Pastor Scott Applegate
“God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another.” 1 Peter 4:10 NLT
What are spiritual gifts?
- Spiritual gifts are divinely bestowed abilities from the Holy Spirit, given to every true believer in order to serve the church and serve Jesus’ purposes on the earth
- Spiritual gifts are NOT natural talents and abilities
3 categories of spiritual gifts:
- The Manifestation gifts
“There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 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. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.” 1 Corinthians 12:4-11 NIV
- Desire and seek these gifts while remembering these gifts are given when and where the Holy Spirit determines
- The Maturing gifts
But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. This is why it says: “When he ascended on high, he took many captives and gave gifts to his people.” (What does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions? He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.) So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.” Ephesians 4:7-16 NIV
- Gifted spiritual leaders equipping believers for the work of the ministry
- Gifted saints growing in their gifts and using their gifts for the building up of the body
- The Ministry gifts
“For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.” Romans 12:4-8 NIV
- Every believer has at least one or more of these gifts
What should I do about spiritual gifts?
- Avoid extremes
- Open your gifts
- Exercise and express your gifts
Practical implications that come with spiritual gifts:
- There should not be any passive believers in the church
- A certain amount of conflict should be expected over the gifts
- Watch out for gift envy
- Love must be the motivation of spiritual gifts