Saturday, July 3, 2010

Spiritual Gifts
"Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit the message of WISDOM, to another the message of KNOWLEDGE by means of the same Spirit, to another FAITH by the same Spirit, to another GIFTS OF HEALING by that one Spirit, 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. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines."
I Corinthians 12:7-11

Here are some more spiritual gifts listed in no particular order throughout the Bible:
(courtesy of Into Thy Word)

1. HELPS: The ability to invest the talents one has in the life and ministry of other members of the body, thus enabling those others to increase the effectiveness of their own spiritual gifts. Mark 15:4041 Acts 9:36 Romans 16:1-2 I Corinthians 12:28

2. LEADERSHIP: The ability to set goals in accordance with God’s purpose for the future and to communicate those goals to others in such a way that they voluntarily and harmoniously work together to accomplish those goals for the glory of God. Acts 15:7-11 Romans 12:8 I Timothy 5:17 Hebrews 13:17

3. HOSPITALITY: The ability to provide an open house and a warm welcome to those in need of food and lodging. Acts 16:14-15 Romans 12:9-13 Romans 16:23 Hebrews 13:1-2 I Peter 4:9

4. SERVICE: The ability to identify the unmet needs involved in a task related to God’s work, and to make use of available resources to meet those needs and help accomplish the desired results. Acts 6:1-7 Romans 12:7 Galatians 6:2 II Timothy 1:16-18 Titus 3:14

5. ADMINISTRATION: The ability to understand clearly the immediate and long-range goals of a particular unit of the body of Christ and to devise and execute effective plans for the accomplishment of those goals. Luke 14:28-30 Acts 6:1-7 I Corinthians 12:28

6.DISCERNMENT: The ability to know with assurance whether certain behavior purported to be of God is in reality divine, human or satanic. The purpose of this gift is to prevent confusion and false teaching from infiltrating the church. Matthew 16:21-23 Acts 5:1-11 Acts 16:16-18 I Corinthians 12:10 I John 4:1-6

7.FAITH: The ability to discern with extraordinary confidence the will and purpose of God, and to propel the body of believers into actively claiming the promises of God. Acts 11:22-24 Romans 4: 18-21 I Corinthians 12:9 Hebrews 11

8.MUSIC: The ability to use one’s voice in the singing of praises to the Lord for the benefit of others, or to play a musical instrument to praise the Lord and for the benefit of others. Remember God is always the audience in worship! Deuteronomy 3 1:22 I Samuel 16:16 I Chronicles 16:4142 II Chronicles 5: 12-13 II Chronicles 34:12 Psalm 150

9.LANGUAGES/TONGUES: The ability to speak a divinely anointed message in a language one has never learned, but one that is known to the hearers. Its purpose is an evangelistic tool for spreading the gospel. Mark 16:17 Acts 2:1-13 Acts 10:44-46 Acts 19:1-7 (Make sure you follow the precepts of I Cor.14!)

10. MIRACLES - The ability to serve as a human intermediary through whom it pleases God to perform powerful acts that are perceived by observers to have altered the ordinary course of nature. Acts 9:36-42 Acts 19:11-20 Acts 20:7-12 Romans 15:18-19 I Corinthians 12:10, 28

11. CRAFTSMANSHIP: The ability to use one’s hands, thoughts and mind to further the kingdom of God through artistic, creative means. People with this gift may also serve to lead others in forming their abilities in this area. The gift may also be used in the areas of maintenance, care and upkeep for the benefit and beautification of God’s kingdom here on earth. Exodus 30:22-25 Exodus 31:3-11 II Chronicles 34:9-13 Acts 18:2-3

12. HEALING: The ability to serve as a human intermediary through whom God’s healing power is applied to another person’s physical or emotional need. Acts 3:1-10 Acts 5:12-16 Acts 9:32-35 Acts 28:7-10 I Corinthians 12:9, 28

13. GIVING: The ability to contribute material resources to the work of the Lord with liberality and cheerfulness. Mark 12:41-44 Romans 12:8 II Corinthians 8:1-7 II Corinthians 9:2-8

14. MERCY: The ability to feel genuine empathy and compassion for individuals who suffer distressing physical, mental or emotional problems, and to translate that compassion into cheerfully-done deeds which reflect Christ’s love and alleviate the sufferings as well as motivate others to help. Matthew 9:35,36 Mark 9:41 I Thess. 5:14

15. WISDOM: The ability to apply spiritual truth to a specific issue in a specifically relevant fashion, and to make proper choices in difficult situations, based on sufficient information. Acts 6:3,10 I Corinthians 2:1-13 I Corinthians 12:8 James 1:5 II Peter 3:15

16. KNOWLEDGE: The ability to discover, accumulate, analyze and clarify information which is pertinent to the growth and well-being of the body. Acts 5:1-11 I Corinthians 12:8 II Corinthians 11:6 Colossians 2:2-3

