Gifted to Serve: Part 2
Last week, I provided a few thoughts in regard to the importance of discovering the spiritual gift(s) God has bestowed on us as followers of Jesus; and I gave a suggestion on the best way to go about discovering those gifts.
This week, I'd like to provide a few insights into some of the spiritual gifts that are specifically mentioned in the Bible. Scripture doesn't provide an exhaustive list of every possible spiritual gift, but it does mention a few. It is important for us to have a proper understanding of the gifts that are mentioned for three reasons:
Utterance of Wisdom - This isn't just possessing wisdom; it's speaking (uttering) wisdom. The utterance of wisdom is the God-given ability to point people and the church to Jesus. First Corinthians 1:24 says that Jesus is the wisdom of God. So speaking wisdom means helping people to grow in Christ-likeness. It's teaching disciples of Jesus to more and more reflect the character of Jesus. Further, it's the ability to see Jesus in every page of the Bible. It's being able to preach Jesus and the gospel from any text of Scripture.
Utterance of Knowledge -This isn't possessing information or facts; it's speaking (uttering) with discernment. It's possessing insight into the life of a person/church. It's being able to perceive what is going on or what is right when things are cloudy.
Faith - This is not to be mistaken with saving faith which every follower of Jesus possesses. This super-faith, a special endowment of trust, particularly in difficult times. This isn't blind confidence or unjustified optimism. This isn't simply looking to the silver lining or being a cup half-full kind of person. This is an extra measure of faith in which God bestows certainty that all is well in the life of a believer/church even when circumstances say differently.
Gifts of Healing - It's important to note that Scripture doesn't say "healer" but rather "healings." In other words, there are no healers. God doesn't gift a person to be a healer. Instead, God uses different believers at different times to be a conduit through whom He heals a person. The Apostle Paul had the gift of healing from time to time but he wasn't a healer. In Acts 14 Paul healed a man. In Philippians 3 he didn't/couldn't.
Working of Miracles - Very similar to the gift of healings. These are rare, but there are times in which God does something through a person in which the laws of nature are suspended. These are more prevalent in places where the gospel hasn't been preached. However, we would see more miracles here in the U.S. if we would pray with faith that God is the God of the impossible.
Prophecy - This doesn't refer to forthtelling (telling the future), though it might. Prophecy is insight into God's will, such as special insight into how to address a problem in the life of an individual Christian and in the church. In this way it is very similar to the utterance of knowledge. Prophecy brings comfort to those who need comfort and conviction to those who need conviction. Prophecy is a timely God-given word, phrase, thought, or image given for the betterment of another or the church. Further, in some church traditions prophecy is elevated to be on par with Scripture. But that can never be the case. Prophecy is subordinate to God's Word. Any "prophetic utterance" of any kind that contradicts Scripture is not from the Lord.
Distinguishing Between Spirits - This is the ability to discern between the Spirit of Christ and the Spirit of Anti-Christ. In other words, it's God-given perception to help protect the church and believers from false doctrine and false teachers. It's being able to sense whether something is from God or from the enemy.
Kinds of Tongues - Some, not all, Christians are endowed with a unique ability to voice a heavenly language. This isn't jibberish or non-sensical syllabification that results from some ecstatic experience. This is supernatural manifestation of speech (language). While all spiritual gifts are good and important, it is noteworthy that the two times the Apostle Paul includes "tongues" in a list of spiritual gifts, he lists it last. Some church traditions elevate "tongues" as the pinnacle of spiritual maturity and rank "tongues" as the greatest gift. Paul says otherwise. In fact, of the gifts it's the one least for the common good. This gift is mainly for the benefit of that individual believer, and to be primarily used as a unique prayer language.
Interpretation of Tongues - While tongues are mainly for the benefit of the individual believer, there is a time and a place for it to be exercised in the context of the gathered church. But if and when it is to be exercised, there must be an "interpreter." There are some that are gifted to understand the heavenly speech of those who have the gift of tongues. If an interpreter isn't present, then the person who speaks in tongues is to keep it to themselves. What that means is that the gift of tongues can be controlled. It's not an ecstatic experience (i.e. "slain in the spirit) in which a person loses control.
Teaching - All followers of Jesus are to be teachers of God's truth. We are all to communicate biblical content to others. However, that is not what the gift of teaching is. This gift isn't simply communicating biblical truth. It is the capacity to delve deeply into God's Word, to understand it deeply, to see Jesus and the gospel in every chapter of Scripture, and to communicate it others in a manner that is intelligible and applicable. Those who have this gift are able to see how all of Scripture ties together, and they are able to keep all the different doctrines connected to one another. Those with this gift love God's Word, love reading and studying, and love every opportunity to teach God's truth to anyone at any time in all settings.
