WHAT ARE SPIRITUAL GIFTS?

Spiritual gift series By DJ Sutton III

PART ONE

Opening statement

After putting the last slideshow together I felt the Holy Spirit asking me to teach about Spiritual gifts. This is an introduction to spiritual gifts. Later on I will start looking at individual types of spiritual gifts and then how to find your spiritual gifts. After that I will discuses how to apply them to your life.

Let us open with a prayer

Opening Prayer

Lord we ask for your guidance as we embark on a mission to discover the spiritual gifts you have given us. We ask that you help us to understand your words. Fill us O Lord with the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Scripture

“And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.” (Joel 2:28-29, KJV).

“And they were all filled with the Ho’ly Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the spir’it gave them utterance. “ (Acts 2:4 KJV)

“But Pe’ter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Ju-dae’a, and all ye that dwell at Je-ru’salem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words: For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day. But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Jo’el.” (Acts 2:14-16, KJV)

“Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spir’it of God calleth Je’sus accursed: and that no man can say that Je’sus is the Lord, but by the Ho’ly Ghost.” (1 Corinthians 12:3, KJV).

“Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spir’it. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.” (1 Corinthians 12: 4-6, KJV)

“ For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the portion of faith.” (Romans 12:4-6, KJV)

“ Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spir’it in the bond of peace. There is one body, and one Spir’it, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. Wherefore he saith, WHEN HE ASCENDED UP ON HIGH, HE LED CAPTIVITY CAPTIVE, AND GAVE GIFTS UNTO MEN.” (Ephesians 4: 3-8, KJV)

The different points made is these passages

1. The Holy Spirit and Holy Ghost/ Spirit2. Jesus Christ and us as members of his

body3. Grace and God the Father

The Holy Spirit and Holy Ghost/ Spirit

Through out these passage the Holy Spirit has been mentioned in three different ways: The Holy Spirit, The Holy Ghost, and just The Spirit. These are different names for the same Spirit inside of us.

Its only through the Holy Spirit that we gain spiritual gifts. In fact the Life Application Bible Commentary for 1st and 2nd Corinthians says: “The Holy Spirit gives “different kinds of spiritual gifts” (12:4) to be used in serving the Church and building up the Body of Christ.” This brings us to the next point.

Jesus Christ and us as members of his body

First off we remember that Jesus came to baptize us with the Holy Spirit along with dying for our sins. Because he baptized us with the Holy Spirit we are united in Christ. The Life Application Bible Commentary for Ephesians actually states that “unity can come only through the Spirit; it will remain only if we are diligent to maintain it. We are different, but we are one body in Christ.” On the next slide I provided a table from the Life Application Bible Commentary for Ephesians.

The oneness of all believers

Too often believers are separated because of minor differences in doctrine. But this passage shows those areas where Christians must agree to attain true unity. When believers have this unity of spirit, petty differences should never be allowed to dissolve that unity.

Chart Continued on next slide.

Believers are one in:

1. Body

2. Spirit

3. Hope

4. Lord5. Faith6. Baptism

7. God

Our unity is experienced in:

1. The Fellowship of believers- the Church

2. The Holy Spirit, who activates the fellowship

3. The glorious future to which we are called

4. Christ, to whom we all belong

5. Our singular commitment to Christ

6. Baptism – the sign of entry into the

church7. God, who is our Father

Grace and God the Father

We only receive this by the grace of God our Father.

Ending prayer

Lord we thank you for what you have taught us through the holy spirit and we look forward to our next lesson from your holy book. Amen