Subtitle: Gifted to serve.
We ended last time by saying that:
The fruit of the Spirit show my maturity.
The gifts of the Spirit show my ministry.
Spiritual gifts are as important in the church as the fruit of the Sprit. A church without the fruit but heavy on gifts will be a chaotic place. A church that is full of fruit and low on gifts will be a lethargic place.
The Bible is clear that at salvation we receive the seal and deposit of the Spirit (2 Corinthians 1: 21-22; Ephesians 1:13-14). The Bible is also clear that there are subsequent outpourings and moves of the Spirit available to the Born Again believer. we see this clearly in the life of the disciples whom Jesus had given the Spirit too but later were baptised in the Spirit (John 20:21; Acts 1:8; 2:1-4; 4:31; 19:1-7).
Why “Baptism” in the Spirit?
The is what is promised in the Bible. It’ the heart of Pentecostalism.
Matthew 3:11: 11 I baptise you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptise you with the Holy Spirit and fire
To baptise is baptizo: to immerse or dunk. It is a word used to describe sunken shipwrecks. When you dunk a biscuit you’re baptism it when it breaks and that bit that drops into the drink is baptised!
Think of it this way: the fruit of the Spirit are the Holy Spirit within you, the baptism is the Spirit falling on you!
With the baptism of the Spirit comes gifts. The NT Greek word for these gifts is Charismata - which means gifts of grace, undeserved favour.
The Gifts of the Holy Spirit (The Charismata) are given in various books throughout the Bible (see Romans 12:6-8; 1Corinthians 12:4-11, 1Corinthians 12:28-30 and compare Ephesians 4:7-12). Even then it has to be said that this is not an exhaustive list! The NT in these passages, and others, lists over 30 gifts.
Here’s a revelation for you. Every believer gets all the fruits of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22). Every believer has the opportunity to display all nine fruits of the Spirit. These are implanted into the Born Again christian at re-birth.
Every believer also will receive at least one gift from the Holy Spirit, but not one believer will get all the gifts in the same way that they will get all the fruits:
1 Corinthians 12: 4-11: There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. 5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6 There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work. 7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 8 To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10 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.11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.
1 Corinthians 12: 27-31: Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. 28 And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30 Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? 31 Now eagerly desire the greater gifts. (c.f. Hebrews 2:4)
Gifts are Residential and Permanent
Unlike the OT where the Spirit came upon men and women at certain times, for certain tasks, the NT model is that the Spirit’s gifts remain.
Romans 11:29: for God’s gifts and his call are irrevocable
In context this verse is speaking about God’s love for Israel, but it also shows a principle of God’s heart.
If you speak in tongues, you’ll always be able to speak in tongues. I’ve heard some though saying that they used to have a gift but don’t anymore.
So what happens if these gifts are residential? They can become dormant or be neglected. We have a responsibility to fan these gifts, to maintain them:
2 Timothy 1:6: 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
We also need to keep going back to the Lord for refilling:
Ephesians 5:18:Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit…
The phrase be filled with the Spirit here is speaking of a constant refilling of the Spirit so that the Christian may express true forms of worship (Eph. 5:19). There were pagan priest who would get drunk to try and claim that they were under the influence of the false deity they worshipped. Paul is saying such counterfeit is not necessary as the Spirit lead us to worship.
Why do we need to get refilled? I used to think that this is because I “leak the Spirit,” and in one sense that is true. In another sense it is not true for the flow of the Spirit is unquenchable (John 7: 37-39).
I think now it has more to do with three things:
- Our Growth: when I was a new Christian I was like a new born baby, needing feeding little and often. My internal capacity for food was limited by my size. Now I’m grown, I need more to fill me. As we grow a believers our capacity for the Spirit should increase not decrease! What filled us when we were newly saved will not fill us now, we need more of Him.
- Our Confidence: as we grow we experience more of Him and we therefore have confidence that He is able to do more than we could anticipate (Ephesians 3:10). To do more than we ask or imagine through us we need more of the Spirit.
- Our Crises: When we hit a crisis, a challenge to our faith, persecution or difficulties, we need more of Him (Acts 4:23-31).
Trust that the Spirit is Planning Your Blessing!
We know that Jesus said that the Father is the giver of good gifts:
Matthew 7: 9-11: Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!
We also know that the Spirit is like the Father and the Son, just different in function (See notes on Foundational Truths: Holy Spirit 1).
We also know that the Spirit reminds us of everything the Father and the Son have said to us:
John 14: 16-17, 26: And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you for ever – 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you….26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.
So when the Spirit tells us that He has gifts for us we have nothing to fear, everything to gain!
The Spirit Decides Who Gets Which Gifts
1 Corinthians 12:11: All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.
It can seem frustrating sometimes that a gift is given to someone else and we really wanted that gift ourselves. The Spirit gives gifts freely and lavishly, but I think sometimes we don’t get a gift because of several reasons (I feel like I am speaking now, not the Spirit, just my thoughts (1 Cor. 7:12a)):
- Selfish ambition (an act of the flesh, Gal. 5:20).
God knows our heart and He also knew why we are seeking a particular gift:
Proverbs 16:2: All a person’s ways seem pure to them, but motives are weighed by the Lord.
James 4:3: When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.
