Gifts of Spirit 4 (1)

The mobilization of spiritual gifts is critical to the qualitative and quantitative growth of the body of Christ. For this reason, we must be careful to avoid the many pitfalls associated with this crucial subject. Here are ten:

A. Spiritual gifts are not merely for personal use. They are designed for the edification of others. Others should benefit primarily; the user should benefit secondarily.

B. Spiritual gifts are not gained by merit or by begging. The very term charismata tells us that they are given solely by the grace of God (see Ephesians 4:7). The Holy Spirit distributes them as he decides to each person …. (1 Corinthians 12:11).

C. Spiritual gifts can be abused by being exercised in the power of the flesh. If they are not being used in the power of the Spirit and through the love of Christ, they are of no value (1 Corinthians 13:1-3).

D. The discovery and use of spiritual gifts is not a game or an option. Your gifts will determine your ministry, and your ministry can have eternal consequences. God has called us to be committed and faithful to Him, and this is reflected in part by our stewardship of the abilities and opportunities He has given to us.

E. Spiritual gifts should not be a cause of discouragement. As a rule, they develop gradually, and this requires time and work. Don't be in a hurry, and don't become jealous of the gifts bestowed on others. As we have seen, gifts vary in nature, combination, extent, and intensity. God is sovereign in His distribution, and He has given you the gift(s) that perfectly suit your personality and circumstances. There is no reason to envy another person's ministry. God has called us to faithfulness, not results.

F. Spiritual gifts should not be a cause of pride. Since they are sovereignly distributed according to the grace of God, they ought to be regarded as divinely-entrusted responsibilities, not status symbols, achievements, or trophies. Christian character and maturity is measured by the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23), not spiritual gifts.

G. Spiritual gifts should not be sought as ends in themselves. In some circles, there is a tendency to exalt the gifts above the Giver.

H. Avoid extreme positions on the gifts that are not warranted by Scripture, like the teaching that we should not seek to discover spiritual gifts, or the teaching that a Spirit-filled Christian can have all the gifts.

I. The gifts of the Spirit can be counterfeited not only by the flesh but also by Satanic and demonic forces. Scripture counsels us to be sensitive to this problem. See Matthew 7:22-23; 24:24; 2 Corinthians 11:13-15; 1 Timothy 4:1; 2 Peter 2:1.

J. Avoid the temptation of projecting your gifts onto others. Our thinking is naturally colored by the gifts we have been given, and if we are not careful, we will take the prescription that works for us and turn it into the norm for everyone. This can lead to a judgmental perspective on our part and a sense of guilt on the part of others who are not gifted in the same way.

DIRECTIONS FOR USING YOUR SPIRITUAL GIFT

Here are three principles that should govern our use of spiritual gifts:

A. Remember that the Holy Spirit is the true dynamic behind the gifts. They must be exercised in dependence upon His power.

B. Spiritual gifts function best in the sphere of love (the way that is beyond comparison; 1 Cor. 12:31). Paul placed his great description of love (1 Corinthians 13) right in the middle of the most extensive biblical passage on spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 12-14). It is no accident that the two other major lists of spiritual gifts (Romans 12 and Eph. 4) also include exhortations to love (see Romans 12:9-10; Ephesians 4:15-16).

C. In your ministry, concentrate your energy in productive areas. It is wise to maximize time in gift-related activities and minimize time in activities for which you are not suited.

It is important to remember that Scripture commands all believers to perform certain ministries regardless of individual gifts. Christian roles like intercession, faith, service, helps, mercy, and giving are the responsibility of all Christians, not just those who are specifically gifted in these areas.

For example, some have the spiritual gift of evangelism, but all believers have a role of evangelism that corresponds to the opportunities they have been given. Be careful to avoid the spiritual cop-out mentality that says, That's not my gift!

Having gone through the description of each of the spiritual gifts, let’s ask ourselves these questions:

a. Do I have a strong sense of concern in this area? As I have listened to the gifts described, which one raises my interest, which gift resonates with something inside of me?

b. Is this something I would enjoy doing? Does a particular gift appeal to my interest as something that would be a fit for me?

c. Have I shown any ability in this area? Does this particular gift point to a strength in my life?

d. Have others given me positive feedback in this area? Have others told me that when I do this certain thing, it releases a blessing?

COMBINATIONS AND VARIATIONS OF GIFTS

Many if not all believers have combinations of two or more spiritual gifts. Some combinations are unusual, while others are commonly combined. Gifts that work together include shepherd (pastor)-teaching, leadership-administration, evangelism-teaching, tongues-interpretation, and discernment-exorcism.

In closing, the only thing remaining is, as NIKE says, to “Just do it!” Step out and use your gift. Ask God for an open door and begin to put feet to your faith by exercising the gift the Holy Spirit has given to you. The most natural outlet is in the setting of your own local church.

At TPC, we have many avenues waiting for you to step into. You can find a list of possible outlets below. Please read them over and ask, which one would be a fit for my gift? Which one resonates with me, appeals to me, seems to call to me? You will find that when you become involved in ministry, your Christian life takes on a whole new dimension of adventure, excitement, and fulfillment!

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