On Spiritual Gifts January 5, Cor 12:1-14, Romans 12:3-8

Introduction  Good Morning! (Evening!)  Continuing on in the study of the Holy Spirit  Holy Spirit:  Bringer / Giver of Joy - Romans 14:17; Galatians 5:22; 1 Thessalonians 1:6  Edifies the Church and Builds it up – Acts 9:31  Impartation of God’s Love in our lives - Romans 5:3-5  Impartation of hope – Romans 15:13, Galatians 5:5

Introduction  Gives us power to grasp the love of Christ, to love others, and self-discipline – Ephesians 3:19, 1 Timothy 1:7  Spirit is known by the Saints – John: 14:17  Holy Spirit gives us gifts – “spiritual gifts”  My hope is that at the end of this you will be inspired to know the answer to the question, “What are your spiritual gifts?”, and that you will desire to use those gifts for the good of God’s people, his church, and everyone.

What are Spiritual Gifts?  Every Christian has at least 1 Gift  1 Cor 12:7, Romans 12:6, 1 Peter 4  Nobody knows about their Spiritual gifts  But we ought to know  UC – A switched on community

What are Spiritual Gifts?  Spiritual gifts can be hard to define  Partly because the New Testament doesn’t define them  1 Cor 12:  V.3 - Now about the gifts of the Spirit, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed.  Descriptive definition (based on observations about an existing reality)  Helpful avenue to understanding

What are Spiritual Gifts?  What is the Spiritual reality that Paul is trying to describe?

What are Spiritual Gifts?  4There 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,[a] and to still another the interpretation of tongues.[b]  11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.

Letter to Corinth  4There 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,[a] and to still another the interpretation of tongues.[b]  11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.

Letter to Corinth  4There 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,[a] and to still another the interpretation of tongues.[b]  11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.

Letter to Corinth  Key Words – Spirit, the same, “common good” (purpose), and “just as he determines” (will of God)  Corinthians too aware of their giftings  Use of “same” to emphasize the giver of the gift, not the gift itself  Corinthians: making a big deal about certain gifts  Using gifts to build themselves up in their own eyes

Letter to Corinth  Corrective – there are all kinds of gifts, but their value lies in where they come from, not what they are. Their purpose is for the common good – for others, not for your own glory. And they are given as the Spirit designs, not because you are particularly special.  The importance of the spiritual gift is not what the gift is, but rather, how the gift is used and where it comes from.

What are Spiritual Gifts? - Definition  (pneumatikon / charisma)  Whatever thing or individual serves as an instrument of the Spirit or manifests the Spirit or embodies the Spirit is a spiritual gift (pneumatikon). Whatever event, word, or action is a concrete expression of grace or serves as a means of grace is a spiritual gift (charisma).  - Tyndale Bible Dictionary

J.I. Packer – Concise Theology Amid many obscurities and debated questions regarding New Testament charismata,[spiritual gifts] three certainties stand out. 1. A spiritual gift is an ability in some way to express, celebrate, display, and so communicate Christ. We are told that gifts, rightly used, build up Christians and churches. But only knowledge of God in Christ builds up, so each charisma must be an ability from Christ to show and share Christ in an upbuilding way. 2. Gifts are of two types. There are gifts of speech and of loving, practical helpfulness. In Romans 12:6-8, Paul’s list of gifts alternates between the categories: items one, three, and four (prophecy, teaching, and exhorting) are gifts of speech; items two, five, six, and seven (serving, giving, leading, and showing mercy) are gifts of helpfulness. The alternation implies that no thought of superiority of one gift over another may enter in. However much gifts differ as forms of human activity, all are of equal dignity, and the only question is whether one properly uses the gift one has (1 Pet. 4:10-11). 3. Third, no Christian is giftless (1 Cor. 12:7; Eph. 4:7), and it is everyone’s responsibility to find, develop, and fully use whatever capacities for service God has given.

What are Spiritual Gifts? - Definition  A spiritual gift is that ability which comes from the Spirit, either in a moment (from the Spirit), or through our own makeup (how we are created by the Spirit) and expresses itself in Spirit and Christ filled grace.  Garlic Keeper and a Beanie Baby.

