Understanding Spiritual Gifts
Tim Nay
Part of 2022 Q2 - Kingdom Culture1 Corinthians
August 14, 2022
Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be uninformed. 2 You know that when you were pagans you were led astray to mute idols, however you were led. 3 Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says “Jesus is accursed!” and no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except in the Holy Spirit. —1 Corinthians 12:1-3
Jesus’ authority is the litmus test for spiritual gifts.
4 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; 5 and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; 6 and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. 7 To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. 8 For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills. —1 Corinthians 12:4-11
There are many expressions of the same Spirit.
a. Spiritual gifts = charisma = devine enablements
b. Spiritual service = diakonia = ministries/offices
c. Spiritual activities = energema = operations
All expressions of the Spirit are important in the Church
a. Help us understand our individual importance
b. Help us have empathy for each other
c. Help us mature in the faith to the point of unity.
All gifts are useless without agape love.
What is the one thing you learned about spiritual gifts today?
What will you do today with this knowledge?
