Spiritual Gifts
Introduction
Proper Perspective
John Knox exhibited this same quality in the highest degree. One day, it is said, John Knox approached the court of Mary, Queen of Scots, and was warned that it might be better to postpone his visit as she was in one of her angriest moods. He continued on his way, replying, “Why should I be afraid of a queen when I have just spent four hours with God?” Here was true meekness. The man had been so low before God that he was able to stand high before an earthly monarch.
Evaluation of Self
We must understand that God has allotted to each person a measure of faith, and that people have different personalities, different strengths, different weaknesses and different gifts. There is a diversity within the body of Christ, and maturity as Christians demand recognition of this.
our significance comes from God and whatever God assigns to us is valuable.
Paul now teaches us the very important lesson that we must have a proper estimation of ourselves.
Christ has given us His estimation of our own abilities in His famed sentence, “Without me ye can do nothing” (John 15:5).
Proper appraisal of oneself is a spiritual necessity. God commands it, and He will call us to account for it when we face Him in our judgment. Surely a right opinion in such matters is of great importance and can be obtained only by relying upon His grace, by using the faith that He has measured to each of us, and by applying that faith to the Word of God.
Spiritual Gifts
6 Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them:
Now, if the church is to grow spiritually, there must be coordination of all who believe. There must be clear recognition that we do not have all that the Lord wants us to have, until we receive what He gives us through every other believer.
What makes me different from other people is not my greatness, but God’s graciousness.
Now it should be noted carefully that the gifts spoken of here are not to be confused with the original gift of the Holy Spirit. When we are saved, the Lord sends the Holy Spirit to us and He abides within us. He is God’s great gift to us for our own instruction, power and enrichment. But in addition to the gift of the Holy Spirit, are individual gifts which are given to each believer, not for his own profit but for the benefit of other believers.
Prophesy
Prophesy
if prophecy, in proportion to our faith;
if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; 7
The prophecy of which Paul speaks is not to be confused with the predicting of future events, but rather that which a person had received from God for instruction, exhortation, or comfort. Those who considered themselves recipients of this gift were always to conform their message to the objective standard of the faith once delivered, and were to be judged by their conformity to that standard of faith. In no instance should their prophesying contradict the objective revelation of the Scriptures.
The gift of encouraging or exhorting refers primarily to teaching that addresses the conscience and the feelings; it is intended to move the listener to practical, comforting ends. Doctrine applied to life provides an incentive to live righteously, and becomes a positive exhortation or encouragement to the people of God.
Service
7 if service, in our serving;
The second gift in this series is that of “ministering.” The original Greek word is the root of our word “deacon.” It will be better understood if we translate it “personal ministering,” “ministering to the personal needs” of other believers.
Teaching
the one who teaches, in his teaching;
