Spiritual Gifts: Week 1
1 Corinthians 12:7-11
Its getting to that time of year again, where we all start making our Christmas lists. We start asking for all kinds of things that we want like video games, computers, cameras, CD’s, DVD’s, TV’s, and what ever else we want.
By raise of hands, how many of you have made your Christmas lists already for this year?
Doesn’t it feel good when we receive a gift?
Have you ever received a gift that was for you to use for someone else’s benifit?
For example: One year for Christmas, my little brother gave me a CD. Yea he gave it to me, but he also knew that he was going to beable to download it to his iPod and listen to it.
Another example: On Saturday, I went to Costco to buy groceries and also bought my wife a big thing of her favorite candy, Jelly Beans, for her birthday. I knew that I would benefit from them too.
Have you ever received a gift from God?
This is what we are going to be talking about through the next month or so. We are going to talk about the Gifts that God gives us and they are to be used.
Lets look at what the Apostle Paul says about God’s Gifts.
1 Corinthians 12:7-11
Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 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. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines.
What is the manifestation of the Spirit?
In the Greek the word Manifestation is “PhanerÅsis.” This word means disclosure, the act of making new or secret information known, and revelation, the divine disclosure to a person about something relating to them or the world.
Basically manifestations are extraordinary powers or gifts given to people by God through the Holy Spirit.
Wouldn’t it be incredible for God to give us extraordinary powers?
What are the Manifestations / Gifts of the Holy Spirit?
In verses 8-10, Paul lists 9 gifts. Each gift has a different job or task. But each gift is given by the same God. Keep in mind that this list is not exhaustive — it doesn’t include every one of God’s gifts or abilities that is mentioned in the Bible. This list gives and example of the range of spiritual gifts that God may give.
- Wisdom: This is the practical insight and guidance directed by the Holy Spirit.
- Knowledge: The Holy Spirit reveals knowledge about people, circumstances, or Biblical truths that is likely to be unknown or misunderstood apart from God.
- Faith: Faith is complete trust in God, and that He will do extraordinary and miraculous things.
- Healing: This is where the Holy Spirit gives the ability to restore physical health by supernatural means to a person.
- Miraculous Powers: This gift is supernatural powers to change or go beyond our natural ability.
- Prophecy: This is a temporary, momentary, message from God through the Holy Spirit.
- Distinguishing between Spirits: This is the gift that allows us the ability to judge the difference between the works of God and Satan.
- Speaking in Tongues: this is when the Holy Spirit uses us to speak in another language other than the one we normally speak, or an unknown heavenly language.
- Interpretation of Tongues: This is the gift that allows us to understand and translate the meaning of a message in that was given in Tongues, whether an earthly or a heavenly tongue.
Although each gift is different, they all have the same purpose.
Why does God give these gifts?
These nine gifts of the spirit are not given to us so we can use them for our personal use. They are special God-given abilities, desires, and empowerments for us to use for God.
There are three reasons that God gives these gifts to us:
- To spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ. God uses these gifts to convince unbelievers about who Jesus is, to demonstrate his grace (undeserved favor and love) and power to people, so that people may come to know Jesus as their personal Lord God and Savior.
- To promote unity among believers. God wants Christians to serve him and the church in various ways, and He wants us to build up and strengthen the church and other believers.
- To wage war on Satan and sin. God wants to expose Satan and sin for what they truly are, so that people will see that they are full of lies and will lead people to places they really don’t want to go.
Now we know why God gives the gifts of the Holy Spirit, who does he give them to?
If you look in verses 7 and 11, Paul says “to each one”, and then in verses 8-10 he says “to one” and “to another” several times. Paul was speaking to the Church of Corinth and to all the believers within that Church. He uses chapter 12 as a teaching moment for everyone who believes in Jesus as their savior. Paul was teaching that the Gifts of the Spirit are given to all people who are completely sold out to Jesus.
