Understanding Spiritual Gifts and Their Divine Purpose

 

Summary

In our exploration of spiritual gifts, we must first distinguish them from natural talents. Spiritual gifts are unique endowments given directly by the Holy Spirit, distinct from our inherent abilities. These gifts are not merely enhancements of our natural talents but are entirely new and special, bestowed upon us by divine grace. The Holy Spirit, in His sovereignty, decides who receives these gifts, what gifts they receive, and when they are given. This emphasizes the Spirit's absolute authority in the distribution of gifts, underscoring that each Christian is endowed with a specific gift to serve the body of Christ.

Every believer is given a gift, as illustrated by the analogy of the human body, where each part, regardless of its perceived importance, plays a vital role. The gifts differ in value, and while some may seem more significant, all are necessary for the church's functioning. Importantly, all gifts must be exercised in love. Without love, even the most remarkable gifts are rendered meaningless. Spirituality should not be judged solely by the presence of gifts, as a person may possess a significant gift yet lack spiritual maturity.

Furthermore, there is no single gift that every Christian must possess to prove the presence of the Holy Spirit. The diversity of gifts among believers reflects the Spirit's sovereign will. The question of whether all gifts are meant for the church today is complex. Some gifts, like apostleship and prophecy, were foundational and temporary, serving the early church before the New Testament was completed. However, other gifts, such as teaching, evangelism, and administration, continue to be relevant and necessary for the church's growth and edification.

Key Takeaways:

- Spiritual gifts are distinct from natural talents, given directly by the Holy Spirit, and are not merely enhancements of our natural abilities. They are unique endowments meant to serve the church and glorify God. [00:13]

- The Holy Spirit, in His sovereignty, decides who receives spiritual gifts, emphasizing His authority and the diversity of gifts among believers. Each Christian is endowed with a specific gift to serve the body of Christ. [02:30]

- All spiritual gifts must be exercised in love, as love is the foundation that gives meaning and value to the gifts. Without love, even the most remarkable gifts are rendered meaningless. [09:01]

- Not all gifts are meant for every believer, and the presence of a particular gift is not a universal requirement for proving the Holy Spirit's presence. The diversity of gifts reflects the Spirit's sovereign will. [11:25]

- Some gifts, like apostleship and prophecy, were foundational and temporary, serving the early church before the New Testament was completed. However, other gifts, such as teaching and evangelism, continue to be relevant and necessary for the church's growth. [26:14]

Youtube Chapters:

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:13] - Distinction Between Natural and Spiritual Gifts
[00:31] - Spiritual Gifts Defined
[01:21] - Charismatic Gifts Explained
[02:30] - Sovereignty of the Holy Spirit
[04:45] - Every Christian Has a Gift
[06:43] - Gifts Differ in Value
[09:01] - Gifts Must Be Used in Love
[11:25] - No Universal Gift Requirement
[12:59] - Are Gifts Temporary or Permanent?
[14:47] - Foundation of Apostles and Prophets
[21:14] - Disappearance of Gifts After Apostles
[24:02] - Miracles and Gifts Today
[26:14] - Temporary vs. Permanent Gifts
[37:08] - List of Permanent Gifts
[38:40] - Blasphemy Against the Holy Spirit
[41:52] - Closing Prayer

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide: Understanding Spiritual Gifts

Bible Reading:

1. 1 Corinthians 12:7-11 (NIV) - "Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to 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. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines."

2. 1 Corinthians 13:1-3 (NIV) - "If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing."

3. Ephesians 2:19-20 (NIV) - "Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone."

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Observation Questions:

1. What distinguishes spiritual gifts from natural talents according to the sermon? [00:13]

2. How does the sermon describe the role of the Holy Spirit in the distribution of spiritual gifts? [02:30]

3. What analogy is used in the sermon to illustrate the importance of each believer's spiritual gift? [05:38]

4. According to the sermon, what is the significance of love in the exercise of spiritual gifts? [09:01]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the diversity of spiritual gifts among believers reflect the sovereignty of the Holy Spirit? [02:47]

2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that spiritual maturity is not solely determined by the presence of spiritual gifts? [09:36]

3. How does the sermon address the question of whether all spiritual gifts are meant for the church today? [12:59]

4. What is the significance of the foundational gifts of apostleship and prophecy, and why are they considered temporary according to the sermon? [15:03]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on your own spiritual gifts. How can you use them to serve your church community more effectively? [05:20]

2. Think of a time when you may have judged someone's spirituality based on their gifts. How can you shift your perspective to focus on love and spiritual maturity instead? [09:36]

3. How can you ensure that love is the foundation of your actions when using your spiritual gifts? Consider a specific situation where this might be challenging. [09:01]

4. Are there any natural talents you possess that you feel could be transformed into spiritual gifts? How might you seek the Holy Spirit's guidance in this area? [00:47]

5. How can you encourage diversity of gifts within your small group or church, ensuring that each member feels valued and important? [05:51]

6. Consider the temporary nature of some spiritual gifts. How does this understanding affect your view of the gifts you or others may have? [26:14]

7. Identify one way you can support someone in your church who is struggling to identify or use their spiritual gift. What practical steps can you take to help them? [06:22]

Devotional

Day 1: Spiritual Gifts as Unique Endowments
Spiritual gifts are distinct from natural talents, given directly by the Holy Spirit, and are not merely enhancements of our natural abilities. They are unique endowments meant to serve the church and glorify God. These gifts are bestowed upon believers by divine grace, emphasizing that they are not earned or developed through human effort. The Holy Spirit, in His sovereignty, decides who receives these gifts, what gifts they receive, and when they are given. This underscores the Spirit's absolute authority in the distribution of gifts, highlighting that each Christian is endowed with a specific gift to serve the body of Christ. [00:13]

1 Corinthians 12:4-6 (ESV): "Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone."

Reflection: What unique spiritual gift do you believe the Holy Spirit has given you, and how can you use it to serve your church community this week?


