06 Jul Motivational Gifts #5

Motivational Gifts Overview

In this fifth installment of the Motivational Gifts series, Pastor explores the fundamental question every Christian should ask: ‘Why did you call me, Lord?’ Drawing from Psalms 46:1-5 and Romans 12:3-8, the message emphasizes that God calls us for His purpose, not merely for our benefit. Christianity is presented as a covenant of ownership where Christ purchased us with His blood. The sermon outlines three categories of spiritual gifts: the seven motivational gifts (Romans 12), nine spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 12), and five-fold ministry gifts (Ephesians 4). These gifts are given to help believers navigate and overcome challenges in this earthly life. The pastor stresses that spiritual maturity comes through obedience, not time, and that every believer has been equipped with specific gifts to fulfill their divine purpose. The message challenges listeners to discover and use their God-given gifts rather than comparing themselves to others or making excuses.

Motivational Gifts Outline

• 0:00 – Opening Prayer and Introduction: Prayer for open hearts and minds to receive God’s Word
• 2:30 – The Purpose Question: Why most Christians never ask God about their purpose
• 8:15 – Christianity as Covenant of Ownership: Understanding that Christ owns us through His blood sacrifice
• 12:00 – Marriage Covenant Parallel: How marriage mirrors the ownership covenant with Christ
• 16:45 – Foundation Scripture – Psalms 46: God as present help and the river of gifts flowing to believers
• 22:30 – Three Categories of Spiritual Gifts: Overview of motivational, spiritual, and ministry gifts
• 28:00 – The Seven Motivational Gifts: Detailed explanation from Romans 12:3-8
• 35:15 – Using Your Gifts: Practical application and avoiding comparison with others

Scripture References

Psalms 46:1-5, Romans 12:3-8, 1 Corinthians 12:1, Ephesians 4:10-11, 1 Corinthians 12, Matthew 26:41

Key Takeaways

• Every Christian should ask God ‘Why did you call me?’ to understand their divine purpose on earth.
• Christianity is a covenant of ownership where Christ purchased us with His blood for His purposes, not just our benefit.
• God gives us gifts not for heaven, but to help us overcome challenges and fulfill our purpose in this earthly life.
• There are three categories of gifts: seven motivational gifts, nine spiritual gifts, and five-fold ministry gifts, all still active today.
• Spiritual maturity comes through obedience to God’s calling, not through the length of time since salvation.
• We must use our gifts rather than comparing ourselves to others or making excuses about our abilities.
• Prayer is a duty for every believer, not a special gift, and it strengthens us against temptation when practiced regularly.

Motivational Gifts Notes

Pastor opens this fifth teaching on motivational gifts by addressing a critical gap in Christian discipleship: the failure to ask God about our purpose. After 42 years of ministry, he observes that most Christians treat God as existing for their benefit, rather than understanding they were called for His purposes. This fundamental misunderstanding stems from viewing salvation as merely receiving what Christ did for us, rather than recognizing Christianity as a covenant of ownership where we belong to God through Christ’s blood sacrifice. The pastor draws a parallel to marriage, another covenant of ownership where spouses belong to each other and seek to fulfill one another rather than simply receive benefits. This principle transforms how we approach our relationship with God, moving from ‘What can God do for me?’ to ‘What can I do for God?’ The foundational scripture in Psalms 46:1-5 reveals that God is our present help in earthly troubles, providing a river with streams that represent the gifts flowing from heaven to equip believers. These gifts are specifically designed for navigating this corrupted earth system, not for our heavenly existence. The pastor outlines three distinct categories of spiritual gifts found in the New Testament. The seven motivational gifts in Romans 12 are foundational gifts received at salvation. The nine spiritual gifts in 1 Corinthians 12 are received through baptism in the Holy Spirit. The five-fold ministry gifts in Ephesians 4 are given to some believers for church leadership and equipping others for ministry. Despite some denominational disputes, all these gifts remain active today because evil hasn’t departed and believers still need divine assistance. The pastor emphasizes that spiritual maturity isn’t automatic with age but comes through obedience to God’s calling. He illustrates this with examples from Kenya, showing how practical barriers protect villages from wild animals, just as spiritual gifts protect and empower believers against life’s challenges. The seven motivational gifts include prophecy, serving, teaching, exhortation, giving, organization, and mercy. These gifts help believers identify their specific function in God’s kingdom and avoid the trap of thinking too highly or too lowly of themselves. The pastor concludes by addressing the misconception that intercession is a special calling, clarifying that prayer is every believer’s duty, not a gift, and that consistent prayer strengthens us against temptation while neglecting prayer leaves us vulnerable.

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