Giving
Welcome to Refinery Life Australia.
This week we are continuing our series titled Questions People Ask About The Holy Spirit.
Today we are talking about What Are The Gifts of the Spirit?
Text
1 Peter 4:10 (AMP)
10 Just as each one of you has received a special gift [a spiritual talent, an ability graciously given by God], employ it in serving one another as [is appropriate for] good stewards of God’s multi-faceted grace [faithfully using the diverse, varied gifts and abilities granted to Christians by God’s unmerited favor].
Scripture Reading
1 Peter 4:8-11, Romans 12:1-8, 1 Corinthians 12-14, Ephesians 4:1-16.
Prayer
In Jesus name we pray.
Amen.
Introduction
What are the gifts of the Spirit, and how can you tell which one you have?
To find the answer to these questions, you need your Bible in hand, because you need to know what the Bible says about this matter and not what I say or what any other person says.
Christ has said in His Word, John 8:32 (AMP)
32 And you will know the truth [regarding salvation], and the truth will set you free [from the penalty of sin].”
And to the extent that you and I are able to grasp the truth, we will move into the freedom that God wants us to enjoy.
To the extent that we have to depend on human experiences that change from moment to moment, we will be locked into the bondage of subjectivism of human experience.
Thus we want to get our teeth into something solid in God’s Word.
Four passages in the New Testament deal specifically with the gifts of the Spirit, 1 Peter 4:8-11, Romans 12:1-8, 1 Corinthians 12-14, Ephesians 4:1-16.
We will focus our study on these four passages, moving from one to the other as we find the answers to the questions “What are the gifts of the Spirit, and how can you tell which one you have?”
- What are the gifts of the Spirit?
You will notice in each of these passages the superiority of the fruit of the Spirit over the gifts of the Spirit.
For instance, 1 Peter 4:8 said, “Above all, love each other deeply” (the first fruit of the Spirit listed in Galatians 5:22.)
Each of these passages emphasises the necessity of having the fruit of the Spirit in order to have the proper attitude for demonstrating the gifts of the Spirit.
If you ever get that turned around the other way, you are in trouble.
Then Peter gave one of the most obvious avenues for displaying the gifts of the Spirit, namely, “offer hospitality to one another” (1 Peter 4:9).
Peter said as much in 1 Peter 4:10 about the gifts of the Spirit as Paul said in an entire chapter, so let’s look at verse 10 very closely, 1 Peter 4:10 (AMP)
10 Just as each one of you has received a special gift [a spiritual talent, an ability graciously given by God], employ it in serving one another as [is appropriate for] good stewards of God’s multi-faceted grace [faithfully using the diverse, varied gifts and abilities granted to Christians by God’s unmerited favor].
Everyone in the body of Christ is a “gifted” person.
There is not a special class of people in the church who are the “gifted ones.”
This is taught again and again in these four passages.
Notice the tense, “has received.”
Not “will receive” or “may receive” but “have received.”
How many received a gift?
Everyone!
Thus a gift is not something I am seeking.
Why?
Because I have already received it.
I already have it!
I don’t seek something I already have.
Paul did, however, say that we are to “eagerly desire” the gifts of the Spirit, “especially prophecy” (1 Corinthians 12:31, 14:1, 39)
What logical conclusion can we draw from this?
If everyone has received, we must have received our particular gift or gifts at the moment of our new birth.
Just as we received our natural talents when we were physically born, so we receive our gifts of the Spirit when we were spiritually born again.
That does not mean that we immediately began to develop our gift any more than we immediately began to develop our talent.
Some people live their whole lives and never discover their talent, and some discover it late in life.
Some Christians never take seriously the Holy Spirit in their lives and thus never become aware of or develop and use the gift the Holy Spirit has given them.
Peter said “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received.”
What is the obvious meaning of “gift”?
A gift is not something you earn, a gift is free to the recipient.
Therefore your particular gift the Spirit is given to you free, just as salvation was.
Remember, salvation is a “gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast” it tells us in Ephesians 2:9.
You do not receive a gift of the Spirit because of your spiritual standing or your deep prayer life.
Thus you cannot boast or be prideful about it.
Peter said that we are to use our gifts to serve others, “as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.
We aren’t to covet someone else’s gift but are to minister with the gift God has given us.
He does not expect us to minister what He has not given us, so be what you are.
If God has made you a “foot” in the body of Christ, be a foot, if a “hand,” be a hand, and so on.
We are to use our gifts to “serve others.”
Some people say they want this gift or that gift because it means so much to them, or it does so much for them.
They miss the whole point.
The gifts of the Spirit are not given to be used for yourself, but for ministering to others.
We are merely stewards of God’s gifts, we do not own them.
A time will come when all stewards must give an account to God of how we used our gifts of the Spirit.
There are many gifts of the Spirit.
We can learn about additional gifts in other passages.
In Romans 12:6-8 Paul lists seven gifts of the Spirit.
- Prophecy (Romans 12:6)
Prophecy, or preaching, involves a message that is directed to a group of people.
It is the gift to communicate God’s Word effectively.
It is not “foretelling,” but “forth telling.”
B. Ministry (Romans 12:7)
This gift is certainly not limited to deacons, but ordaining someone to the deaconship would certainly say, “We recognise that this person has this particular gift of the Spirit.”
Ministry is the God given ability show Christ’s love in practical service to others.
C. Teaching (Romans 12:7)
The message of Christ not only needs to be proclaimed, it also needs to be explained.
D. Exhortation (Romans 12:8)
Teaching is normally done with a group, exhortation is normally done on a one on one basis, as a counsellor would do.
Exhortation should have a dominant note, and that note should be encouragement.
It aims at not dangling someone over the flames of hell, but spring them on to the joy of life in Christ.
