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Spiritual Gifts
By Dr. Ray Melugin
"Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethern,
I would not have you ignorant." I Corinthians 12:1
Introduction: Romans 12, I Corinthians 12, Ephesians
4
Do you know your spiritual gift(s)?
Every Christian has been "saved to serve."
"Shaping up the saints in a large part means enabling
them to find out what their gifts are and where they can use
them."
Most church members are ignorant of their spiritual
gift(s). Sometimes church leadership is ignorant of them too.
How about some of those ex-Sunday school teachers who might
still be in church if they had been helped to discover their
gift in a more cautious and prayerful manner? They might be
still serving the Lord in our church today, though in some
other capacity, if we would take more care in helping them
to discover, develop and use their spiritual gifts.
"Practice of the biblical doctrine of gifts
untaps reservoirs of godly manpower, thaws out frozen assets,
roots out unemployment among saints, reflects the universal
priesthood of believers, and edifies the church."
I. Every Christian is A Gifted Child.
Note: though gifts may lie dormant for months
or years, they are given at our spiritual birthday.
A. Paul emphasized the universality of gifts.
1. Ephesians 4:7 "...unto everyone of us
is given grace..."
2. I Corinthians 12:7 "...is given to every
man to profit withal."
B. For every gift He bestows, the Spirit
has planned a sphere of service. (Acts 9:15; 22:15; 21;
26:16-18)
Note: Though not e very believer is exercising his gift, nor
even knows that it is, nevertheless every child of God has
received one or more gifts to be used for the up-building
of the church and for which he will one day render account.
C. The Gifts Are Varied
1. How Many?
a. Some say 9
b. Others say 15-22
c. We will study 19.
2. Why do we get differing gifts?
a. The Holy Spirit sovereignly assigns them
to us according to His own will. (I Corinthians 12:11, Ephesians
4:7)
b. It is a basis of unity among Christians.
Note: Gifts are given us to build up one another
and to enable us to serve and glorify Christ together. (I
Corinithians 12:7)
D. The Gifts Must Be Used Or The Work of
The Lord Suffers Loss.
1. Be "fervent in spirit, serving the Lord"
(Romans 12:11)
Note: Paul listed seven gifts, urging faithful
exercise thereof, and then added that we should be "fervent
in spirit, serving the Lord."
2. Youth is not excused from the exercise of
gifts. (I Timothy 4:12, 14)
3. Why is the world still so far from being
evangelized?
Note: Might it be that men, women, and youth
have just not responded to God's call to discover and use
their gifts? (I Peter 4:10)
The
Apostolic Gift
The
Gift of Discernment
The
Gift of Evangelism
The
Gift of Exhortation
The
Gift of Faith
The
Gift of Giving
The
Gift of Government
The
Gift of Helps
The
Gift of Hospitality
The
Gifts of Knowledge and of Wisdom
The
Gift of Mercy
The
Gift of Miracles
The
Gift of Prophecy
The
Gift of Shepherding/Pastoring
The
Gift of Teaching
The
Gifts of Tongues and Interpretations
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