Kinds of Spiritual Gifts  Found in scripture: 1 Corinthians 12:7-10; Romans 12:6-8; Ephesians 4:11, 1 Peter 4 (and a couple of others)  Ephesians 4 Gifts (APEST) we save for another time

Kinds of Spiritual Gifts 1 Cor 12  1.Message of wisdom  2.Message of knowledge  3.Faith  4.Healing  5.Miraculous powers  6.Prophecy  7.Distinguishing between spirits (Discernment)  8.Speaking in tongues  9.Interpreting tongues

Kinds of Spiritual Gifts 1 Cor 12:28 / Romans 12  10.Helps  11.Guidance / Administration Romans 12:

Kinds of Spiritual Gifts 1 Cor 12:28 / Romans 12  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[a] faith; 7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead,[b] do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

Kinds of Spiritual Gifts 1 Cor 12:28 / Romans 12  10.Helps  11.Guidance / Administration Romans 12:  12.Prophesying  13.Serving  14.Teaching  15.Encourage  16.Giving  17.Leading  18.Show mercy

Kinds of Spiritual Gifts  18 Gifts (17) + 5 and a few others = about 28  Categorization

J.I. Packer – Concise Theology Amid many obscurities and debated questions regarding New Testament charismata,[spiritual gifts] three certainties stand out. 1. A spiritual gift is an ability in some way to express, celebrate, display, and so communicate Christ. We are told that gifts, rightly used, build up Christians and churches. But only knowledge of God in Christ builds up, so each charisma must be an ability from Christ to show and share Christ in an upbuilding way. 2. Gifts are of two types. There are gifts of speech and of loving, practical helpfulness. In Romans 12:6-8, Paul’s list of gifts alternates between the categories: items one, three, and four (prophecy, teaching, and exhorting) are gifts of speech; items two, five, six, and seven (serving, giving, leading, and showing mercy) are gifts of helpfulness. The alternation implies that no thought of superiority of one gift over another may enter in. However much gifts differ as forms of human activity, all are of equal dignity, and the only question is whether one properly uses the gift one has (1 Pet. 4:10-11). 3. Third, no Christian is giftless (1 Cor. 12:7; Eph. 4:7), and it is everyone’s responsibility to find, develop, and fully use whatever capacities for service God has given.

Kinds of Spiritual Gifts  18 Gifts (17) + 5 and a few others = about 28  Categorization  Either things we say / or loving, helpful action.  No need to limit yourself to just one  This is not science

Kinds of Spiritual Gifts 1 Cor 12  1.Message of wisdom  2.Message of knowledge  3.Faith  4.Healing  5.Miraculous powers  6.Prophecy  7.Distinguishing between spirits (Discernment)  8.Speaking in tongues  9.Interpreting tongues

Kinds of Spiritual Gifts 1 Cor 12:28 / Romans 12  10.Helps  11.Guidance / Administration Romans 12:  12.Prophesying  13.Serving  14.Teaching  15.Encourage  16.Giving  17.Leading  18.Show mercy

Identifying and Using Spiritual Gifts  No Christian is Giftless

J.I. Packer – Concise Theology Amid many obscurities and debated questions regarding New Testament charismata,[spiritual gifts] three certainties stand out. 1. A spiritual gift is an ability in some way to express, celebrate, display, and so communicate Christ. We are told that gifts, rightly used, build up Christians and churches. But only knowledge of God in Christ builds up, so each charisma must be an ability from Christ to show and share Christ in an upbuilding way. 2. Gifts are of two types. There are gifts of speech and of loving, practical helpfulness. In Romans 12:6-8, Paul’s list of gifts alternates between the categories: items one, three, and four (prophecy, teaching, and exhorting) are gifts of speech; items two, five, six, and seven (serving, giving, leading, and showing mercy) are gifts of helpfulness. The alternation implies that no thought of superiority of one gift over another may enter in. However much gifts differ as forms of human activity, all are of equal dignity, and the only question is whether one properly uses the gift one has (1 Pet. 4:10-11). 3. Third, no Christian is giftless (1 Cor. 12:7; Eph. 4:7), and it is everyone’s responsibility to find, develop, and fully use whatever capacities for service God has given.

Identifying and Using Spiritual Gifts  Consider the Christmas Tree

Identifying and Using Spiritual Gifts  When my son comes for presents

Identifying and Using Spiritual Gifts  An unopened gift  An Unused Gift

Identifying and Using Spiritual Gifts  The Pizza Cutter Set

Conclusion  No Christian is Giftless  Our issue, is that we’ve gone too far in the direction opposite of Corinth  Part is Semantic  But Paul has given us beautiful language concerning gifts.  This New Year, let’s find our gifts, and use them for Christ’s purpose, and his Kingdom