E. Giving (Romans12:8)
This is a wonderful gift that comes with many blessings.
When people turn this gift loose in their lives, God increases His blessing to them so they can have more with which to practice this gift.
F. Ruling (Romans 12:8)
This gift is closely related to, if not the same as, “governments” mentioned in 1 Corinthians 12:28.
Ruling means to occupy a leading place.
Some people carry out the administration of the church.
G. Showing mercy (Romans 12:8)
It is possible to forgive a person in such a way that the very act of forgiveness is an insult.
Paul said that the Holy Spirit gives the gift of showing mercy “with cheerfulness.”
First Corinthians 12:8-10 mentions eight more gifts of the Spirit.
H. Wisdom (1 Corinthians 12:8)
It comes not from the mind so much as from communion with God.
- Knowledge (1 Corinthians 12:8)
This is practical thinking, the knowledge that knows what to do in any given situation.
It is the practical application of wisdom to human life.
J. Faith (1 Corinthians 12:9)
This refers not to the faith that saves, but to the faith that accomplishes great exploits for God.
For example, Noah and the flood, David and Goliath.
These people are not smarter, nor do they necessarily work harder.
They have the gift of faith that enables them to attempt the near impossible!
K. Healing (1 Corinthians 12:9)
This is the power to cure diseases by means of medicines, surgery, or prayer and faith.
We cannot limit healing to any one method, for the method is not the important issue.
L. Working of miracles (1 Corinthians 12:10)
A supernatural power given to some to do great deeds.
It was especially needed in the first century to confirm the claims of the gospel.
This can include casting out of demons both real or imagined.
M. Discerning of Spirits (1 Corinthians 12:10)
This is the gift of the protector in the church.
This gift keeps people from following frauds.
It is the ability to discern a false spirit from a true spirit.
In Acts 5, Peter discerned at the false spirit of Ananias and Sapphira.
N. Kinds of tongues (1 Corinthians 12:10)
The super natural gift of speaking in in another language without it having been learned is a great way to describe speaking in tongues.
This gift in the early part of the first century was helpful in communicating the gospel quickly to nationalities that otherwise could not have heard it.
O. Interpretation of tongues (1 Corinthians 12:10)
The ability, whether learned or supernaturally given, to translate into the language of the listeners what the speaker was saying in another language.
2. How can you tell which gift you have?
1 Corinthians 12:4-5 (AMP)
4 Now there are [distinctive] varieties of spiritual gifts [special abilities given by the grace and extraordinary power of the Holy Spirit operating in believers], but it is the same Spirit [who grants them and empowers believers].
5 And there are [distinctive] varieties of ministries and service, but it is the same Lord [who is served].
Since there are many gifts of the Spirit, how can we know which gift we have so we can begin to use and develop it?
1 Corinthians 12:11(AMP) says,
11 All these things [the gifts, the achievements, the abilities, the empowering] are brought about by one and the same [Holy] Spirit, distributing to each one individually just as He chooses.
- Let me suggest four steps.
- Your preparation.
You must learn the truth.
John 8:32 (AMP)
32 And you will know the truth [regarding salvation], and the truth will set you free [from the penalty of sin].”
You must know:
- The kind of God, the God of gifts is.
Psalm 84:11 (AMP)
11 For the Lord God is a sun and shield;
The Lord bestows grace and favor and honor;
No good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly.
God wants you to discover your gift.
It is not His will that it be hidden from you.
B. What the gifts are.
2. Your position.
This is a recognition of your position in the body of Christ.
Romans 12:5 (AMP)
5 so we, who are many, are [nevertheless just] one body in Christ, and individually [we are] parts one of another [mutually dependent on each other].
You are an important member of the body of Christ.
3. Your practice.
You must begin practicing what you believe may be your gift.
For example, if you are teaching, and the first Sunday you have twelve pupils, the second Sunday eight, the third four, and the fourth two, you have one of two problems.
Firstly, you did not prepare well, or secondly, you do not have the gift of teaching, but you do have some other equally important gift.
4. Your participation.
Remember that you are a participant along with others.
You are not in isolation but in relation with others.
Ephesians 2:22 (AMP)
22 In Him [and in fellowship with one another] you also are being built together into a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.
As we participate in practicing our gifts in the church, we should ask, “How am I coming across to others?
How do they read me?”
Their evaluation and response may confirm your gift or cause you to consider another gift.
B. Three questions to ask.
- Do I enjoy using my gift?
Does this bring happiness and satisfaction to me?
Am I comfortable doing this?
God does not force square pegs into round holes.
He does not expect us to use what we do not have.
2. Do others enjoy my doing it?
It may well be that I enjoy doing something that others do not enjoy me doing.
3. Does God bless my doing it?
Simply because God does not bless my doing a certain thing does not mean that God is displeased with me.
It may simply mean that I do not have the gift for doing what I am trying to do.
So I should not feel rejected by God.
I should seek to discover what my gift really is.
Conclusion.
You have a gift, a very important gift.
It may be different than mine.
But I need you, I respect you, and I thank God for both you and your gift.
1 Peter 4:10 (AMP)
10 Just as each one of you has received a special gift [a spiritual talent, an ability graciously given by God], employ it in serving one another as [is appropriate for] good stewards of God’s multi-faceted grace [faithfully using the diverse, varied gifts and abilities granted to Christians by God’s unmerited favor].
Until next time
Stay in the Blessings
Giving
I really want to encourage you to be diligent with your Bible study time, because God has so much more for us than we can get from just going to church once or twice a week and hearing someone else talk about the Word.
When you spend time with God, your life will change in amazing ways, because God is a Redeemer.
Theres nothing thats too hard for Him, and He can make you whole, spirit, soul and body!
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