The Motivational Gifts series - Motivated Servant

​​​Learning and getting into your gift will help you be a blessing to others, and your local church.  Can you imagine everybody being in their place operating in the gift they are supposed to be using? ​With more and more people in their place the corporate church will succeed.

As a reminder, every believer is equipped with certain gifts that help make them a success.
Romans chapter 12 lists what is called the motivational gifts of God. And in this series, we’ll go into each one and I’ll show you specific details that you may feel fit you. You’ll find that some may overlap; you will have at least one of these gifts but you may find that you function well in another gift as well.
Now, I’ve given you the introduction and we talked about the gift of Prophecy. In this issue we’ll discuss the gift of Serving or Ministry.  Alright, let’s get started.
The Gift of Serving / Ministry:
A.  In serving or doing ministry work we find the Greek word Diakonia from which we get our word Deacon or servant. It’s a position of serving one another and meeting practical needs.
B. Demonstrates love in deeds not words.
C. Usually busy doing something, even without being asked.
D. Doesn’t organize well. Will volunteer for anything and usually works better alone.
E.  Characteristics of the Servant /Ministry
            1. Ability to recall likes and dislikes of others
            2. Alertness to see and meet practical needs; Martha is an example of this.
            3. Doesn’t like long range goals – do it now!
            4. Physical stamina – no regard for tiredness
            5. Willingness to use personal funds to avoid delays
            6. Desire for sincere appreciation and also detect insincerity. Can detect flattery. 
            7. Desire to finish project with evidence of unexpected extra service. Likes to go beyond what is asked of them.
            8. Involvement in many activities with inability to say no.
            9. Joy over short range goals – frustration in long term goals.
            10. Doesn’t like time limits
F. Misunderstandings:
            1. May appear to be pushy in meeting needs.
            2. Avoidance of red tape may exclude others from jobs.
            3. Disregard for personal needs may extend to their own families’ need. Pastor must be aware of this so one person is not burned out and overworked.
            4. Easiness of serving may prompt suspicion of self advancement. Motivated prophet will be able to tell motives behind this
            5. May react to others who don’t see needs. Servant must be aware of their motive gifts and not get into criticism.
            6. Insistence in serving may appear as rejection of being served. They don’t like being on the receiving end.
            7. Desire for appreciation may lead to being hurt.
            8. Quickness to meet needs may stop teach of spiritual lesson God is trying to teach through the need.
            9. Meeting practical needs may be judged as lack of desire for spiritual matters.
            10. Stamina may be viewed as insensitivity to others that are helping.
            11. Joy of short range goals may conflict with someone else’s long term goals, especially the Pastor.
            12. Inability to avoid others’ needs may result in side tracking others direction and may get ahead of pastor.
            13. This is probably the largest group in the church.
G. Examples of Servants
            Luke 10 and John 12
                        Martha got mad at Mary for not helping in the kitchen. Martha couldn’t see that Mary was operating in her gift (teaching).  She got hung up in task and forgot who she was
                        serving. She could only see the short range goal (fixing the next meal).  Serving may not seem very spiritual, but it is if the person is walking in their gift. When you                                        perform your gift it is spiritually fulfilling.
If you get anything out of this, hit the blue comments link below. I will get back to you.
​Doc