Unwrapping your Spiritual Gift
[1 Corinthians 12:1-11]
Today, the views on the doctrine of the Holy Spirit in general, like a giant pendulum, swing from one extreme to the other. Some churches are hyper-focused on experiencing the Spirit, but have little regard for what the scriptures teach. And because scripture is disregarded, spiritual abuses are taking place in the name of the Spirit. As a reaction to the abuses, others churches seem to shy away from emphasizing the ministry of the Spirit. Although the gifts of the Spirit in particular are a divisive issue, in order for the church to be built up in Christ, the gifts must be in operation. Let’s examine the purpose of the gifts of the Spirit and how they ought to be practiced in the church by every believer for the good of all and to the glory of Christ.
1. Delineating the gifts of the Spirit
First of all, we must delineate the gifts of the Spirit in regards to their purpose, function, and practice. Paul writes, “Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be uninformed” (1 Corinthians 12:1). When properly understood and embraced, the gifts of the Spirit do not create dysfunction and disorder. God is not the author of confusion. Rather, the gifts enable the members of the church to work together to build up the body of Christ and fulfill His mission. Because of the immaturity in the church, the pursuit and practice of certain gifts became a means of gaining prominence.
At the end of chapter 12, Paul writes, “But earnestly desire the higher gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way” (1 Corinthians 12:31). And the more excellent way, Paul explains in the very next chapter, is love (1 Corinthians 13:1-3). The primary ministry of the Holy Spirit is not to give us a chill or a thrill, but to make the presence and love of Christ real in our hearts and lives. When we truly encounter the presence of Christ, we experience more than a good feeling. Rather, we surrender to His Lordship and are transformed into His likeness. The value of the gifts of the Spirit is not in the ecstatic experience itself, but that they point us and others to the supremacy of Christ (1 Cor. 12:2). At the heart of everything the Spirit does in the church, including the gifts that He imparts, is the glory of Christ. When Christ is glorified in the church, the saints are edified and sinners are evangelized.
After explaining in verses 4-6 that the various spiritual gifts, services, and activities manifested in the church are the work of our triune God, Paul clarifies the purpose of the gifts in verse 7: “To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good” (1 Corinthians 12:7). The gifts of the Spirit are not given for self- promotion or self-exaltation, but for the common good of all in the church. Notice also that Paul describes the gifts as manifestations of the Spirit. In other words, whether it’s apparent to others or not, when the gifts of the Spirit are in operation, the inward presence and power of the Spirit is outwardly revealed in the way we do ministry. When the gifts are in operation, God is manifesting Himself by the Spirit for the good of others and the glory of Christ. The manifestation of the Spirit is not just for a select few in the church. Paul said, “To every believer is given the manifestation of the Spirit...” (v.7). No Christian has to wonder if they have been given spiritual gifts in order to serve the body of Christ. And no believer should ever feel like they have nothing to contribute to the body of Christ and the work of His kingdom. Every believer has graciously been given a gift or gifts that is to be used to build up the church in love.
2. Discovering the gifts of the Spirit
After making it clear that every believer through the Spirit has something to contribute to the body of Christ, Paul gives the following (not exhaustive) list of gifts: “For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues” (1 Corinthians 12:8-10).
When thinking through which particular gifts listed in the scriptures have been given to you, it may be helpful to view them under the three categories of speaking gifts, serving gifts and signs gifts. Speaking gifts include the utterance of wisdom, the utterance of knowledge, prophecy, teaching, and exhortation. Serving gifts include help, leadership, administration, giving, showing mercy, discerning of spirits, faith and hospitality. Sign gifts include gifts of healing, working of miracles, various kinds of tongues, and the interpretation of tongues.
