Impact: It is What You Were Created For, Part Two- Spiritual Gifts
Spiritual Gifts
The Body of Christ (the church) has been uniquely designed by God to be unified, equipped, and serve with a variety of spiritual gifts.
For a long time I was confused about what Spiritual gifts are. Were they just for the super spiritual? Pastors? Charismatics? Pentecostals? When and where can and should they be used? What is the proper role of Spiritual gifts in the church today? Does everyone have the same gifts? How do I Know what gift I have? How are spiritual gifts related to natural talents?
Are spiritual gifts for wild-eyed fanatics? We are all fearful and curious about things we don’t understand or have never been explained to us. Some spiritual gifts are incredibly supernatural. Our worldview categorizes those things as extremely unusual. It is easy to see them as, “Okay for Bible times, but not for today.”
This problem is compounded when we see and hear all sorts of well-intentioned, but mistaken, Christians doing and teaching things that are clearly non-biblical. These questions are understood quite clearly by looking at the Scriptures in a broad way.
We are going to be looking at many Scriptures today from three passages.
God has uniquely designed us to be unified as the Body of Christ. (Romans 12:4-6, 1 Cor 12:4-6, 11-27, Ephesians 4:1-7)
There are some who feel that one gift is better than other. There are some who see themselves as more important.
The Scriptures consistently use a metaphor for the church: the body of Christ. A body is a whole unit, each having its vital parts. Each of us has different roles and gifts but each of us is vital to the fulfillment of our overall purpose: To make disciples of all nations!
Every person has different gifts and it is the Holy Spirit who determines who has what gifts. Rom. 12:6, 1 Cor. 12:11, Eph. 4:7
Spiritual gifts are given so the church can be equipped. Ephesians 4:11-16
Spiritual gifts help us to be ready for to fulfill our mission. I believe that God has given the Body of Christ, world-wide, all the gifts necessary to fulfill our mandate. If you break that down further I feel that the Spirit has given Kelyje the spiritual gifts necessary at this time to fulfill our mandate. We often times focus on what we don’t have. Let’s begin to look around at what God has put in you, me, and those around us.
There are basically three lists of spiritual gifts in the N.T. They can be found basically in three passages: Romans 12, 1 Corinthians 12, Ephesians 4. I want you listen carefully to them as I go over them, and see if you identify with any of them. Take the list home and pray about it.
Dr. George O. Wood, amongst others, has put them in categories. I will use his breakdown, descriptions and observations as a guideline in today’s message.
Motivational (Romans 12:6-8) These gifts explain the motivation of people in the Body of Christ to minister to one another.
Prophecy- Speaking for God and sometimes predicting the future.
Service- Practical ministry to needs
Teaching- Systematic and accurate teaching
Encouragement- A person who is called a long side someone to help
Giving- The giver has the special ability to see and respond to needs by giving.
Leadership- To set a course of direction and unify people for the accomplishment of work of the Lord
Mercy- The merciful person reaches out and administers the redemption and inner healing of Jesus
Spirituals/Manifestational (1 Corinthians 12:7-11)
Wisdom- This is when someone speaks a message of wisdom.
Knowledge- Not book learning but a message of divine knowledge
Faith- It enables a person to believe for and extra demonstration of the power of God.
Gifts of Healings (both gifts and healings are plural in the Gk.)- These people administer different types of healing in many different ways.
Miracles- Miracles demonstrate God’s power in unusual ways, especially in the realm of nature
Discerning of Spirits- Allows the person to determine whether or not a person brings a spiritual message from God.
Tongues- Differs from personal tongues. Refers to tongues in a public setting.
Interpretation of Tongues- This gift is the ability to interpret the gift of tongues.
Ministry (1 Cor 12:27-31, Ephesians 4:11-13) These gifts refer to an office in the church.
Apostle- An apostle is someone who is sent to take the gospel to a place where there is no strong church.
Helps- The special ability to invest talents in the life and ministry of others.
Administration- The ability to articulate a vision and unify the people of God to accomplish it. Differs from leadership in that the details are pulled together.
Evangelist- Special gift of sharing the gospel in such a way that men and women respond to follow Jesus.
Pastor- Assumes the responsibility of the spiritual welfare of God’s people. Pastor literally mean shepherd
Other Possible Gifts (1 Corinthians 7:7, 13:3, 1 Peter 4:9)
Celibacy- Being able to remain single and not suffer undue sexual temptation.
Voluntary Poverty- The unique ability to empty themselves of all assets for the care of others.
Martyrdom- One-time only gift of offering your life as a testimony to the ages.
Hospitality- Reaching out to others and making them feel comfortable and loved.
10 Observations
- These gifts are for all Christians
- Love must reign over all of these gifts (1 Corinthians 13)
- Given for the benefit of the body and for Jesus’ work in the world.
- Gifts should not be confused with spirituality.
- Spiritual gifts often times match natural inclinations and abilities.
- Spiritual gifts can be developed.
- The use of each gift will be confirmed by the body of Christ.
- The use of a gift comes from a combination of desire, prayer and need.
- Only a few of them occur in a church service. Small groups are a great place to learn.
- The Spirit wants to work in our daily lives.
(The lists of gifts, descriptions, and observations were adapted from Living in the Spirit: Drawing us to God, Sending us to the World by George O. Wood. This is an excellent resource for those interested in the person and work of the Holy Spirt.)
The Scriptures teach that our life should be given to serving God. (Romans 12:1 Ephesians 4:16)
We were created for Impact! Living sacrifices! A sacrifice is something that is totally dedicated or committed to the cause. In the O.T. animal sacrifices atoned for the sins of the people but they needed to be repeated over and over. Jesus was the perfect sacrifice, paying the price or our sins, so there is no need to offer additional sacrifices. Paul instructs us, here before this long passage on spiritual gifts that we need to say to God, as an act of spiritual worship, to offer ourselves as living sacrifices.
We need to live in the purpose for which we were created. When we do this we will have Impact!
The gifts listed in Ephesians 4 are given to the church for the building up of the church. We need to “reach unity” in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God. The gifts of apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor, and teacher are give so that we as a church might become mature. This passage says we the goal is the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. None of us are there yet!
It also speaks of being tossed back and forth, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. Instead, leadership should speak the truth in love. We can all grow up into him who is the Head. As the Body of Christ, our source is Jesus!
The whole body is joined together. Every part grows and builds itself up in love. But every part is doing its work. The point of the gifts is to unite, equip, and serve.
What could you do if you thought you had the gift of encouragement? What could you do if the body of Christ confirmed you had the gift of administration? What could you do if you recognized that latent ability within you that could have significant IMPACT?
Imagine if we as a body individually understood our gifts and encourage one another to use them? What could happen if we were being built up and equipped for ministry to our world when we leave this place? Imagine the gifts and talents in this room? Imagine the IMPACT!
REFLECTION TIME
- Discuss around your table the list of gifts that have been presented.
- Write down and turn in, anonymously if you wish, the gift(s) of the spirit you believe you have or desire to have.
