Spiritual gifts
September 13, 2020
A typical NASCAR race car costs around $150,000 to build. They could be fun to have. They are certainly unique. If you want to buy one, please note that there are no electric windows or locks. In fact, it has no windows at all; it only has one network. There are no doors, you enter through the window without windows. It doesn’t have eight-way power seats; it just has ONE uncomfortable bucket seat, bolted on.
There are no headlights, no bluetooth, and no CD player. You get 5 miles per gallon. There is no air conditioning. Trunk space is limited as the gas tank occupies most of the trunk. It has no alloy wheels, no tire tracks, no windshield wipers
They drive Ford, Chevy and Toyota. These cars were designed for a purpose. . . speed. You can even buy them!
You can get second place from Jeff Gordon at the Brickyard 400 in 2011 for just $135,000.
Of course, less expensive cars are also available. These cars were designed and built for a special purpose: NASCAR racing.
And the same can be said for each of you. God designed you, built you and equipped you for a special job within the body of Christ and that is what makes you valuable. You are not an ordinary Ford, Chevy or Toyota or whatever brand you choose.
You are a unique and special child of God. You are valuable; you have more value and worth than you can imagine; and that is because our value and worth comes from God.
Before we jump into our text on 1 Corinthians 12, let me set the stage. Remember, last week we were looking at 1 Corinthians 11, when Paul talked about fellowship.
The Corinthian church had many problems. The church was full of division, arguments, lawsuits, and immorality. On top of that, there was confusion about marriage, food sacrificed to idols, worship, the Lord’s Supper, the Resurrection, giving, and spiritual gifts. Some people thought they were more important than others because they had some pretty spectacular gifts. When Paul wrote this letter to the church, he addressed these issues.
In 1 Corinthians 12, Paul began to address the subject of spiritual gifts. In the first SLIDEverse, Paul said: 1 As for spiritual gifts, I do not want you to be ignorant.
Paul wanted to end all discussions and disputes about spiritual gifts. He wanted to make things clear. He was going to give them the facts and nothing but the facts. These new followers of Christ needed to understand these mysterious blessings. He wanted them to understand more about faith in Christ. Paul wrote ~
4 Now, there is diversity of gifts, but the SAME SPIRIT; 5 and there are varieties of service, but the SAME LORD; 6 and there is a variety of activities, but it is the SAME GOD who powers them all in all. 7 To each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.
Paul is reminding the people
there are a variety of gifts
there are a variety of services
there are a variety of activities
AND WHAT HE DID IS VERY BEAUTIFUL, BECAUSE HE GIVES US THE TRINITY, Father, Son and Spirit in this passage.
It is the same Spirit, the same Lord and the same God who gives and strengthens these gifts in each follower of Christ. And why are they given to every believer? For the good common!
Let me give you what I think is one of the best definitions of Spiritual Gifts. It comes from Bruce Bugbee, founder and president of Network Ministries. This ministry also has what I believe to be the best spiritual gifts inventory to help you determine your gifts. We have also used this tool to help people. These are also available in the lobby and on the website.
Bugbee said ~ Spiritual gifts are divine abilities distributed by the Holy Spirit to each believer according to God’s design and grace for the common good of the body of Christ. (“What You Do Best in the Body of Christ,” page 52)
This is important because the gifts are divine. They are not man-made. They are given by the Holy Spirit – to whom? To every believer according to God’s plan and purpose. WHY? For the common good of the body of Christ.
Your spiritual gifts are given to you by the Holy Spirit and are given to every believer in Jesus. No one who has faith in Jesus can ever say that he is ungifted, because you are. These gifts are not given to you to become popular or stand out in any way, they are given to you for the common good of the body of believers, the church. We’ll see that in a moment.
Understand that there is a difference between natural abilities and divine abilities or spiritual gifts. Some people have natural abilities. It could be an artist, writer, actor, musician, or athlete, for example. They may not know Jesus, but they have great talent. But they are not doing it for the body of believers. They may be the best singers you’ve ever heard. It is your talent, not a spiritual gift.
Juxtapose that with someone who is a follower of Christ, and is an excellent singer. They take their time and sing in church, during worship or at other times. They have the same talent as the unbeliever, but the difference is that they have the gift of service.
Think of the ones upstairs on the balcony, making images appear on TVs, letting you hear my voice, making sure the recording is good. They have talents, but they also have the gift of service.