The sign gifts seem to be where most of the controversy lies. Some of the debate stems from the fact that sign gifts were given by God to confirm the authenticity of the messenger of God and the message they delivered from God (Hebrews 2:3-4). As John Stott explained, “When we seek to discover where the biblical miracles are, we find that they cluster in Scripture like stars in the night sky. There are four main constellations. They cluster first around Moses (i.e. the plagues of Egypt, the crossing of the Red Sea, the manna and the water, etc.), next around Elijah, Elisha and the prophets, third around the Lord Jesus himself and fourth around the apostles. Now these are the four “main epochs of revelation—the law, the prophets, the Lord and the apostles. And the major purpose of miracles was to authenticate each fresh stage of revelation...I don’t expect miracles [to be] as commonplace today, because the special revelation they were given to authenticate is complete; but of course, God is sovereign and God is free, and there may well be particular situations in which he pleases to perform them.”
Now, if we would discover our gift, we should not be overly focused on the gifts that we would personally desire. Rather, we are to trust that God in His sovereignty distributes the gifts as He wills (1 Cor. 12:11). Let me be clear, Paul didn’t say, don’t desire spiritual gifts. On the contrary, at the end of the chapter he exhorts the Corinthians to earnestly desire the higher gifts (v.31a). Although we should earnestly desire spiritual gifts, there is a more excellent way; the way of love. When the love of God governs our desires, we will be glad to serve others in any capacity. We will say, “Lord, not my will, but your will be done” (Romans 12:1-8). You discover your gift not by waiting to hear an audible voice from God telling you what it is before you start serving. Rather, you discover your gift by praying about the countless needs around you and looking for opportunities to serve.
3. Deploying the gifts of the Spirit.
After outlining some of the gifts of the Spirit, Paul continues: “All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills” (1 Corinthians 12:11). God is the one that ultimately determines the gifts that each believer receives (v.11). Concerning the gifts, Paul also explained, “All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit...” (v.11a) It’s clear that it’s the Holy Spirit that empowers the gifts. As Sam Storms noted, “Gifts are God going public among His people.” If so, when does the Spirit empower the gift for the common good? When does God go public through our lives? The manifestation of the Spirit happens while we are serving. We don’t discover our gifts sitting at home or by taking a survey. Rather, gifts are discovered and deployed in service.
Concerning the discovering of our gifts, Sam Storms explains, “Are some finding life too frustrating to bear? If so, take them out for a cup of coffee and listen to their story. They just want someone who cares enough to spend a few minutes with them. Just listen to them. Then love them. Is anyone struggling financially with few prospects to get them out of the hole? Do something courageous. Give them your last $50 and trust God to supply your need. Do you know people who are confused about some verse of scripture they just read in their devotional time? Perhaps you’re just as befuddled as they are. [Take some time to] study a bit. Then sit down with your friend(s) and put your heads (and hearts together) and pray for the Spirit to shed light on your thinking. Do you know anyone overwhelmed by the clutter in their garage and that ever-increasing mountain of dirty laundry? Offer to spend a Saturday with them, helping out, picking up, washing, drying, folding and putting away clothes. None of this sounds especially spectacular. (Well, maybe some of it does.) So, what am I getting at with these questions? Simply this: If we spend less time searching to identify our spiritual gift(s) and more time actually praying and giving and helping and teaching and serving and exhorting those around us, the likelihood greatly increases that we will walk headlong into our gifting without ever knowing what happened. God will more likely meet us with His gifts in the midst of trying to help His children than He ever would while we’re taking a spiritual gifts analysis test. So, look for a need and meet it. Find a hurt and heal it. Be alert to the cry for help and answer it. Listen for the voice of God and speak it. Identify someone’s weakness and overcome it. Look for what’s missing and supply it. When you do, the power of God—the energizing, enabling, charismatic activity of the Holy Spirit— will equip you, perhaps only once, but possibly forever, to minister hope and encouragement to those in need. So, if you’re still wondering what your gift(s) might be, act first, and ask later.”
Remember, the purpose of spiritual gifts is to selflessly give in love. When we selflessly give ourselves in service to others, we reflect the heart of Christ, who gave His all so that we might know the fullness of His life-giving presence in this life and forevermore. In view of His great mercies, may we surrender our lives to Him so that we might discover our gifts and deploy them in service for the common good of all and for the greater fame of Jesus.
