GRASSROOTS CHRISTIANITY
Goals and Gifts of the Spirit
1 Corinthians 12:1-11
Jerry A Collins
SCC
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What is
a spiritual gift today?
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How can I
use a spiritual gift today?
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What
difference does a spiritual gift make?
Did
you know that when you received Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, that
there were at least thirty three things that happened? One of those was that
the Holy Spirit gave you what is called a spiritual gift (1 Cor 12:7). This, by
the way, is the next subject Paul takes up with the Corinthian believers in
that city 12:1. In
1. THE TEST OF SPIRITUAL GIFTS IS IF THEY
EXALT JESUS
First,
in their former manner of life they were misled as unbeliever’s vs 2. Misled and carried away they only worshipped
dumb or silent idols which had no ability to talk or utter a word. These idols
had no ability to pass on any kind of giftedness to these people. As matter of
fact, demons were behind all of this (
2. THE SOURCE OF SPIRITUAL GIFTS IS GOD THE
HS
There
is only one source of he gifts 4-6. Yet there are a variety of gifts hat are
given. (1) There is a variety of or distinctions or differences of gifts 4.
These are uses in a variety of ministries 5 to accomplish a variety of effects
6. (2) While there are a diversity of gifts and effects there is only one God
behind it all. This is noted as the same spirit 4, the same Lord 5 and the same
God 6, who works in all members of the body of Christ. There is no competition
for all are from the same God. Notice the emphasis upon the godhead unique to
the Xian faith: the Spirit, then the Lord (Jesus), then God. The unity here is
stressed in relation to the different gifts. So while there are a diversity of
gifts and effects there is but one God behind it all working thru all three
persons. We do not manufacture our gifts. We do not choose our gifts. A
ministry is effective only when God is working through us and using us. It is a
God-given ability for service that makes my ministry valuable. So God supplies
me with the tools, the resources, and the God-given ability to make a
difference for the
3. PURPOSE OF SPIRITUAL GIFT IS SERVING
COMMON GOOD
First, we are given these gifts for the common good of the body of Christ. This is not a local, isolated good. This is not only for specific groups or else the body of Christ could not benefit. It is good to be a part of other groups of believers. I am part of this group and a group of men I disciple and an overseas group of believers and a teaching team at school group and my family group. All of these groups and persons in them can be served a common good as I use my giftedness I each of them. Al of these are the body of Christ and I should never withhold my ministry from them as God gives me opportunity. You also have your groups and persons and though they may not be part of other groups you are part of they are still the body of Christ. Serve their common good and let God use you with your gifts to minister and serve. And what are these gifts we have? He lists some for us. They include:
(1) Word of wisdom—spiritual insight and ability to communicate spiritual truths with insight. (2) Word of knowledge—ability to comprehend and communicate knowledge about God and His Word. (3) Faith—ability to lay hold of God with unusual measure of trust. (4) Healing—ability to restore health. (5) Miracles—ability to validate God’s message as true with powerful effects. (6) Prophecy—ability to speak message directly from God. (7) Discerning of spirits—ability to detect false teachers and teaching. (8) Tongues—ability to speak a different language. (9) Interpretation—ability to translate unlearned language spoken by someone. The bottom line is we are uniquely gifted a certain way for common good of believers. One common theme of these gifts is that they are revelational in nature meaning that they were used to both confirm something God was doing as well as foundational to the establishment of the church. So many of these may have been temporary in nature until the church was established and the Bible available. However, the one and same spirit works in it all and continues to distribute His gifts as He decides for the common good of the church vs. 11.
Here are some things we should know about spiritual gifts:
(1)
They are for serving others. A spiritual gift is a God-given ability for
service. In OT service primarily by official positions like kings, prophets,
priests and so on. But for the church Jesus changed all of that. Whoever wishes to be great….shall be your servant mark 10. Jesus gave us a new foundation
from which to serve. The apostles gave us the new platform for service which
was spiritual gifts (1 Pt
(3) They are spiritual not natural talents. A talent like music is connected to our personality. We are born with ability hat encourages such talents. Yes they are fro god who created us but come by natural birth. Spiritual gifts by re-birth.
(4) No one has all the gifts but every believer has some. Each of us will wrap our natural talents and personalities around our spiritual gifts in such a way that our gifts will all be developed differently. And whatever gifts we have been given are designed for equipping and building up the whole church.
(5) You discover your gifts as you serve people. Ministry is serving people with eternal values in mind. So the way to discover your gifts is probably not by taking a written test or class. The best way to discover how the HS has gifted you is to begin serving people in various ways. Then after some time ask yourself (1) in what areas does God seem to be using me? (2) What do I enjoy doing—what brings joy and contentment? (3) What draws me closer to god as I do it? So look back over your shoulder as you progress spiritually in service.