Diversity of Giftings

Pentecost is a Christian holiday, observed on the seventh Sunday after Easter, that celebrates the blessing of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles and other followers of Jesus Christ, as mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 2:1-31). The day of Pentecost is known in the Christian Church as the day on which the Spirit descended upon the 120 gathered. Guided by Peter's preaching, many thousands were converted in Jerusalem.

Some think and will say that the church is doing fine, but if we take a look, a deep honest look, the spirituality, (not weird stuff) of the church and our impact on the younger generations and leading them to a true transforming relationship with Jesus Christ is falling short.

Sam Storms=“Preachers teach the Bible, and people snore. Homemakers share their faith, and it falls on deaf ears. Lives get broken but rarely get fixed. Bodies are suffering, yet few are healed. Marriages are dying, and people just give up. Temptations are faced, and sin flourishes. The poor are hungry and stay that way.”

2 Peter 1:3 ESV

His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence,

Varieties of Gifts

9 gifts listed here, word of wisdom, word of knowledge, faith, healing, miracles, prophecy, distinguishing of spirits, tongues, interpretation of tongues.

These Paul has separated from other gifts the Bible teaches about. These are the most controversial and argued over

these 9 are not “more spiritual” than the others but definitely more overt and powerful in terms of visible and vocal impact. many are nervous because of this fact.

in Romans 12:6-8 Paul mentions prophecy, service, teaching, exhortation, giving, leading, and showing mercy.

Romans 12:6–8 ESV

Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.

gifts-Charisma-enabling the reciever to serve the church due to the power of divine grace operating in your soul by the Holy Spirit

service-diakoniai-the ministration of of service by those who, empowered by God, have the heart and mind to zealously and laboriously promote the cause of Christ

Activities- energAma-effect or operation, God’s energy going to work within Christians and spilling out into the life of the community. Awakened-a new mentality

Manifestation-a demonstration of His working. Christians are to demonstrate that Holy Spirit is within them, because He intends to make Himself known and felt through His gifts.

Biitlenger=”It is not a matter of waiting until something comes over me and forces me, but a readiness to give out what God has placed in me”

Same Spirit

many are skeptical because these gifts have been and continue to be abused, and falsely acclaimed and others have put on a show and accredited it to the “gifting of God”

1 Corinthians 14:33 LEB

For God is not a God of disorder but of peace. As in all the churches of the saints,

Some are afraid that we will be a fool or led astray to strange and ungodly things or look foolish

Jack Hayford=”It began to dawn on me that, given an environment where the Word of God was foundational and the Person of Christ the focus, the Holy Spirit could be trusted to do both-enlighten the intelligence and ignite the emotions. I soon discovered that to allow Him that much space necessitates more a surrender of my senseless fears than a surrender of sensible control. God is not asking any of us to abandon reason or succumb to some euphoric feeling. He is however, calling us to trust Him-enough to give Him control.”

For The Common Good

The Church is God’s chosen vessel to show that Jesus is uniquely present and is a distinct expression of Himself in the world. And the gifts are the empowerment to be such.