GIFT EMPOWERED MINISTRY
The Application of Spiritual Gifts
1 Corinthians 12:4-11
INTRODUCTION: A spiritual gift is, “the supernatural ability to carry out the work of Christ through his church.” Twice in this chapter, and in three other places, The Scriptures list and speak regarding spiritual gifts. Here, Paul is teaching the Corinthian believers truth concerning spiritual gifts. From his manner of writing, it is easy to discern, that the Corinthian church was involved in dispute over the value of primacy of gifts. Once again, they were taking something God had supplied to unify and propel the church forward, and using it to divide, fracture, and immobilize the body of Christ.
Spiritual gifts are important to the church and for the church. They were given specifically to assist the church in its mission. Where we err, is when we do not understand the person behind the gifts, and/or the very nature of the spiritual gift(s) God has given us.
I WHAT IS A SPIRITUAL GIFT? Verse 4-6
A Spiritual Gifts are a Working Service to God
1 Gifts are gifts from the Holy Spirit
2 Gifts are service to the Lord
3 Gifts are workings for the Father
B Spiritual Gifts have a Unity of Source
1 All got them the same way
2 All got them for the same purpose
C God is Working Different Things in Different People
1 Everyone who has a spiritual gift has the God ordained right to serve his/her Lord
2 The right to serve ought to humble us
a Many times service for God puts us out
What would have happened if:
• Mary said no to being the handmade of the Lord
• Samuel had not said speak Lord for your servant hears.
• Joseph had not acknowledged to his bothers that what they meant for evil God meant for good.
• Moses had not agreed to serve God in the wilderness
• Daniel had not kept himself pure
• Peter hade not preached the first sermon of the church
• Paul had not yielded before the Lord on the Damascus road
b Service for God does not put us out, but lifts us up!
II THE REASON WE HAVE SPIRITUAL GIFTS – Spiritual Gifts Are All About God, And Not About Me! Verse 7
A When we misunderstand gifts, we misunderstand service
1 Gifts have no value apart from the giver
2 Each gift is different and useful
B Spiritual Gifts Enable us to do the Work God Called us to do
1 A spiritual gift is a manifestation of the Holy Spirit
2 A Spiritual Gift is a manifestation of the HS for the common good (ie: in the church)
a Gifts are seen when they are used to build up the church
b Each gift has a function for the benefit of all
c Each gift has its primary function in the church
C God knew what gifts would be needed in his Church to accomplish His purpose there!
1 To reach our community
2 To reach our world
3 To mature our body
III THE REALITY BEHIND SPIRITUAL GIFTS
A All Spiritual Gifts Come From the Same Source
1 God does the selecting
2 Can you imagine what the church would be like if we did the selecting!
B Spiritual Gifts are not earned
1 Acts of God in our lives
2 Manifestations of Holy Spirit in our lives
3 Not merit badges on a sash or medals on a chest
C Spiritual Gifts are given based on God’s knowledge of our needs
1 God knows the use of each gifts
2 God knows the needs of each church
3 God knows the spirit of each community
4 God distributes his gifts to have the greatest impact
a Edification impact in the church
b Evangelization impact in the community
Our purpose is to discover what our gifts are and how they can be applied to accomplish God’s purpose for us and our gifts here!
Gifts are all about God
• God knows them
• God gives them
• God expects them to be used
We need
• To understand them
• To discover them
• To use them
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