Spiritual Gifts and God's Energy

Intro: Wasted energy. Effective energy.

Bottom line: Spiritual gifts are all about God’s energy working through us.

The way the Trinity works in our Spiritual gifts is a snapshot of how we are to work in the church. We have different roles and others support our roles by doing complimentary and different things.

1 Corinthians 12:4–6 NIV

4 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. 5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6 There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.

Gifts: χάρισμα is a general word.

Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament based on Semantic Domains 57.103 χάρις, ιτος; χάρισμα, τος

57.103 χάριςb, ιτος f; χάρισμα, τος n: (derivatives of χαρίζομαιa ‘to give graciously and generously,’ 57.102) that which is given freely and generously—‘gift, gracious gift.’

The word gift is used in many ways in the NT.

It applies to salvation Romans 6:23

Romans 6:23 NIV

23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Deliverance from life-threatening danger 2 Cor. 1:11

2 Corinthians 1:11 NIV

11 as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many.

The election and call of Israel Romans 11:29

Romans 11:29 NIV

29 for God’s gifts and his call are irrevocable.

Celibate devotion to God 1 Cor. 7:7

1 Corinthians 7:7 NIV

7 I wish that all of you were as I am. But each of you has your own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that.

These are different gifts from what we call spiritual gifts. Spiritual gifts are manifestations of God’s working in the members of the Christian community, from which the whole community benefits (Rom. 1:11; 1 Cor. 1:4–7)” Garland, D. E. (2003). 1 Corinthians (p. 576). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic.

The gifts are enablements from the Father (source), assigned by the Spirit (distributor) and the obedience of which, service, is to our Lord Jesus (sender), the head of the Church, who places us where we are.

1. The Spirit distributes our spiritual assignments. 1 Cor. 12:4

Spiritual gifts are allocated or distributed to different people by the Spirit. He is the primary distributor of spiritual gifts. The gifts are multifaceted.

1 Corinthians 12:4 NIV

4 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them.

The way the Spirit distributes gifts varies. The same Spirit allocates the gifts to everyone. He chooses. He has a plan and doesn’t make any mistakes.

The church is like an orchestra. The Spirit has some of us playing the drums, some the oboe, some the piano and some the triangle.

Even so, the Father has a role in our assignment by giving us a measure of faith. Romans 12:3.

Romans 12:3 NIV

3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.

You have the ability to trust God that is connected to your gift. You know you can do what you’re gifted to do.

And the Son has a role in the allocation of our assignments. Ephesians 4:7.

Ephesians 4:7 NIV

7 But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it.

Jesus’s grace, His favor is the motivation for what gifts we are allocated. He looks at you and says, “I have a good gift for you, something you’ll enjoy.” His favor is what leads to the specific distribution by the Spirit.

If you know your gift and use it, it brings you joy. You like it.

The Father and the Son supports the work of the Spirit in allocating gifts. Yet the Father and Jesus are involved in this. The Holy Spirit has the lead.

Jesus our Lord has a unique role regarding our spiritual gifts.

One implication of the Spirit assigning our gifts is there is no ranking of people who have more of the Spirit more than others.

2. Jesus distributes our spiritual tasks. 1 Cor. 12:5

Spiritual tasks are allocated or distributed by the Son, our Lord.

1 Corinthians 12:5 NIV

5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord.

The term “service” is a general term in Greek for all kinds of work. This verse refers not to what you can do but where you are to use it.

If you can teach you can teach toddlers, kids, teens, or adults. You can teach women or men. You can teach about purity, evangelism or giving.

If you have the gifts of helps, you can help a person without a car get to her doctor appointment. You can help a lonely person by spending time with him. You can help a

If you have the gift of service you can play in the worship team, set up communion, wash tablecloths, ount the offering, or provide security.

A biblical example of service was collection for the poor 2 Cor. 8:4; 9:1, 12-13; Romans 15:31. The collection not the gift of giving. This is the gift of collecting. What gift is that? It is service, this is referring to ushers and counters! This describes everyday acts of service without which the church could not function. It wasn’t the giving of the money it was the collecting of it.

This is about the way gifts are used and places the gifts are used.

The Lord assigns the kind of service. One implication of this is that different ways of serving are not of greater or lessor importance as the the same Lord assigned them.

3. The Father distributes diving energies. 1 Cor. 12:6

These are the actual spiritual abilities.

The Father distributes the energy that brings about results.

Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament based on Semantic Domains 42.11 ἔργον, ου; ἐνέργημα, τος

42.11 ἔργονa, ου n; ἐνέργημα, τος n: (derivatives of ἐνεργέωa ‘to function, to work,’ 42.3) that which is done, with possible focus on the energy or effort involved—‘act, deed.’

ἔργονa: πολλὰ ἔργα καλὰ ἔδειξα ὑμῖν ‘I have done many good deeds before you’ Jn 10:32.

ἐνέργημα: διαιρέσεις ἐνεργημάτων εἰσίν ‘there are diversities of deeds’ 1 Cor 12:6.

… workings are “merely ways in which the divine power is applied;” ‘it is almost co-extensive with χαρισμάτων but gives prominence to the idea of power rather than endowment” Carson p. 34.

“different kinds of workings” implies the activities of God.workings Gal 2:8, Eph 1:11; 3:20; Phil 2:13

This is important because by God’s energy we are connected to God Himself.

This is also important because this is one way that God connects to others, through us, through His divine energy. God does things through us. We often pray and ask for God to do things for us. It is quite possible that the answer to your prayer will come through someone in the Church. He works through people. In the same way, you may be the means through which God gives someone else an answer to prayer. You are the gift someone needs in their life right now. And you are what the church needs to function as God wants it to function.

This is true because our spiritual gifts are

The New International Greek Testament Commentary: The First Epistle to the Corinthians 2. Diversity Grounded in Unity: Varied Gifts from One Source (12:4–7)

not self-induced activity but activity activated by God.

This eliminates any worry about effectiveness. Should I be anxious about whether you will learn from what I am teaching? No.

In the first place, I can do nothing apart of God.

In the second place, I can do nothing to bring about effectiveness for God. Nothing. It is He who is at work through me.

4. Every gift has a divine energy and effectiveness. Rom. 12, Eph. 4, 1 Cor. 12

Every gift accomplishes something in the Church.

Prophesying - Someone hears from God. Rom. 12:6, 1 Cor. 12:10, 28, Eph. 4:11

Serving - Something is accomplished for God. Rom. 12:7

Teaching - We get insight from God. Rom. 12:7

Exhortation - We are comforted or challenged by God. Rom. 12:8

Giving - God provides for tangible needs. Rom. 12:8

Leading - We know what direction God wants us to take. Rom. 12:8

Mercy - We are cheered up while suffering. Rom. 12:8

Apostles - Some specific people receive a message from God. Eph. 4:11, 1 Cor. 12:28

Evangelism - The Gospel is clearly declared. Eph. 4:11

Pastors and teachers - The church is cared for. Eph. 4:11, 1 Cor. 12:28

Message of wisdom - We hear the wisdom of God. 1 Cor. 12:8

Message of knowledge - We receive unique information from God. 1 Cor. 12:8

Faith - Unexpected or impossible things are accomplished for God. 1 Cor. 12:9

Healing - People are healed by God. 1 Cor. 12:9, 28

Miraculous powers - God’s power is clearly revealed. 1 Cor. 12:10, 28

Discernment - God’s positive and negative judgments are declared. 1 Cor. 12:10

Tongues - Necessary information is communicated to God and others. 1 Cor. 12:10, 14:27-28

Interpretation of tongues - Necessary information declared to others is understood by the Church. 1 Cor. 12:10, 30; 14:27-28

Helps - Tasks are done for those unable to do them. 1 Cor. 12:28

Administration - Tasks are effectively organized. 1 Cor. 12:28

One implication of this is that different effects or effectiveness does not make one gift more important than another as each work is made effective by the same God, our Father.

Have you heard or someone say, or perhaps said yourself, “That person has an anointed ministry?” This is why! The person is in the right place, using his or her gift and God is working through him or her!

Spiritual gifts are the channel through which God’s anointing flows.

The effectiveness comes through us from the Father.

This liberates us to not be anxious.

This motivates us to be active to see God work.

Wow! We have the energy of God! How do we use it?

This all is consistent with our understanding of Natural Church Development. Our goal is to see the Church grow all by itself. With spiritual gifts the goal is to see God work all by Himself through us.

5. Three challenges regarding our spiritual gifts.

Know what gifts the Spirit has allocated to us.

Be involved in the ministry and location where God wants us to be.

Watch as God uses us to touch other lives through us.

Discussion Questions.

What gifts do you see at work at Longmeadow? Through whom?

Give an example of experiencing God’s energy through another person.

Which of the three challenges listed above is your greatest challenge?