On last evening, our small group from our local church concluded our weekly “40 days of community.” We convened as a small group for six weeks at our home, in accordance with the vision of our senior pastor, to equip ourselves to serve our local community through God’s demonstrated love. While learning how to implement God’s plan for our next move as a small group, I reflected upon how God uses each of us differently to fulfill our unique purpose(s). When asked by my small group what I received from the last six weeks, I read from The Holy Bible about our spiritual gifts – what they are, how we use them, and what it means to our growth & development in God’s Word.
God has established in our hearts certain gifts that are operational within the earth-realm. These twenty (20) gifts are categorized as power, or protectional (operational), functional, and perfecting. These 20 gifts work in unison with the nine fruit of the Spirit (Galations 5:22-23). The Word of God operates through us, as predestined before the Earth was formed, based upon the gift(s) that God has entrusted us with. In order to be fully used by God, we must know and understand our gifts in order to maximize our productivity in the kingdom of God. In doing so, we also raise the level of productivity of those who are within our sphere of influence.
POWER GIFTS:
“For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will”
(1 Corinthians 12:8-11).
Through the will of the Spirit, 1Corinthians 12:8-10 identifies the nine protection or power gifts. These gifts protect and empower us to do the will of God concerning our lives. These gifts are manifested through our words, our acts, and what we know. God is glorified through the operation of these gifts in the natural realm. That is, they can be seen of men. They are as follows:
Wisdom, Knowledge, Faith, Healing, Miracles, Prophecy, Discerning of spirits, Divers kinds of tongues, and Interpretation of tongues
FUNCTIONAL GIFTS:
“Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he teacheth, on teaching; Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that shewth mercy, with cheerfulness”
(Romans 12:6-8).
Through the will (choice) of man, Romans 12:6-8 identifies the seven (7) functional gifts. Functional gifts specifically identify our responsibilities toward society and one another in the body of Christ. How we conduct our everyday affairs in the presence of people who have no relationship with God (verse 20), as well as the brothers and sisters in Christ (verse 13), is taught in this scripture. The functional gifts are:
Prophesy (encouragement by the measure of faith),
Ministry (service with patience),
Exhortation (wise counsel/encouragement),
Teaching (instruction),
Giving (giving without complicating matters - simplicity is key),
Ruling (diligent leadership), and
Showing mercy (cheerful compassion).
PERFECTING GIFTS:
“Wherefore he saith, WHEN HE ASCENDED UP ON HIGH, HE LED CAPTIVITY CAPTIVE, AND GAVE GIFTS UNTO MEN. And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:” (Ephesians 4:8 & 11-12).
Through the will (choice) of man, Ephesians 4:11 identifies the four perfecting gifts. These gifts are designed to “perfect” us. “Perfect”, in this instance, does not refer to something without a flaw. God has called into the ministry those that can preach and teach His Word in a manner that will cause growth, development, and maturity to those of us with an ear to hear. These perfecting gifts are as follows:
Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, and Pastors & Teachers
As we transition into summer and have the opportunity to relax while on vacation, pray and mediate with your Heavenly Father regarding the gifts that He has placed within you. Encourage others to do the same. For me, that was the blessing that I received from leading our small group for the past six weeks. We voted to stay together throughout 2006 to impact our local community with the love of God. I ask that you do the same.
“For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance” (Romans 11:29).
Excerpt: Give God the Glory! Know God and Do the Will of God Concerning Your Life, Chapter 3, ©2001, by Kevin Wayne Johnson.
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