In your service,
Pastor Marco
Today, the views on the doctrine of the Holy Spirit in general, like a giant pendulum, swing from one extreme to the other. Some churches are hyper-focused on experiencing the Spirit, but have little regard for what the scriptures teach. And because scripture is disregarded, spiritual abuses are taking place in the name of the Spirit. As a reaction to the abuses, others churches seem to shy away from emphasizing the ministry of the Spirit. Although the gifts of the Spirit in particular are a divisive issue, in order for the church to be built up in Christ, the gifts must be in operation. Let’s examine the purpose of the gifts of the Spirit and how they ought to be practiced in the church by every believer for the good of all and to the glory of Christ.
1. Delineating the gifts of the Spirit
First of all, we must delineate the gifts of the Spirit in regards to their purpose, function, and practice. Paul writes, “Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be uninformed” (1 Corinthians 12:1). When properly understood and embraced, the gifts of the Spirit do not create dysfunction and disorder. God is not the author of confusion. Rather, the gifts enable the members of the church to work together to build up the body of Christ and fulfill His mission. Because of the immaturity in the church, the pursuit and practice of certain gifts became a means of gaining prominence.
At the end of chapter 12, Paul writes, “But earnestly desire the higher gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way” (1 Corinthians 12:31). And the more excellent way, Paul explains in the very next chapter, is love (1 Corinthians 13:1-3). The primary ministry of the Holy Spirit is not to give us a chill or a thrill, but to make the presence and love of Christ real in our hearts and lives. When we truly encounter the presence of Christ, we experience more than a good feeling. Rather, we surrender to His Lordship and are transformed into His likeness. The value of the gifts of the Spirit is not in the ecstatic experience itself, but that they point us and others to the supremacy of Christ (1 Cor. 12:2). At the heart of everything the Spirit does in the church, including the gifts that He imparts, is the glory of Christ. When Christ is glorified in the church, the saints are edified and sinners are evangelized.
After explaining in verses 4-6 that the various spiritual gifts, services, and activities manifested in the church are the work of our triune God, Paul clarifies the purpose of the gifts in verse 7: “To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good” (1 Corinthians 12:7). The gifts of the Spirit are not given for self- promotion or self-exaltation, but for the common good of all in the church. Notice also that Paul describes the gifts as manifestations of the Spirit. In other words, whether it’s apparent to others or not, when the gifts of the Spirit are in operation, the inward presence and power of the Spirit is outwardly revealed in the way we do ministry. When the gifts are in operation, God is manifesting Himself by the Spirit for the good of others and the glory of Christ. The manifestation of the Spirit is not just for a select few in the church. Paul said, “To every believer is given the manifestation of the Spirit...” (v.7). No Christian has to wonder if they have been given spiritual gifts in order to serve the body of Christ. And no believer should ever feel like they have nothing to contribute to the body of Christ and the work of His kingdom. Every believer has graciously been given a gift or gifts that is to be used to build up the church in love.
2. Discovering the gifts of the Spirit
After making it clear that every believer through the Spirit has something to contribute to the body of Christ, Paul gives the following (not exhaustive) list of gifts: “For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues” (1 Corinthians 12:8-10).
When thinking through which particular gifts listed in the scriptures have been given to you, it may be helpful to view them under the three categories of speaking gifts, serving gifts and signs gifts. Speaking gifts include the utterance of wisdom, the utterance of knowledge, prophecy, teaching, and exhortation. Serving gifts include help, leadership, administration, giving, showing mercy, discerning of spirits, faith and hospitality. Sign gifts include gifts of healing, working of miracles, various kinds of tongues, and the interpretation of tongues.
