying marks of our spiritual gifts And so it reminds us that gifts are not defined merely by what we can do, but by the spirit-led character with which we do it. As we get into this, listen, Bethel Crossroads, the problem in the church today is not that Christians are unaware that spiritual gifts exist. The problem is that many Christians do not truly understand what a spiritual gift actually is. We tell people what gifts are. Listen to how I say this. But rarely do we explain what a spiritual gift is. And trying to teach people what their gifts are without explaining what a gift is, is like handling a man a brand new tool and never giving him the operator's manual. He or she may hold it, they may admire it, they will never fully understand it, nor will they ever use it to its potential, because the same is true with our spiritual gifts. And a closer look at scripture reveals the identifying marks of a true spiritual gift. When we understand these characteristics, when we understand what God has already placed within us, we can serve the Lord far more effectively. So as we start out, I'm glad that each and every one of us, I'll be giving in this same segment, a spiritual gifts test. And in that spiritual gifts test are 80 questions. Of those 80 questions, your score from zero to three, not at all, never for zero. Number one, some of the time, once in a while, number two, most of the time, usually true. And number three, consistently, definitely true. Out of those 80 questions, some will repeat themselves. But when you get done at looking at administration, discernment, evangelism, exhortation, faith, giving help, serving ministry, mercy, pastor and teaching each one with a definition on this spiritual gifts test, you will be able to identify the two main gifts that the Holy Spirit has given you. And so I'm glad each and every one of us as we look and realize here this morning. As we get into the wonderful word of God, Sunday morning, we can really probably call these the nine identifying marks of our spiritual gifts, because there's going to be nine different things that I'm going to be talking about. And so on behalf of Bethel Crossroads, be sure to tune us in on our webpage, bcbchurch.org. I wanna welcome you. Come and be with us at 450 Iron Hill Road, Taylesville, Georgia 30178, as we get into our series, Unwrapping Our Gifts. Because as I welcome you, we're truly grateful that you've chosen to join us this morning on our media page. Whether you're here every week visiting for the very first time or tuning in online We want you to know that you're among friends, and this is a place where God's word is open, Christ is honored, and every person is welcome with the love of Jesus Christ. And so this morning, we begin this new series entitled Unwrapping Our Gifts in Colossians 3. verses 23, 24, and 25, that the Lord reminds us that whatever we do, we do it heartily as unto him. And it shows us that our gifts, whether seen or unseen, are not just talents or abilities, but opportunities to serve Christ with all of our heart as we journey through this series to discover how God has placed unique gifts in each of his children. and how those gifts become powerful when surrendered to Christ and how our everyday service becomes worship when done for our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Our prayer is that through this study, each of us will unwrap the gifts God has placed within us and use them joyfully for his glory. And I'm glad, may the Lord speak to your heart today as we gather to seek him and honor him in all that we do. And so, I thank God as we get started this morning I hope and pray that every believer has been entrusted with a spiritual gift, a divine empowerment given through the Holy Spirit. for the building up of the body of Christ. And while many Christians are familiar with the traditional lift of nine gifts mentioned in First Corinthians chapter 12, scripture reveals more gifts scattered throughout the New Testament. Gifts of service, encouragement, leadership, mercy, generosity, craftsmanship, hospitality, administration, and much more. And I'm glad that life presents Life presents left unopened. Many of these gifts remain unused simply because believers don't recognize them or they don't believe God placed anything special within their lives. And so they don't believe God placed anything for them. Yet God never gives a gift without purpose and he never calls without equipping. And so As we're on our journey to discover and understand and activate the diverse gifts, the Holy Spirit is placed within us. This series will help us to look beyond the nine and explore the full biblical landscape of the spiritual gifts, how they work, why they matter, how each one of us is uniquely designed to contribute to God's mission in the world. And as we unwrap these gifts this Christmas season together, May we grow in confidence, humility and boldness using what God has placed in our hands for his glory and for the good of others. And so before we get in to any further. In our series of unwrapping our gifts. I'm praying that let's open up with a time of prayer and let's ask the Lord to intervene because every believer has a divine gift and gifts must be open and they must be understood and activated. Will you pray with me? Heavenly Father, we come confessing our sins, asking for a cleansing by your blood that we open your word in the book of Colossians. to awaken our hearts to the