Spiritual Gifts

Scripture:  I Corinthians 12:4-6 (NKJ) - There are diversities of gifts; but the same spirit. (5) There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. (6) and there are diversities of activities but is the same God who works all in all.

The subject on spiritual gifts always gets a response. The world just does not get it; questioning, “what is it really?”  Believers seems to have mixed responses. One group just cannot seem to get enough, and the other group turns away; for fear that they may be called to serve where they feel inadequate or ill-equipped.

If you take a look at New Testament ministries, it may or may not surprise you that many believers are seriously and actively  while others do absolutely nothing. All too often, Christians align themselves with other believers as spectators. Some are waiting to be asked and/or invited to join in for service. Others may seem overwhelmed by seeing folk serve with joy and enthusiasms, as if they were made for the task.  Many display feelings of inadequacies, unable to measure up with those about them, or is limited by age and apathy. Believers who display such attitudes are NOT excused, because the Lord has provided everything the New Testament church needs to get on to serving Him and each other.

Human strengths and talents are not useful for the Lord’s service. The Lord has gifted every believer with divinely powered abilities to use in doing the work of Christ. It is called spiritual gifts. They are given to each believer at the moment of salvation and are part of the very nature of God -- given to us for Him to be used to fulfill His purpose in our lives and on the earth. Natural talents reveal one’s human ability, whereas spiritual gifts reveal Christ’s supernatural ability (power).

Believers are not privileged to choose his/her own gift. This is the work of the Holy Spirit. He knows where we are to function and enables each believer’s gift to be used to  accomplish all that the Lord desires through him or her.  Spiritual gifts are an endowment or extraordinary power given by the Holy Spirit, which absolutely cannot be worked for or purchased with money. Such gifts are designed to be used for church ministry. The gift you have been given is not for one’s own personal use. It is intended for the benefit of others. Beloved, if you do not accept and obediently use your spiritual gift(s), you neglect God’s work of grace in your life. That neglect diminishes the church’s effectiveness.

Prayer: Lord, God you have given me Your Word, and there is no error in it from Genesis  I:1 to Revelation 22:21. In I Corinthians 12, Apostle Paul so clearly explained the purpose of spiritual gifts as You revealed it to him. For You gave spiritual gifts for the perfecting of the Saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ. Your divine plan alone involves the use of the  gift(s) that were given to me.  In Christ, Amen.

(by Novella D. Carpenter)