Helping/Serving - All Christians are by definition servants of God and called to serve others. However, there are some given an extra portion of this gift. They tirelessly give of themselves, their skills, their time, and their talents. This is empathy and compassion in action. They see a need and they meet it.
Administrating/Leading - The word "administrating" in the 1 Cor. 12:28 doesn't refer to the ability to be organize and to file paperwork. It's the gift of leadership. The greek word that is translated "administrating" is a nautical term that refers to the steering of a ship. This is more than management (which is what we think of when he hear the word "administrating"). These are the people whom God entrusts with a vision for a church or ministry, and who provide guidance and direction to others.
Exhortation - Those with this gift are able to call believers to action. God uses them to urge others to stop or to take a specific action.
There are a few other spiritual gifts mentioned but they are pretty straight forward so I won't comment on them.
So do any of the above-mentioned gifts resonate with you? Be careful as you answer that question. I'm not asking which gift you want or which gift you think you have. It's okay to desire a certain gift and to pray for it so long as you're content with the gift you do have and content with not receiving the one you ask for. Further, don't deceive yourself into thinking you have a certain gift when in fact that is not the case. When I ask, "Do any of the above-mentioned gifts resonate with you?" what I'm asking is, "Do any of the above flow out of you?" By "flow out of you," I'm not referring to natural instinct, talents, skill, or personality but rather to supernatural provision. The spiritual gifts are a manifestation of the Spirit that while genuinely in you does not arise from you. These are things that would not be true of you apart from your life in Christ. Clearly, God uses us as we are: our talents, skills, and personalities. But those are spiritual gifts.
Take some time to evaluate your your life. Thoughtfully distinguish between that which natural that which is supernatural. Pray and ask God to reveal, confirm, and/or re-confirm what gift(s) He has allotted you. Ask fellow believers that you trust to honestly discern what gift(s) they believe you have been entrusted with. And serve! It's impossible to discover what gift you have if you're not serving in and through your church.
It is a wonderful privilege to belong to a church and to get to serve in and through our church. The same sacrifice of Jesus that won our salvation also knits us into the family of God. Our role is to flesh that out in the context of our local church. To do so we are need to discover what spiritual gift(s) God has bestowed upon us for the common good - for the health of the church and for the advancement of the gospel.
Hope this is helpful and beneficial as you discover the spiritual gift(s) God has given to you.
In awe of Jesus,
Pastor Rick
This week, I'd like to provide a few insights into some of the spiritual gifts that are specifically mentioned in the Bible. Scripture doesn't provide an exhaustive list of every possible spiritual gift, but it does mention a few. It is important for us to have a proper understanding of the gifts that are mentioned for three reasons:
- a gift will not be used properly for the common good of the church if it is not understood and applied biblically
- a misunderstanding of gifts can (and probably will) cause division in the church
- a proper understanding of the gifts listed in Scripture will help us to better discern those gifts that are not listed in Scripture.
Utterance of Wisdom - This isn't just possessing wisdom; it's speaking (uttering) wisdom. The utterance of wisdom is the God-given ability to point people and the church to Jesus. First Corinthians 1:24 says that Jesus is the wisdom of God. So speaking wisdom means helping people to grow in Christ-likeness. It's teaching disciples of Jesus to more and more reflect the character of Jesus. Further, it's the ability to see Jesus in every page of the Bible. It's being able to preach Jesus and the gospel from any text of Scripture.
Utterance of Knowledge -This isn't possessing information or facts; it's speaking (uttering) with discernment. It's possessing insight into the life of a person/church. It's being able to perceive what is going on or what is right when things are cloudy.
Faith - This is not to be mistaken with saving faith which every follower of Jesus possesses. This super-faith, a special endowment of trust, particularly in difficult times. This isn't blind confidence or unjustified optimism. This isn't simply looking to the silver lining or being a cup half-full kind of person. This is an extra measure of faith in which God bestows certainty that all is well in the life of a believer/church even when circumstances say differently.
Gifts of Healing - It's important to note that Scripture doesn't say "healer" but rather "healings." In other words, there are no healers. God doesn't gift a person to be a healer. Instead, God uses different believers at different times to be a conduit through whom He heals a person. The Apostle Paul had the gift of healing from time to time but he wasn't a healer. In Acts 14 Paul healed a man. In Philippians 3 he didn't/couldn't.
Working of Miracles - Very similar to the gift of healings. These are rare, but there are times in which God does something through a person in which the laws of nature are suspended. These are more prevalent in places where the gospel hasn't been preached. However, we would see more miracles here in the U.S. if we would pray with faith that God is the God of the impossible.
