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SPIRITUAL GIFTS

Spiritual gifts are special abilities given by the Holy Spirit to believers to build up the body of Christ and glorify God. The Bible teaches that every believer is uniquely gifted and called to use their gifts to serve others and advance God's kingdom.

Key Biblical Teachings on Spiritual Gifts

  1. Spiritual Gifts Come from the Holy Spirit

    • 1 Corinthians 12:4-6 (NLT): "There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit is the source of them all. There are different kinds of service, but we serve the same Lord. God works in different ways, but it is the same God who does the work in all of us."

  2. Every Believer Has a Gift

    • 1 Peter 4:10 (NLT): "God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another."

  3. The Purpose of Spiritual Gifts is to Build Up the Church

    • Ephesians 4:11-12 (NLT): "Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ."

  4. There Are Many Different Gifts

    • Romans 12:6-8 (NLT): "In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly."

  5. Spiritual Gifts Must Be Used in Love

    • 1 Corinthians 13:1-2 (NLT): "If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing."

  6. We Should Desire and Develop Our Gifts

    • 1 Corinthians 14:1 (NLT): "Let love be your highest goal! But you should also desire the special abilities the Spirit gives—especially the ability to prophesy."

  7. The Gifts Work Together in Unity

    • 1 Corinthians 12:12 (NLT): "The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ."

How to Discover and Use Your Spiritual Gifts

  1. Pray for God to reveal your gifts – Ask the Holy Spirit to show you how you are uniquely gifted.

  2. Examine your passions and abilities – Your spiritual gift will align with what brings you joy and effectiveness in serving.

  3. Seek confirmation from others – Fellow believers can often recognize your gifts before you do.

  4. Step out in faith and serve – Begin serving in different areas and see where God blesses your efforts.

  5. Continue to grow and develop your gifts – Gifts grow through practice, study, and reliance on the Holy Spirit.

Spiritual gifts are a divine empowerment given to believers to serve God, help others, and grow the Church. Every believer has a role to play, and using our gifts in love and unity brings glory to God.

God's heart on spiritual gifts is that He desires for every believer to use the gifts He has given them to serve others, build up the church, and glorify Him. Spiritual gifts are divine abilities given by the Holy Spirit to empower believers for ministry and to fulfill their God-given purpose.

Key Aspects of God's Heart on Spiritual Gifts:

  1. Gifts Are Given by the Holy Spirit

    • God distributes spiritual gifts according to His will for the benefit of the church and the advancement of His kingdom (1 Corinthians 12:4-7).

  2. Every Believer Has a Gift

    • No one is left out. Every Christian has at least one spiritual gift, and all gifts are equally important (Romans 12:6-8).

  3. Gifts Are for Service, Not Selfishness

    • Spiritual gifts are meant to serve others and strengthen the body of Christ, not for personal gain or pride (1 Peter 4:10-11).

  4. Love Must Be the Foundation

    • The greatest commandment is love, and spiritual gifts should always be used in love (1 Corinthians 13:1-3).

  5. The Church Needs Different Gifts to Function

    • Just as a body has many parts, the church thrives when all gifts work together in unity (1 Corinthians 12:12-27).

  6. Gifts Should Be Developed and Used Faithfully

    • Believers are called to stir up and grow in their gifts for God’s glory (2 Timothy 1:6).

  7. God Desires Order and Discernment in the Use of Gifts

    • While spiritual gifts are powerful, they should be used in a way that edifies others and aligns with biblical truth (1 Corinthians 14:26, 40).

God wants His people to embrace their spiritual gifts and use them with humility, love, and purpose. By doing so, they fulfill their role in His kingdom and experience the joy of living out their calling.

The Gifts of the Holy Spirit are special abilities given by the Holy Spirit to believers to strengthen the Church and fulfill God’s purposes. These gifts are mentioned in various passages of the Bible, particularly in 1 Corinthians 12:4-11, Romans 12:6-8, and Ephesians 4:11-13.

The Nine Gifts of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:4-11)

  1. Word of Wisdom – Supernatural wisdom for making godly decisions and giving divine guidance.

  2. Word of Knowledge – Divine revelation of facts or truth unknown to the person.

  3. Faith – Extraordinary trust in God’s power beyond normal human faith.

  4. Gifts of Healing – Miraculous power to heal sickness and disease.

  5. Working of Miracles – Supernatural acts that defy natural laws.

  6. Prophecy – Speaking forth messages from God to encourage and guide others.

  7. Discerning of Spirits – Ability to recognize the presence and influence of good and evil spirits.

  8. Different Kinds of Tongues – Speaking in unknown spiritual languages by the Holy Spirit.

  9. Interpretation of Tongues – Understanding and explaining the meaning of tongues spoken.

Other Gifts Mentioned in Romans 12:6-8

  • Prophecy – Declaring God’s truth boldly.

  • Serving (Ministry) – Helping and supporting others.

  • Teaching – Explaining and instructing in God’s truth.

  • Encouragement (Exhortation) – Strengthening and uplifting others.

  • Giving – Generosity and financial support for God’s work.

  • Leadership (Administration) – Guiding and directing with wisdom.

  • Mercy – Compassionate care for the hurting.

The Five-Fold Ministry Gifts (Ephesians 4:11-13)

  • Apostles – Sent to establish churches and expand the Kingdom.

  • Prophets – Speak God’s revelation and direction.

  • Evangelists – Share the Gospel to bring people to Christ.

  • Pastors – Shepherd and care for the Church.

  • Teachers – Provide sound doctrine and Biblical instruction.

Purpose of the Gifts

  • To build up the Church (Ephesians 4:12)

  • To strengthen believers (1 Corinthians 14:12)

  • To spread the Gospel (Acts 1:8)

  • To glorify God (1 Peter 4:10-11)

These gifts are given freely by the Holy Spirit as He wills (1 Corinthians 12:11), and every believer has at least one gift to use for God’s purposes.

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