I can continue with the gifts that people have. The gifts of mercy and compassion, the gifts of teaching and more. We have many of them in our church.
These people are using their talents and gifts for the greater good.
The question is “Who gets the glory of what we do? Us or Christ? It is important to recognize that the Holy Spirit gives us a spiritual gift when we first accept Christ in our lives.
Paul tells us that there are a variety of spiritual gifts, about 20 in all. All gifts come from the Holy Spirit. We can do all kinds of different things for God – – – some of you may teach, some of you have the gift of hospitality, some of you will be compassion, or prophesy, or wisdom, or maybe stewardship, or generosity; maybe healing or others. They are all given by the same God, through Jesus, and they are all to be used for the same purpose, to serve God and bring glory to God.
One thing we must understand about spiritual gifts is that when you declare that you believe in Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you receive the Holy Spirit. It is a supernatural process that occurs. We cannot explain it in human terms other than to say that we take it on faith that God plants the Holy Spirit within us the moment we proclaim that Jesus is the Messiah.
Every person who says YES to Jesus receives these divine gifts. They are never for our own glory. So once we have them, what do we do with these gifts? The purpose of Spiritual Gifts can be found in various scripture passages ~
12 to prepare the people of God for works of service, so that the BODY OF CHRIST MAY BE BUILT UP… – Ephesians 4:11-12
10 Each one must use the gift they have received to SERVE OTHERS, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms. – 1 Peter 4:10
7 Now, each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the COMMON GOOD. – 1 Corinthians 2:7
11 I long to see you to impart to you some spiritual gift that strengthens you, 12 that is, so that you and I MUTUALLY ENHANCE each other. 39;s faith. – Romans 1:11-12
When we look at these 4 scriptures, we learn that spiritual gifts are given to us so that-
the body of Christ can be built up
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to serve others, for the common good
and to encourage each other.
They are always focused on others. It is never about ourselves, it is always used for others and for God.
When we use our gifts, they help us to be more effective in life at what God has called us to do. When you learn what your spiritual gifts are, you are supposed to use them. When you get a gift from someone, you open it and use it, right? In the same way, when we receive God’s gifts, we should use them, not put them on a shelf.
We need to learn and understand our God-given FORM.
Our SHAPE is not how big or small we are, but how we put together our lives using all that God has planted within us.
The word FORM comes from Rick Warren, the pastor of Saddleback Church. in California and means —
S = SPIRITUAL GIFTS
H = HEART – – – – PASSIONS
A = SKILLS – – – – TALENTS
P = PERSONALITY – – – – Introvert/extrovert – order / chaos
E = EXPERIENCE – – – – life experience
We will talk more about our SHAPE next week!! By the end of next week, you will know what SHAPE you are and that really begins to shape how you can serve God and be fulfilled at the same time.
One of the things that I think we all long for in life is to have a sense of wholeness. We want to know that we have made a difference in our lives. That is one of the beauties of spiritual gifts. When you know what your gifts are, you can use them according to your passions, your talents, according to your personality and with your life experience in mind.
All of this must be taken into account. It can seem like a daunting task trying to figure all this out. But it really isn’t, and even if it takes a bit of time, it’s worth it.
Let me give you a personal example. . .
One of my spiritual gifts is teaching. I am full of energy when I teach. But don’t ask me to teach the K-1st grade class. I wouldn’t last. They are good children and I could sit and play with them and have a good time, but they would not learn anything. I am not gifted at teaching younger children. My SHAPE is NOT designed that way. I can hang out with them and play and love them, but I can’t teach them.
That is why we are part of a body, because what I cannot do, others can do. This is how the body of Christ is called to work. Each part cannot do the same. The knee cannot do what the hand can do. The mouth cannot hear. The ear cannot taste. You understand. And that is what Paul was talking about to the church in Corinth.
The church is made up of many members, each with their own purpose, which is ultimately to fulfill the larger purpose of helping the church. to be the hope of the world by loving and serving each other for the common good.
The goal is for every believer to be involved in something that is using their spiritual gifts. I’m not talking about what you do for a living, I’m talking about how you are serving Christ.
Some spiritual gifts may sound strange to you, but once you understand them, they begin to make sense to you. The goal is not to go over all of these, but to let you know that there are many gifts and if you are a believer in Jesus, does he know his gifts?
You see, if it’s if you don’t use your gifts, then…