Spiritual Gifts - part 2

Why aren’t we in the Book of Acts?

The fruit of the Spirit. The character of the Spirit. The gifts of the Spirit.

Gifted believers but qualified by character and empowered by the Spirit

(1) The fruit of the Spirit

Galatians 5:22–23 ESV

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

Galatians 5:

(2) The character of the Spirit

1 Timothy 3:1–15 ESV

1 The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. 2 Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3 not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. 4 He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, 5 for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God’s church? 6 He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. 7 Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil. 8 Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for dishonest gain. 9 They must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. 10 And let them also be tested first; then let them serve as deacons if they prove themselves blameless. 11 Their wives likewise must be dignified, not slanderers, but sober-minded, faithful in all things. 12 Let deacons each be the husband of one wife, managing their children and their own households well. 13 For those who serve well as deacons gain a good standing for themselves and also great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus. 14 I hope to come to you soon, but I am writing these things to you so that, 15 if I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth.

1 Timothy 3:1–14 ESV

1 The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. 2 Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3 not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. 4 He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, 5 for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God’s church? 6 He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. 7 Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil. 8 Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for dishonest gain. 9 They must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. 10 And let them also be tested first; then let them serve as deacons if they prove themselves blameless. 11 Their wives likewise must be dignified, not slanderers, but sober-minded, faithful in all things. 12 Let deacons each be the husband of one wife, managing their children and their own households well. 13 For those who serve well as deacons gain a good standing for themselves and also great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus. 14 I hope to come to you soon, but I am writing these things to you so that,

(3) The gifts of the Spirit

1 timothy 3:1-14

1 Timothy 2:1–8 ESV

1 First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, 2 for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. 3 This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time. 7 For this I was appointed a preacher and an apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying), a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth. 8 I desire then that in every place the men should pray, lifting holy hands without anger or quarreling;

1 Timothy 3:1–8 ESV

1 The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. 2 Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3 not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. 4 He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, 5 for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God’s church? 6 He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. 7 Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil. 8 Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for dishonest gain.

Romans 12:6–8 ESV

6 Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; 7 if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; 8 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.

Romans 12:

1 Timothy 2

Prophecy - literally, “to speak before” an audience. Biblically based, it uses the gifts of teaching, wisdom, knowledge, leadership, mercy, faith to say what needs to be said.

1 Timothy 3:1–10 ESV

1 The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. 2 Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3 not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. 4 He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, 5 for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God’s church? 6 He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. 7 Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil. 8 Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for dishonest gain. 9 They must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. 10 And let them also be tested first; then let them serve as deacons if they prove themselves blameless.

Service - literally, “to take a burden off of someone else and place it on yourself”

Teaching - to understand, clearly explain, and apply the word of God. To pass on truth.

Exhorting - it means to comfort, help, advise, or strengthen. The ability to reassure, strengthen, and affirm using the word of God.

Giving - Literally, “super giving”

Leadership - to lead, to manage, to have charge of, to oversee. To see an objective and to mobilize people to reach that objective.

Acts of mercy - to minister to people who are suffering. To come alongside the poor, the sick, the destitute, the orphan, the widowed and help them in some way. “Acts”

1 Corinthians 12:8–10 ESV

8 For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10 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.

1 Corinthians 12:

Wisdom - to apply biblical knowledge effectively. To live life well.

Knowledge - the ability to observe biblical facts and make conclusions. The ability to understand the Bible.

Faith - Not saving faith or general faith but an intensive ability to trust God based on the promises of the Bible and God’s character.

Gifts of healing - to pray for God to do a work of healing and to see that prayer of faith make the sick person well. Gifts refers to the sovereign nature of each circumstance.

Working of miracles - to pray for God to circumvent the natural laws of science and nature for His glory and to intervene on behalf of his people.

Prophecy

Distinguish between spirits - Is this from the Lord. Is it God’s will? Is it truth or is it error? The word means, “to judge through, to see through the truth, to truly evaluate something.” It may be used to keep the other gifts in check and to distinguish between that which is done in the Spirit and that which is done in the flesh.

Various kinds of tongues - evangelistic tongues - speaking in a known earthly language to proclaim Christ and edifying tongues, a personal prayer language between the believer and God that builds up the believer. The third kinds of tongues, false tongues is self glorifying and is condemned in 1 Corinthians so much so that Paul had to tell the Corinthian church that they should not allow the women to speak.

Interpretation of tongues - to understand the edifying tongues of another believer

1 Corinthians 12:28 ESV

28 And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues.

Administration - literally, “to steer a ship”. The ability to keep the ship on course. The leader mobilizes and casts vision, the administrator keeps the mission going. He sees the pieces of the organizational puzzle that need to be assembled.

There are things that every believer is expected to do. The gifts allow you to uniquely do it when you have the fruit of the Spirit and the character of the Spirit.

(4) Your spiritual gifts do not determine WHAT you do but HOW you do it

1 Timothy 3:1–12 ESV

1 The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. 2 Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3 not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. 4 He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, 5 for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God’s church? 6 He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. 7 Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil. 8 Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for dishonest gain. 9 They must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. 10 And let them also be tested first; then let them serve as deacons if they prove themselves blameless. 11 Their wives likewise must be dignified, not slanderers, but sober-minded, faithful in all things. 12 Let deacons each be the husband of one wife, managing their children and their own households well.

Ephesians 4:32 ESV

32 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

Ephesians 4:32

If you lead, if you teach, if you serve - there is no place for the unkind, unforgiving believer

1 Peter 4:9 ESV

9 Show hospitality to one another without grumbling.

All believers are to be hospitable - there is no place for the unfriendly berliever

Proverbs 3:9 ESV

9 Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce;

All believers are to give - time, talent, treasure, testimony

Philemon 6 ESV

6 and I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective for the full knowledge of every good thing that is in us for the sake of Christ.

Every believer is to share their faith - with their family, their children, their friends

Matthew 28:19–20 ESV

19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Matthew 28:19

Every believer is to make disciples - who are you mentoring?

Your spiritual gifts do not determine WHAT you do but HOW you do it

Your spiritual gifts do not determine WHAT you do but HOW you do it

What does mercy look like?

What does faith look like?