#5 Habits for life - gifts

The Bible Guide (The Church in Corinth)

Paul founds the church in Corinth, and then moves on to Ephesus. In Ephesus he gets news from Corinth that various problems have arisen.

It is to deal with these problems that he writes the letter we know as 1 Corinthians.

The church in Corinth is reflecting the society in which it is set.

There is pride, selfishness, jealousy and immorality.

There are splits between different groups and there is rivalry between the leaders.

Some of the questions being raised are very practical—about sex and marriage, living among pagans and paying apostles.

Others are more spiritual—understanding spiritual gifts, controlling Christian meetings and believing in the resurrection.

Paul takes each problem in turn and shows how the gospel applies to it

1 Corinthians 12:1–7 NIV

1 Now about the gifts of the Spirit, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed. 2 You know that when you were pagans, somehow or other you were influenced and led astray to mute idols. 3 Therefore I want you to know that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus be cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit. 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. 7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.

Don’t Be Ignorant of Your Spiritual Gifts

v1 … I don’t want you to be uninformed.

Paul speaks to the Church and warns them that they could be negligent if they are not careful.

The Greek word for ignorant is zeloo, meaning: not to know, not to understand, or to be wrong about.

Paul is saying, “WATCH OUT! You can get this wrong! You need to be careful!”

I love how the Message paraphrases,

“What I want to talk about now is the various ways God’s Spirit gets worked into our lives. This is complex and often misunderstood, but I want you to be informed and knowledgeable. Remember how you were when you didn’t know God, led from one phony god to another, never knowing what you were doing, just doing it because everybody else did it? It’s different in this life. God wants us to use our intelligence, to seek to understand as well as we can.” 1 Corinthians 12:1-2 (MSG)

Let’s jump down to the end of the chapter and read Paul’s last words. “But earnestly desire the best gifts.” (vs. 31) Earnestly desire is the Greek phrase zēloō, which means coveting earnestly, burning with passion, striving after, and being jealous.

Paul gives us a second command:

Earnestly Desire Your Spiritual Gifts.

1 Corinthians 12:31 (NIV)

31 Now eagerly desire the greater gifts. And yet I will show you the most excellent way.

Paul says, “Your longing, pursuing and coveting the gifts of the Spirit is a holy desire!

Do you want to operate in the supernatural?

Good, that is a righteous pursuit!

Why would Paul give so much time and thought to spiritual gifts?

Since all scripture is God-breathed, we see spiritual gifts are essential to God.

How can we assume this?

Gifts of the Spirit were given 4 times more time and space in the Bible than baptism and communion; It communicates that the gifts have a high priority.

3. Spiritual Gifts Help the Church Grow in Power and Strength.

Paul taught the early Church about their Spiritual Gifts from the very beginning.

Why?

He wanted the Church to grow in strength and power, increasing in numbers.

If you think about it, nobody was mature enough to be an elder or a deacon at that point.

They were new converts!

Paul encouraged them to unwrap and practice the gifts given to them by the Holy Spirit.

It was an easy way for Paul and others to discern what vital gifts they could offer the Church. It also gave early church leaders clarity on what spiritual stewardship they might have in the future.

God desires the same in the Church today!

When I discover my spiritual gifts, I gain clarity on my unique role in the kingdom.

The same thing happens with each of us.

As we experience others’ gifts, we witness how God created these gifts to contribute, leaving us encouraged and strengthened.

Our spiritual gifts help us to contribute tangibly and authentically—not mimicking each other but allowing the grace of God to function uniquely, creating Godly diversity.

Spiritual gifts are the fastest way to help the Church grow in strength and power.

The gifts of the Spirit do not automatically unwrap.

They need to be unwrapped by you!

Using your faith and confidence in God, you can be convinced you’ve received them. Since there is no such thing as an ungifted believer, every believer, every child of God, has been given a gift.

Ephesians 4:7 NIV

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

(NLT) says everybody gets a gift, without exception! “However, he has given each one of us a special gift through the generosity of Christ.”

As we mentioned earlier, the word “gift” is the Greek word charisma, which is derived from charis, the word for grace.

When charis becomes charisma, it is no longer grace, but it is grace-imparted enablements.

