The Holy Spirit: Spiritual Gifts
Romans 12:3-8; I Corinthians 12:4-11; Ephesians 4:7-13
3For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. 4For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; 7if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 8if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.
4There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. 5There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.
7Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 8To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. 11All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.
7But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. 8This is why it says:
“When he ascended on high, he took many captives and gave gifts to his people.”
9(What does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions? 10He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.) 11So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
Questions:
Why can’t we know the answers? Why do we have to experience “bad news?” How does suffering end? How is the Holy Spirit made visible to us?
“Charisma”:
The Origin of Spiritual Gifts and their purpose:
Gifts and the Body of Christ:
Gifts and Talents:
Discovering your gifts:
Realization
Prayer
An understanding of what the Bible says
A knowledge of yourself
Use a spiritual gift inventory - take a deep breath
Apostles
Prophets
Evangelist
Pastor
Teacher
Closing Prayer
O Holy Spirit who is light unto your children, may you enlighten us. O Holy Spirit who gives never-ending grace, may you replenish us. O Holy Spirit who is the fire of love, may you burn in our hearts. O Holy Spirit who is Lord and giver of life, may you live within us. As a cloud lessening our temptations, as the dew reviving our weariness, as fire purging the waste in our hearts, as water purifying our spirits, as the wind sending us out, as a dove turning our eyes to heaven. Amen
Based on “A Prayer to the Holy Spirit” by Christina Rossetti
TODAY’S PREACHER
Randy Reese is Directing Pastor of Calvary UMC