Spiritual Gifts Q&A
Notes
Transcript
Sermon Tone Analysis
A
D
F
J
S
Emotion
A
C
T
Language
O
C
E
A
E
Social
To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.
The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ. Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, and some are free. But we have all been baptized into one body by one Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit.
Yes, the body has many different parts, not just one part. If the foot says, “I am not a part of the body because I am not a hand,” that does not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear says, “I am not part of the body because I am not an eye,” would that make it any less a part of the body? If the whole body were an eye, how would you hear? Or if your whole body were an ear, how would you smell anything?
But our bodies have many parts, and God has put each part just where he wants it. How strange a body would be if it had only one part! Yes, there are many parts, but only one body. The eye can never say to the hand, “I don’t need you.” The head can’t say to the feet, “I don’t need you.”
In fact, some parts of the body that seem weakest and least important are actually the most necessary. And the parts we regard as less honorable are those we clothe with the greatest care. So we carefully protect those parts that should not be seen, while the more honorable parts do not require this special care. So God has put the body together such that extra honor and care are given to those parts that have less dignity. This makes for harmony among the members, so that all the members care for each other. If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad.
All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it. Here are some of the parts God has appointed for the church:
first are apostles,
second are prophets,
third are teachers,
then those who do miracles,
those who have the gift of healing,
those who can help others,
those who have the gift of leadership,
those who speak in unknown languages.
Are we all apostles? Are we all prophets? Are we all teachers? Do we all have the power to do miracles?
1 Cor 12:12-29
Who is Paul writing too? - The Church.
Normal folks who have their daily struggles
And yet God desires to build His Church up through His Holy Spirit working in and through the lives of normal people.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other.
In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.
Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other.
Romans 12:
Again who is this written too? The ordinary people who make up the Church.
We see again that the gifts of the Holy Spirit are to be used by normal people to build and encourage one another.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The gifts Paul mentions here:
Prophecy -
Serving -
Teaching -
Encouragement -
Giving -
Leadership -
Kindness -
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
These are not natural talents but rather manifestations of God’s power through us.
My ability to teach and preach is not a natural talent but a Spiritual manifestation of the Holy Spirit.
I build, and strengthen my gift on a daily basis. - Do you?
I use my gift at least once a week and more often 3 times a week. Do you?
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Do not neglect the spiritual gift you received through the prophecy spoken over you when the elders of the church laid their hands on you.
This is why I remind you to fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you when I laid my hands on you.
Are you neglecting the gifts the Holy Spirit wants to use through you?
Or are you doing all you can to fan the flame of that gift?
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
1 Peter 4:
Paul makes it clear right at to start - Each has been given a gift or a manifestation of the Holy Spirit.
Paul says we are to use these gifts to Glorify God through Jesus through serving and strengthening the Church.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
However, he has given each one of us a special gift through the generosity of Christ. That is why the Scriptures say,
“When he ascended to the heights,
he led a crowd of captives
and gave gifts to his people.”
Notice that it says “he ascended.” This clearly means that Christ also descended to our lowly world. And the same one who descended is the one who ascended higher than all the heavens, so that he might fill the entire universe with himself.
Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.
Eph 4:
Paul again tells us that God has given each one of us a special Spiritual gift.
And then Paul lists the gifts God has given the Church as a whole to build it up to maturity.
Apostles - Church planters (Those sent to establish a work of God.)
Prophets - Those who declare the truth of God and encourage the Body of Christ through revelation or information only known by God.
Evangelists - Those who proclaim the Good news of Jesus and are gifted at bringing people to Jesus.
Pastors/Teachers - Those to shepherd the vision of God for the people and who are able to teach the word of God in a way that helps people understand it, apply it and live it.
Again, these are not natural talents but rather Spiritual manifestations of the Holy Spirit.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Do not stifle the Holy Spirit. Do not scoff at prophecies, but test everything that is said. Hold on to what is good. Stay away from every kind of evil.
1 Thes 5:19-
Here is our warning -
Do not stifle the Holy Spirit!
Do not scoff at prophecies!
Test everything that is said!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy.
I will finish and open things to questions with this last Declaration and Apostolic command by Paul.
Pursue Love!
Earnestly desire spiritual gifts.
Especially that you may prophecy.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
When we reject Spiritual gifts we are not only rejecting what God desires for us but we are rejecting the command of the Apostle Paul.