Spiritual Gifts: Be Informed

Spiritual Gifts: Be Informed

What you don’t know won’t hurt you…

1 Corinthians 12:1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.

*Ignorance about spiritual gifts in the life of any particular believer is harmful to the church as a whole and to that person. The church suffers because that believer has been gifted by God to play a role in the body, and the individual suffers because his/her usefulness and joy in Christ is largely dependent upon their exercise of that giftedness. (Ephesians 4:7-16)

1. What Are Spiritual Gifts?

–gifts (Gr. domata) abilities that God has granted to for the edification of others in the body.

-5 Greek references to spiritual gifts (1 Cor. 12:1-7):

A. Pneumatikon (spiritual gifts, v.1) – pneuma refers to

-Spiritual gifts cannot be directly equated with the natural abilities we have possessed from birth—they are given to us at our second birth, when we were born again by the Spirit of God.

B. Charismaton (gifts, v.4) – charis means

-These gifts come to us entirely through the undeserved favor of God and never as a reward for our sincerity or efforts at godliness…Eph. 4:7, But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.

-God gives us our spiritual gifting in spite of what we’ve done, not because of it.

C. Diakonion (administrations/ministries, v. 5) – denotes the idea of

-Spiritual gifts are given to us so that we might serve others—not for our own benefit primarily.

D. Energematon (operations/effects v. 6) – same root word for

-The power of God Himself is at work when spiritual gifts are exercised in the body—the effectiveness of our gifts is not something that we can ultimately control.

E. Phanerosis (manifestation, v. 7) – Gifts are given to us so that God’s character and power might be to the church and the world when gifts are used. (1 Cor. 1:31)

2. Who Gives Spiritual Gifts?

–God the Father has provided the body with gifts through the Holy Spirit as an exhibition of His sovereignty and grace. (1 Cor. 12:11, 18, 24, 28)

-Eph. 4 mentions 3 times that it is Jesus Christ Who gives gifts to the church.

-This truth promotes in the body—if you understand that any ability you have comes from a gracious God and that anything good you accomplish happens through His power alone, then you will less likely become arrogant as a result of your skills or successes. You will also be less condescending and critical toward others who have different gifts than your own.

*Rather than complaining about someone’s weaknesses, you should eagerly seek to use your gifts for their benefit and humbly receive the ministry God has designed for them to have in your life. (1 Peter 4:10-11)

3. To Whom Have Spiritual Gifts Been Given?

–true believers have received spiritual gifts from the Lord –unto every one of us (Eph. 4:7)

-Every believer has been given at least one spiritual gift.

-Danger #1: You don’t know what your gift is.

-Danger #2: You the gift you have been given.

*Because every believer has been gifted by God according to the measure of the gift of Christ, two things are true:

A. Every Gift is Important

-Spiritual giftedness in the church is like a seamstress with a dress or a baker with a cake—all ingredients are vital and careful must take place.

-The Lord has measured out the gifts He gives so that there will be no resource lacking in any particular body of believers.

-Just as one forgotten piece of cloth can destroy a dress and one missing ingredient can ruin a cake, so one neglectful Christian can keep a church from functioning according to the biblical pattern.

B. Many Gifts Are

-We should not expect every believer to be equally proficient or successful in every area of service. (unlike Jesus—John 3:34)

• Not all Christians have the same giftedness.
• Not all Christians with the same giftedness have the same amount of giftedness in that area.

4. Why Are Spiritual Gifts Given? (Ephesians 4:11-16)

A. The of Using Our Gifts—And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ (11-12)

• Leaders are to use their gifts to the saints.
• Members are to use their gifts to do the work of service.

B. The Results of Using Our Gifts (13-16)

• The church will become and loving—Till we all come in the unity of the faith
• The church will become mature and wise—and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive. But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things
• The church will become effective and successful—even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

–I do believe it is before every Christian either to serve His God with all his heart, or to fall into sin. I believe we must either go forward, or we must fall. The rule is in Christian life, if we do not bring forth fruit unto the Lord our God, we shall lose even our leaves, and stand like a winter’s tree, bare and withered. (C. Spurgeon)

5. How Can We Our Spiritual Gifts?

A. Study the Bible. (Romans 12:3-8, 1 Cor. 12, 1 Peter 4:10-11) – Use a commentary for further study.

B. Pray. (1 John 5:14) –And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:

C. Examine your . With a humble heart, seek to understand your spiritual gift(s) in order to point others to God’s glory.

D. Evaluate your abilities. Make a list that includes Can DO, Have Done, Doing Better, Want to Do.

E. Ask others. Proverbs 11:14, in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.

F. Take opportunities to .

*Taken from Life in the Father’s House by Wayne Mack & David Swavely