Prophecy - This doesn't refer to forthtelling (telling the future), though it might. Prophecy is insight into God's will, such as special insight into how to address a problem in the life of an individual Christian and in the church. In this way it is very similar to the utterance of knowledge. Prophecy brings comfort to those who need comfort and conviction to those who need conviction. Prophecy is a timely God-given word, phrase, thought, or image given for the betterment of another or the church. Further, in some church traditions prophecy is elevated to be on par with Scripture. But that can never be the case. Prophecy is subordinate to God's Word. Any "prophetic utterance" of any kind that contradicts Scripture is not from the Lord.
Distinguishing Between Spirits - This is the ability to discern between the Spirit of Christ and the Spirit of Anti-Christ. In other words, it's God-given perception to help protect the church and believers from false doctrine and false teachers. It's being able to sense whether something is from God or from the enemy.
Kinds of Tongues - Some, not all, Christians are endowed with a unique ability to voice a heavenly language. This isn't jibberish or non-sensical syllabification that results from some ecstatic experience. This is supernatural manifestation of speech (language). While all spiritual gifts are good and important, it is noteworthy that the two times the Apostle Paul includes "tongues" in a list of spiritual gifts, he lists it last. Some church traditions elevate "tongues" as the pinnacle of spiritual maturity and rank "tongues" as the greatest gift. Paul says otherwise. In fact, of the gifts it's the one least for the common good. This gift is mainly for the benefit of that individual believer, and to be primarily used as a unique prayer language.
Interpretation of Tongues - While tongues are mainly for the benefit of the individual believer, there is a time and a place for it to be exercised in the context of the gathered church. But if and when it is to be exercised, there must be an "interpreter." There are some that are gifted to understand the heavenly speech of those who have the gift of tongues. If an interpreter isn't present, then the person who speaks in tongues is to keep it to themselves. What that means is that the gift of tongues can be controlled. It's not an ecstatic experience (i.e. "slain in the spirit) in which a person loses control.
Teaching - All followers of Jesus are to be teachers of God's truth. We are all to communicate biblical content to others. However, that is not what the gift of teaching is. This gift isn't simply communicating biblical truth. It is the capacity to delve deeply into God's Word, to understand it deeply, to see Jesus and the gospel in every chapter of Scripture, and to communicate it others in a manner that is intelligible and applicable. Those who have this gift are able to see how all of Scripture ties together, and they are able to keep all the different doctrines connected to one another. Those with this gift love God's Word, love reading and studying, and love every opportunity to teach God's truth to anyone at any time in all settings.
Helping/Serving - All Christians are by definition servants of God and called to serve others. However, there are some given an extra portion of this gift. They tirelessly give of themselves, their skills, their time, and their talents. This is empathy and compassion in action. They see a need and they meet it.
Administrating/Leading - The word "administrating" in the 1 Cor. 12:28 doesn't refer to the ability to be organize and to file paperwork. It's the gift of leadership. The greek word that is translated "administrating" is a nautical term that refers to the steering of a ship. This is more than management (which is what we think of when he hear the word "administrating"). These are the people whom God entrusts with a vision for a church or ministry, and who provide guidance and direction to others.
Exhortation - Those with this gift are able to call believers to action. God uses them to urge others to stop or to take a specific action.
There are a few other spiritual gifts mentioned but they are pretty straight forward so I won't comment on them.
So do any of the above-mentioned gifts resonate with you? Be careful as you answer that question. I'm not asking which gift you want or which gift you think you have. It's okay to desire a certain gift and to pray for it so long as you're content with the gift you do have and content with not receiving the one you ask for. Further, don't deceive yourself into thinking you have a certain gift when in fact that is not the case. When I ask, "Do any of the above-mentioned gifts resonate with you?" what I'm asking is, "Do any of the above flow out of you?" By "flow out of you," I'm not referring to natural instinct, talents, skill, or personality but rather to supernatural provision. The spiritual gifts are a manifestation of the Spirit that while genuinely in you does not arise from you. These are things that would not be true of you apart from your life in Christ. Clearly, God uses us as we are: our talents, skills, and personalities. But those are spiritual gifts.
Take some time to evaluate your your life. Thoughtfully distinguish between that which natural that which is supernatural. Pray and ask God to reveal, confirm, and/or re-confirm what gift(s) He has allotted you. Ask fellow believers that you trust to honestly discern what gift(s) they believe you have been entrusted with. And serve! It's impossible to discover what gift you have if you're not serving in and through your church.
It is a wonderful privilege to belong to a church and to get to serve in and through our church. The same sacrifice of Jesus that won our salvation also knits us into the family of God. Our role is to flesh that out in the context of our local church. To do so we are need to discover what spiritual gift(s) God has bestowed upon us for the common good - for the health of the church and for the advancement of the gospel.
Hope this is helpful and beneficial as you discover the spiritual gift(s) God has given to you.
In awe of Jesus,
Pastor Rick
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