Spiritual GiftsSpiritual Gifts

Why Don’t We Why Don’t We Understand Spiritual Understand Spiritual

Gifts?Gifts?

Why Are Christians Why Are Christians Unsure About Spiritual Unsure About Spiritual

Gifts?Gifts?

• Evangelical teachers today differ Evangelical teachers today differ widely on the subject of spiritual widely on the subject of spiritual giftsgifts

• People look for categories of People look for categories of spiritual gifts in which they neatly fitspiritual gifts in which they neatly fit

• The Bible looks at spiritual gifts The Bible looks at spiritual gifts from different perspectivesfrom different perspectives, , not just not just oneone

What Are Spiritual Gifts?What Are Spiritual Gifts?• Spiritual gifts are SPIRITUAL giftsSpiritual gifts are SPIRITUAL gifts• 1 Corinthians 12:1-3 “1 Corinthians 12:1-3 “Now about spiritual Now about spiritual

gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be ignorant. You know that when you were ignorant. You know that when you were pagans, somehow or other you were pagans, somehow or other you were influenced and led astray to mute idols. influenced and led astray to mute idols. Therefore I tell you that no one who is Therefore I tell you that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, "Jesus speaking by the Spirit of God says, "Jesus be cursed," and no one can say, "Jesus is be cursed," and no one can say, "Jesus is Lord," except by the Holy SpiritLord," except by the Holy Spirit.”.”

• Not everything spiritual is of the Holy Not everything spiritual is of the Holy SpiritSpirit

What Are Spiritual Gifts?What Are Spiritual Gifts?• The work of the Holy Spirit is not The work of the Holy Spirit is not

normally seen with the human eyenormally seen with the human eye• The empowerment of the Spirit is not The empowerment of the Spirit is not

natural empowerment, human ability natural empowerment, human ability or experienceor experience

• Spiritual gifts are evidence that Jesus Spiritual gifts are evidence that Jesus Christ is all powerfulChrist is all powerful

• 1 Corinthians 2:4,5 “My message and 1 Corinthians 2:4,5 “My message and my preaching were not with wise and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, so demonstration of the Spirit's power, so that your faith might not rest on men's that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's powerwisdom, but on God's power.”.”

What Are Spiritual Gifts?What Are Spiritual Gifts?• Spiritual gifts are spiritual GIFTSSpiritual gifts are spiritual GIFTS • Spiritual gifts are graces which are not Spiritual gifts are graces which are not

deserved but given by God- so don’t boastdeserved but given by God- so don’t boast• When God uses our strengths we might When God uses our strengths we might

think it was me and God that got this think it was me and God that got this done!done!

• Spiritual gifts are given by God Spiritual gifts are given by God sovereignlysovereignly

• Spiritual gifts are given for the Spiritual gifts are given for the edification of the churchedification of the church

• 1 Corinthians 14:12 “1 Corinthians 14:12 “Since you are eager Since you are eager to have spiritual gifts, try to excel in gifts to have spiritual gifts, try to excel in gifts that build up the churchthat build up the church.”.”

What Are Spiritual Gifts?What Are Spiritual Gifts?• Spiritual gifts are a matter of faithSpiritual gifts are a matter of faith• Paul links the gifts that are given Paul links the gifts that are given

with the faith that accompanies with the faith that accompanies those giftsthose gifts

• The greatest problem regarding The greatest problem regarding understanding spiritual gifts is lack understanding spiritual gifts is lack of faithof faith

How Can We Exercise Faith?How Can We Exercise Faith?

• We need to have faith God has We need to have faith God has supernaturally empowered us supernaturally empowered us

• We need to have faith God will We need to have faith God will direct us to the ministries in which direct us to the ministries in which our gifting is most suited our gifting is most suited

• God will demonstrate His power God will demonstrate His power ASAS we serve and not necessarily we serve and not necessarily BEFOREBEFORE we serve we serve

No SacrificeNo Sacrifice

To You I give my lifeTo You I give my life

Not just the parts I want toNot just the parts I want to

To You I sacrificeTo You I sacrifice

These dreams that I hold on toThese dreams that I hold on to

ChorusChorus

Your thoughts are higher than Your thoughts are higher than minemine

Your Words are deeper than mineYour Words are deeper than mine

Your love is stronger than mineYour love is stronger than mine

This is no sacrifice, here’s my lifeThis is no sacrifice, here’s my life

To You I give the giftsTo You I give the gifts

Your love has given to meYour love has given to me

How can I hoard the treasuresHow can I hoard the treasures

That You designed for freeThat You designed for free

ChorusChorus

Your thoughts are higher than Your thoughts are higher than minemine

Your Words are deeper than mineYour Words are deeper than mine

Your love is stronger than mineYour love is stronger than mine

This is no sacrifice, here’s my lifeThis is no sacrifice, here’s my life

To You I give my future To You I give my future

As long as it may lastAs long as it may last

To You I give my presentTo You I give my present

To You I give my pastTo You I give my past

ChorusChorus

Your thoughts are higher than Your thoughts are higher than minemine

Your Words are deeper than mineYour Words are deeper than mine

Your love is stronger than mineYour love is stronger than mine

This is no sacrifice, here’s my lifeThis is no sacrifice, here’s my life