Understanding Spiritual Gifts

God’s Gifts

✓ Eternal Life.

(Romans 6:23) For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

(Ephesians 2:8) For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.

✓The Holy Spirit.

(Acts 1:4-5) “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me (Jesus) speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”

✓ Spiritual gifts.

If God has given you something, then it is good!

Gift lists:  Romans 12, I Cor. 12, Ephesians 4. 

(1 Corinthians 12:1) Now about spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be ignorant.

(1 Corinthians 12:7 NLT) A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other.

A spiritual gift is a special

supernatural ability that God gives to each of His children, so that together we can advance His purposes in this world.

Understanding Spiritual Gifts

1. Discover the gifts God has for me.

God's design in me reveals God destiny for me.  

Lives are being changed, and you are fulfilled when you discover your grace gift.

(Romans 12:6) We have different gifts, according to the grace given us.

(Psalm 139:13-16) For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well…All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.

2. Develop the gifts God has given me.

(1 Corinthians 14:1) Follow the way of love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts.

(2 Timothy 1:6) For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God which is in you.

3. Use the gifts God has given me.

(1 Peter 4:10 NLT) God has given gifts to each of you from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Manage them well so that God's generosity can flow through you.

Highlands exists to take me on a spiritual journey to…

Know God

Find Freedom

Discover Purpose

Make a Difference

until I’m able to say…

I was made for this.

Chris Hodges, Church of the Highlands

Video

https://www.churchofthehighlands.com/media/message/understanding-spiritual-gifts

Discussion Guide

https://www.churchofthehighlands.com/files/groups/guides/5-14-2017.pdf

All scripture is from the New International Version unless otherwise noted.

Opened Your Spiritual Gift?

1 Corinthians 12:1 (NLT)

Now, dear brothers and sisters, regarding your question about the special abilities the Spirit gives us. I don’t want you to misunderstand this.

1. The gift of eternal life is a Spiritual Gift.

Romans 6:23 (NLT)

23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.

2.  The Holy Spirit is a Spiritual Gift.

Acts 1:4-5 (NLT)

4 Once when he was eating with them, he commanded them, “Do not leave Jerusalem until the Father sends you the gift he promised, as I told you before. 5 John baptized with water, but in just a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”

3.  There are different Spirit Gifts.

Romans 12:6 (NLT)

6 In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you.

2 Timothy 1:6 (NLT)

6 This is why I remind you to fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you when I laid my hands on you.

What are these Spiritual Gifts?

As Christians, we have a grace gift.  It will be easy, fulfilling, and will change lives.

1 Peter 2:9 (NLT)

9 But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light. 

A spiritual gift is a special, supernatural  ability that God gives to each of His children, so that together they can advance His purposes in this world.

1. We should pursue everything that God has for us even spiritual gifts. 

1 Corinthians 14:1 (NLT)

14 Let love be your highest goal! But you should also desire the special abilities the Spirit gives—especially the ability to prophesy.

2.  We should discover the gifts that God has for us.

Psalm 139:13-16  (NLT)

13 You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body
    and knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14 Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex!
    Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.
15 You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion,
    as I was woven together in the dark of the womb.
16 You saw me before I was born.
    Every day of my life was recorded in your book.
Every moment was laid out
    before a single day had passed.

Our design reveals our destiny.  Look at how you are made, and it will reveal your destiny.

3. We must embrace the gifts that God has given us.

Romans 12:3-6 (NLT)

3 Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us.

Don't have an improper view of yourself. Have an accurate view of yourself as you relate to God and others.

4 Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, 

5 so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other.

6 In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you.

3. We must use the gifts that God has given to us to serve others. 

1 Peter 4:10  (NLT)

10 God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another.

Chris Hodges , Church of the Highlands

https://www.churchofthehighlands.com/media/message/what-about-spiritual-gifts