Paul taught, "We have different gifts, according to the grace given us... let [us] use [them] in proportion to [our] faith," Romans 12:6.The spiritual gifts are found in three separate passages in the New Testament (Romans 12; 1 Corinthians 12–14; and Ephesians 4). The lists are not exactly identical. Some overlapping occurs. According to 1 Corinthians 12:6, God the Father pours in the power, Jesus the Son assigns the ministry, and God the Holy Spirit gives out the gifts as He deems necessary for the proper functioning of the church body.
It breaks my heart that the spiritual gifts don't seem to be taught or emphasized much throughout Christendom these days. Their utilization is critical for the Church to function properly in society.
The gifts may be organized in several ways. We will use the most common grouping.
Establishing Gifts (Ephesians 4:11 and 1 Corinthians 12:29): Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, and Pastor-Teachers. These gifts are used primarily for planting and growing churches.
Supporting Gifts (Romans 12:6-8): Prophecy, Service, Teaching, Encouragement, Giving, Administration/Leadership, and Mercy. These gifts are used primarily to organize and administrate the church so that it may best carry out its responsibilities.
Ministry Gifts (1 Corinthians 12:8-10, 27-31): Wisdom, Knowledge, Faith, Healing, Miracles, Prophecy, Helps, Administration, Leadership, Distinguishing Spirits, Speaking in Tongues, and Interpreting Tongues. These are the tools that the Holy Spirit utilizes for the ongoing ministry of the church.
The gifts may be organized in several ways. We will use the most common grouping.
Establishing Gifts (Ephesians 4:11 and 1 Corinthians 12:29): Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, and Pastor-Teachers. These gifts are used primarily for planting and growing churches.
Supporting Gifts (Romans 12:6-8): Prophecy, Service, Teaching, Encouragement, Giving, Administration/Leadership, and Mercy. These gifts are used primarily to organize and administrate the church so that it may best carry out its responsibilities.
Ministry Gifts (1 Corinthians 12:8-10, 27-31): Wisdom, Knowledge, Faith, Healing, Miracles, Prophecy, Helps, Administration, Leadership, Distinguishing Spirits, Speaking in Tongues, and Interpreting Tongues. These are the tools that the Holy Spirit utilizes for the ongoing ministry of the church.
Many saw the gifts in me before I knew anything about gifts. I would be at a prayer meetings just praying and my pastors at that time pulled me aside and informed that I was praying prophetically. I was praying way beyond my natural knowledge of the Bible. I would write songs that were way beyond my word level and certainly beyond my maturity level. It happens.
Just like we don't get a baby Holy Spirit when we receive the Holy Spirit we do not get a baby Evangelism gift, or a baby Prophetic gift. We get the gift. Then our maturity level and character level has to catch up with our gift. This is why we need leadership and a covering in our life so desperately. We naturally do not know, what we do not know. We have to be taught and groomed in our area of gifting.
When I first started to hear the voice of God I thought everything I heard prophetically I was supposed to share. I had no idea that the first and foremost thing that I was supposed to do was pray and ask God what He wanted to do with and about what He told me. Many times it was about trusting and obeying. It was about covering people in the faith and interceding for them to go the way of the Lord and not the way of the world.
So as I share this week on the gifts spend some time with the Lord and ask Him what He wants to do with your gifts. Ask Him how the operation of your gift looks? To whom do you operate the gifts with? It is not enough to just know something. We must know something and know what to do about that something we know.
I hope this helps. I pray that you will seek the Lord and His divine Leadership in your life as to what to do with the gifts you have been given.
Just like we don't get a baby Holy Spirit when we receive the Holy Spirit we do not get a baby Evangelism gift, or a baby Prophetic gift. We get the gift. Then our maturity level and character level has to catch up with our gift. This is why we need leadership and a covering in our life so desperately. We naturally do not know, what we do not know. We have to be taught and groomed in our area of gifting.
When I first started to hear the voice of God I thought everything I heard prophetically I was supposed to share. I had no idea that the first and foremost thing that I was supposed to do was pray and ask God what He wanted to do with and about what He told me. Many times it was about trusting and obeying. It was about covering people in the faith and interceding for them to go the way of the Lord and not the way of the world.
So as I share this week on the gifts spend some time with the Lord and ask Him what He wants to do with your gifts. Ask Him how the operation of your gift looks? To whom do you operate the gifts with? It is not enough to just know something. We must know something and know what to do about that something we know.
I hope this helps. I pray that you will seek the Lord and His divine Leadership in your life as to what to do with the gifts you have been given.
Trust the Lord with all you have and know and lean not unto your own understanding but acknowledge Him in everything we do. Call others into accountability but only after you have placed yourself under the same scrutiny. Bring your gift to the light. Allow your gift to be judged. God never hides a lamp under a bushel. If you are gifted, your gift will make a way for you. Promotion will come. You will be put upon a lamp stand for all to see and come to the light.
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