SPIRITUAL GIFTSThe full potential of a life, a marriage, a family, or an assembly will not be experienced until there is a clear, Biblical understanding of spiritual gifts. For this reason Paul wrote, "Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers, I don't want you to be ignorant."1 Corinthians 12:1. The purpose of these gifts is to make the assembly complete. Our physical body has hands, eyes, feet, and ears each with its unique function. If your hand does not work or is missing, your body is not complete. Likewise, if a local assembly has members who do not use their spiritual gift, that assembly is not complete. It is missing an eye, or hand, or foot. God assigns each believer a ministry, a service within the Body of Christ and failure to exercise that gift weakens the ministry and work of the Body. Everyone wants to do something meaningful in this life. We will find personal fulfillment by developing our spiritual gift and performing the ministries assigned us. By using our spiritual gift we will have a significant part in God's divine program. His program is carried out through the Body of Christ, the Assembly by the proper functioning of each member's gift. Developing and using our gift is expressing our love for one another. The great chapter on love (1 Corinthians 13) is right in the middle of Paul's explanation about spiritual gifts. God wants us to understand our gift and use it. It is a great joy to obey God and see how He will use us to help others. There are three types of gifts: MOTIVATION, MINISTRY, and MANIFESTATION. Each Christian receives one motivational gift and the possibility of many ministry and manifestation gifts. "Now there are various kinds of GIFTS, but the same Spirit. There are various kinds of SERVICE, and the same Lord. There are various kinds of workings, but the same God, who works all things in all. But to each one is given the MANIFESTATION of the Spirit for the profit of all." (1 Corinthians 12:4-7) There are seven MOTIVATION gifts, which are listed in Romans 12:3-9. Each Christian is given one of these as their basic gift. But each of us needs to learn to use all seven gifts as we grow into Christian maturity. The more we become like Jesus, the more we will express each of the gifts in balanced manner, even though we will use them all from one basic motivation. It is only as we learn the skills of the other six gifts that we will be able to use our own gifts effectively. There are ten MINISTRY gifts, listed in Ephesians 4:11 and 1 Corinthians 12:28, and mine MANIFESTATION of our ministry, listed in 1 Corinthians 12:7-11. Using our spiritual gift is a very important aspect of the ministry of believers. Therefore, it is important that each Shepherd knows his gift and how to use it and teach others in the Assembly how to use theirs. A person who is not sure what his motivation gift is, should choose any motivation gift and begin practicing it.
MOTIVATION GIFTS: Romans 12:6-8. 2. Ministry, Serving: (diakonia) Signifies service, ministry, especially of those who execute the commands of others. The motivation is to demonstrate love by meeting practical needs. Example - Timothy 3. Teaching: (didasko) To teach, to hold discourse with others in order to instruct them. The motivation is to clarify truth by searching our and validating truth which his been presented. Example - Luke 4. Exhortation, Encouraging: (paraklesis) To admonish, to urge one to pursue some course of conduct. The motivation is to stimulate the faith of others. Example - Paul 5. Giving: (metadidomi) To impart, give, to give a share of. The motivation is to entrust personal assets to others for the furtherance of their ministry. Example - Matthew 6. Ruling, Leadership: (proistemi) To stand before. To lead, attend to with care and diligence. The motivation is to coordinate the activities of others for the achievement of common goals. Example - Nehemiah 7. Showing Mercy, Compassion: (eleeo) To feel sympathy with the misery of another, and especially sympathy manifested in action. The motivation is to identify with and comfort those who are in distress. Example - John MINISTRY GIFTS: Ephesians 4:11; 1 Corinthians 12:28. These are the functions, the positions in the Body of Christ in which God places us. ALL members of the assembly should be active in a God given ministry. 1. Messenger (Apostle): (apostolos) One sent forth. A delegate, messenger, one sent forth with orders. The ministry of one sent out by the Assembly for specific Christian service. This includes ministers, elders, shepherds, evangelists, missionaries, etc. 2. Preacher (prophet): (prophetes) One who speaks forth, a proclaimer of a divine message. A proclaimer of God's message primarily among Christians. This includes those bringing messages at the Fellowship Groups and Congregational meetings. 