The Holy Spirit: Spiritual Gifts (Part 2)

Review

Turn to 1 Corinthians 12:1-7.

Last week we established that spiritual gifts are not the same as natural talents and abilities. The subject of spiritual gifts is discussed in at least six different passages in the Bible. These verses indicate at least one clear distinction: spiritual gifts have a divine origin. They are God-given abilities to be used in His service for His glory.

We asked the question, “What is a spiritual gift?”

Gift: “a gift of grace, a favor received” - Pastor Frank Camp

What is a spiritual gift?

Next slide here:

“A spiritual gift is a sovereignly given grace that is to be exercised so that the body of Christ can be conformed to the image of Christ and that people can be ministered to on the behalf of Christ.” (1 Cor. 12:7; Eph. 4:16) - Pastor Frank Camp

After looking at a series of verses last week, we concluded that the Scriptures continually point to the Spirit of God as being the source of spiritual gifts to believers. Now let’s consider this question:

Message

Next slide here:

How do you receive a spiritual gift?

Read 1 Corinthians 12:1-7, 11.

Context:

At the beginning of chapter twelve, Paul makes clear to the readers that he is changing gears to the subject of spiritual gifts. In verse two, he reminds the Corinthians of their pagan background, but then in verse three he makes a strange statement. What does verse three have to do with the subject of spiritual gifts?

One person says,

The Bible Knowledge Commentary C. The State of Spiritual Gifts (Chaps.12–14)

Many explanations of the verse have been offered (though most commentators “handle” the problem by ignoring it).

It seems that right at the beginning of this discussion, Paul decides to confront “any in the Corinthian assembly who might contradict his message (cf. 14:37).”

David K. Lowery, “1 Corinthians,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 532.

Chapters 12-14 have various subthemes, but the broader subject is that of spiritual gifts. Paul seems to make clear that any false teachers who would dare to contradict his doctrine would be contradicting the Lord Jesus. False teachers, even in Paul’s day, would deny the humanity or the lordship of Christ. This was a test whereby the Corinthians could know who was truly of God (like Paul) and who was not. The same people who would deny Paul’s doctrine would also deny that Jesus is Lord. To reinforce this, at the end of his discussion on spiritual gifts, Paul writes,

Next slide here:

1 Corinthians 14:37 KJV 1900

If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.

Next slide here:

How do you receive a spiritual gift?

Read 1 Corinthians 12:7, 11.

Verse seven:

Next slide here:

Manifestation: to show forth, to expose, to make known

The showing forth, the making known of the Spirit is given to whom? To every man to profit withal, in other words, to be a help to all in the local church.

Now put that phrase in context. Paul is writing to a local church - to the Corinthians. When he says, “every man”, he’s not saying that believers and unbelievers get spiritual gifts. He’s saying that spiritual gifts are given so that every believer in a local church can effectively minister to the other believers in a local church.

The Bible Knowledge Commentary (12:7–10)

The gifts…[are] given, not for personal enrichment (cf. 14:4; 1 Peter 4:10), but for the common good of the body of Christ

Next slide here:

1 Peter 4:10 (KJV 1900)

As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

Let’s tie this thought into verse eleven:

Verse eleven:

Next slide here:

Worketh: Works, operates, empowers

The Spirit of God continually energizes or empowers these gifts in us, distributing to whom? To every man separately as he will.

So who empowers individual believers with spiritual gifts? The Spirit of God.

Now let’s think of that in context of what we’ve studied about the Holy Spirit. When does the Spirit of God indwell a person? In other words, when does a person receive the Spirit of God in the first place? At the moment of salvation.

When the Spirit indwells a believer, does the believer get only a part of the Spirit? Does the believer have to get a second blessing later? No.

So when does a believer receive a spiritual gift from the Spirit of God? At the very moment that they are indwelt by the Spirit of God.

Based on what we’ve seen, are spiritual gifts just for certain elite Christians? No.

No! Every believer is indwelt by the Spirit of God, therefore, every believer partakes of God’s grace and receives at that moment a spiritual gift.

You don’t pray for it.

You don’t earn it.

You don’t select it.

God, out of His good favor, sovereignly gives spiritual gifts to every believer so they can start to minister to the body of Christ so that other believers can be edified and be encouraged to walk with Jesus!

Application: If you are a child of God, then your Heavenly Father has especially equipped you in some way to serve Him by ministering to others in the local church. God knew exactly what He was doing when He gifted you and He knew exactly why He did it.

God Decides!! His choices are sovereign!!

Next slide here:

What happens if I don’t know my spiritual gift?

I’ve touched on that question briefly in the past, but let me turn that question around by asking this:

Which is more important: whether you know your spiritual gift or whether God knows your spiritual gift?

Read slowly:

If God is sovereign enough to know exactly what gift to give you, then He is sovereign enough to put you where your gift is most useful.

However, there is one precondition: you must be a surrendered, submissive, useable vessel.

Christian, the Spirit of God has equipped you to minister to the body of Christ, the local church. You may not know with certainty how you are gifted, but I assure you of this: you are not useless. You are useful. You are needed, because every member of the body is essential to the body.

Are you surrendered?

Are you active?

When I ask, “are you active”, I’m not asking how many hats you wear in our church or how many ministries you’ve signed up for, although that is important. I’m asking do you look for opportunities to minister to other believers in our church? When you walk in the doors of our church, do you enter with a mindset “I want to be used of God to be a blessing.” Maybe you pray, “Lord, use me to be a blessing to someone today.” Is that the mindset you have as you go about your day?

You must be surrendered, and you must be active.

Read slowly:

If you are, you can have faith that God will sovereignly ensure that your gift is utilized - whether you realize it or not.