The sign gifts seem to be where most of the controversy lies. Some of the debate stems from the fact that sign gifts were given by God to confirm the authenticity of the messenger of God and the message they delivered from God (Hebrews 2:3-4). As John Stott explained, “When we seek to discover where the biblical miracles are, we find that they cluster in Scripture like stars in the night sky. There are four main constellations. They cluster first around Moses (i.e. the plagues of Egypt, the crossing of the Red Sea, the manna and the water, etc.), next around Elijah, Elisha and the prophets, third around the Lord Jesus himself and fourth around the apostles. Now these are the four “main epochs of revelation—the law, the prophets, the Lord and the apostles. And the major purpose of miracles was to authenticate each fresh stage of revelation...I don’t expect miracles [to be] as commonplace today, because the special revelation they were given to authenticate is complete; but of course, God is sovereign and God is free, and there may well be particular situations in which he pleases to perform them.”
Now, if we would discover our gift, we should not be overly focused on the gifts that we would personally desire. Rather, we are to trust that God in His sovereignty distributes the gifts as He wills (1 Cor. 12:11). Let me be clear, Paul didn’t say, don’t desire spiritual gifts. On the contrary, at the end of the chapter he exhorts the Corinthians to earnestly desire the higher gifts (v.31a). Although we should earnestly desire spiritual gifts, there is a more excellent way; the way of love. When the love of God governs our desires, we will be glad to serve others in any capacity. We will say, “Lord, not my will, but your will be done” (Romans 12:1-8). You discover your gift not by waiting to hear an audible voice from God telling you what it is before you start serving. Rather, you discover your gift by praying about the countless needs around you and looking for opportunities to serve.
3. Deploying the gifts of the Spirit.
After outlining some of the gifts of the Spirit, Paul continues: “All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills” (1 Corinthians 12:11). God is the one that ultimately determines the gifts that each believer receives (v.11). Concerning the gifts, Paul also explained, “All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit...” (v.11a) It’s clear that it’s the Holy Spirit that empowers the gifts. As Sam Storms noted, “Gifts are God going public among His people.” If so, when does the Spirit empower the gift for the common good? When does God go public through our lives? The manifestation of the Spirit happens while we are serving. We don’t discover our gifts sitting at home or by taking a survey. Rather, gifts are discovered and deployed in service.
Concerning the discovering of our gifts, Sam Storms explains, “Are some finding life too frustrating to bear? If so, take them out for a cup of coffee and listen to their story. They just want someone who cares enough to spend a few minutes with them. Just listen to them. Then love them. Is anyone struggling financially with few prospects to get them out of the hole? Do something courageous. Give them your last $50 and trust God to supply your need. Do you know people who are confused about some verse of scripture they just read in their devotional time? Perhaps you’re just as befuddled as they are. [Take some time to] study a bit. Then sit down with your friend(s) and put your heads (and hearts together) and pray for the Spirit to shed light on your thinking. Do you know anyone overwhelmed by the clutter in their garage and that ever-increasing mountain of dirty laundry? Offer to spend a Saturday with them, helping out, picking up, washing, drying, folding and putting away clothes. None of this sounds especially spectacular. (Well, maybe some of it does.) So, what am I getting at with these questions? Simply this: If we spend less time searching to identify our spiritual gift(s) and more time actually praying and giving and helping and teaching and serving and exhorting those around us, the likelihood greatly increases that we will walk headlong into our gifting without ever knowing what happened. God will more likely meet us with His gifts in the midst of trying to help His children than He ever would while we’re taking a spiritual gifts analysis test. So, look for a need and meet it. Find a hurt and heal it. Be alert to the cry for help and answer it. Listen for the voice of God and speak it. Identify someone’s weakness and overcome it. Look for what’s missing and supply it. When you do, the power of God—the energizing, enabling, charismatic activity of the Holy Spirit— will equip you, perhaps only once, but possibly forever, to minister hope and encouragement to those in need. So, if you’re still wondering what your gift(s) might be, act first, and ask later.”
Remember, the purpose of spiritual gifts is to selflessly give in love. When we selflessly give ourselves in service to others, we reflect the heart of Christ, who gave His all so that we might know the fullness of His life-giving presence in this life and forevermore. In view of His great mercies, may we surrender our lives to Him so that we might discover our gifts and deploy them in service for the common good of all and for the greater fame of Jesus.
In your service,
Pastor Marco