reality of our spiritual gifts. Teach us to serve heartily as under the Lord and not under men. Save the sinners, Lord, that come across our paths. May we have a light that will break and penetrate the darkness of the world. Lord, shake Georgia for Christ, all 159 counties, and the seven million lost souls who desperately need the gospel. Because this morning, let the Holy Ghost fall upon your people. and set us at the crossroads of faith and hope, building lives for eternity. Let it begin within me and each and every one as you go from breast to breast throughout the house of God. In Jesus's mighty name, we pray. Amen. Well, when we look at this, we see the Book of Colossians that is coming up. In the book of Colossians, we see that it was written by the Apostle Paul while imprisoned in Rome. It was a book that exalts Jesus as the supreme above all creation, above religion, above human philosophy. And so Colossians is Paul's letter to remind believers that Christ is enough. Christ is preeminent. And so I'm glad that Christ is the one that empowers our service, amen. We serve heartily as unto the Lord and the reward comes from Christ alone. And so I'm glad that Paul teaches us that our work and by extension our spiritual gifts must flow from a heart completely surrendered to Christ. And so I'm glad that we look And we realize that it tells us in Colossians chapter 3 verse 23. And whatsoever you do do it hardly as to the Lord and not under me and verse 24 knowing that of of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance for ye serve the Lord Christ in verse 25, but he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done and there is no respect of purpose persons and so When we look at this, Paul is telling the Colossian church something very simple, but incredibly powerful. He's telling us that your gift, your spiritual gift is not measured by the applause of men, but by the approval of Christ. Warren Wiersbe used to say ministry takes place when divine resources meet human needs through loving channels to the glory of God. Agent Rogers would say your spiritual gift is God's grace in motion. And so I'm glad today as we look at what spiritual gifts actually is. Remember, many people, we tell people what gifts are, but very rarely do we explain what a spiritual gift is. And so when we try to teach what the spiritual gifts are without explaining what a gift is, it's like trying to do something without the whole understanding. And so there was a story of a man working at a hotel who was known for doing everything with excellence. Someone asked him, hey, why do you work so hard? And the boss hardly notices. And the man said, I'm working not for the boss. I'm working for the Lord. Well, I'm going to tell you, when we look at the word of God, we begin to look We begin looking at those nine identifying marks of our spiritual gift. And so we see that whatsoever you do work heartily as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord, you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You're serving the Lord Christ. And so we look at the means. We're going to be talking about the capacity. And our third identifying mark is our desire. Our fourth identifying mark is our tools, and our fifth identifying mark is our source. Our sixth, our divine motivator of our identifying marks, our divine influence seven and eight, calling and responsibility of our identifying mark, and nine, our building block of those identifying marks. As we get into the wonderful word of God, First of all, we see the means, because the Holy Spirit is the power that makes Christian service possible. And without him, the work is nothing but religious sweat. A current is a conduit, a passageway, something through which something else flows. A phone is a current, a microphone is a current, a pipe is a current. And spiritually, you and I are God's current. Your spiritual gift is the primary conduit through which the Holy Spirit ministers through you. Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 12, verse 25, that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care one for another. That there should be no schism, I said, in the body, but that the members should have the same care one for another. You see, we're called to be vessels is what it says. Paul was saying in 2 Corinthians 4, verse 7, But we have this treasure in earthen vessels that the excellency of the power may be of God and not of us. And so I'm glad that when we look again, even second Timothy chapter two, verse 21 says, if a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel under honor, honor, sanctified and meat for the master's use and prepared under every good work. And so, I'm glad that someone once said, the only hands God has are your hands, my hands. That's what your spiritual gift is. It is the hands of God working through you and I. And so, I'm glad that we are to be a conduit of God's grace. And I'm glad that every one of us, as we do that, we look and we see that spiritual gifts are God's currents. If your gift was the only Bible that someone read what would it tell them about Jesus? I'm glad that later on you can read all about the spiritual gifts But if you was to take and look back at Colossians chapter 3 He starts out in verse 1 talking about the new life that it's a finished work Meaning man doesn't have to go elsewhere on down further in Colossians chapter 3. He's talking about what we're to put off But then later in