"Now
concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant." (1 Corinthians
12:1)
"Spiritual
gifts are an expression of the "manifold grace of God" (1 Peter 4:10). Just as there are many gifts, there are many
ways to organize them for study and application. The following study has brought joy and
freedom to thousands of Christians who have wondered what their spiritual gifts
are and how they could effectively use them.
GOD'S GIFTS MAKE US MIGHTY IN SPIRIT! (from IBLP)
1.
What are Spiritual Gifts? Drives,
opportunities, and results given by the Holy Spirit to achieve God's supernatural
goals - 1 Corinthians 12 - 14.
Each
person who is born again into God's kingdom takes on a "debt of
love". It is designed to
motivate us to fulfil the law of God. Thus, we are instructed in Romans 13:8, "Owe no man
anything, but to love one another; for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law." God gives
spiritual gifts so that we are able to pay our debt of love.
motivate us to fulfil the law of God. Thus, we are instructed in Romans 13:8, "Owe no man
anything, but to love one another; for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law." God gives
spiritual gifts so that we are able to pay our debt of love.
2.
Who is given a Spiritual Gift? Every
Christian. It is activated at salvation
when the Holy Spirit unites with our spirit - Romans 8:16-17
When
we are born physically, we possess certain natural abilities. When we are born again
spiritually, God takes these natural abilities and turns them into the means by which He can
work through us supernaturally. Christ "...gave gifts unto men...For the perfecting of the
saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ; Till we all come in the
unity of the faith..." (Ephesians 4:8, 12-13)
spiritually, God takes these natural abilities and turns them into the means by which He can
work through us supernaturally. Christ "...gave gifts unto men...For the perfecting of the
saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ; Till we all come in the
unity of the faith..." (Ephesians 4:8, 12-13)
3. How many gifts does each Christian have?
There
are three types of gifts: Motivation,
Ministry and Manifestation - 1
Corinthians 12:4-7. We
have one motivational gift and the possibility of many ministry and manifestation gifts.
- 1 Peter 4:10, 1 Corinthians 12:31
have one motivational gift and the possibility of many ministry and manifestation gifts.
- 1 Peter 4:10, 1 Corinthians 12:31
"Now
there are diversities of gifts, 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 all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit
withal" (1 Corinthians 12:4-7)
administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same
God which worketh all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit
withal" (1 Corinthians 12:4-7)
Each
Christian's motivational gift is given by the Holy Spirit. the Greek root word for gift is
charisma which comes from the word char meaning "joy". Charis is the Greek word for grace,
which is God giving us the desire and power to do His will. (Philippians 2:13).
charisma which comes from the word char meaning "joy". Charis is the Greek word for grace,
which is God giving us the desire and power to do His will. (Philippians 2:13).
The
Greek word from which operations comes is emergeia. Its English equivalent is energy.
As God gives power trough our motivational gift, the effects produced by it are the operations
(energema) or manifestations of the Spirit.
As God gives power trough our motivational gift, the effects produced by it are the operations
(energema) or manifestations of the Spirit.
Each
Christian may also have several ministry gifts given by the local church. After listing the
ministry gifts in 1 Corinthians 12: 28-30, Paul concluded by saying "But covet earnestly the best
gifts..." those that would most effectively strengthen believers and advance the kingdom of
God.
ministry gifts in 1 Corinthians 12: 28-30, Paul concluded by saying "But covet earnestly the best
gifts..." those that would most effectively strengthen believers and advance the kingdom of
God.
Peter
emphasizes the singularity of the motivational gift when he states, "As every man has
received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold
grace of God" (1 Peter 4:10)
received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold
grace of God" (1 Peter 4:10)
4.
Why Do We Receive Only One Motivational Gift? So we can
concentrate on it - Romans 12:6-8. So we
can see our need for each other - Romans 12: 3-5.
The
ear is designed to carry out a different function that the eye, and the hand to
perform
different functions than the foot. Gifts are distributed so that no one Christian will "...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..." (Romans 12:3-6).
different functions than the foot. Gifts are distributed so that no one Christian will "...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..." (Romans 12:3-6).
If
one Christian had all seven motivational gifts, he would certainly be
self-sufficient
and would not need the other members.
and would not need the other members.
5. How Do We Discover Our Motivational Gift?
·
Accept Christ
for Salvation - Romans 10:9-13
·
Enter into
Christ's victory over sin - Romans 6 thru 8.
It is significant that spiritual gifts are not explained in the first
chapter of Romans, but in the twelfth chapter, after sin has been identified
and conquered in the believer's life.