17. EXORTATION: The ability to minister words of encouragement, consolation, comfort and motivation from God’s Word to help others complete their tasks and be all that God want them to be. Acts 4:32-37 Acts 14:22 Romans 12:8 I Timothy 4:13 Hebrews 10:24.25

18. TEACHINIG: The ability to employ a logical, systematic approach to Biblical study and to communicate information relevant to the health and ministry of the body and its members in such a way that others will learn. Acts 18:24.28 Acts 20:20-21 I Corinthians 12:28 Ephesians 4:11-14

19. PASTOR/SHEPHERD: The ability to assume a long-term personal responsibil­ity for the spiritual welfare of a group of believers. John 10:1-18 Ephesians 4:11-14 I Timothy 3:1-7 I Peter 5:1-3

20. APOSTLESHIP: The ability to assume and exercise general leadership over a number of churches, with an extraordinary authority in spiritual matters, which is spontaneously recognized and appreciated by those churches. Such as a bishop. This is not the same as the original 12 Apostles or Paul! Acts 15:1-2 I Corinthians 12:28 II Corinthians 12:12 Galatians 2:7-10 Ephesians 3:1-9 Ephesians 4:11-14

21. MISSIONARY: The ability to minister with whatever other spiritual gifts one has in another land or culture. Acts 8:4 Acts 13:2-3 Acts 22:21 Romans 10:15 I Corinthians 9:19-23

22. PROPHECY: The ability to proclaim the Word of God with divine anointing, which brings conviction to the hearers so they recognize that it is truly the Word of God and they must do something about it. A prophet is also someone who keeps the church on God’s path and truth and makes sure we do not slip into false teaching. This is not the same as an OT prophet, which existed before the Word was completed! Acts 2:37-40; Mat ‘7:54 Acts 26:24-29 I Corinthians 14:1,3 I Thessalonians 1:5

23. EVANGELISM: The ability to share the gospel with unbelievers in such a way that men and women become Jesus’ disciples and responsible members of the body of Christ. Acts 8:5-6 Acts 8:26-40 Acts 14:21 Acts 21:8 Ephesians 4:11-14 II Timothy 4:5

24. PRAYER/INTERCESSION: The ability to pray for extended periods of time on a regular basis and see frequent and specific answers to prayer, to a degree much greater than that, which is experienced by most Christians. All Christians are to exercise this, but the gifted person will go beyond. Luke 22:41-u Acts 12:12 Colossians 1:9-12 Colossians 4:12-13 I Timothy 2:1-2 James 5:14-16


As I was reading in I Corinthians this morning, I was reminded how the Holy Spirit has bestowed upon us these wonderful gifts. Once we pin-point what our gift(s) is/are, it is our responsibility to sharpen them and use them for God's glory. Sometimes, I think we can fall into trouble when we confuse gifts for hobbies. For instance, I LOVE gardening. I love digging into the earth God has given our family. I love planting seeds and seeing the fruit (or vegetables!) of our family's labor. There's just something about being on my knees, outside with the sun shining down on my back, witnessing God's beautiful creation that is humbling and I always feel closer to God when I'm amongst His creation. I feel the same about health and nutrition. God gave us these miraculous bodies. There are so many things we can do with them, but yet we choose to hop on our electronical devices and/or eat foods that don't fuel our bodies the way they were meant and created to be fueled. I Corinthians 6:19-20 reminds us about this. "Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own, you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body."
Here's what I guess I'm trying to get at today. We can have hobbies, but are they pleasing to the Lord? Are we using them as gifts for him? If I (Kelli), don't use gardening and learning about and applying health/nutrition to glorify God, then they're just hobbies. They don't have the potential to be a blessing to me, my family and others whom I come across througout life. When I give someone fresh eggs or some seeds/seedlings, I hope that through those gifts I am not only educating others, but am showing Christ's love through those gifts. A few times, I have been able to witness to others who didn't claim to have a recollection of who Christ really is. How amazing is that? I get the priveledge to share JESUS with someone, all because they wanted some eggs!:)As our family continues to learn about healthy eating/living, we are passionate about sharing with others and inturn, receive more knowledge and blessing from the Lord.
What are your spiritual gifts?
Are you using them for Jesus or are they just hobbies?
Feedback is definately welcome here! (big smile)

1 comment:

MamaBear said...

I enjoyed this post Kelli - I strive to glorify God in my work. It helps the sting of not being able to be a stay at home mom. (hubby is out of work and we need the flexible schedule my jobs allow so we can fulfill our campground duties)

I like to think that the blog books I make for people will help spread the Good News. Many of my clients are Christians who have blogged about their faith. They in turn show them to other people who might be touched by the stories the bloggers have written in a way that will open their hearts to the gospel.