verses 10 down to verse 18, he tells us what to put on you and have put on the new man, which is renewed in the knowledge after the image of him who created him. Then he tells us about our domestic life in verse 18. Why submit yourselves under your own husbands as it is fit to the Lord. And so I'm glad not only the husband functions in the fear of the Lord, but not only husbands, but children and fathers and servants. And so, I'm glad, under the topic of servants, he begins to tell us, verses 23, 24 and 25, that he begins to tell us this. And so, we all have a gift. Because Paul said in 1 Corinthians chapter 12 verses 4 through 7, amen. But he says, now there are diversities of gift, but the same spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in them. But the manifestation of the spirit is given to every man to profit with all. But let me back up one more. Let's back up if you got your Bibles to first Corinthians 12 verses 1 through 3 Because he said now concerning spiritual gifts brethren. I would not have you ignorant in verse 2 You know that you were Gentiles carried away under these dumb idols even as you were led verse 3 Wherefore I give you to understand that no man speaketh by the Spirit of God Calleth Jesus accursed and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord but by the Holy Ghost and so we look at the means of Because all of us, when we see the means of our spiritual gift, That's what I'm talking about. It's the means of our spiritual. I'm talking about something that enables you and I, something that God makes available so that you can accomplish his work. It's the means of our spiritual gift. That's what I'm talking about. And I'm glad that our spiritual gifts are supernatural means, through which God reaches out to the lost and he ministers to the saved, hallelujah. And so spiritual gifts are God's currents. And so, that word, that Greek word for gift is charisma, meaning it is a grace flow. And just as the Alabama River carries a boat, the Spirit carries the believer in the service. The Alabama River runs entirely in the U.S. state of Alabama, but it joins with the influence of two other rivers, the Coosa Valley and the Tallapoosa, just north of the city of Montgomery, Alabama, near the town of Wapatoopka, Alabama, praise God. And so I'm glad as the river flows, not only when we look and realize that the Holy Spirit is the power that makes Christian service possible, And without him the work is nothing but religious sweat. And so a current is a conduit, a passageway, something through which something else flows. Praise God, a phone, a microphone, a pipe. And spiritually, again, I say it again, you and I are God's current. Your spiritual gift is the primary conduit through which the Holy Spirit ministers through you, praise God. And so I'm glad that as we look, we are God's vessels, we are God's currents, we are God's conduit. So spiritual gifts are God's currents, but we're the means of that spiritual gift. But secondly, we're the obstacles that are to be used. So the writer of Hebrews and Hebrews 12 one says we're foreseeing we have our all our compassion about was so great a cloud of witnesses Let us lay aside every weight and the sin which do so easily Beset us and let us run with patience the race that set before us praise God Well sin slows the current pride clogs the channel and fear capsizes the boat spiritual gifts do not operate in lukewarm hearts One of the greatest obstacles in the churches today is that we believe the church is supernatural in its origin, but not supernatural in its operation. When we lose spiritual power, when carnality replaces consecration, Churches start turning to human resources to fix spiritual problems. Uh-uh, no. No. Spiritual gifts are God's supernatural means for the Holy Spirit to minister through us. And the believer is the only instrument, never the source. And so, let me ask you something. If the way that you're using your spiritual gift was the only Bible your family or your church ever saw, What would they learn about Jesus, huh? And so it brings us to our second, not only our first identifying mark, the means of our spiritual gifts, but secondly, we see as we're God's conduit and God gifts or currents of grace and obstacles of sin, pride and fear. But I'm glad. And so the second identifying mark Our capacity our capacity of our spiritual gifts because the spiritual gift is not just a supernatural ability It is a supernatural capacity God gives every one of us at salvation and I'm glad that as we describe our gifts as abilities a Spiritual gift is really not an ability. I that you possess at the moment you're saved, listen to me, it is a capacity to develop a supernatural ability. And so if you don't never know what it is, if you don't never develop it, then listen, it is ability versus capacity. What God gives us versus what we can obtain. If your gift was the only Bible someone read, what would it tell them about Jesus? Matthew 25, verse 15, And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, and to every man according to his several ability, and straightway took his journey. Praise God. God gives ability according to capacity. And not everyone receives the same measure, but everyone receives the right measure. Tony Evans said one time, a coffee mug cannot hold what a gallon jug can hold, but the mug is just as full. You see, ability speaks to something that you can do now. Capacity speaks to what you