Core Value 5 - Strengthening Individual Gifts Series

Note that I preached on our Core Values in 2010. Some of the sermons are very different so new ones have been uploaded - but this one was so similar I have just updated it. The old one in the series has been removed.

Message

Strengthening Individual Gifts

1 Corinthians 12:1-7

There is a saying which goes, “Ignorance is bliss”.

Parents sometimes use this line of thinking in parenting:-

You are faced with the situation we all dread when your six year old comes up, “Where did I come from?” “Weeellll ... you came from Mum’s tummy”.

They’ll have enough time to discover the facts later … in the meantime ignorance is bliss – especially for those who doesn’t want to answer that question.

But sometimes ignorance is not bliss. It happened when we I was teaching Amelia how to ride a bike. We went to a nice flat open carpark. It didn’t take too much time and she soon she was riding … nice and slow and steady.

No dramas.

A week later she was riding again in an area that was flat, but then also went downhill.

She went down the hill, faster and faster and faster and then smashed into the gutter. It was only then I realised that I had taught her how to go - but I had forgotten to teach her how to brake.

In that case ignorance is not bliss.

Sometimes ignorance is bliss, sometimes it isn’t. And one of those times when ignorance is not bliss is mentioned in the Scriptures.

1 Corinthians 12:1-7

Paul is pretty emphatic

I do not want you to be uniformed.

Other translations say, “I do not want you to be ignorant.”

When it comes to the gifts of the Spirit ignorance is not bliss

Indeed Paul is so concerned about the issue of spiritual gifts that he devotes three chapters to the issue – namely chapters 12, 13 and 14. These first 7 verses of chapter 12 serve as an introduction to the whole topic.

So let’s start off with a very basic question:-

What is a spiritual gift?

The simple answer is that they are gifts we have which enable us to do works of service in God’s Kingdom through the power of the Spirit of God.

They are not natural talents ... although they might flow out of our talents.

They are not learnt skills ... although we can grow our spiritual gifts through training and use.

They are the contributions we make to God’s Kingdom because God’s Spirit is in us.

I know a lady called Anne Jones. Anne had always been shy and reclusive person who never invited friends over. One day discovered who Jesus is.

From that day she became a person with incredible hospitality skills.

Her home was a haven for everybody.

It was a spiritual gift that God gave.

If we had an open discussion now I am sure we could all tell story after story of people who, because of the transformation of the Gospel, soon exercised a spiritual gift – something that they could not do previously, but because of the Holy Spirit in them they can now do this.

But here is another story that I often hear. Christians who tell me, “I don’t have a gift,” or “my gift is not that significant”

They feel inadequate.

They feel they have nothing to give.

They feel unwanted and unneeded and without purpose.

Many of them know the words of Scripture, but don’t feel the words of Scripture:-

Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.

(1 Corinthians 12:7)

No one misses out

For we were all baptised by one Spirit so as to form one body – whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free – and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.

(1 Corinthians 12:13)

Your background does not disqualify you from being given a gift.

Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.

(1 Corinthians 12:27)

Literally the Greek says, “you keep on being” a part.

You don’t get cut off at some point and then your gift stops.

I don’t think Paul could make it any clearer when it comes to spiritual gifts.

No Christian can say, “I don’t have a spiritual gift.”

No Christian has been cheated or has missed out.

No Christian is disqualified, has their gift removed.

Don’t be ignorant about these things.

But that is not all.

We should also not be ignorant about the way that God goes about distributing the spiritual gifts. There are different kinds of gifts – says Paul in verse 4. It really helps here to see the Greek.

There is a word that we commonly use to describe an act of God to us – the English word is grace.