Spiritual Gifts - Guide

Spiritual gifts “Charisma” - The instantaneous enablement of the Holy spirit in the life of any believer to exercise a gift for the edification of others. Spiritual Gifts – that which God (through the spirit) grants (gives gifts) to believers for the empowerment (accomplishments) of ministry. Truths: (1 Corinthians 12:4-6) • No one gift is more important than another. • All believers have been given a gift(s). • They are gifts, they cannot be earned. • They are not given to believers asking for a specific one. • They are not chosen by people, God administers the gifts among His people. • God, not believers, controls the gifts. • Each believer is responsible to seek God’s guidance in discovering her particular gift(s), and then discovering how best to use them for God’s purposes. • Nothing demands that because God has granted a special gift or ministry in the past that He is thereby obligated to give the same gift or ministry to people in every generation. God is completely involved in the giving, using and empowering of gifts. Specific gifts, places of service, and activities vary, but they all have their best effects when they build up the body of Christ – the Church. 3 primary lists of Spiritual Gifts: 1. 1 Corinthians 12:7-11  We are responsible to use and sharpen our gifts, but we can take no credit for what God has freely given us.  They are not to be used for self-serving reasons but to serve the whole body of Christ.  Each gift will become practically useless when used without love.

2. Romans 12:6-8  “Proportion of faith” – God will give the spiritual power necessary and appropriate to carry out each responsibility.  “According to His grace given us” – Given so that God’s grace may be expressed.  They are not for having, but for using.  They fulfill their value as they are utilized for the benefit of others. 3. 1 Peter 4:10-11  Categorizes into 2: speaking and serving  They are not a privilege but a responsibility.  When we use our gifts to strengthen others we are functioning as “good stewards/managers” of what God has entrusted to us. Ephesians 4:11-16 – importance of exercising gifts Churches will never achieve the level of maturity that Christ means for them to have until all members are actively demonstrating their giftedness by engaging in the ministries which their gifts entail. (NAC)

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