can develop later. And so if someone gets saved on Monday and God gives that person the gift of teaching, they're not supernatural teachers on Tuesday morning. No, they're not. But what they have and what they can do is they could have a supernatural capacity to develop into it. Hallelujah. And so it's ability versus capacity. And also, secondly, the Holy Spirit versus spiritual gifts. And so in Acts chapter one, verse eight, that the spirit is the power. The gift is the instrument. And the chainsaw without gas is just a heavy stick. I said, oh, Larry Blitzer one time thought something was wrong with his boy. This boy was going around making all these weird noises. Come to find out that boy was trying to imitate his daddy running a chainsaw. He wanted to be just like his daddy. He wanted to run the chainsaw and he'd make noises until they figured out that that's what he was doing. He wanted to be just like his daddy. Well, in John, chapter 20, verse 22, Jesus said, And when he had said this, he breathed on him and said to them, Receive you the Holy Ghost. This was the person of the Spirit. And I'm glad in Acts chapter 1 verse 8, he says, but you shall receive power after that the Holy Ghost has come upon you and you shall be witness unto him both in Jerusalem and in all Judea and in Samaria and unto the uttermost part of the earth. He said, ye shall receive power. This is the power of the Spirit. It's the gift of the Holy Spirit is the Spirit himself. And the gifts of the Spirit are the tools that he uses through us. Hallelujah. Listen, spiritual gifts are given at conversion. They manifest as his tools for ministry, and they require the Spirit's power to be effective. A spiritual gift is a God-given capacity that develops into a supernatural ability. Mark it down. And so, I'm glad that we look and we realize that our next thing that we see, a gift equals a capacity before ability. And the spirit empowers growth. And capacity determines your effectiveness. Amen? And so, as we move on. We look and we see our third identifying mark of the nine. And that is not only the means of our spiritual gift, not only our capacity of our spiritual gift, but thirdly, our desire of our spiritual gift that identifies us as a mark, praise God. Because Paul said in Timothy, first Timothy chapter three, verse one, this is a true saying, if a man desire the office of a bishop, he desires a good work. And so the first qualification that Paul listed is a desire. Amen. This is a true sin. If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desires the good work. And so a desire to perform your gift is what I mean. A gift unused is a gift wasted. And so, believe me, the psalmist says in Psalm 37, verse four, as we run reference, he says, delight thyself also in the Lord and he shall give thee the desires of thy heart. And so God puts desires in you and me that match your gift. And when God gives a spiritual gift, he also gives the supernatural desire to use it. Praise God. If you have the gift of mercy, he gives you a desire to comfort. If evangelism, a desire to see souls saved. And the more that you grow in Christ, the stronger this desire becomes. Hallelujah. And so it's a desire to perform your gift. But secondly, we surrender our desire that becomes supernatural success. Because James chapter 4 verse 7, submit yourselves therefore to God, resist the devil, and he will flee from you. When you surrender, that multiplies your effectiveness. Desire is the engine of accomplishment. And every successful Christian who ever did something great for God did it because of a burning desire, a passion, a burden, a spiritual hunger. David said in 1 Samuel 17, verse 29, and David said, what have I now done? Is there not a cause? Listen. He was bringing some bread and cheese out to the battlefield where the battle was going, where a big giant was mocking God and making fun of him. And, buddy, I'm going to tell you something. They wanted to call David on the company. Hey, is there not a cause? You better believe there is. The world calls it passion. But the Bible calls it a burden and David was not going to put up with a giant I don't care how big and ten foot tall he was David wasn't going to put up with it David wasn't going to hear the blasphemy against the Almighty God coming from a giant on the battlefield a Burden is a spiritual force a demand on your resources and it may pull from your material resources it may pull from your spiritual resources in your emotional resources and But it compels you to obey God, and a burden gnaws at your soul. It burns in your heart. It pushes you to the second mile. Praise God. A desire to perform your gift, a surrender desire, becomes a supernatural success. But thirdly, how to receive a burden through that desire. Nehemiah 1, verse 4, And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down, and wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven. You see, Burdens are born from prayer tears and vision We present our bodies as a living sacrifice a man is Romans chapter 12 verse 1 and a burden begins with willingness it grows through the word it strengthens by the spirit like muscles gift grow by use and they shrink by neglect and So it moves us on when we look that God plants desire matching your gift Burden drives ministry and surrender increases effectiveness. And so we move on. And so I'm glad that fourth identifying mark of the nine, the means of our spiritual gift, our capacity