Series: Empowered by the Spirit Title: How to Discover Your Spiritual Gifts Pastor Chad E. Billington December 18, 2015 PM Service Smythe Street Cathedral 2015 - Chad E. Billington
Pre- Intro Video recording tonight, as parts of our message will be used for Groups and people to use to discuss in the coming week. Introduction We are continuing our series, Empowered by the Spirit, today by looking at Spiritual Gifts. This morning, Pastor Verner did a great job of talking about how we are all given at least one Spiritual Gift. We all have a gift that God gives us to use that is powerful. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 1 Corinthians 12:7 (NIV) He read from 1 Corinthians 12, which with chapters 13-14 I would say is one of the great passages in Scripture on the topic of Spiritual Gifts. Tonight, we re going to read another one of the key passages on Spiritual Gifts, Romans 12:3-8. Romans 12:3 8 (NIV) 3 For 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. 4 For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; 7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 8 if 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. Let us pray The Question for Tonight If you are a follower of Jesus, you have been given at least one spiritual gift. The questions to ask now are, Do you know your spiritual gifts? and How do you use them? What Are Some of the Gifts? The first thing to do when hoping to discover your spiritual gift, is to expose yourself to the possibilities, and the best place to do this is in Scripture. How to Discover Your Spiritual Gifts Page 2 of 6
There are some key passages like 1 Corinthians 12, Romans 12 that we ve read today. Others include Ephesians 4:11, 1 Peter 4:9-10, Exodus 31:3-5. We re not going to conduct an explanation of all the gifts today, as that would take quite a while, and we ve explored those topics at other times. If you want a more detailed study of gifts, there are some tremendous resources out there. A couple we would recommend: C. Peter Wagner s Your Spiritual Gifts Can Help Your Church Grow Bruce Bugbee s What You Do Best in the Body of Christ These and other resources for the series are available on our website at: www.smythestreetcathedral.com/empowered A Few Things to Keep in Mind When Studying Spiritual Gifts The list passages are not intended to be exhaustive o 1 Corinthians, Romans and 1 Peter all list different things o The most important thing is that the gift is in line with Scripture (canon), and that we exercise it Example: Craftsmanship/art is not something we would tend to associate as a Spiritual gift if left to ourselves, but it is consistent with Scripture. Exodus 31:1, 3 5 (NIV) Then the Lord said to Moses, 2 See, I have chosen Bezalel son of Uri 3 and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skills 4 to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, 5 to cut and set stones, to work in wood, and to engage in all kinds of crafts. Knowing Your Gifts Reflecting on Your Own Experience And for this purpose I was appointed a herald and an apostle teacher of the Gentiles. 1 Timothy 2:7 (NIV) Paul looks back on his what happened around his own encounter with Jesus (Acts 9) and his experience as a believer and saw his gift and call as an apostle. How to Discover Your Spiritual Gifts Page 3 of 6
Acts 9:15 16 (NIV) 15 But the Lord said to Ananias, Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. 16 I will show him how much he must suffer for my name. Paul could look back on that experience and his life. Similarly, we can reflect on our experiences with God, what he has spoken to our heart, and also consider our experiences to help us discern our own gifts. Have you been used in a particular way before, remembering that this is not just something you did, but if it is a pattern, God could have given you an ability you are responsible for. Has God spoken to you in the past, calling you to do something. PERSONAL STORY: THIS MORNING IN SERVICE, GOD RECALLED SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED TO ME WHEN I WAS JUST A SMALL BOY, WHEN A MAN WITH A PROPHETIC MINISTRY TALKED TO ME ABOUT WHAT I COULD SEE. There are different spiritual gifts tests that ask you to reflect on your past to help you discover your possible Spiritual Gifts. When taking a Spiritual Gifts Test, remember that different people list different items as gifts, and how the gifts are defined can very significantly depending on how different churches understand Scripture. Affirmation from Other Believers Brothers and sisters, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them Acts 6:3 (NIV) When there was a key administrative role to be filled, the Apostles had a church prayerfully consider who had the ability to serve with that gift of administration. How to Discover Your Spiritual Gifts Page 4 of 6
1 Timothy 4:13 14 (NIV) 13 Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching. 14 Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through prophecy when the body of elders laid their hands on you. If we have a spiritual gift / ability, others should see it within us, and affirm it. 1. Others can help us see gifts in ourselves that we overlook. 2. Others can correct us when we start to begin to exercise a gift that we wish we had, rather than a gift we actually have. Pastor Verner in conversation said something that stuck with me. GOD CALLS, THE CHURCH ORDAINS. This means that God is obviously the one with the onus to distribute Spiritual gifts, but as a church we have a responsibility to recognize and release what God has given. As a body, and leaders especially, we have a responsibility to test the use of the gifts. 1 Thessalonians 5:19 22 (NIV) 19 Do not quench the Spirit. 20 Do not treat prophecies with contempt 21 but test them all; hold on to what is good, 22 reject every kind of evil. The Greater Gifts 1 Corinthians 12:31a, 14:1 (NIV) Now eagerly desire the greater gifts Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy. Two big thoughts for us tonight Desiring gifts means that we can look for an increase in gifts. o God may yet have something for you, or at the least a new level of release. How to Discover Your Spiritual Gifts Page 5 of 6
My story from earlier today, God has given me gifts of teaching, but that doesn t mean he is done with me, or you either. The greater gifts are those aimed at others o This was in contrast to the personal edification from tongues. A Big reminder: Building Others Is the Goal Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 1 Corinthians 12:7 (NIV) Spiritual Gifts are not given to us for ourselves, they are a gift given for us to use for the common good, for others. Our gift is given for us to share with others in humility, not as a source of pride in ourselves. So it is with you. Since you are eager for gifts of the Spirit, try to excel in those that build up the church. 1 Corinthians 14:12 (NIV) We are to eagerly desire spiritual gifts in our lives, not for ourselves, but so we can build others up. Conclusion 2 Timothy 1:6 (NIV) For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. What are the gifts that you have? Are they in use, or disarray. Take them out as they have a purpose in the body. How to Discover Your Spiritual Gifts Page 6 of 6