Question: What about Spiritual Gifts?
Pastor Linzy Slayden Friendship Baptist Church,
07/18/2022 – When we are born again and become children of God, we each receive one or more spiritual gifts. Discovering, developing, and putting to work our spiritual gifts is how we find joy and fulfillment in this Christian life.
1 Corinthians 12 explains how children of God can unwrap their spiritual gifts.
“Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant…” (v. 1)
Our spiritual gifts are supernatural, graciously given to us by the Holy Spirit when we are born again. There is no room for pride or selfishness; we’ve received them to serve each other. The Holy Spirit chooses our gift(s); our responsibility is to discover what He has sovereignly imparted in us.
Adrian Rogers says, “These spiritual gifts are not for evidence; they are equipment. They are not for your enjoyment; they are for your employment.”
“Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all…” (v. 4-6)
Some of the diverse gifts listed in Scripture are:
- Wisdom
- Knowledge
- Faith
- Healing
- Miracles: physical, mental, and spiritual
- Prophecy: for edification, exhortation, and comfort
- Discernment of the spirits
- Speaking in tongues, or to speak in a language you have never learned
- Interpreting tongues, or to translate tongues so others can understand
- Ministry, or serving within the church
- Teaching
- Exhortation, or leading others in worship
- Giving
- Ruling, or the ability to administrate
- Mercy, or showing the love of Jesus Christ
It is our joy and responsibility to discover our gifts and to understand which gifts are temporary and which gifts are permanent for the church age. We must first present ourselves to God’s lordship. Secondly, we must become good stewards of our gifts with renewed minds and good faith. Finally, we must stay in fellowship with other believers. We were meant to serve one another well, operate as one fully-functioning body. Our spiritual gifts will be confirmed as we begin serving each other however we can.
Apply it to your life
If you haven’t discovered your spiritual gift(s), ask yourself:
Have I presented myself to the Lord? Have I decided to be a good steward of whatever the Holy Spirit has confirmed in me? Am I serving faithfully in my church?
Thanks for reading and I hope this helps.
Pastor Linzy Slayden, Friendship Baptist Church, Owasso, OK