of our spiritual gift, our desire of our spiritual gift. Fourthly, the tools of our spiritual gift. Hallelujah. They call spiritual gift or God's tools for ministry and the edification of the church. And I'm glad Paul said in Ephesians 4, 12, for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ. I'm glad that every one of us, we recognize our tools is what he's saying. Your spiritual gift is the tool God placed in your hands to build what he placed in your heart. Hallelujah. Paul said in Romans 12, 6, having been gifts different according to the grace that is given to us where the prophecy let us prophesy according to the portion of faith. Every believer has a tool designed for a specific assignment. You don't choose your tool. He chose it for you before you were born. Adrian Rogers said, God never calls you to do anything that he doesn't equip you to do. And some Christians are frustrated because they're trying to use someone else's tools. David couldn't fight in Saul's army. You can't fight in another man's gift. Many Christians know about gifts, but they don't recognize their purpose. And it's like giving a man from the jungle a toolbox and telling, hey, I want you to build a house out in the Amazon and never explaining a single tool to them. They might produce something that resembles a house, but it will not stand. So we recognize our tools and we learn how to use our tools. Praise God. Second Timothy chapter one, verse six is stir up the gift of God. And so tools require training, sharpening, practice, discipline, humility, praise God. Tony Evans says a dull tool creates hard work and little fruit, and a sharp tool creates small effort and great impact. God will never give you a hammer and ask you to saw boards. Nor will he give you a saw and ask you to drive nails. Once you recognize your gift, you must learn how to use it effectively for the good of the church and for the glory of God. And so the 10 spiritual gifts that he gives every one of us. Now, this test that I'll be giving y'all that I have a PDF on there is from Dr. Elmer Towns, a spiritual gift test. And it'll tell you about administration, the spirit given ability to plan, organize, direct and coordinate people and resources so that the church can accomplish God's purposes effectively. Administrators bring order by out of complexity, clarity steps and keep ministries moving forward. I've got scripture that backs everyone is up. I don't have time to go into every one of these right now. I'll be going into them in the next message. So I'm glad that out of all of these tools. administration, discernment, evangelism, exhortation, faith that we look at, giving that we look at, I'm glad, that helps serving and ministering that we look at, praise God, mercy that we look at, pastor and shepherding and teaching, praise God, all of these gifts that shows us about the tools that we're to use, praise God, and so Gift equals a tool God placed in your hand and each tool is unique in purpose and tools require sharpening praise God. And so I'm glad that when we look at that, those tools require sharpening. And so as we move forward and see that fifth tool that God gives us. This is a quick rundown, since I didn't go through all of them, to show you very quickly how each one of these go. There's scripture with each one of them that goes. Administration, discernment, evangelism, exhortation, faith, giving, help, serving, ministry, mercy, pastor, shepherding, teaching. Each one that will give a definition for each and every one of these things. Praise God that we see. each one of these that we go into that God begins to give us a definition for all of them. And so for time wise, we move into our filth, which is we talked about the fifth identifying mark because the means of our spiritual gifts Secondly our capacity thirdly our desire fourthly our tools, but fifthly is our source of our spiritual gifts gifts are not a result of talent. They are an overflow of the spirit and Paul said in 1st Corinthians chapter 12 verse 11 as he will listen for it in 1st Corinthians chapter 12 verse 11 But all these things worketh that one and the self same spirit dividing to every man severally as he will The Holy Spirit is the source, is what I'm telling you. And He selects the gift. He directs the gift. He energizes the gift. He sustains the gift. And without the source, the Holy Spirit, the gift becomes an idol instead of an instrument. A lamp without electricity is a decorative, but it's useless. And a Christian without the Spirit's power is the same. A spirit alone anoints the gift, or else it is nothing more than flesh performing some kind of religious duty. Your spiritual gift is the source of much of your joy in all of your Christian life. We're all happy to receive our gifts, but greater happiness comes when we use those gifts for the honor and glory of Jesus Christ. And so the message is crystal clear. Using your gift produces spiritual joy and fulfillment and you function with maximum effectiveness and minimum frustration when you operate in your gift. Praise God. When all have a personal ministry, every one of us. Let me say it again. Everybody in the church has a personal ministry and that ministry must reflect our gift. Praise God. And so we look and we see that spirit selects and directs and energizes and without him, the gift becomes flesh. And we look and see that joy flows through the spirit and it powers the service. Amen. And so as we