SPIRITUAL GIFTS: Lists and Implications

Memorial Drive 1/26/20 SPIRITUAL GIFTS: Lists and Implications Various Texts Review … • Spiritual Gifts Are One of God’s Primary Means of Building Up the Body of Christ Ephesians 4:11-12 Some gifts are given to equip the saints to “grow” the church Ephesians 4:15-16 Equipped believers “supply” what the church needs for growth “according to the proper working” of each individual part I Cor. 12:7 To “properly work” every believer has been given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good … Our Study of the Gifts and Timing A significant part of my role is EQUIPPING so that OTHERS and ALL can use THEIR GIFTS so THE SPIRIT can MANIFEST His presence and power. Isn’t that just what we need? … An Appeal to the Fellowship “You can count on me! I’m part of THIS part of Christ’s body and the way I participate is going to reflect that! I realize that EVERY PART has something to offer, and when MY PART isn’t operating on all cylinders, then THE BODY isn’t operating on all cylinders and the Spirit is hindered in what He wants to do! So if that’s BEEN me, I’m not going to stay there, I’m going to BE HERE.” … GIFT LISTS: What Are the Spiritual Gifts That Are Given to the Church? • Ephesians 4:11-12 “And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers (“pastor-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) • I Corinthians 12:7-10, 28 “… 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. 12:7-10) “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. 12:28) • Romans 12:6-8 “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; 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) • I Peter 4:11 “As each one has received a special GIFT, (“charisma”) 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.” (I Peter 4:11) • Other Gifts ◦ Singleness-Celibacy “… I wish that all men were even as I myself am. However, each man has his own GIFT (“charisma”) from God, one in this manner, and another in that.” (I Cor. 7:7) ◦ Giving and Martyrdom “And if I GIVE ALL my possessions to feed the poor and if I SURRENDER MY BODY TO BE BURNED, but do not have love, it profits me nothing.” (I Cor. 13:2-3) ◦ Hospitality “Be HOSPITABLE to one another without complaint.” (I Peter 4:9) … GIFTS LISTS: Conclusions We Can Draw • No Gift-List Is Meant To Be Exhaustive • Gift-Lists Are Not Intended To Indicate Greater Or Lesser Value • Gift-Lists Are Certainly Not Intended to Indicate Level of Spirituality “Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking aby the Spirit of God says, ‘Jesus is accursed’; and no one can say, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ except aby the Holy Spirit.” (I Cor. 12:3) • Gift-Lists Combine Both “Natural” and “Supernatural” Elements “What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?” (I Cor. 4:7) The “what do you have” certainly includes all gifts given by the Spirit, but it also includes the makeup of every believer in terms of natural talents and abilities! “This suggests … that Paul would not have been uncomfortable with spiritual gifts made up of some mix of so-called ‘natural talent’ – what he would consider still to be God’s gift – and of specific Spirit-energized endowment.” (Showing the Spirit, Carson, p. 37) • If you’re a believer you have one or more Spirit-endowed and empowered spiritual gifts! • Your gift is to be used for the building up of the Body of Christ! • You are responsible for your “proper working” to supply for the growth of the Body! • You have the privilege and responsibility of “manifesting” the presence and power of the Holy Spirit as you use your gift/s! If you’re HERE, BE HERE!