Here’s the catch, not every person has all of the gifts. Paul says that one person receives one gift, and another person receives a different gift. God gives these gifts as he sees fit. For example: He may give Alissa the gift of Wisdom, to Anthony he may give the ability to Speak in Tongues, and he may give Kiera the gift of healing. God gives each of us different gifts so that we can come to together in unity and win the lost to Jesus.
We shouldn’t assume that one person is more spiritual because they have been given a seemingly more remarkable or outwardly impressive gift.
Now, you maybe thinking “Ooo, I want this gift or that gift.” You see, God decides which gift that he is going to give you, and it doesn’t matter which gift you get because it is really Jesus who uses the gift through you.
God gives us these gifts and we must use them, but how do we use these Gifts?
Spiritual gifts are a vital part in the life of a Church and ministry, and are to be used until Jesus returns in the second coming. Some of us are able to use our gifts on a more regular basis, but others use their gifts more sparingly. For some of us God may give gifts that we will use our entire life, and other times he gives his gifts to be used for a specific moment. But anytime that we set out to spread the Gospel of Jesus, to promote unity among believers, or to wage war against Satan we use the gifts that God has given to us.
Other times, God asks us to use the gifts. He may ask us to do or say something that we normally wouldn’t say or do, and he may ask you when you least expect it. You know its God telling you to do something, because you hear and feel God in your heart and will be at peace about it.
When we use these gifts or when God asks us to use these gifts, we must use them according to what the Bible says. We cannot use these gifts to contradict God or the Bible.
1 Corinthians 12:3 says
Therefore I tell you that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus be cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.
Sometimes, the gifts of the Holy Spirit are counterfeited or imitated by Satan or false Christians. This is when you see people using the gifts in the wrong ways. That is why it is so important for us to dig into and read God’s Word, so that we can distinguish between these gifts being used by God or being manipulated by Satan. The one way that we know we are using God’s gifts properly is to use them according to God’s Word.
Which gift or gifts has God given to you?
Some of you know what your gifts from God are, and others don’t. If you do know what your gift is, then you need to be using it as often as you possibly can.
If you don’t know what your gift is, it’s ok. What is important is that you are seeking God by reading your Bibles and praying on a daily basis, and going to church. As you seek God, you are able to ask God about what gifts he has given you, and how you can use those gifts. The other thing you need to do is be open to God giving you those gifts, and you need to be willing to use those gifts for God.
Paul says “to each one.” God is going to give his gifts to each one of us who believe in him and are completely sold out to Jesus. We may get one gift or we may get several, and those gifts may last us our entire lives or for just a short time. What ever the case is, we need to use the gifts that God has given us. When we do, we will see God move in our lives, in our Church, and in other peoples lives. We will see many miracles, signs, and wonders. And, We will spread the Gospel of Jesus, unite each other together, and wage war against Satan and Sin.
Here is the deal, God will only give the Gifts of the Holy Spirit to those people who Admit they are sinners (sin is all the bad things we do and it separates us from God), Believe that Jesus died on the cross and rose again, and Confess that Jesus is the Lord God and Savior of their lives. When you truly turn your life to Jesus and accept him as your personal Lord God and Savior, all of your sin will be forgiven, Jesus will come into your life, your place will be prepared in heaven, and God will give you the Gifts of the Holy Spirit.
If you would like to accept Jesus today, do it by saying this prayer and truly trusting Jesus with your life.
Jesus
I Admit that I’m a sinner please forgive me. I believe that you died on the cross and rose again. And now I confess you as my Lord God and Savior. Please come live in my heart, And help me to Love you and Love others with everything that I have. Amen.
Maybe you know what the gift God has given you. If you do, be willing to use it, and put it into practice. Pray that God will use it for you, and that he will lead you to use it every chance you get.
Maybe you don’t know what gift God has given you. Start seeking God and ask him what the gift he has given you is, ask him how to use it, and him to help you use it.
What you should do is ask God what Gifts of the Holy Spirit he has given you, and ask him who what where when why and how you should use it.
