Week of Renewal 2008 - Spiritual Gifts Part 3

5th Annual Week of Renewal 2008
“What are Spiritual Gifts and how do I use them?”
Pastor Bruce A. Shields


I. Introduction to Renewal
a. 5th Annual Week of Renewal
b. Tuesday Night – Old Testament & the Holy Spirit
c. Wednesday Night – New Testament & the Holy Spirit

Welcome

OPENING PRAYER

So what is a Spiritual Gift?

A Spiritual Gift is a special attribute given to us by God through the Holy Spirit, given to every member of the body of Christ, according to God’s grace for use WITHIN the context of the body.

This shouldn’t be confused with God given natural abilities. Although you may have natural abilities that were given to you by God, this is not the same as Spiritual Gifts.

God given natural abilities are abilities that you can do naturally.

You may be;
Very athletic
Adept at mechanics
Higher than average intelligence
Have an ear for music

But a Spiritual Gift is an ability that comes through you, not from you. A Spiritual Gift is an ability that comes from the Holy Spirit that is in you and is an ability from God, not you.

He may give you the Spiritual Gift for an ear for music if He deems it necessary for the body. But if He does, it will be His ability, not yours.

So we don’t want to confuse our natural abilities with our Spiritual Gifts; which are God’s abilities coming or manifesting from us through the Holy Spirit.



II. The Holy Spirit in the New Testament
a. How was the Spirit received?

1 Corinthians 12:7
“But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal:”

1 Corinthians 12:1
“1Now about spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be ignorant.”

Psalm 127:1
“Unless the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it.”

Romans 12:4 – 6a
4Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6We have different gifts according to the grace given us.”

1 Corinthians 12:12-18
“12The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. 13For we were all baptized by[c] one Spirit into one body–whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free–and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.
14Now the body is not made up of one part but of many. 15If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. 16And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. 17If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? 18But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be.”

Matthew 25:14-30
Parable of the Talents

1 Corinthians 12:11
“All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines.”


b. Who received the Holy Spirit in the New Testament?

Everyone who accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.

The Holy Spirit is made available to all who are servants of Jesus Christ.


III. Examples of Spiritual Gifts in the New Testament

Romans 12:1-8
“Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God–this is your spiritual act of worship. 2Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is–his good, pleasing and perfect will.
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 measure of faith God has given you. 4Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. 7If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; 8if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.”

So we see listed here;
Prophecy Exhortation (encouragement) Mercy
Service Giving
Teacher Leadership

Luke 21:2-4 Giving
2He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. 3"I tell you the truth," he said, "this poor widow has put in more than all the others. 4All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on."
Hebrews 13:7 Leaders/Pastors
“Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.”




Remember The Definition for Prophecy – "The inspired, revelation, declaration and/or interpretation of the will and/or purpose of God." NOT telling the future!