·
Concentrate on
the needs of others - Ephesians 4:12-13
Only as we begin using our gifts will we confirm them and also see the
need for other's gifts.
·
Discern your
real motive in helping others - Romans 12:4
·
Identify what
Christians do to irritate you - 1 John 3:16
Most Christians fail to understand that their spiritual gifts allow them
to see needs which are overlooked by those with other gifts. Rather than frustrating them, this should be
their signal to confirm their gifts and use them to help others see what they
see.
·
Understand the
categories of gifts - 1 Corinthians 12:4-7
·
Distinguish the
characteristics and misuses of each gift.
Most of the problems which we face come when we try to fulfil our
spiritual gift in the energy of the flesh rather than by the energizing power
of the Holy Spirit. Most of those who
have discovered their spiritual gift have done so by detecting misuses of their
natural abilities.
6.
What Are the Rewards Of Spiritual
Gifts? Knowing we have a gift that is valuable to
the Body Of Christ, we are able to achieve a deeper level of self-acceptance
and purpose in life.
As
we exercise our gifts, we experience personal fulfilment and a deep sense of
joy. By concentrating on our gifts, we achieve maximum fruitfulness
with minimum weariness.
Use of the skills (gifts) that God gives to
Christians - Romans12:3-8
v3 God has given to me his *grace. So I say this to each one of
you. Do not have too proud an opinion of yourself. But rather, think clearly.
*Judge yourself by the *faith that God has given to you. v4 Each of us has one body,
which has many parts. All these parts do not have the same function. v5 So we who belong to *Christ
are many people. But we are like one body. We all belong to each other.
v6 By the *grace of God, God has given different skills to us.
These skills are different because of the nature of God’s *grace. For
example, someone might give a message from God. But that person must be
careful not to use this skill in a way that is greater than his *faith. v7 And a person who has some
other skill should also use his skill in the same way. So, some people serve.
Other people teach. v8 And
other people can encourage. The person who gives should be generous. The
person who leads should be eager. And the person who shows kindness should be
cheerful.
Verse 3 Paul uses the words, ‘I say to you.’
Often Jesus began an important statement with similar words (for example,
John 3:3). God had shown his *grace to Paul, so that he had become an *apostle.
So he speaks with authority. He tells Christians to think properly about
their skills. They must not be proud. They must not think that they are
better than other people. The standard by which they must *judge themselves
is the standard of the *faith. That *faith means to trust in *Christ. He
lived and died for them. When they think about *Christ’s action they will be
humble.
Verses 4-5 Paul talks about the human body. All
the different parts of a body are necessary. In the same way, all members of
a Christian church should work together. Then the church can work properly.
The people may have a variety of skills. But each skill is necessary for the
purpose of God’s work in that church.
Verses 6-8 Christians should be humble because
their skills come from God. Then Paul gives 7 examples of special skills that
Christians should use. He mentions other special skills in 1 Corinthians
chapter 12 and in Ephesians chapter 4.
1. *Prophecy. A Christian might
receive a message from God. That Christian would give this message to the
local church. But he must only give such a message if he has *faith. In other
words, he must trust God that the message comes from God. Christians must not
give *prophecies that do not come from God. So any *prophecy must agree with
the Bible’s message.
2. To serve. The *Greek word is
‘diakonia’. It can mean various activities. The *apostles were ‘serving’ when
they *preached (Acts 6:4). And the same word describes the work of the 7
*disciples who gave food to poor widows (see Acts 6:2-3). So a person should
use whatever skills he has in order to serve other people.
3. To teach. After people become
Christians, they need to learn about the meaning of their *faith in their
daily life. Someone must teach them.
4. To encourage. This has two meanings:
a) to persuade with strong words. A *preacher can do this. b) to comfort and
give courage. Barnabas is an example of this meaning. He was well-known among
the first Christians because of the way that he encouraged people (Acts
4:36-37; Acts 9:27).
5. To give. If we share our
possessions, money or time with other people, we should do so in a generous
way. We should enjoy ourselves as we give to other people.
6. To lead other people. Church
leaders should carry out their responsibilities eagerly.
7. To show kindness. This can mean a)
to forgive people who have offended us or b) to give help wherever anyone
needs help. The good Samaritan was a man from Samaria whom Jesus spoke about.
We can read this story in Luke chapter 10. This Samaritan had *mercy on a
traveller who was hurting. The Samaritan delayed his own journey in order to
help the man. And the Samaritan even paid so that the man could stay at a
house (Luke 10:30-37).
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