SPIRITUAL GIFTS

God has provided two kinds of gifts to His Body. Jesus gives specialized people, four types of leaders, "for the equipping of the saints for the work of service.” Ephesians 4:12. In addition, the Spirit gives special abilities for service ... in varied combinations to each believer. What we know about both categories of gifts we know from the Bible. We cannot allow our experience or that of others to determine what we believe about spiritual gifts.

Specialized people ... given by Jesus ... to equip the body. These are specialized people ... the leaders described in Ephesians 4:11-16. Not every believer is one of these four. These are not positions or offices to which people are elected. Only some believers are these specialized people. They are given by Jesus to the Body to equip believers. They are not hired guns to do the ministry for us. They are given to train us ... to equip us for the work of service. The four types of leaders are apostles, prophets, evangelists, and pastor-teachers.  Apostles are those that are sent out to be foundational in beginning a new ministry. Prophets declare God's Word to the Body. Evangelists declare His Word to the lost. Pastor-teachers watch over and feed God's people. To understand a leader's role in the Body, consider the evangelist. The evangelist should do the work of evangelism ... and he should equip believers to do evangelism.

Special abilities ... given by the Holy Spirit ... to empower the body. These special abilities, given by the Holy Spirit, empower believers ... enabling them to do the work of service. These gifts are not to be confused with natural or learned abilities and talents. For example ... some believers may have a God-given talent of singing. They may have learned much about music. They may have trained and exercised their voices. However, those believers do not have the spiritual gift of singing ... there is no such gift. Certain basic facts are true about spiritual gifts.

Every believer is given at least one spiritual gift.1 Corinthians 12:7, 1 Peter 4:10.

The gifts are given at the Spirit's desire rather than our own desire. 1 Corinthians 12:11

They are for the common good rather than individual benefit.1 Corinthians 12:7, Romans 12:4-5, 1 Corinthians 12:12-27

There is a possibility that they may be lost. Matthew 25:14-29
Note: Romans 11:29 deals with Israel, not the Body

The spiritual gift (or gifts) that you have is (or are) determined by the Spirit, 1 Corinthians 12:4. The ministries in which you use them are determined by Christ, 1 Corinthians 12:5. Effectiveness is the Father's work, 1 Corinthians 12:6. Your responsibility is obedience.

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Disciplemaking 1, copyright 2003, is available free from www.MyDisciplemaker.org where you can study online or print free copies. You may copy this course, any any part of it, for free or at-cost distribution ... without change to the content ... and with this copyright policy attached. Published by www.ActsOneEight.org. Bible Quotations are from the NASB unless noted.