move on, we see our, we see our sixth gift, the divine. And so we see our six identifying markers. Divine motivator because a spiritual gift is not a title. It's a motivator. It influences our being Spiritual gifts don't just shape what we do they shape who we are in Galatians 5 verse 25 if we live in the spirit Let us also walk in the spirit. And so if we live in the spirit, we must walk in the spirit. I And so, to walk in step with, your gift will correct your character. Your gift will confront your weakness. Your gift will cultivate your Christ-likeness. Your gift affects your energy, your sacrifices, your persistence, and when people work in areas where their gifts function, They work harder, they stay longer, and they give more. And so it influences our spirit, our divine motivator. Oh, so that divine motivator is the truth about our motivation. Because in 1 Samuel 16, verse 7, But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord seeth not as man seeth. For man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart. There are only two motivations for ministry. Listen to me very carefully. The first one is self-glory. But the second one is God glory. You can preach with the wrong motive. You can sing with the wrong motive. You can serve with the wrong motive. You can even give money with the wrong motive. But you cannot fool God. The Holy Spirit will reveal. And whether you want a stage or whether you want a savior, whether you want applause or whether you want anointing, motivation comes from within. I see so many people that they want to take their gift and get up on a stage for the world to see just what they can do. That's within themselves. Whether you want a stage, whether you want a savior, whether you want applause or whether you want anointing. Because motivation comes from within. And I am not up behind a pulpit to draw attention to myself when I preach. And no preacher and no teacher should ever be that way to draw attention to themselves. Everything should be about our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. As for Christians, this within is the Holy Spirit working through our gift. And I'm glad the key to motivating people is to find their gift and to place them where their gift can function. Hallelujah. And so we move on to our next. As the gift shapes character and as the true. Most truth. Motivates and revealed by the spirit, we serve for God's glory alone. And that's it. And so let's move to our next one. And so, our seventh identifying mark is the divine influence. What have we said so far? First of all, the first identifying mark was the means of our spiritual gift. Secondly, our capacity. Thirdly, our desire. Fourthly, the tools. Fifthly, our source. Sixthly, the divine motivator. But here, the seventh identifying mark of our spiritual gift is the divine influences that God shapes our perspective. Spiritual gifts influence the very motives of our hearts. And when a little boy dented a man's new car, but then explained his friend was injured and needed help, anger melded into compassion. Perspective changed the motive, and your spiritual gift shapes your perspective. A teacher sees everything through teaching eyes. A giver sees everything through giving eyes. And a servant sees everything through serving eyes. There would be a far fewer conflicts in the churches if we understood that people view situations through the lenses of our gifts, our spiritual gifts. And so I'm glad that when we look, we see the gift that shapes the perspective. Different gifts see needs differently and understanding reduces conflict. Praise God. So I'm glad if the way that you are using your spiritual gift was the only Bible your family or church ever saw, what would they learn about Jesus Christ? And so It brings us to our eighth identifying mark of our spiritual gift. And that is our divine calling and responsibility. We often sing, I'm in the Lord's army. But let me tell you something. You didn't volunteer in the God's army. You're drafted at salvation. And Paul said in Ephesians 2 10, we are his workmanship created under good works and ordained. We are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus under good works, which God hath before ordained, that we should walk in them. You see, God has equipped you and I with a gift, and with every gift comes a calling. You're called to it. All gifts carry a calling, because Paul said in Ephesians 4.1, I therefore the prisoner of the Lord beseech you that you walk worthy of your vocation, wherewith ye are called. Amen. All gifts carry a calling. And your gift is your ministry. Your ministry is your calling and you are responsible to fulfill it. Dr. Amartown says your gift reveals God's purpose for your life. And so Ephesians 4.1 says, I therefore the prison of the Lord beseech you that you walk worthy of a vocation wherein you are called. This tells us to walk worthy of that according to our calling. Your gift is your calling. Your calling is your gift. And so all gifts carry a calling, but a stewardship of our gift as well because in first peter 4 10 the bible says as every man hath received the gift even so ministers the same one to another is good stewards for the manifold grace of god a steward does not own the gift he manages it for the master and so every one of us will give an account And all gifts carry a calling the stewardship of the gift but also the rewards of using a gift paul said in second corinthians 5 