3. Evangelist: (euaggelistes) A messenger of good, a bringer of good tidings. A proclaimer of God's message primarily to nonchristians. This includes all members, missionaries, and evangelists. 4. Shepherd, Pastor: (poimen) One who oversees, guides, cares for, protects, and feeds an assembly of Christians. The term shepherd, elder, and overseer are all use for the same person in the New Testament assembly. The Elders. 5. Teacher: (didaskalos) An instructor in the truths of God's word. One who instructs people so God's message is clear and understandable, and their decisions are correct. See Hebrews 5:11-14. This includes those involved in special classes, marriage rebuilding, public school release time, Vacation Bible Schools, career counseling, financial freedom classes, etc. Also includes the work of the Elders and Ministers of Mercy. 6. Miracles: (dunamis) One who has power to perform miracles. This ability comes from believing prayer. As we exercise faith in prayer, God is able to accomplish natural or supernatural events with precise timing in order to bring glory to Himself. All Christians should advance to this ministry in their lives. Our hope and desire is that all members will learn to pray like this. 7. Healing: (iama) One who brings healing to the spirit, soul and body. This includes the Shepherds as they lead their flocks, Elders as they counsel and lay hands on the ill, and Ministers of Mercy in their support groups, medical clinic, etc. 8. Helper: (antilepsis) One who supports, who renders assistance to the weak and needy. See Acts 20:35. Ministers of Mercy as they work in neighborhood improvement projects, help widows. the homeless, prisoners, summer camp for poor children. etc. 9. Administrator: (kubernesis) To guide. One who pilots, steers, or guides in a local assembly. An organization which is most effective is least visible. This includes the Overseers, Elders, and others who see that all is done decently and in order. 10. Tongues: (glossea) This word is used in the New Testament in reference to the tongues like fire on the day of Pentecost, the tongue, as an origin of speech, and to a language. Here it is used as the language or dialect used by a particular people distinct from that of other nations. This ministry is needed to reach out to all those speaking other languages than English in the area of the Assembly. Missionaries at home and abroad. MANIFESTATIONS OF THE SPIRIT: 1 Corinthians 12:7-11. When a member learns what his spiritual gift is and starts using it, God will assign him a ministry under the direction and authority of the local assembly. As he develops his ministry, he should start seeing the following manifestations of the Holy Spirit in himself and in the people he is working with. 1. Wisdom: The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. One sees and understands life from God's point of view. 2. Knowledge: The Holy Spirit gives us the knowledge and power to live the Christian life and become more like Christ. 3. Faith: Faith comes from hearing the Word of God. As we hear God's Word the Holy Spirit opens our understanding and gives us the assurance that God is concerned about every part of our life, and that Christ is His Son who has all authority and is coming again. 4. Healing: As we allow the Holy Spirit to work He will remove the diseases of the spirit, soul and body. The diseases of the spirit are bitterness, greed, and guilt. The diseases of the soul are worry, fear, jealously, discouragement, etc. Often removal of these diseases produces physical healing. 5. Miracles: The Holy Spirit directs us in our prayers. As we ask, seek and knock, natural or supernatural events with precise timing will occur to solve our problems, meet our needs and bring glory to God. 6. Prophecy: The work of the Holy Spirit is to convict us of sin, the righteousness of God, and the coming judgment. As He does this, the secret concealed areas of our life are brought to light. 7. Discerning of Spirits: Discerning of spirits must he done by the power of the Holy Spirit. He bears witness with our spirit so we recognize what is of God and what is of the world, the flesh, and the Devil. 8. Tongues: Our spirit is freed to communicate to God and the Holy Spirit energizes our tongue to edify believers through language and music. 9. Interpretation of Tongues: The Holy Spirit enables us to translate spiritual truth into words and actions.
If I speak with the languages of men and of angels, but don't have love, I have become sounding brass, or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but don't have love, I am nothing. If I dole out all my goods to feed the poor, and if I give my body to be burned, but don't have love, it profits me nothing. 1 Corinthians 13:1-3 WEB
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