God is …
A Giver of Gifts
May 29, 2022
What’s a spiritual gift?
The Holy Spirit at work in us in a particular way to glorify Jesus and to strengthen people.
1 Corinthians 12:1, 4-11 NIV
“Now about spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be ignorant. 4 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6 There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men. 7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 8 To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10 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. 11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines.”
The Gift of Wisdom
The special ability to give wise counsel.
Luke 2:46-48, 52 NIV
“After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 47 Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers.” 52 And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.”
My Story – Pastor Jack praying over me on the day of the shooting. “You will not make a bad decision for 10 days.”
The Gift of Knowledge
The special ability to have critical insight into people and situations.
John 4:16-18 NIV
He told her, "Go, call your husband and come back." 17 "I have no husband," she replied. Jesus said to her, "You are right when you say you have no husband. 18 The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have just said is quite true."
John 16:13 NIV
“But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth . He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.”
The Gift of Faith
The special ability to be full of faith in any situation.
Hebrews 11:1 NIV
“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”
“sure” and “certain” – a firm persuasion or conviction
Our faith rests on the settled issues. “I am sure” and “I am certain”
There are four phrases used in the NT – “no faith”, “little faith”, “great faith”, and “full of faith”
Is there some measuring stick God uses to measure our faith levels?
Matthew 8:8,10 NIV
“The centurion replied, "Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. 10 When Jesus heard this, he was astonished and said to those following him, "I tell you the truth, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith.
In this story, Jesus is commending the centurion for his great faith. What did Jesus see in this man that caused him to say such great things about him?
The measure of our faith isn't determined by the number of prayers we get answered but by the amount of our lives we're willing to surrender.
Faith in the NT is always used to talk about faith IN God, not just faith FOR an outcome. If we’re fixated only on results, we will quickly lose faith.
Over 30 times in the New Testament, when faith is used, it is followed by a preposition, it’s “faith in God/Christ.