If we desire a gift to look good in front of people or to promote ourselves, He will withhold that gift, because He will not share His glory (Isaiah 42:8).
- It is Not the Best Gift
We are told to seek the greater gifts/best gift (1 Corinthians 12:31). We will look at this in a few minutes.
- There is no love
Paul tells us that love is the actuator of the gifts (1 Cor. 13:1-3). He may withhold something to stop it being a clanging rathe than a blessing.
When the Spirit gives us these gifts he does so with a bigger picture in mind than we have (Is. 55:8). We have to accept that He knows best and that the gifts He gives us are part of a bigger tapestry and we a merely a thread within it.
The Church Needs You!
1 Cor 12: 27: Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.
No person is unimportant. Everyone is part of the body of Christ and part of this church. Feeling disconnected is not the goal of being part of the body. feeling connected, belonging, is the goal.
How can we feel more connected? This is a mid-sized church and a perons can feel anonymous across the morning services (maybe that’s what you like about it here) but it is not the goal.
We can feel connected by joining a small group, a Lifegroup is a great way to feel a part of the body. They help make a large church feel small.
Joining a ministry team is a great way to get to know people and feel like you belong. We are here to SERVE. Our Life Track on Ministry will help you see where to fit or what new thing you can start.
No one in the body has a calling to isolation, but everyone is called to integration.
The gifts of the Spirit help this process. We may have fruits abundantly but they on their own will not help integration into a local church. The gifts when used and mobilised will help with this.
Is there opportunity? Surely everything is being done that needs to be done?
Proverbs 18:16: A man’s gift makes room for him,
And brings him before great men. (NKJV)
The Church Needs Your Gift.
1 Corinthians 14:12: Since you are eager for gifts of the Spirit, try to excel in those that build up the church.
or
1 Corinthians 14:12: Even so you, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, let it be for the edification of the church that you seek to excel (NKJV)
Broadly speaking ministry and gifts minister in three directions:
- To The Lord (Acts 13:2).
- To Other Christians (Hebrews 6:10)
- To Unbelievers (Mark 10:45)
We know that. Paul though tells us to excel in gifts that build up the church or to seek the edification of the church. Why?
There are some gifts that were expressly for the body of Christ. Some gifts are not. Paul here is being pragmatic. He’s not saying don’t pray for people on the streets or use a word of knowledge or wisdom for an unsaved person. He is saying begin to practice your ministry in the church first and for the benefit of the church. There are several reasons for this:
- Ministries are identified and released from the local church. It is the role of the church to send people out, but there must be confidence that the person actually has that gift or ministry.
- The church is a safe place to practice using the gift. It is OK to get it wrong within the confines of the church service, Lifegroup, or small group. It’s where we can be corrected and learn. It is not OK to get it wrong, in some cases enthusiastically wrong, in the work place in the name of Jesus!
- When we build up a track record of getting it right our confidence grows, our faith grows, we get used to hearing God. We can then deliver a gift with clarity and faith to those in need. Contrast Mark 9:28-29 where the disciples could not cast out a demonic spirit and Acts 3:6, silver and gold have I none… What changed? Not Jesus. The baptism of the Spirit, sure, but also a confidence in what God was saying and doing.
Seek the Greater Gifts
1 Corinthians 12:31: Now eagerly desire the greater gifts.
What is a greater gift? Some versions say best gift. They are gifts that build u the Body. What is the best gift?
- The best gift has to be one that is either lacking in the body.
The gift that the Spirit gives to you has to help the church in the Mission that God has given it. That is why we are keen to identify gifts and callings and help people discover their ministry. We do this through Life Track 3.
- The best gifts helps fulfil your calling
Again we cannot be jealous of another’s call. Sometimes we hanker after another’s calling or ministry with no idea of the cost they have had to pay. We also need to understand the where the Spirit calls us to He equips us to do.
Sometimes we will have gifts of the Spirit that indicate a calling that we are not moving in yet. How can this be? I know when I was a boy of 13 years old God spoke some things over my life and actually deposited certain gifts within me to accomplish that calling. I did not move into leading a church until I was 33 after completing Bible School. Why? Although I had the gifts of the Spirit I did not have the maturity of the fruit of the Spirit in enough measure for the gifts to be fully released. This meant my early mentors and pastors needed a lot of patience with me.
Why does God do it this way round? Let me illustrate it thus: when I was young I was given a bicycle with stabilisers. The bike was always capable of moving without them but needed my pedal power and also needed my ability to balance properly to develop. In time the stabilisers were removed. In time I got bigger bikes. The problem was never with the bike, but with my development. The problem is never with the gifts, but with the undeveloped fruit in the life of a believer.
That is why we have to gracious to those around us working through their gifts and fruit mix.
- The best gift serves the greater purposes of God
Sometimes we will have a gift that seems to make no sense at all, but it serves the greater purposes of God in that moment.
Sometimes we will manifest a gift only occasionally. Whilst a believer would not have all the gifts, there would be times when a gifts or a miraculous act would occur because we might be the only christian present. So I know in my life I can speak in tongues, prophesy and so on there are also times when I have moved in wisdom, healing, administration!
Wrapping This Up:
I hope that you have found this a useful and practical look at an introduction to the gifts of the Spirit.
Next week (Pentecost Sunday) we will be seeking the baptism in the Spirit.
No comments:
Post a Comment