Discovering Our Gifts

Spiritual Gifts

September 13, 2020

The typical NASCAR race car costs about $150,000 to build. They might be fun to have. They are certainly unique. If you wanted to buy one, keep in mind - - - there are no power windows or locks. In fact, it doesn’t have windows at all; it just has a net. There are no doors, you enter through the windowless window. It doesn’t have eight-way power seats; it has only ONE uncomfortable bucket seat, bolted down.

There are no headlights, no bluetooth, no CD player. It gets 5 miles per gallon. There’s no air conditioning. Trunk space is limited since the gas tank takes up most of the trunk. It doesn’t have alloy wheels, no treads on the tires, no windshield wipers

They drive Fords, Chevys and Toyotas. These cars were designed for one purpose . . . speed. You can even buy them!

You can get Jeff Gordon’s 2nd place finish at the Brickyard 400 in 2011 for only $135,000.

Of course, there are less expensive cars available too. These cars were designed and built for a special purpose — — for NASCAR racing.

And the same can be said for every one 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 some ordinary Ford, Chevy or Toyota or whatever brand you choose.

You are a special, unique child of God. You are valuable; you have more worth and value than you can imagine; and that’s because our worth and value comes from God.

Before we jump into our text in 1 Corinthians 12, let me set the scene. Remember, last week we were looking at 1 Corinthians 11, as Paul spoke about communion.

The Corinthian church had lots of problems. The church was filled with 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 issue of spiritual gifts. In the first SLIDEverse Paul said, 1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, I do not want you to be uninformed.

Paul wanted to end all of the arguing and disputing about spiritual gifts. He wanted to set the record straight. He was going to give them the facts and nothing but the facts. These new Christ-followers needed to understand these mysterious blessings. He wanted them to understand more about faith in Christ. Paul wrote ~

4 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the SAME SPIRIT; 5 and there are varieties of service, but the SAME LORD; 6 and there are varieties of activities, but it is the SAME GOD who empowers them all in everyone. 7 To each 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 IT’S SO COOL WHAT HE DID, BECAUSE HE GIVES US THE Trinity, Father, Son and Spirit in this passage.

It is the same Spirit, the same Lord and Same God who gives and empowers these gifts in every Christ-follower. And why are they given to each believer? For the common good!

Let me give you what I believe 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 is the best Spiritual Gift inventory to help you determine your gifts. We have used this tool to help people as well. These are also available in the lobby and on the website.

Bugbee said ~ Spiritual gifts are divine abilities distributed by the Holy Spirit to every 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 they are given to every believer in Jesus. Nobody who has faith in Jesus can ever say they are not gifted, because you are. These gifts aren’t given to you for 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 look at that in a bit.