Day 2: The Sovereignty of the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit, in His sovereignty, decides who receives spiritual gifts, emphasizing His authority and the diversity of gifts among believers. Each Christian is endowed with a specific gift to serve the body of Christ. This diversity reflects the Spirit's sovereign will and the unique role each believer plays in the church. The analogy of the human body illustrates that every part, regardless of its perceived importance, plays a vital role. This means that no gift is insignificant, and all are necessary for the church's functioning. [02:30]

1 Corinthians 12:18-20 (ESV): "But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, yet one body."

Reflection: How can you celebrate and encourage the diverse gifts of others in your church, recognizing the Holy Spirit's sovereign distribution?


Day 3: Love as the Foundation of Spiritual Gifts
All spiritual gifts must be exercised in love, as love is the foundation that gives meaning and value to the gifts. Without love, even the most remarkable gifts are rendered meaningless. Spirituality should not be judged solely by the presence of gifts, as a person may possess a significant gift yet lack spiritual maturity. Love is the essential element that ensures gifts are used for the edification of the church and the glory of God. [09:01]

1 Corinthians 13:1-3 (ESV): "If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing."

Reflection: In what ways can you ensure that love is the driving force behind the use of your spiritual gifts today?


Day 4: Diversity of Gifts Reflecting the Spirit's Will
Not all gifts are meant for every believer, and the presence of a particular gift is not a universal requirement for proving the Holy Spirit's presence. The diversity of gifts among believers reflects the Spirit's sovereign will. This diversity is a testament to the Spirit's wisdom in equipping the church with various gifts to meet its needs. It is important to recognize that no single gift is a marker of spirituality or maturity, and each gift has its place and purpose within the body of Christ. [11:25]

Romans 12:4-6 (ESV): "For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them."

Reflection: How can you embrace the diversity of spiritual gifts in your community, and what steps can you take to appreciate the unique contributions of others?


Day 5: Temporary and Permanent Gifts
Some gifts, like apostleship and prophecy, were foundational and temporary, serving the early church before the New Testament was completed. However, other gifts, such as teaching and evangelism, continue to be relevant and necessary for the church's growth and edification. This distinction highlights the evolving needs of the church and the Spirit's provision to meet those needs. Understanding the nature of these gifts helps believers discern how they can contribute to the church's mission today. [26:14]

Ephesians 4:11-13 (ESV): "And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ."

Reflection: Which spiritual gifts do you see as most needed in your church today, and how can you support their development and use?

Quotes

"Now the gifts I say must be differentiated from natural gifts. The spiritual gift is something that is given to a man. We've all got certain natural gifts, but the spiritual gift which any one of us may possess is something entirely different from that. It is a gift that is given directly to us by the Holy Spirit." [00:00:13]

"The Holy Spirit is absolutely Sovereign in this matter, and He decides. It's brought out clearly in verse 11, but the very term which is used, beginning say at verse 7 and going on, enforces the same point. Listen, but the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit with all." [00:04:06]

"Each Christian is given and has therefore some gift. That's verse 7, but the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit with all. So that here there is very definite and clear teaching that this gift, that a gift is given to us each and everyone." [00:04:45]

"The gifts that are given differ in value. Now there again, let me quote you some verses, verses 14 and 15, for the body is not one member, he says, but many. And then you've got it still more explicitly in verse 28, and God has set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers." [00:06:43]

"All gifts or any gifts must always be used in love. Now that's the great message of the 13th chapter, isn't it? Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels and have no charity, I am become a sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal." [00:09:01]

"You should never estimate or judge a man's spirituality solely in terms of the gifts that he possesses. These two things do not always run parallel. A man may have a remarkable gift, and yet he may be failing in certain respects, so that you can't always equate these things." [00:09:36]

"There is no gift which or concerning which you have a right to say or to postulate that a Christian must possess it if he has the Holy Spirit. Now that's rather an involved way of putting it. Let me put it in another way." [00:11:25]

"Are these gifts and are all these gifts meant for the Christian Church always and at all times? What have we got here? Have we got a description here of what was true only of the early church, or is it to be equally true of the church today?" [00:12:59]

"The Apostles and Prophets are the foundation, which surely and clearly suggests that they are not to be repeated, but that they were special men at the beginning and the foundation and the origin of the Christian Church who are not to be repeated." [00:14:47]

"Some gifts were temporary, other gifts were then, they've continued ever since and are in evidence today. So I would suggest this subdivision: first of all, temporary gifts. What are they? Well, first and foremost, the gift of apostleship. The Apostles are not repeated once and for all." [00:26:14]

"The gift of tongues is not meant for all. The Apostle asks, do all speak with tongues? And the answer is, of course, no. All do not speak in tongues, all do not have the gifts of healing, all do not interpret, etc., etc." [00:36:40]

"May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship and the communion of the Holy Spirit abide and continue with us this night and evermore. Amen." [00:43:52]

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Transcript
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