GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT: Why Spiritual Gifts?

Memorial Drive 10/13/19 WHY SPIRITUAL GIFTS ??? Various Texts Why spiritual gifts? • Why did God give them? • What role do they play, if any, in our day? • Why bother when they’ve been abused in so many ways and caused so many problems? … WHY THE GIFTS? • EVERY FELLOWSHIP NEEDS TO BE TAUGHT ABOUT SPIRITUAL GIFTS Paul didn’t shrink from declaring to them anything that was profitable! (Ac 20:20) Paul didn’t shrink from declaring to them the whole purpose of God! (Ac 29:27) Part of the PROFITABLE and God’s WHOLE PURPOSE had to do with gifts! “There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all. But TO EACH ONE OF US GRACE (mark that word) was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Therefore it says, ‘When He ascended on high, He led captive a host of captives, And He gave gifts to men.” (Eph. 4:4-8) Spiritual gifting is a part of God’s CORE CURRICULUM for His church! • THE USE OF SPIRITUAL GIFTS TO BUILD THE CHURCH IS THE NORM WITHIN THE CHURCH “And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, TO THE BUILDING UP OF THE BODY OF CHRIST …” (Eph. 4:11-12) God’s plan is to use spiritual gifts to equip the saints to build up the body of Christ! If we want to BUILD the body of Christ, we HAVE TO EMBRACE THE GIFTS! “Now there are VARIETIES OF GIFTS, but the same Spirit. And there are varieties of ministries and the same Lord. There are varieties of effects but the same God who works all things in all persons. But TO EACH ONE is given the manifestation of the Spirit FOR THE COMMON GOOD. For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues. (I Cor. 12:4-11) “Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly: if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith … “ (Rom. 12:6) “Now you are Christ’s body, and individually members of it. And GOD HAS APPOINTED in the church, first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, various kinds of tongues.” (I Cor. 12:27-28) “So also you, since you are zealous of spiritual gifts, SEEK TO ABOUND FOR THE EDIFICATION of the church.” (I Cor 14:12) In the midst of horrendous abuses, Paul does NOTHING to discourage their use of the gifts of the Spirit! He simply exhorts them to redirect them toward right usage! There is absolutely no biblical evidence anywhere in the N.T. that God’s means and methods of “church-building” would change over time! “What is the outcome then, brethren? When you assemble, each one has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for EDIFICATION.” (I Cor. 14:26) • THEY ARE GIVEN TO THE BODY OF CHRIST AS AN ENDOWMENT OR MEANS OF EXPRESSING GOD’S GRACE FOR CHRIST’S BODY “Since we have GIFTS that differ ACCORDING TO THE GRACE GIVEN to us …” (Rom. 12:6-8) The word “gift/s” is based upon the root word “charis”, the word for “grace.” Picture a workman and toolbelt … Word, Truth, Thinking VERSUS Spirit, Experience, Heart? Head AND Heart! Unchangeable Truth AND Powerful Experience! God’s Word AND God’s Spirit! Biblical Proposition AND Spirit Power! • GOD’S PEOPLE EXPRESS GOD’S GRACE FOR CHRIST’S BODY AS EACH BELIEVER EXERCISES THEIR GIFT/S “… EACH OF US is to EXERCISE them ACCORDINGLY: if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith; if service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching; or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.” (Rom. 12:6-8) “… speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together BY WHAT EVERY JOINT SUPPLIES, according to THE PROPER WORKING OF EACH INDIVIDUAL PART, causes the growth of the body for the BUILDING UP of itself in love.” (Eph. 4:15-16) “Pursue love, yet desire earnestly spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. (I Cor. 14:1) “What is the outcome then, brethren? When you assemble, EACH ONE has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification.” (I Cor. 14:26) “If anyone thinks he is a prophet or spiritual, let him recognize that the things which I write to you are the Lord’s commandment” (I Cor. 14:37) • BELIEVERS ARE COMMANDED NOT TO BE UNAWARE ABOUT THE PROPER USE OF SPIRITUAL GIFTS “Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be UNAWARE.” (I Cor. 12:1) • SPIRITUAL GIFTS MANIFEST THE WORK OF GOD HIMSELF AND THEREFORE ARE A SIGNIFICANT PART OF BRINGING HIM GLORY “As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of THE MANIFOLD GRACE OF GOD. Whoever speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so THAT IN ALL THINGS GOD MAY BE GLORIFIED THROUGH JESUS CHRIST, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.” (I Peter 4:10-11) “As EACH ONE has received A SPECIAL GIFT, EMPLOY IT in SERVING ONE ANOTHER as GOOD STEWARDS of the MANIFOLD GRACE OF GOD.” (I Peter 4:10)