Spirtual Gifts II

INTRODUCTION

Tonight we are going to continue our discussion on spiritual gifts

And we are going to look at 2 other lists and discuss them in hopes that we will have a better idea of what our spiritual gift is!

Has anyone had any clarity on what they think their gift is?

Would you like to share?

Lets go over last weeks gifts from 1 Cor 12:4-11

Word of Wisdom

Word of Knowledge

Faith

Gifts of healing

Miracles

Prophecy

Distinguishing between spirits

Various Kinds of Tongues

Interpretation of Tongues

There is another list in 1 Cor 12:28 “And God has appointed in the church, first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, various kinds of tongues.”

Helps

This is a general term for all kinds of assistance

Those with the gift of helps are those who can aid or render assistance to others in the church with compassion and grace.

This gift can be helping individuals with daily chores to assisting in the administration of the affairs of the church AND it can be helping with other individual problems like offering wisdom or spiritual help

One of the important characteristics of this gift is that these people help others without seeking n ay glory for it at all. They often do so in such a way that no one knows they are doing it.

The gift of helps is a very selfless gift. It is one who feels the divine drive to help others while rarely if ever expecting something in return.

How can this gift be an assistance to the church?

Those who are quick to volunteer a fill in a need

Administrations

Administrators are leaders. These people have the ability to take command of a situation and organize things in such a way that work. They are gifted at organizing events and putting getting ministries up and running.

Without the gift of administration, great ideas can turn into chaos. These people are able to use what is available to make ministry happen.

Administrators are also great delegators. They don’t mind calling people to action and recruiting volunteers for projects they believe in.

Some administrators work well with people. They appoint teams, organize volunteers, and recruit those who need a little nudge to get involved.

Introverted administrators often serve better behind the scenes, planning events and organizing calendars that benefit the whole church.

Why is this gift important to the church?

The spiritual gift of administration is a valuable asset to the church because a smooth oiled machine operates well.

THE FINAL LIST IS FOUND IN ROMANS 12

Rom 12:6-8 “Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly: if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith; if service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching; or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.”

prophesying

We talked about this last week. Just a recap because Paul says this is the most important gift because it edifies the whole body.

According to Thayer’s Greek Lexicon, to prophecy means: “discourse emanating from divine inspiration and declaring the purposes of God, whether by reproving and admonishing the wicked, or comforting the afflicted, or revealing things hidden; especially by foretelling future events.”

To prophesy is to declare the divine will, to interpret the purposes of God, or to make known in any way the truth of God that is designed to influence people.

Why is this gift needed in the church?

Because people need to know the ways of God, how to live for Him, and be influenced to trust Him deeper. All of these

the gift of serving

This gift involves providing service to the church of any kind. Its closely related to the gift of helps but is more related to people than to things.

Helps is more about helping out with chores or projects

Serving is more about helping people

This is the word διακονία where we get our English word deacon from

A deacon ministry is a serving ministry

Often churches divide families up to the deacons so that each deacon has a place of service

Churches have drifted from this sometime over the past 100 years and often used deacons as the pastoral team

The mistake in this are that qualifications between deacons and pastors

teaching

Teaching – This gift involves the study and clear delivery of God’s Word in such a way that people will understand it.

This includes first:

The ability to understand Scripture

The ability to explain the meaning, context and application to the hearer’s life.

The gifted teacher is one who has the unique ability to clearly instruct and communicate knowledge, specifically the doctrines of the faith.

I had a teacher Dr. Hahne in Seminary who I believe had the gift of teaching

it did not matter what subject he taught, he taught it in such a way that people got it.

I ended taking 11 of his classes and learned more from Him than any of my other professors by far

God placed him in the position where he could teach many

Why is this gift important to the church

Spiritual growth and conversion is closely related to understanding

Matthew 13:15 “For the heart of this people has become dull, With their ears they scarcely hear, And they have closed their eyes, Otherwise they would see with their eyes, Hear with their ears, And understand with their heart and return, And I would heal them.’”

Notice that one of the keys to be spiritually healed is understanding

exhortation OR encouraging

This gift is used to bring encouragement to others.

This may involve encouraging others to continue following the Lord

It may also involve strengthening the weak in faith or strengthening those who are going through difficult trials.

All of us should be encouragers

But some people have this natural gift of encouraging others

I believe this is the gift My mom has

She is always encouraging

Whether its toward someone who is speaking in a church

It could be someone who is sharing the gospel

She was a big encouragement to me when I went through a very hard trial

AND SHE DOES IT ALL THE TIME!

Why is this gift important to the church?

Because the Christian life is full of trials

Church ministry can be difficult!

People go through hard times!

And we all need encouragement

giving

Those with the gift of giving joyfully share what they have with others. They love to give! And it may not always be money.

It could be financial gifts

It could be material things

It could just be giving time.

The person with this gift is concerned about the needs of others and seeks opportunities meet those needs.

How does this gift build up the church?

Financially

Giving of their time

leadership

The word literally means “guide” and carries with it the idea of one who steers a ship.

One with the gift of leadership rules with wisdom and grace

The fruit of the Spirit will be evident in his life as he leads by example

How is this gift important to the church?

He is an asset to the church because of the church is not led by by a head, it will become a sinking ship

mercy

This one has supernatural mercy towards others.

This is evident by the way they show compassion toward church members who are in distress

By showing sympathy and sensitivity

And a desire to ease the suffering in a kind and gentle way