Spiritual Gifts

Today’s Text

1 Corinthians 12:4–7 M:BCL

4 God’s various gifts are handed out everywhere; but they all originate in God’s Spirit. 5 God’s various ministries are carried out everywhere; but they all originate in God’s Spirit. 6 God’s various expressions of power are in action everywhere; but God himself is behind it all. 7 Each person is given something to do that shows who God is: Everyone gets in on it, everyone benefits. All kinds of things are handed out by the Spirit, and to all kinds of people!

God’s Gifts

• Has 3 gifts for you

Eternal life

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Romans 6:23 NKJV

23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

• without the gift, you get what you’ve earned - death

• Jesus took your place

• stands on its own, can’t be earned, you simply can’t do enough to earn it

• don’t keep it by earning it - by what you do

Ephesians 2:8 NKJV

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,

• comes only by grace

• this gift involves no work

The Holy Spirit

•

(Acts 1:4-5) “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”

•

• charis - charismatic - means a:

Spiritual gifts

• God has some for you

• a divine enablement

1 Corinthians 12:1 NKJV

1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant:

• See, they were confused also

• some say they died when the last apostle died - cessacionism

• still wants to give every one of us a spiritual gift

• people still confused - 27 in all -

• tongues is the one people turn off on - and then the rest

• God wants all of you to have them

1 Corinthians 12:7 NLT

7 A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other.

• every one of us

• so we can wild in church? NO, so we can help each other

• the enemy will do whatever he can to keep you from having them

• Not just for some - but for all

• definition

A spiritual gift is a special supernatural ability that God gives to each of His children, so that together we can advance His purposes in this world.

• when you’re doing it, you feel like God is working through you

• together - we all work that way

• His Purposes - God has something he needs all of us to do

• serve team and what they do

Understanding Spiritual Gifts

1. Discover the gifts God has for me.

• SG is not your natural talent - not even your skill set

• How do I find it?

Romans 12:6 NIV

6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith;

• Every one is exposed - like at our time of corporate worship at the end of our services

• talk about different people and their gifts

• need to find your grace gift

Psalm 139:13–16 (NIV)

13 For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. 14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. . . . all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.

• God created your inmost being - can only be filled by God things

• do you KNOW it full well?

• God’s design in me reveals God’s destiny for me.

2. Develop the gifts God has given me.

• Gifts change and mature as you change and mature

• Handing out bulletins to leading a group to . . .

1 Corinthians 14:1 (NIV)

1 Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit.

• Keep growing your gifts

•

2 Timothy 1:6 (NIV)

6 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you.

• Its on us

3. Use the gifts God has given me.

• If you know Jesus, we can summarize your whole life down into one assignment

•

1 Peter 4:10 NLT

10 God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another.

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Exceleration exists to take me on a spiritual journey to…

Know God, Find Freedom, Discover Purpose, Make a Difference until I’m able to say…

I was made for this.