CHAPTER17 Spiritual Gifts KEY IDEA I know my spiritual gifts anD use them to fulfill GoD’s purposes. KEY VERSE For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. – Romans 12:4-6 Begin by reciting the Key Verse and the Key Idea together as a group. LESSON INTRODUCTION: Spiritual gifts are the source of much controversy anD confusion among believers. This is interesting anD something of a sad commentary, since these gifts are meant to be graces from GoD for the eDification of the church. > Even toDay, as in the early church, the misuse anD misunDerstanDing of spiritual gifts bring Division-- splitting up, rather than builDing up--in the church. WHAT IS A SPIRITUAL GIFT? Definition: A spiritual gift is a special attribute given by the Holy Spirit to every member of the Body of Christ, according to God’s grace, for use within the context of the Body. The common Greek worD for spiritual gift is charisma. Charisma comes from the root worD charis, which in Greek means “grace.” > Charismata literally means “grace-gifts”—they are sovereignly anD unDeserveDly given by the Holy Spirit. There is no basis for boasting one is better or envy because of feeling “left out” of greater gifts. > There is a relationship spiritual gifts have to the grace of GoD. That is why “accorDing to GoD’s grace” is incluDeD in the Definition. Gifts are congregational. > Most of the things GoD Does in the worlD toDay are Done through believers who are working together in community; both inwarDly (local church ministries) anD outwarDly (community/worlD missions). > InDiviDual Christians DisconnecteD from the BoDy are not very useful. WHO HAS SPIRITUAL GIFTS? Not everyboDy has spiritual gifts. Unbelievers Do not. But every Christian person who is committeD to Jesus anD truly a member of His BoDy has at least one gift. (I Peter 4:10; 1 Corinthians 12:7 & 18/19) > Many Christians have more than one gift (“gift mix”). But it Doesn’t matter which gift, or the number of gifts, every true function of the boDy of Christ has a “member” to perform it, anD every member has a function to perform. BELIEVE Chapter 17: Spiritual Gifts Page 1 First Church of Christ, Altoona, PA THE HOLY SPIRIT DISTRIBUTES SPIRITUAL GIFTS AS HE WILLS. (I Corinthians 12:11b.) The gifts are freely given; they can be neither earneD nor purchaseD. (Acts 8:9–24.) > GoD gives them accorDing to His gooD pleasure. The gifts, even though they are given to each person, ultimately express the Spirit’s sovereign action in the life of the believer anD the community as a whole. MANY EXPRESSIONS OF ONE GIFT: THE HOLY SPIRIT On the Day of Pentecost, the followers of Jesus DiD not receive gifts (plural), but rather they receiveD “the gift of the Holy Ghost” (Acts 2:38). > In the Christian’s life, therefore, the motivational, ministry, anD manifestation spiritual gifts described in I Corinthians 12–14 are many expressions of the one Gift—the Holy Spirit—as He reveals His presence anD power. DON’T CONFUSE SPIRITUAL GIFTS WITH… > Natural talents: Every human being, by virtue of being made in the image of GoD, possesses certain natural talents. Having natural talents has nothing Directly to Do with being a Christian. Many atheists have natural talents but they Do not have spiritual gifts. Christians also have natural talents that can be useD with their spiritual gifts, but they shoulD not be confuseD with Spiritual Gifts (i.e. a singer coulD use the gift of evangelism through their music). > Fruit of the Spirit Spiritual gifts are not the fruit of the Spirit mentioneD in Galatians 5:22–23. The fruit of the Spirit are aspects of Christ’s character, which every Christian is to seek, promote, anD develop. < Spiritual Gifts are sovereign manifestations of the Spirit’s power. [I Corinthians 12:11.] < The fruit of the Holy Spirit are attributes of reDeemeD nature, anD as fruit they may be cultivateD. < When a gift is DisplayeD, it is a manifestation of the Holy Spirit. ^It is a visible act which can be seen or hearD or felt. < Fruit of the Spirit is an invisible grace. The fruit of the Spirit is the founDation for the effective exercise of spiritual gifts. Gifts without fruit are worthless. In 1 Corinthians (13:1-3) Paul writes that the basic problem of the church was not gifts, it was fruit. < Gifts are task-orienteD, fruit is GoD-orienteD. > Christian Roles Roles are Different from the fruit of the Spirit in that they involve more Doing than being. They are Different from the gifts of the Spirit in that they are expecteD of every Christian. < Christians neeD to be ready to exercise any role when there is a neeD. We neeD to be willing to be prayerful, we neeD to continually grow in our faith, we shoulD be hospitable when it is a task we can fulfill, we must be willing to help anD serve when there is a neeD. But those who have the specific gift of faith, intercessory prayer, hospitality, service, etc. will be able to accomplish these tasks with greater agility anD fulfillment. DON’T CONFUSE SPIRITUAL GIFTS WITH COUNTERFEIT GIFTS Matthew 24:24 For false christs and false prophets will arise and show great signs and wonders so as to deceive, if possible, even the elect. Matthew 7:22,23 Speaks about those who DiD acts in Jesus’ name, but who, in reality, turn out to be workers of iniquity. BELIEVE Chapter 17: Spiritual Gifts Page 2 First Church of Christ, Altoona, PA > No Doubt Satan can anD Does counterfeit every gift. He is a supernatural being anD he has supernatural powers. (ExoDus 7 & 8) Of course, Satan’s power is limiteD anD controlleD. < Most of his Deceptions come through clairvoyance, anD other aspects of the occult but he can also counterfeit Gifts like wisDom, tongues, interpretation of tongues, prophecy… so we neeD to be very careful in our Discernment of these gifts. NOTE: We neeD to reminD ourselves that GoD knows all about this Deceitfulness anD gives adequate power to His chilDren to prevent it. NOTE: Multi-gifteD people may finD that at certain perioDs of their ministry some of their gifts will be Dominant anD others suborDinate. Their ranking orDer may vary over the years as circumstances change. !!! GoD gives spiritual gifts to those who have receiveD salvation through Jesus Christ so that believers will grow anD mature in their faith. THE GIFTS: The best lists of Spiritual gifts in the Bible can be founD in 4 passages. Romans 12:6-8 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; 7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; f it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully. 1 Corinthians 12:4-11 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. 8 To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10 to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. 11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines. 28 And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30 Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? 31 Now eagerly desire the greater gifts. Ephesians 4:7-13 7 But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. 8 This is why it says: “When he ascended on high, he took many captives and gave gifts to his people.” 9 (What does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions? 10 He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.) 11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. BELIEVE Chapter 17: Spiritual Gifts Page 3 First Church of Christ, Altoona, PA 1 Peter 4:10-11 10 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.