GIFTS

I Corinthians 12:1-12 Now concerning spiritual [gifts],* brethren, I would not have you ignorant. Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led. Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and [that] no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost. Now there are diversities of gifts,** but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another [divers] kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.*** For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also [is] Christ.

* spiritual gifts >pneumatikos- supernatural

** gifts > charisma- spiritual endowment given by God, grace

*** gifts operate by power of the Holy Spirit. He chooses which gifts are given to each believer according to His will. Severally means independently, separately, individually.

I Corinthians 12:27-13:3 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments,* diversities of tongues. [Are] all apostles? [are] all prophets? [are] all teachers? [are] all workers of miracles? Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret? But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way. Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become [as] sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have [the gift of] prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity,** I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed [the poor], and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.

* governments> directorships in the church.

** charity> agape, God's unconditional love.

Romans 12:4-18 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: So we, [being] many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, [let us prophesy] according to the proportion of faith; Or ministry, [let us wait] on [our] ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, [let him do it] with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness. [Let] love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. [Be] kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality. Ephesians 4:4-16 [There is] one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who [is] above all, and through all, and in you all. But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.) And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

PURPOSE OF THESE GIFTS;

For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: That we [henceforth] be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, [and] cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, [even] Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

THE MOST IMPORTANT GIFT GIVEN TO EVERY BELIEVER IS ETERNAL LIFE.

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin [is] death; but the gift (CHARISMA) of God [is] eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Ephesians 2:8 For by grace (CHARIS) are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: [it is] the gift of God:

THE MOST IMPORTANT THING WE MUST REMEMBER ABOUT USING THE SPIRITUAL GIFTS IS THAT WE MUST DO SO IN LOVE (AGAPE).

I Corinthians 13:1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become [as] sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have [the gift of] prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed [the poor], and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. Charity suffereth long, [and] is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Charity never faileth: but whether [there be] prophecies, they shall fail; whether [there be] tongues, they shall cease; whether [there be] knowledge, it shall vanish away. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these [is] charity.

I Corinthians 14:26-33 How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying. If any man speak in an [unknown] tongue, [let it be] by two, or at the most [by] three, and [that] by course; and let one interpret. But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God. Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge. If [any thing] be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace. For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted. And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. For God is not [the author] of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.

RECEIVING THE GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT

Luke 11:13 {If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall [your] heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?}

James 4:2 Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume [it] upon your lusts.

John 15:16 {Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and [that] your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.}

John 16:24 {Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.}

I John 5:14 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.

Ephesians 5:18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.

LEARNING WHAT YOUR SPIRITUAL GIFTS ARE.

THERE ARE AT LEAST THREE DIFFERENT FACTORS WHICH CAN BE INDICATORS OF YOUR SPIRITUAL GIFTS;

1) THE THINGS YOU ENJOY DOING

2) THE PARTICULAR ABILITY OR ABILITIES TO MINISTER OTHER BELIEVERS RECOGNIZE IN YOU

3) THE PARTICULAR MINISTRIES YOU ARE MOST EFFECTIVE IN

IF YOU ARE UNCERTAIN WHICH GIFTS YOU HAVE BEEN GIVEN, ASK GOD IN PRAYER TO REVEAL THEM TO YOU. ALSO ASK OTHER BELIEVERS WHO KNOW YOU WELL WHAT GIFTS THEY PERCEIVE YOU TO HAVE.

SUMMARY OF THE GIFTS UNDERLINED IN THE PREVIOUS SCRIPTURES;

WORD OF KNOWLEDGE AN EXAMPLE IS PETER'S SUPERNATURAL KNOWLEDGE THAT ANANIAS AND SAPPHIRA HAD LIED ABOUT THE PROCEEDS OF SELLING THEIR HOUSE. (ACTS 5:1-5)

WORD OF WISDOM REFERS TO SUPERNATURAL ABILITY TO GIVE WISE COUNSEL BY APPLYING GODLY PRINCIPALS AND KNOWLEDGE THROUGH THE INSPIRATION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. (SEE ACTS 5:3; ACTS 6:10)