The term charismatic refers to all spiritual gifts, nine of which are mentioned by Paul in chapter 12.

It’s where we get the word in the English language charisma as someone having a certain charm, magnetism, and personality.

Also, charisma is the root word for charismatic. You may have heard people use the term Charismatic Christian.

A short, simple definition for a Charismatic Christian (also known as Spirit-filled Christian) is a form of Christianity that emphasizes the work of the Holy Spirit, spiritual gifts, and modern-day miracles as an everyday part of a believer’s life.

Paul wrote about the nine gifts of the Spirit in his letters to the Church. These letters, found in the book of Romans, Corinthians, and Ephesians, give us three significant lists of spiritual gifts.

NINE GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT

1. Word of Wisdom: This is the unique ability to speak forth the wisdom of God, especially in a critical situation.

2. Word of Knowledge: The unique ability to declare knowledge that could only be revealed supernaturally.

3. Gift of Faith: Though faith is an essential part of every Christian’s life, the gift of faith is the unique ability to trust God against all circumstances.

4. Gift of Healing: This is God’s healing power, either given or received.

5. Working of Miracles: Literally dynameis, or “acts of power.” The word describes when the Holy Spirit chooses to “override” the laws of nature (as a pilot might use manual controls), working in or through an available person.

6. The Gift of Prophecy: The forth-telling of God’s message in a particular situation, always in alignment with His Word and His current work.

7. Discerning of Spirits: The ability to distinguish between true and false doctrine and between what is of the Holy Spirit and what isn’t.

8. Different Kinds of Tongues: The gift of tongues benefits those other than the speaker, as they can hear and agree with the tongue speaker’s words to God.

9. Interpretation of Tongues: The supernatural enablement to decipher and speak forth an unknown tongue in an intelligible language.

Why didn’t God immediately take me to Heaven once I converted?

In short, because you have work to do on the Earth.

The Bible explains that you are here, as a fully equipped believer, to bring others the gift of salvation.

Your mandate as a believer is to take as many people with you to Heaven as possible!

God gave you the gifts of the Spirit to help encourage others and unlock the supernatural for the unbeliever!

Next sunday we’ll study the difference between receiving a gift and having talent. I’ll answer the questions, “How are spiritual gifts related to natural talents?” and “If I have a teaching ability, do I automatically have the gift of teaching?”

Remember

Your mandate as a believer is to take as many people with you to Heaven as possible! There is no such thing as an ungifted believer!

Our spiritual gifts can be forgotten or even undiscovered.

Gifts of the Spirit need to be unwrapped by using your faith and supernatural confidence.

God gave you spiritual gifts the moment you were born, but He also gave you the power to unlock (unwrap) them on the day you were born again.

If every believer unwraps and activates their gifts, we create a fully functioning, healthy, spiritual body!

The gifts God gave you are evidence there’s an area(s) He has called you to.

You possess five natural senses that help you connect with the world around you, but you’ve received spiritual senses to help you connect with the supernatural.

Real growth comes as a variety of gifts function in the lives of every Christian.

“But God has carefully designed each member and placed it in the body to function as he desires. 19 A diversity is required, for if the body consisted of one single part, there wouldn’t be a body at all! 20 So now we see that there are many differing parts and functions, but one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, ‘I don’t need you!’ And the head cannot say to the feet, ‘I don’t need you!’” 1 Corinthians 12:18-21 (TPT)

1 Corinthians 12:18–21 (NIV)

18 But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be.

19 If they were all one part, where would the body be?

20 As it is, there are many parts, but one body.

21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!”

Sure, not everybody has the same gifts or as many gifts.

But no gifts are more valuable than the other.

Paul reminds us of this! Don’t compare the value with function. The Bible says, “He who compares himself is not wise.”

(2 Corinthians 10:12 Beware that your enemy wants you to compare your spiritual gifts with someone else. Comparison is always a trap.

What God gave you is perfect for you!

2 Corinthians 10:12 (NIV)

12 We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise.

Take the test online here: www.biblesprout.com/articles/god/holy-spirit/spiritual-gifts-test/

Once you take it, you’ll discover what gifts of the Spirit are waiting to be unwrapped. You may have forgotten you even have that gift!