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of christ that everyone may receive the things done in his body according to that He hath done whether it be good or bad. They're going to be crowns and accommodations and compensations and celebration are They're going to be lost. They're going to be some regret. They're going to be some shame and emptiness and nobody will regret giving god too much But millions will regret giving him too little The parable the talents teaches accountability and each servant was given according to his capacity and the reward was the same for the faithful Regardless of the size of their capacity at the judgment seat of Christ 2nd Corinthians 510 We're gonna give an account for our gift and for our capacity and I'm as our time moves on gift of a calling we're stewards of grace and reward or regret awaits all of us and so we come to We come to our And we've come to the extent of our ninth identifying mark due to the extent of this message. It's a little lengthy. Sorry, my apologies, but it's the God-given message that I need to bring. And of the building blocks, spiritual gifts build the church. Programs are tools. People are the material. And great churches are built by surrendered people. The psalmist says, accept the Lord, build the house. thy labor in vain that build it, except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain. The greatest ministry is not built by talent, personality, money, programs, or committees. Great churches are built by dead men and women, people who have died to self. I'm telling you, someone said never use great people to build a great church. Use a great church to build great people. And I say use surrendered people to build a great church. and let that great church build others. Great churches are built by surrendered people. But secondly, use what God uses. Acts chapter four, verse 13. Now, when they saw the boldness of Peter and John and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marveled and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus. God uses the willing, broken, surrendered, humble, and available. Moses had a rod, David had a sling, Peter had a boat. The widow had oil, the boy had a lunch, Mary had a womb. And you and I have a gift. And modern management teaches that same principle. Start with a person, build around their strengths. This is exactly how God builds his church family. Listen, great churches are built by surrendered people. Use what God uses. And thirdly, laborers together. Jesus said, I'll build my church. And he taught as he threw Paul, we are labors together with God. God can, if you will, powerful because years ago in a small town, a fire station caught on fire. And as it did, gifts build the church, surrendered people equals God's to and we labor with God. And so. Years ago in a small town, fire station caught on fire. The tragedy wasn't that a building burned down. The tragedy was it burned down because the hoses were never unrolled, the equipment was never tested, the firemen assumed the building would never catch fire, and the building designed to fight fire burned because the people trained to fight never did fight. And the same thing happens in the churches today. Families fall apart, not because there's no power, but because the power is not used. Souls go to hell not because the church has no gifts, but because the gifts are still sitting in the fire station unused. Friend, is your fire hose still rolled up? Listen, you need to ask yourself some things. And I'm glad that what is my gift? What hinders me? And who suffers if I do nothing? Because if every Christian served like me, would my church grow or die? If God judged me tonight for my gift, would I receive reward or regret? If my gift were the only gospel in my children's song, would they see Jesus? If I died tonight, today, would my ministry outlive me? If God removed my gift, would anybody notice? You see, you need to let the Holy Spirit search you. And so, will my ministry outlive me? As I give you an invitation, Each and every one of us lay your gift at Jesus's feet, surrender fully and build for eternity. Because each and every one of us, as we close out, God wants to get your attention. A spiritual gift unused is a fire that never warms and a light that never shines and a tool that never builds. Identify your calling. Reveal your assignment. Express Christ through you. Build the body and prepare for eternity. because a spiritual gift is not a label added to your life. It's a divine force that shapes your desires, motives and ministry. And when people learn what a spiritual gift truly is, the confusion disappears. A spiritual gift is the very expression of a spirit filled life. And when Christians are miserable in ministry, it's usually because they're serving outside of their gift. People serve because they have to or because they want to. Spiritual gifts are the won't to of the Christian service. And so I open pray as I close out and tell you something. Hell is real. Heaven is real. Eternity is one heartbeat away. Do you know Christ? Are you saved? Are your sins forgiven? If your gifts is a surrender to God, are you ready to meet the Lord? Will you come lay your gift at Jesus's feet? Let him fill you, use you, send you, because this is the crossroads of faith and hope, and we're building for eternity at Bethel Crossroads Baptist Church. As we close out, I hope you pray that you got something out of this message.