Gifted for Ministry. 1 Corinthians 14:1 - Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy.

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1 Gifted for Ministry Key Verses: 1 Peter 4:10 NLT - God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another. 1 Corinthians 14:1 - Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy. Other Key Passages: 1 Corinthians 12:1-10; Romans 12:3-8 Objective: We are all called to ministry in the Kingdom of God. The Holy Spirit desires to continually fill each believer with power to witness, and imparts His supernatural gifts for the edification of the body and the work of ministry in the world. All the gifts of the Holy Spirit that were at work in the church of the first century are available today and are to be earnestly desired and practiced. In this lesson, we will give a good foundation for the validity and necessity of God s people ministering in the supernatural gifting(s) of the Spirit. In the last lesson, we encouraged you to discover a personal vision of ministry for your life. We said the keys to finding your personal ministry would involve your, your experiences, and your. You re abilities include your natural talents and your spiritual gifts. So, we have a great need to become educated and trained in the revelation and use of the gifts of the Spirit. Are the Gifts for Today? There is much confusion in the church world today when it comes to the spiritual gifts, especially those that are sometimes called sign gifts, such as prophecy, healing, and tongues.

2 Theological positions are diverse, but basically they fall along a single spectrum. On the one end of the spectrum is cessationism, which teaches that these sign gifts have ceased. On the other end is a form of hyper-pentecostalism, which teaches that the baptism with the Holy Spirit and speaking in tongues is necessary for salvation, sanctification, and Christian maturity. Neither of these extremes is biblical. 1) The gifts of the Spirit have not. a) Nowhere in Scripture does the Bible state that the gifts have ceased. In fact, we have clear evidence that they will continue until the future return of Christ. 1 Corinthians 13: Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. v.9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, v.10 but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. v.11 When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. v.12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known. b) Cessationists wrongly teach that this passage refers to the canonization of the Bible. They teach that, since we have the New Testament now, the gifts are no longer active. i) When will the gifts cease? The gifts will discontinue when the perfect comes and we see face to face and will know fully. ii) The coming of the perfect refers to the return of the Son of God. As He has not returned, gifts have not ceased. Instead, they are very much active and should be earnestly desired. 2) The gifts of the Spirit should not be used to operate in an way. a) All the gifts or manifestations of the Spirit are As he wills not as we.

3 1 Corinthians 12:11 - All these [gifts] are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills. b) The gifts should be used to the and advance the. 1 Corinthians 14:3 NKJV But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men. c) The gifts should not be used to feed one s or be used for. Acts 8:18-21 NIV - When Simon [the sorcerer] saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles hands, he offered them money v.19 and said, Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit. v.20 Peter answered: May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money! v.21 You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before God. d) We must understand why some gifts are called the gifts. i) We are told to desire the greater gifts. 1 Corinthians 12:31 NIV - Now eagerly desire the greater gifts ii) The greater gifts are going to be the ones that effectively build up the body of Christ at the present time. 1 Corinthians 12:7 NIV - Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. e) The gifts should be exercised in an. 1 Corinthians 14:39, 40 - So, my brothers, earnestly desire to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues. v.40 But all things should be done decently and in order. Done decently and in order means they should be exercised in a humble manner, subject to the Scriptures, and within the context of love in the congregation.

4 f) The gifts should always and the testimony and the work of the Lord Jesus. John 15:26 - But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me. Any teaching, word of prophecy, or personal exhortation that disregards the incarnation of Jesus, His ministry, crucifixion, resurrection, exaltation and/or the future return of the Son of God is dangerous and unbiblical. We are All Gifted for Ministry 1 Peter 4:10, 11 NLT - God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another. v.11 Do you have the gift of speaking? Then speak as though God himself were speaking through you. Do you have the gift of helping others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ. All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen. 1) God has given each one of us a. Romans 12:6 NCV - We all have different gifts, each of which came because of the grace God gave us 2) God does not want us to be of the reality and usage of these gifts. 1 Corinthians 12:1 - Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be uninformed. Some people just don t know about them. Some people know about them, but think they have passed away. Some people know and even believe in the gifts, but their knowledge of what they are and how to use them is limited.

5 3) God wants us to be good of what He has given us by actively one another with our spiritual gifts. 1 Peter 4:10 NLT - God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another. 1 Peter 4:10 ESV - As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God s varied grace:

6 1. Review the key verse below. Discuss what gift you feel God has given you and how you are stewarding it to serve others. 1 Peter 4:10 NLT - God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another. 2. Review the key verse below. Talk about how our level of desire affects our being used in the gifts of the Spirit. 1 Corinthians 14:1 - Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy. 3. What questions do you have about today s lesson? 4. What can you do in the next seven days to activate the gifts God has given you for ministry? 5. Can you see how your passions, past experiences, and abilities (including spiritual gifts) combine to enable you to fulfill God s will for your life? How is this playing out in your life? Read the following verse and write down somewhere on your lesson outline the answer to this question: How is my life bringing glory to God through Jesus Christ using the gifts He has given me for ministry? 1 Peter 4:10, 11 NLT - God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another. v.11 Do you have the gift of speaking? Then speak as though God himself were speaking through you. Do you have the gift of helping others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ. All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen.