DEFINITION
The gifts of the Spirit are gifts of grace granted by the Holy Spirit that are designed for the edification of the church, which can be divided up as gifts of speaking and gifts of serving.
SUMMARY
The gifts of the Spirit are gifts of grace granted by the Holy Spirit to individual Christians. These gifts are to be exercised under the lordship of Christ for the edification of his body, the church. Christians are not to think too highly or lowly about the gifts that God has given them but are to remember that it is God who has sovereignly and wisely given them; each gift is needed. Each Christian is baptized in the Spirit at conversion, and thus each Christian is to be faithful to the gift that God has given them and, most importantly, seek to fulfill their gift in love for God and other Christians.
The gifts of the Spirit are gifts of grace granted by the Holy Spirit that are designed for the edification of the church. It is helpful to see a table of the various gifts in the NT.
| Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us | To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good | And God has appointed in the church | And he gave
|
| Apostles | Apostles | ||
| Prophecy | Prophecy | Prophets | Prophets |
| Evangelists | |||
| Ability to distinguish between spirits | |||
| Teaching | Word of wisdom and word of knowledge | Teachers | Pastors and teachers |
| Exhorting | |||
| Working of miracles | Miracles | ||
| Gifts of healing | Gifts of healing | ||
| Service | Helping | ||
| Leading | Administrating | ||
| Various kinds of tongues | Various kinds of tongues | ||
| Interpretation of tongues | |||
| Giving | |||
| Faith | |||
| Mercy |
The gifts listed above can be divided into two categories: gifts of speaking and gifts of serving (). The categories aren’t precise since those who speak also serve those whom they address, and those who speak serve as they minister. Gifts of speaking include apostleship, prophecy, teaching, evangelism, exhortation, discerning spirits, speaking in tongues, and interpreting tongues. Gifts of service include leadership, helps, mercy, giving, faith, healing, and miracles. Several truths should be articulated about spiritual gifts.
- The gifts are to be exercised under the lordship of Christ (). Attention should not be centered on our gifts or our experiences but the supremacy of Christ in all things. People may claim wonderful experiences, but if they aren’t living under Christ’s lordship, their gifts mean very little.
- The gifts are given for the edification of the church (; ). The gifts are not given for self-edification or self-esteem, but to build up and strengthen the church. The focus of the gifts is corporate and not individualistic. We see in is that the aim of the gifts is the maturation of the body of Christ. The Lord wants the church to be stable and strong, able to resist false and destructive teaching. The gifts are operating well when the church becomes more like Jesus Christ, when it is built up in truth and love.
- We see in that we are to think reasonably about our gifts. We need to beware of thinking too highly or too lowly about ourselves and our gifts. Paul teaches us in that one who has a flashier gift is not more godly or more spiritual. Conversely, those who have what they consider to be a lesser gift are not inferior. Every gift is needed to make up the body because bodies are made up of eyes and ears, hands and feet, arms and noses. Thus, no member of the church can be an isolationist. The whole body can’t be an eye or a head because then there is not a body at all. We are to think reasonably about how God has gifted us and avoid unrealistic and inflated conceptions of our gifts or notions that we are worthless and have nothing to offer.
- We recognize that the diversity of gifts comes from God himself (). We are not to worry about the gift we possess, because God has sovereignly ordained the gifts we possess (). We are tempted to think that the gifts we have stem from ourselves, but Paul reminds us that gifts are gifts! They are given to us and not earned by us. We trust that God has formed the body with great wisdom and love. The Corinthians were particularly entranced with the gift of tongues, and Paul warns them about exalting such a gift unduly.
- The baptism in the Spirit isn’t a second experience after conversion. In Acts, baptism in the Spirit occurs at the inauguration of the church on the day of Pentecost (), at the conversion of Cornelius and his friends (), at the conversion of the Ephesian 12 (). Paul also teaches that baptism in the Spirit occurs when every member of the church is inducted into the body of Christ (). Baptism by definition is an initiation event, and thus it is a misreading of the evidence to argue from Acts that the baptism in the Spirit must be accompanied by tongue-speaking. Tongue-speaking represents the inauguration of the new covenant at Pentecost (), and it demonstrates the salvation of Gentiles () and the followers of John the Baptist (). We have no evidence elsewhere that initiation in the church of Jesus Christ must be accompanied by speaking in other languages. Indeed, clarifies that every single believer is baptized in the Spirit at conversion.
- is a most interesting text, and it shows that edification comes through understanding. Christians are tempted to think that amazing experiences are what edify, especially overwhelming emotional experiences. Certainly, emotions are a good thing and are not frowned upon, but Paul teaches us that emotions must be anchored to truth. God chooses to sanctify us by renewing our minds (), as we test what pleases the Lord (), so that we become more discerning. In this way, we will live in a way that pleases the Lord (; ).
- We are to concentrate on the gifts God has given us (). It would be a mistake to claim to refuse to engage in evangelism or service or helping by claiming that we don’t have such gifts. In doing so we rationalize our selfishness. On the other hand, we are also reminded that we should concentrate our energies in life on the gift God has granted us. God has made us in a particular way, and thus we help other believers most when we pursue the gift or gifts God has given to us. It would be foolish if one has the gift of teaching to ignore that gift and to spend most one’s time pursuing the gift of encouragement.
- We see clearly in , which is placed in the middle of the discussion of spiritual gifts () that gifts are worthless without love. The most important measure of our spirituality are not our gifts but our godliness.
- Prophecy are the eyes of the body of Christ.
- Service are the hands of the body of Christ.
- Teaching are the mind of the body of Christ.
- Giving are the arms of the body of Christ.
- Exhortation are the mouth of the body of Christ.
- Administration are the head of the body of Christ.
- Mercy are the heart of the body of Christ.
Prophecy - Believers with the motivational gift of prophecy are the "seers" or "eyes" of the body. They have insight, foresight, and act like watch dogs in the church. They warn of sin or reveal sin. They are usually very verbal and may come across as judgmental and impersonal; they are serious, dedicated, and loyal to truth even over friendship.
Ministering/Serving/Helps - Those with the motivational gift of serving are the "hands" of the body. They are concerned with meeting needs; they are highly motivated, doers. They may tend to over commit, but find joy in serving and meeting short-term goals.
Teaching - Those with the motivational gift of teaching are the "mind" of the body. They realize their gift is foundational; they emphasize accuracy of words and love to study; they delight in research to validate truth.
Giving - Those with the motivational gift of giving are the "arms" of the body. They truly enjoy reaching out in giving. They are excited by the prospect of blessing others; they desire to give quietly, in secret, but will also motivate others to give. They are alert to people's needs; they give cheerfully and always give the best that they can.
Exhortation/Encouragement - Those with the motivational gift of encouragement are the "mouth" of the body. Like cheerleaders, they encourage other believers and are motivated by a desire to see people grow and mature in the Lord. They are practical and positive and they seek positive responses.
Administration/Leadership - Those with the motivational gift of leadership are the "head" of the body. They have the ability to see the overall picture and set long-term goals; they are good organizers and find efficient ways of getting work done. Although they may not seek leadership, they will assume it when no leader is available. They receive fulfillment when others come together to complete a task.
Mercy - Those with the motivational gift of mercy are the "heart" of the body. They easily sense the joy or distress in other people and are sensitive to feelings and needs. They are attracted to and patient with people in need, motivated by a desire to see people healed of hurts. They are truly meek in nature and avoid firmness.
How to Know Your Spiritual Gifts
The best way to discover your unique spiritual gifts is to consider the things you enjoy doing. When serving in different ministry positions, ask yourself what gives you the most joy.
God Gives All Believers Spiritual Gifts (Romans 12:3)
Romans 12:3. "For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith."
Don't miss that last clause--"...as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith." That's a strange way to refer to spiritual gifts, but that's exactly what he's talking about. Look at verse 6--"Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us...." The word gifts (charismata) literally means "grace gifts." And in addition to that they are given to us by God's grace. God's grace in the Bible is always received by faith, and that's exactly the way these God-given abilities for service are employed--by faith.
We trust God to make us a blessing to others in the body by using the gifts He has given to us. And God has dealt to each one a measure of faith (refer to 1 Corinthians 12:11; Ephesians 4:7; 1 Peter 4:10). Every one of us as believers has a spiritual gift or gifts, without exception. And they are exactly the gifts which the Spirit of God wants us to have.
When we understand that, it certainly eliminates all pride. Imagine one child saying to another, "I'm better than you are. Daddy gave me a new sweater and you got new shoes." Sometimes children say things like that, but we know it's because they're immature and selfish. Daddy gave one child a sweater and another shoes because one needed a sweater and the other needed shoes. Both are gifts given out of the father's love and are to be used gratefully. To boast about them is childish.
And that's what Paul is saying in this verse. Don't think more highly of yourself than you ought to think, but think sensibly, in the light of this great truth that God distributes the gifts according to His own sovereign will. If God is the one who gives us the gifts, then He is the one who gets all the glory for their use--not us. So don't get a big head, even if you have an unusually prominent and impressive gift. God gave it to you out of pure grace. You didn't do anything to earn it or deserve it. And besides that, He gave every other believer spiritual gifts as well. So there's really nothing for us to get all puffed up about.
God Gives Different Spiritual Gifts to Each Believer (Romans 12:4-6)
Wouldn't it be strange if at Christmastime, mom and dad gave each kid a doll house, especially when one of them is a 16-year-old boy. That wouldn't happen. Neither does God give every believer the same gifts.
Romans 12:4-6a. "For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them."
Some Christians claim that every believer can have certain gifts. That's not what God's Word says. Not all the members have the same function. Each of us has different gifts.
That's important. I'm convinced that many Christians burn out because they're trying to be something they're not, trying to do things they're not gifted to do. They may be trying to teach a Sunday School class when God has gifted them to care for the sick, the suffering, and the lonely. They may be trying to administrate the details of a complicated program, when God has gifted them to encourage people one on one. Be who you are. Do what God has gifted you to do.
There's an interesting parable that accents that important principle. A group of animals decided to do something significant to improve their world. So they organized a school. The curriculum included swimming, running, climbing and flying. The duck, an excellent swimmer, was deficient in other areas, so he majored in climbing, running and flying, and his swimming began to suffer. The rabbit, a superior runner, was forced to spend so much time in other classes that he soon lost much of his famed speed. The squirrel, who had been rated "A" as a climber, dropped to a "C" because his instructors spent hours trying to teach him to swim and fly. And the eagle got into trouble because he flew to the top of the tree as he was accustomed to doing when he had been told to climb.
And that's what sometimes happens in the church. Our gifts differ. But some of us try to do what we're not gifted to do, or try to do so many things that we lose our effectiveness in what we do best. And the whole body suffers as a result. Or some of us get all bent out of shape because we're not asked to do what somebody else does, when that's not where our gifts lie. If God made you a duck saint, then swim! Don't get upset because you waddle when you run. Running isn't your thing. God gives different gifts to each believer.
God gives all believers spiritual gifts; He gives different gifts to each believer. The third principle we see here is that He gives them so we can serve one another.
God Gives Spiritual Gifts So We Can Serve One Another (Romans 12:5)
Read Romans 12:5 again: "So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another."
Although we have different functions, we are all necessary to each other because we all belong to one spiritual body, the body of Christ. We need each other, just like the members of my body need each other. Even as the purpose of each part of the human body is to serve the body as a whole, so the purpose of each spiritual gift is to enable us to serve the body of Christ as a whole. Not one is given for the purpose of serving ourselves, self-edification.
What does my eye do best? It sees. For what purpose? Just so I can enjoy the light, the color and the shapes that project on to my retina. No! It sees so that I won't run into the wall, or trip up the steps. It sees so I can find the food that I want to put into my mouth, so I can read and gain knowledge, so I can look at my notes and communicate to you more effectively, so I know to whom I'm speaking. Seeing is not an end in itself. It is intended to benefit the whole body.
My eyes perform an extremely important function in daily living, as people who have lost their sight can testify. I have other members of my body that don't seem to be quite that significant, like my eyebrows. But I would look funny without them--or funnier, I should say. And I might get more dust in my eyes. You see, while not quite as prominent as my eyes, they are still important. Every member of my body has a function to perform, and every one is important. And every member of the body of Christ has a function to perform, and every one is important.
A bricklayer whose brother was a famous violinist was talking with the head of the construction company where he was employed. "It must be great to have a brother who is known around the world," the executive said. And then, not thinking that he might have offended his worker's pride, he continued, "Of course, we must accept the fact that talent isn't equally distributed--even in the same family." "That's right," came the reply. "Why, my brother doesn't know the first thing about bricklaying. It's a good thing he can afford to pay somebody else to build his house for him" (Our Daily Bread, February 3, 1986).
That bricklayer had the right idea. Now transfer his thoughts into the spiritual realm. Every spiritual gift is essential to the effective operation of the body. You may think you are not important to the rest of us, but God says you are. We are members of one another and we need each other. If one member is not exercising his spiritual gifts, then the whole body suffers by that much. So, are you using your spiritual gifts? Or are you weakening the effectiveness of the body by neglecting your gifts? God wants you to use them.
Maybe you're thinking, "But I don't even know what gifts I might have." I think Paul anticipated that some would ask that, so after discussing the principles of spiritual gifts, he goes on to talk about the practice of selected spiritual gifts.
The Practice of Selected Gifts
(Romans 12:6b-8)He lists seven gifts in these verses. That's not an exhaustive list. By comparing the other lists in the New Testament we discover that there are nearly 20 different gifts. So this list is selective. But, I tell you, it is a good representation of gifts that we may have. The major point of the passage is an encouragement for us to use the gifts that God has given us. Since we all have different gifts, given by God to serve one another and build up the body, let's use them!
Spiritual Gift of Prophecy
If we have the gift of prophecy, Paul says, let's use it, in proportion to our faith. The gift of prophecy seems to be the ability to share a spontaneous and appropriate word from the Lord. God seems to give to some Christians special insight into people, into needs, into situations and circumstances, and the ability to share a fitting word from the Lord that brings edification, exhortation (or encouragement), or comfort (refer to 1 Corinthians 14:3). If you put all the passages about prophecy from the New Testament--I'm not talking about Old Testament prophets now--if you put all those passages together and study what they say, that seems to be what the gift is. And, of course, there's a difference of opinion among people about that, but that seems to be the point.
Now, that word--that fitting word from the Lord--does not take the place of Scripture. And even though it is a word from the Lord, it is inspired of God and not authoritative as the word of the Old Testament prophets was (refer to Acts 21:4; 1 Corinthians 14:29-30, 37). But it can be the source of great spiritual blessing to the church of Jesus Christ. If you have the gift of prophecy, use it in proportion to your faith--that is, to the fullest extent that God has given it. We talked about that gift in more detail when we did the series on the Holy Spirit but we need to be reminded of these things with regularity. Certainly, the apostle Paul thought we did; he brings them up again.
Spiritual Gift of Ministering (or Serving)
This is the same gift called "helps" in 1 Corinthians 12:28. It is the gift used by the Seven who became deacons in Acts 6. They took care of physical needs in the early church so that the apostles would be free for prayer and the ministry of the Word. It isn't just the ability to do a job that needs to be done so others can exercise their gifts, but the right attitude in doing it. People with this gift love to do whatever they can to enhance the ministry. They see what needs to be done, and they do it joyfully, for the glory of the Lord and the strengthening of His work. Paul says, "Do you have the gift of ministry? Then don't neglect it. Use it in ministering!" There are probably a whole lot more people who have the gift of ministering than are using it. There's a whole lot that needs to be done; use it.
Spiritual Gift of Teaching
Teaching is the ability to explain and apply the truths of Scripture, to communicate the truth of God's Word that we have learned from our study. Do people seem to understand God's Word better when you explain it to them? Do you sense that the light goes on, and it begins to make sense to them? Do they want to get into it because they've been so encouraged by what you've said? Are they motivated to change their lives so that others can see the changes? If so, then God has given you the gift of teaching. The challenge to you today is, "Get busy and start teaching." Don't just sit there; teach something! Block out some time to study God's Word so that God's Spirit can speak to you through it. Then think through the clearest way to explain it to others, then begin to share your insights, whether it be one on one, or in small groups or large groups--it makes no difference. Use that gift that God has given you.
Spiritual Gift of Exhortation
Exhortation or encouragement. The word can be translated either way and is translated both ways in various passages of Scripture. It's a motivational gift with two sides to it. On one hand, the people with this gift can challenge believers. That's the exhortation side. They challenge believers to live as God wants them to live, to press on to higher ground in their Christian walk, to become more like the Savior. That's the challenge side.
On the other hand, they can comfort those who are discouraged and depressed so that their burden is lifted and new hope springs up in their hearts. They are motivated to keep on in the Christian struggle when before that they may have been ready to throw in the towel and drop out. If you are a Christian motivator, then be alert for opportunities to challenge others, and look for people who need to be encouraged. Use that gift that God has given you. He gave it to you to use.
Spiritual Gift of Giving
"Oh, he likes to slip in one that makes us uncomfortable, doesn't he?!" I'm of the opinion a lot more people could have this spiritual gift if they wanted it. God gives to some individuals either an unusual ability to earn and give money to God's work, or an unusual level of pleasure in giving what they do have, however little or much that may be. They love to give. They give generously and they trust God to meet their own needs. Paul says here, "let him who gives do it with liberality." With liberality more accurately means "with simplicity," or "single-mindedly." The person with the gift of giving has no ulterior motive for giving. He isn't trying to get praise from anybody; he's not trying to impress people, or buy influence. He just sees the need and wants to help meet it.
I have a dear friend in another city with this gift. He lives in a modest home, drives a modest car, and has none of the expensive toys that many of us think we need. Nobody would know that God is prospering him in an unusual way financially in his business. Nobody would ever know, except probably the treasurer of his church. Where does he put his money? He gives it back to the Lord and his work--to his church, and to missionaries. He is consciously investing in eternity. Maybe you have that gift or could have it. God says, "Put it to use!" God's work would not be in need if we exercised the gift of giving.
Spiritual Gift of Leading
This word means literally "to stand before." The person who stands before a group is normally the leader of the group, the one who presides over it, administers and manages it. But in the spiritual realm he doesn't do it with a club. The Lord Jesus taught us the essence of leadership when he said, "...whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant" (Mark 10:43). The leader in God's economy is a servant! He gives of himself tirelessly in service to others. Do you have the ability to lead by humble example and faithful service? Then do it with diligence; do it with eagerness; do it with excitement. Don't wing it. Put yourself into it whole-heartedly. Use that gift that God has given to you!
Spiritual Gift of Showing Mercy
The gift of showing mercy is the ability to put yourself in the place of those in need, to feel what they are feeling, and then to do whatever is necessary to help relieve their misery. They just have a knack of knowing what to do to relieve suffering. Maybe you're like that. Others are not. They would rather avoid hurting people--the sick, the poor, the aged, the disabled. But you feel a deep hurt inside you and you are drawn to them. You want to get personally involved in meeting their need. And you do it with cheerfulness. There isn't any other way to exercise this gift. Nobody will be truly helped by an old grouch who ministers to them only out of a sense of duty. So, do you feel a joyful and satisfying fulfillment when you get involved in helping people with needs? Then reach out and extend mercy. Use that gift!
That's God's message today through the inspired pen of the apostle Paul: Use that gift. God has given you a gift or gifts, dear Christian friend. That's what he says. Do you know what your gifts are? What have you done with them? Are they sitting in the corner, or stored in a closet somewhere?
Now I'm well aware that some of you come to Emmanuel Faith Community Church just because it's a large church and you can get lost in the crowd. Maybe you were in a small church and you overcommitted and overworked and you burned out. You said, "Man, I gotta get some rest." And so you came here and you're kind of anonymous. You know what? That's OK.
You didn't think I was going to say that, did you? That's OK...for a while!! But you see, as you begin to heal and rejuvenate and get your spiritual batteries recharged through the Word, it's time to get back to work, folks. There are needs here, and if you've chosen this as your church home, and this is where you're going to worship the Lord and learn from His Word, then unwrap that gift and get it into operation. Use it for the glory of God because there are lots of needs around here that aren't being met.
Use that gift. It's the least we can do for Him in view of what God has done for us. It's part of that exhortation of verse 1, "I beseech you, therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a sacrifice, alive, holy, well-pleasing to God, which is your reasonable service. Let's use those gifts that God would be praised.
Trusting Jesus as Your Savior
As we're well aware, God's greatest gift to us is the gift of eternal life, that He gives to us in the Person of His Son. Back in Romans 6, the apostle Paul wrote, "the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ, our Lord." He said to the Corinthians, "Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift." That the gift: eternal life in Jesus Christ. "He who has the Son has life."
Have you acknowledged your sin and believed that Jesus died in your place and rose again triumphant over sin, and Satan, and death, and offers you eternal life by faith in Him? If you've not yet made the decision to trust Him as your own personal Savior and received His gift of eternal life, we urge you to do it right now.
Let's bow together prayerfully in His presence. I want to ask that question again. Do you know that you've put your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal Savior from sin, and that you have God's gift of eternal life? If you're not sure, would you settle it here today, right now? You can do that, you know. Certainly you know whether at some point in time--you don't have to be able to identify the date or the time--but at some point in time, you recognized the truth that you were a sinner, separated from God, undeserving of His heaven, but that Jesus died to secure it for you, and you put your faith in Him alone--not any church, or good deed, or religious ritual, but in Jesus Christ alone for your eternal salvation. And if there never has been a point in time when you did that, we're asking you to do it right now.
Settle this issue of eternal life. Just in the quiet of your own heart, commune with God.
"Lord, I'm a sinner. I believe Jesus paid for my sin at Calvary and rose again to give me eternal life. Lord Jesus, come into my heart, save me from sin. Please give me that gift of eternal life."
He will do it if you come to Him humbly. Cast yourself upon Him alone--and His mercy and grace--for your salvation.
And those of you who have made that decision: Are you using those gifts that God has given to you? My prayer is that you will make yourself available to be used of God as He has gifted you. And this body will be stronger and lives will be blessed, you'll become more like Jesus, as we exercise those gifts that God has given us.
Closing Prayer
Lord, I pray that we will respond now to this, Your Word, and become functioning members of the body, exercising those gifts that you have graciously extended to us. In Jesus' name, amen.
If I understand Paul’s teaching correctly, spiritual gifts are needed as long as we are living on this earth as members of the body of Christ. Spiritual gifts are those endowments of power which enable us to carry out the vital functions of our body life in Christ as members of His body. These endowments are a supernatural enablement so that supernatural results are produced. It is only when our Lord returns, when the church is taken up into glory and fully perfected, that the need for spiritual gifts will cease. While some may differ as to whether all the gifts are necessary in this age, it is very difficult to understand how none of the gifts are needed. Paul’s teaching assumes that teaching about spiritual gifts is both basic and fundamental to Christian living.44 Peter likewise looked at the exercise of spiritual gifts as a crucial matter.45 We should take spiritual gifts no less seriously than did the apostles.
Let us therefore approach our text with a deep sense of the importance of this teaching on spiritual gifts, observing closely so that we might learn well. May we then be obedient to that truth which we learn, by His grace and to His glory.
The Context of Our Text
In chapters 1-11, Paul laid the doctrinal foundation for the lifestyle he now calls upon all Christians to adopt and to manifest in day to day living. In verses 1 and 2 of chapter 12, Paul has characterized the lifestyle which God’s mercies motivate and which God’s grace enables. The Christian is expected to respond, motivated by the mercies of God. Grace should beget gratitude, and it is on the basis of gratitude that Paul bases his appeal to Christians. Paul calls for a lifestyle characterized by worship, worship expressed in self-sacrificial service. This service must first and foremost be to God, expressed through service to others. Our service of worship should be the logical outflow of God’s Word and His work in our lives. It is a reasoned worship, not at all like the frenzied, sensual, self-indulgent worship of the heathen. To practice this kind of worship, we must cease being shaped by the world around us, and have our minds renewed and transformed so that we look at all things from a divine perspective.
The verses which follow spell out the exercise of this renewed mind in greater detail. Paul outlines in verses 3-8 the Christian way of thinking concerning spiritual gifts. In verses 9-21, Paul describes the Christian’s relationship with others as the outworking of love. This new mind relates differently to human government, realizing that it has been given divine authority (13:1-7). The new mind relates to others out of the obligations required by true Christian love (13:8-14), realizing that strength is given by God to minister to those who are weak (14:1–15:6). It requires Jews and Gentiles to relate in an entirely different way than they have done before (15:7-13).
The Structure of Our Text
Our text divides into three main sections. In verse 3, Paul introduces the subject of spiritual gifts with a call to clear thinking. In verses 4 and 5, Paul calls Christians to think corporately. Spiritual gifts must be understood and practiced in the context of the body of Christ. Paul illustrates Christian thinking in verses 6-8 by focusing on the attitudes and actions appropriate to specific spiritual gifts. We can therefore outline the structure of our text:
(1) A call to straight thinking about spiritual gifts — verse 3
(2) A call to corporate thinking about spiritual gifts — verses 4-5
(3) A call for practice consistent with spiritual gifts — verses 6-8
A Call to Straight
Thinking About Spiritual Gifts
(12:3)3 For through the grace given to me I say to every man among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith.
Paul begins to address the subject of spiritual gifts by first telling his readers that in the process of teaching on this subject, he also is exercising his own spiritual gift. He speaks through the “grace” given to him, that “grace” to which he referred at the beginning of this Epistle:
Through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles, for His name’s sake (Romans 1:5).
Paul exercises his spiritual gift of apostleship (and perhaps other gifts as well) as he writes these words of instruction and exhortation. Having been prevented from being physically present with these saints for the time being did not keep Paul from exercising his gift “by mail.” This he did not only to the profit of the Roman saints, but to all those who have been blessed by this Epistle down through history. This Epistle to the Romans is an illustration and evidence of the gifts God gave to Paul for our edification.
Paul’s teaching here is universal. His teaching is not addressed to any one individual, nor to some small group, but rather “to every man among you.” These principles apply to every believer. Paul’s words assume that every Christian has been given at least one spiritual gift which is to be exercised for the edification of the church,46 the body of Christ.47
Paul calls for sound thinking and judgment. He has already informed us that we must not be “conformed to this age”; we must instead “be transformed by the renewing of our minds.” Paul warns of the danger of “overthinking” (Greek) or “thinking too highly of ourselves.” Our day regards low self-esteem as the great evil, the cause of all sorts of maladies. But here Paul warns of the opposite—we must not have too high an estimation of ourselves. Low self-esteem is never mentioned. As fallen, sinful creatures, we are great lovers. Among other things, we are lovers of money and lovers of pleasure, evidences that we are lovers of self (see 2 Timothy 3:2, 4).
Thinking too highly of ourselves may be illustrated in the matter of spiritual gifts. First, we may think too highly of ourselves because of the gifts God has given to us. Spiritual gifts are gifts of grace. “Grace” is the root (CHARIS) on which the term “spiritual gifts” (CHARISMATA) is built. Spiritual gifts are sovereignly given as gifts of grace. Spiritual gifts are unmerited and not an evidence of our spirituality. Neither are they a barometer of our worth. Yet when given one of the more visible, more prominent and prized gifts, we may be tempted to take credit for that which God has given us and which He is accomplishing through us.48
Second, our response to being given a less prominent gift may reveal an inflated estimation of ourself. Consider these words of Paul recorded in 1 Corinthians:
For the body is not one member, but many. If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I am not a part of the body,” it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I am not a part of the body,” it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body (1 Corinthians 12:14-16).
At first I was inclined to think that the “foot” and the “ear” did not regard themselves highly enough, but this is not what Paul is saying. The “foot” does not say, “Because I am a foot, I am not a part of the body.” He says, “Because I am not a hand, I am not a part of the body.” The “foot” does not think too little of himself; he thinks too much of himself. He (wrongly) thinks that being a “hand” is more important (prestigious?) than being a “foot.” If he cannot be a “hand,” the “foot” refuses to function as a part of the body at all. The “foot” thinks he is better than the gift he has been given. He thinks too highly of himself. There is no sacrificial service of worship here but only self-seeking ambition. The “foot” needs not more self-esteem but more humility and gratitude. The “foot” needs to “die” to himself and to fleshly desires and ambitions.
Paul calls for sound thinking which is based upon humility and faith. Whenever our ego is involved in our thinking, our thinking becomes distorted. Because of our natural self-love, we will always think too highly of ourselves.49 Self-love distorts our perception of reality. As frequently mentioned in the Bible, especially Proverbs, “humility” leads us to see and to accept the truth. Humility is seeing things as they are; pride is seeing things in a puffed-up way, which feeds our ego and our self-love. Grace should lead to humility, and thus we find in our text a consistent emphasis upon that which God has sovereignly given to us as a gift of His grace.
Faith is the basis of sound thinking. This statement needs further consideration, because most of us do not really believe it. We tend to think “rational thinking” is that which the natural man does. We conclude that thinking on the basis of faith must therefore be unreasonable—that thinking by faith must involve the setting aside of the rational mind and acting apart from rationality, apart from sound judgment. Thinking in accordance with faith is thus thought to be at odds with sound judgment. But Paul tells us that thinking by faith is sound judgment, and that “overthinking” is outside the realm of reality, faith, and reason. Sound thinking, according to Paul, involves the mind—it is rational, it is accomplished by the exercise of faith, and it does not go beyond the realm of what is proper and right—it does not overthink.
How can this be so? Let us consider this matter further. To the unbeliever, faith is mere foolishness; it is believing what is not true. To the Christian, faith is believing what is not seen but is true nonetheless:
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the men of old gained approval. By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible (Hebrews 11:1-3).
Sound thinking is based upon those truths which God has revealed to us, which are unseen, but true. The foundation for mere human thinking is that which is seen or that which appears to be. The foundation for Christian thinking is the Word of God—that which is revealed and which is believed by faith. Sound thinking is thinking based upon the revelation of God, contained and communicated by His Word, and illuminated by His Spirit.
Abraham was thinking soundly when he chose to obey God, even if it involved the sacrifice of his son, Isaac (see Genesis 22). Abraham acted out of faith when he sought to obey God’s command, even though it was the most difficult test of his life. His faith was a reasoned faith, based on “sound judgment.” He had come to realize that God is able to give life to the dead. This is what God had done to enable Abraham and Sarah to have a child, even though they were “as good as dead” with regard to child-bearing (see Romans 4:16-21; Hebrews 11:17-19). Abraham’s obedience was based on sound judgment, and his sound judgment was based upon that which God had revealed which he believed by faith.
But why is faith necessary in relation to spiritual gifts? Why does Paul tell us that we are to think “so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith”? There are several reasons. First, we live and walk by faith. Faith is essential in our service and in the exercise of our spiritual gifts, just as it is in every other aspect of our lives. Second, the results of our ministry may not be evident or apparent to us, or even to others. The results of the ministry of spiritual gifts are spiritual. They may not be revealed until eternity. We must act on the basis of faith, even though the results are not visible to us. The results of our ministry may be unseen, and faith deals with the unseen.
The prophets of old faithfully ministered, and yet most of them appeared to fail in their own lifetime. They did not see many repent and turn to the Lord. They were rejected, persecuted, and even put to death. The results were not immediately evident. Even the prophecies they gave concerning the Messiah were perplexing to them (see 1 Peter 1:10-12). Yet they faithfully persevered with no evidence of success. They served by faith, knowing that God’s Word would not return unto Him void (Isaiah 55:11).
Because the exercise of a spiritual gift may be unseen, faith is required. Most often the ministry of spiritual gifts is described in terms of the function of the human body. In the human body some members are visible and prominent such as the hands and the eyes. But there are other unseen members like the heart and lungs. These unseen members are the “vital” organs. Likewise, the vital members of the body of Christ may very well be unseen; thus faith is necessary.
The analogy of the body should be pursued even further. The work of God is carried out through the body of Christ, the church. God’s work is achieved corporately, as a team, and not just by individuals working independently of others. The hand cannot function alone nor can any other member of the body. God’s work is not achieved directly by any one member but by the body as a whole. The function then of any given member of the body may seem insignificant, even unspiritual, unless viewed in the light of the function of the body as a whole. The one who has the gift of helps may not seem to be doing much in the way of evangelism, but if they are serving in a way that edifies the body of Christ, they have a part in the ministry of the body as a whole. Faith enables us to understand this proper functioning of the body of Christ.
We have at this time a large number of troops in the Middle East. The one peeling potatoes, hauling water, or building outdoor toilets may not seem to be doing much for the cause of world peace. But apart from these vital functions being done, no army could survive, much less win, a military conflict. Each army member has a vital role. Each member of the body of Christ plays a part in the work of the body, as a whole. This the Christian believes by faith.
Only a renewed, transformed mind can think of spiritual gifts as Paul has exhorted here. Our culture would convince us to do the opposite of what Paul teaches. Paul warns us not to “overthink” and not to “think of [ourselves] more highly than we ought to think.” The world tells us we do not have a good enough estimate of our own worth. In the secular way of thinking, we need to think more highly of ourselves. Many tell us there are no limits placed on our abilities except those we impose on ourselves. The solution, we are told, is to believe that within us (not apart from ourselves, enabled by the Holy Spirit) there is unlimited potential for success and achievement. We are told that if we but think more positively, more highly of ourselves, then success is guaranteed—the higher our thoughts and goals, the higher our performance.
The world looks inward to what is within man and finds unlimited potential. The Bible instructs us to look Godward, to look to the Holy Spirit and His enablement, to live our lives in a way that will sacrificially serve God and men. The world believes we cannot think too much of ourselves; Paul warns that thinking too much of ourselves is our natural, sinful, inclination, and that this must be put aside. The world tells us that faith is unreasonable; Paul tells us that faith enables us to think soberly and soundly in a world where our perception of reality is distorted by sin. God’s ways are far from man’s ways.
Thus we are challenged to consider the subject of spiritual gifts with our minds thinking clearly and straight. This is to be accomplished by means of true humility, recognizing that all that we have and are, all that we will ever accomplish, is by the grace of God, and not of ourselves. We will think in accordance with reality, and in accordance with the faith we have been granted. Our thinking must be based upon that which God has revealed in His Word, upon those unseen realities which are not only true, but vastly more reliable than the appearances seen with the human eye. Further and more specific manifestations of this straight thinking are given in verses 4-8. Let us look further, to see how straight thinking manifests itself in the life of the Christian and in the realm of spiritual gifts.
Thinking Corporately About Spiritual Gifts
(12:4-5)4 For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function, 5 so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.
We live in a very independent, self-centered age. In many ways, we are teetering on the brink of anarchy. The winning governor-elect in a recent state election boasted that people could live without government looking over their shoulder, restricting or condemning individual freedom and choices, choices which clearly included abortion and homosexuality. Marriage is being redefined, because neither the husband nor the wife wish to give up their independence. “Self” is the watchword of our culture. The public good seems to be eagerly sacrificed to individual freedom. Being independent and self-sufficient is viewed as the goal for many. The new evil of our day, from which people need desperately to be delivered, is “co-dependency.”
Paul teaches that Christians must think quite differently. The watchword of our text could be “inter-dependency.” Spiritual gifts are God’s means for sustaining His body, the church. Spiritual gifts mean that I am both weak and strong. I am strong in the area of my gift; I am weak in the areas where others have been gifted. Thus, I must minister to the body of Christ and others out of my strength, and I am dependent upon the ministry of the rest of the body in my areas of weakness.
For the proper functioning of spiritual gifts, we must cease thinking individualistically and begin to think corporately. We cannot look at ourselves as an island, independent of all others. We must see ourselves as a member of the body of Christ, with certain gifts or special enablements which equip us to carry out functions necessary to the equipping and ministry of the body. There is individuality within the body, because there are many members, all with a different role to play. But there is no room for individualism, for we are inter-dependent as members of one body. We must rely on other members of the body just as they must rely on us.
While we have been individually chosen, called, and justified, we have been joined to a body, the body of Christ. We must therefore think and act as members of this body. Spiritual gifts are one of the means by which the body of Christ is sustained and through which the life of our Lord is manifested. Thinking straight necessitates thinking corporately.
The Spiritual Use of Spiritual Gifts
(12:6-8)6 And since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let each exercise them accordingly: if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith; 7 if service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching; 8 or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.
Paul’s expressions, “according to the grace given to us” in verse 6 and “as God has allotted to each a measure of faith” in verse 3, point to an important truth to consider before pressing on in our study. Spiritual gifts have nothing to do with ambition. The spiritual gifts mentioned here and elsewhere are not a shopping list from which we make a choice and then seek to gain that gift. The gift(s) we have received have been sovereignly bestowed by God. We already possess the gifts. God gives to us not only the gift (the grace), but also the faith by which they are to be exercised. When we belittle the gift we have been given, we quibble and question the sovereign will of God which determined the gift given to us, along with the place of ministry and measure of success (see 1 Corinthians 12:4-6).
Each of the gifts given to us, and to the rest of the body, are given in such a way as to provide all that the body of Christ needs to function properly. Given these different allocations of grace and faith, each of us must exercise our gifts in a certain way if we are to please God and be consistent with His purposes. If verses 3-5 emphasize proper thinking about spiritual gifts, verses 6-8 stress those attitudes and actions vital to the proper exercise of these gifts. Verses 6-8 emphasize what we are to do and how we are to do it in the context of spiritual gifts.
The structure of verses 6-8 seems to be indicated by Paul. This is somewhat evident in the English translations and more clearly evident in the Greek text. Allow me to arrange Paul’s words according to the structure I think he intends us to recognize:
And since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us,
let each exercise them accordingly:
if prophecy — according to the proportion of his faith;
if service — in his serving;
or he who teaches — in his teaching;
or he who exhorts — in his exhortation;
he who gives — with liberality;
he who leads — with diligence;
he who shows mercy — with cheerfulness.Paul’s words in the first half of verse 6 tie what follows with what he has just said in verses 3-5. The last words of verse 6 seem to distinguish two major categories of gift: (1) spoken gifts (prophecy) and (2) serving gifts (service). This same distinction is found in 1 Peter 4:
As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. Whoever speaks, let him speak, as it were, the utterances of God; whoever serves, let him do so as by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen (1 Peter 4:10-11).
Teaching and exhorting both fall under the category of spoken gifts (or prophecy). Giving, leading, and showing mercy, all fall in the category of serving gifts.
The spoken gifts as a group are given one major word of exhortation, one fundamental guideline: “Keep within the boundaries of the revealed Word of God.” The New American Standard Bible and many other translations seem to stress the need to stay within the boundaries of the faith God has allotted us. This is certainly consistent with Paul’s words in verse 3, but why should Paul need to repeat this again? The rendering is also consistent with the lexical definition of the term employed. There is, however, a second meaning, one that seems more appropriate. This meaning is, “in agreement with,” rather than “according to.” This first, more restrictive meaning is totally consistent with the second, more general meaning. I think Paul is cautioning all who speak to do so in a way completely consistent with Scripture. Paul seems to be saying the same thing to the Corinthians when he writes,
Now these things, brethren, I have figuratively applied to myself and Apollos for your sakes, that in us you might learn not to exceed what is written, in order that no one of you might become arrogant in behalf of one against the other (1 Corinthians 4:6).
Notice that in Paul’s words to the Corinthians the danger of going beyond “what is written” is arrogance, the very thing Paul is warning us about here in Romans 12.
Those who serve are given the exhortation to be diligent in their service. If those who speak are in danger of wandering beyond the prescribed boundaries of God’s Word, those who serve are in danger of wandering outside the context of the service they have been given. Servants are tempted to critique and correct their fellow servants when their God-given calling is to perform their own service (Romans 14:4).
Having given a general exhortation to everyone whose gifts fall under one or the other of the categories he has used, Paul now gives more specific exhortation. He first addresses those in the category of the speaking gifts in verse 7b and 8a, specifying the gifts of teaching and exhorting. He then turns to those who serve in verse 8b, specifying the gifts of giving, leading, and showing mercy.
Those with gifts of service have already been urged, as a group, to diligently devote themselves to their areas of service (verse 7a). In verses 7b and 8a, Paul urges those who have the speaking gifts to likewise devote themselves to doing that which they have been gifted to do. The one with the gift of teaching should devote himself to teaching. The one with the gift of exhortation, to exhortation.50
But why would the teacher need to be exhorted to teach and the exhortor to exhort? Is this not their natural tendency? Our natural tendency is to be self-centered and self-serving. Our service to God is to be self-sacrificing. When our service does not appear to be successful and when our ministry is not self-serving, our tendency is to resign. We, like Elijah and Jonah, want to turn in our badge and give up. Paul urges us to stick with that which God has given us to do, to persevere, because he knows that in the flesh we would give up. Here is where faith and obedience evidence our perseverance.
Those who fall under the speaking gifts category have been urged to stick with it, as those who serve have also been exhorted. Now Paul turns to those in the category of serving gifts to encourage them to exercise their gifts and ministries with spiritual attitudes and motivations which are befitting and edifying.
The one who has the gift of giving is encouraged to give “generously” or, as the marginal note in the NASB indicates, with “simplicity.” I think it is this second sense which is prominent in Paul’s words. Those who give may be tempted to give in a way that “works both ends against the middle.” Giving, in other words, might be done in a way that appears to be generous and sacrificial but which is actually self-serving. Ananias and Sapphira (see Acts 5:1-11) seem to have given with multiple motives and thus became deceptive and dishonest. They were not as generous as they wished to appear. One’s giving should be done for the benefit of the recipient, not the gain of the donor. The emphasis of “giving in order to get” appears to be in contradiction to Paul’s teaching here. Giving, as with the exercise of all other spiritual gifts, is to be a self-sacrificing act of worship and service (see 12:1).
The one who leads is to do so “with diligence.” Because spiritual leadership may not enhance and promote the leader (as spiritual leadership is marked by servanthood, and not lording it over others), he may be tempted to back off of spiritual leadership. Because the rewards of spiritual leadership come from God and not men, and they come at His return and not immediately, Christian leaders may be tempted to exercise their leadership in more “fulfilling” and “self-serving” causes. They may be tempted to go about their tasks casually and half-heartedly. This is not the manner of exercising the gift of leadership in which God takes pleasure.
The one who shows mercy is to do so “with cheerfulness.” All of us have attempted to show mercy at various times. Showing mercy is acting graciously toward those who need mercy. Often, such people are not pleasant to be around. All too often, such people are not even grateful for the mercy they are shown. It may not take long for the one showing mercy to be tempted to have a cynical, sour grapes attitude. Spiritual gifts are gifts of God’s grace, and they are to manifest God’s grace to those whom we serve. The gift of showing mercy (and every other gift as well) must be exercised in a gracious way so that God’s grace is neither distorted nor disfigured by our service.
Paul sees two great dangers in the exercise of spiritual gifts. The first is in not devoting ourselves to doing that which we are gifted to do.51 The second is exercising our gifts in a way inconsistent with the grace of God which is to motivate them and be manifested by them. We are therefore challenged to devote ourselves to the function for which God has gifted us and to the ministry to which He has called us. And we are to do so in a manner pleasing to Him and consistent with the goal of the task in the overall plan and purpose of God.
Conclusion
Paul’s words raise some important questions I call to your attention, for they require answers which only you can give. I will conclude by raising the questions, and I urge you not to leave this text without arriving at some answers.
Paul is speaking to believers about the spiritual gifts God has bestowed upon each of those who have become His children, by faith. First, have you received God’s gift of eternal life? Have you been born again? If not, then the subject of spiritual gifts is but an academic exercise, a purely hypothetical question. If so, then you have received, along with the gift of eternal life, a special enablement to serve God through His body, the church.
Second, is your pursuit and interest in spiritual gifts one of personal ambition motivated by self-interest? Or do you, out of gratitude, wish to offer up your body to God in sacrificial service to others? If you wish to sacrificially serve God by serving others, then spiritual gifts are the means God has provided for you to do so.
Third, have you discovered the special abilities God has given to you and the place of service where these can be employed for His glory? Paul teaches that every believer has a special enablement, a spiritual gift, by which to serve God. You are to be a steward of that gift. Do you know what it is that God has entrusted to you? Have you found a place of service where your gift can be put to good use? If not, why not?
Fourth, how closely are you linked to a local church and to the broader body of Christ, so that your gift may benefit others and so that you may draw from the strengths and gifts of others? Spiritual gifts are not given so that we may set ourselves above or apart from the rest of the body. Spiritual gifts are to be employed by serving the body, and they also cause us to be dependent upon the body for those areas in which we are not strong (gifted).
Using the analogy of the Book of Nehemiah, I ask you very practically, “What is your piece of the wall?” What are you contributing to your local body and to the body of Christ at large? What are you doing in obedience to this passage to fulfill your responsibilities to the body of Christ?
Allow me to assume that you cannot satisfactorily answer my question, and that you are uncertain about what your spiritual gift is and the ministry where your gift can be employed. Spiritual gifts are not intended to be a mystery. The teaching of spiritual gifts is both fundamental and elementary. If you do not know your spiritual gift and ministry, God is not hiding it from you, if you are seeking to be obedient to Him. Three practical suggestions may help you identify and exercise your spiritual gift.
(1) Offer yourself to God as a living sacrifice, out of gratitude for His mercies to you. Give yourself to serve Him sacrificially, selflessly, through serving others. This is the starting place Paul specifies in Romans 12:1-2. It should also be our starting place.
(2) Study the Scriptures which not only name the spiritual gifts, but also describe their function. The gift of exhortation, for example, is illustrated by the life of Barnabas, the “son of exhortation.”
(3) Be obedient to the commands of Scripture. We are commanded to give (verse 13). Pray for wisdom and insight as to how you may give in a way that pleases God. I am convinced that for every vital spiritual gift there is a corresponding command to perform this function. Ask God to open your eyes as to how He wants you to obey in each vital area. As you begin to obey, take note of those things in which God’s blessing is confirmed by others and becomes clear to you. Develop this particular ability further, and seek different ways to implement this gift.
(4) Look for needs, and seek to meet them. Look for those who are weaker than you, and serve them from your strength. Spiritual gifts are given in order to meet the needs of others. Others needs are all about us. We need but the eyes to see them and the obedience to respond to them by God’s grace and power. Look in your church bulletin. Who are those in need this week? What needs are going unmet in the church? Is there a need for Sunday School teachers? What an opportunity if you have the gift of teaching.
I am convinced that the matter of spiritual gifts is not as mysterious as some suggest and as it might seem at first. If you have first given yourself to God, and you are seeking to obey Him in the strength He supplies, you will know what He has given you to do, and you will have the faith and the grace necessary to do it.
44 In addition to Romans 12:3-8, see 1 Corinthians 12-14; Ephesians 4:7-16; 2 Timothy 1:6-7.
45 See 1 Peter 4:10-11.
46 See 1 Corinthians 12:7, 11; 1 Peter 4:10.
47 When I speak of the church here, I am referring not only to the local church, but to the broader body of Christ of which the local church is but a small part. Each individual believer is thus conceived of as a member of the church universal and as a member of a local congregation of believers. Our ministry should not to be restricted only to the local church. Paul’s ministry, for example, was much broader, although he did minister to the local church.
48 Two serious errors are the root of pride over the possession of our spiritual gifts. First, we may believe we deserve the credit for what God has given us and what He is doing in and through us. We dare not take credit for grace, neither saving grace nor serving grace. Second, the most visible and prominent gifts are not necessarily the most important gifts (see 1 Corinthians 12:22-24). Our vital organs are not visible. So too the vital members of the body of Christ may be the least visible.
49 Even so-called “self-hate” is really “self-love.” We “hate” ourselves because we fail to live up to that which we think we are worthy of and deserving. We hate ourselves for failing to live up to that which our self-love desires and demands.
50 This is not intended to mean that the teacher only teaches and the exhortor only exhorts. All of us are to give, to teach, to encourage, to show mercy, and so on. But the one with the gift of teaching ought to make teaching a priority. One should do most what God has enabled him or her to do best. This is good stewardship (see again 1 Peter 4:10-11).
51 Could this also be because we do not gratefully accept the gift God has given to us, but stubbornly seek to do that which we think is more important, more spiritual, more fulfilling, and self-serving?
The spiritual gifts are from the Holy Spirit and nothing of this world. In order to understand and use the gifts, you must be “transformed by the renewing of your mind.” What does that mean?
It means simply you must be in a place in your faith journey that is beyond simple belief in God. Your faith must go beyond the belief that that God can reward and punish and that the Bible comes from God. It’s not about “Me & God” anymore but “God & Me”. Your faith must be at a place that focuses on Christ as the object of it all. It’s more than just rational thought as it uses the heart to understand what faith is about. It is when we as Christians reach this level of faith is when I believe the spiritual gifts begin to manifest in a person.
This process does not happen overnight. It’s a progression in our faith that takes time and may move forwards and backwards in measures of success. John Wesley called this process justification. Kenneth Collins, in his book Wesley on Salvation, writes “…justification is the salutary way offered by God to a fallen people who earnestly seek the reestablishment of a right relationship with God. It is the healing balm for all unrighteousness, and the only way marked by God appropriate for the redemption of sinners.”2 The spiritual gifts are a tool God uses to reach others for Christ and to support the work of His church. If you are not at a place in your faith journey at or beyond justification then you are probably not ready for that work.
All Gifts Are Important
3 For 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 faith God has distributed to each of you. 4 For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. (Romans 12:3-5 NIV)
I believe that Paul is trying to make two points here. First, the spiritual gifts are given by God to each of us, and we should not see any gift as more important than another, nor any person more important than another. This is one of many references where Paul describes the body of Christ, the Church, in the same manner as the human body. Each has many different parts and have different functions. The whole is the sum of the parts, and so is the church and those with spiritual gifts.
Secondly, Paul states to think of yourself “in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.” This statement relates back to what was discussed earlier about where a person is in their faith journey. Martin Luther writes on this particular verse the following:
The term “measure of faith” must, therefore, be taken to mean, secondly, the measure of the gifts of faith, and though believers live by one and the same faith, they have a different measure of the gifts. Now the apostle calls this a measure of faith, because those without faith do not have these gifts and this measure... faith is all of this, for faith is nothing else than the obedience of the spirit. But there are different degrees of the obedience of the spirit. For one of us exercises his obedience and faith here and another there, yet we are all of one faith.” 3
Paul then continues..
Don’t Measure Your Gift Against Others
6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; 7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully. (Romans 12:6-8 NIV)
Here Paul talks about some of the gifts specifically, but in the earlier context of the measure of faith. I believe the point Paul is trying to make here is that, put simply, do your best at whatever gift you have been given. God knows the what, why, and how much of a particular gift He has given you. Don’t measure yourself against others with the same, or even different, gifts. Where you are in your spiritual journey is different than those around you. Use your gift(s) in the manner God has led you to use them.
Use the Gifts in Love
9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13 Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality. 14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. (Romans 12:9-15 NIV)
All of these verses focus on love. It is clear that Paul is stating that the spiritual gifts are to be used in love for others. The gifts are not something to be used for your own benefit or personal gain. To do so is against the reason why the gifts were given in the first place – for the betterment of the body of Christ, the church.
16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. 20 On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Where the previous verses were about love in the body of Christ, Paul writes here about peace and harmony within. A church with many different parts (gifts) cannot function if it is working against itself. Using your gifts in a manner that disrupts this harmony and peace is not something that Paul advocates here. That is not to say that you should not use your gifts to draw attention to problems (such as the gift of discernment), but to do it in a spirit of love and caring for the body. Paul is cautioning us here not to use the gifts in judgement or condemnation as that’s God’s to administer.
Key Takeaways
- The gifts manifest when you reach a point in your faith that is beyond just basic belief in God
- God decides which gift(s) you receive and the measure of it
- No gift is more important than another
- Use the gifts in love for the benefit of the whole body (church)
The gifts of the Spirit are simply God empowering faithful Christians to do what He has called us to do. 2 Peter 1:3 says, "His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness." The gifts of the Holy Spirit are part of "everything we need" to accomplish His plans for our lives.
Paul instructed that "We have different gifts, according to the grace given us... let [us] use [them] in proportion to [our] faith," Romans 12:6.
Spiritual Gifts have one of two areas of ministry in the church.
1. First are the "assigned offices" such as ministers, elders, and deacons, etc. These are the "offices" of (Acts 6:1-6; Phil. 1:1; Titus 1:5-7; 1 Tim.3: 8; 5:17; James 2:15-16), leadership roles.They must have the appropriate gifts of leadership, as well the gift in their area of ministry (I Cor. 14: 3-40; Eph. 4:7-16; 1 Pet. 4:10-11; Heb 13:17).They must be all working together in love and cooperative unity.
2. Second are the Spiritual Gifts that are assigned to each believer, we have at least one.Spiritual Gifts are the abilities given and characterized by the Holy Spirit. "Charisma" means that they are gifts of God's grace. This is imperative to know, because they are not something we earn or even deserve! They are gifts of grace. Regardless of what you have been taught or what you think the term "charismatic" means. (It means being led by the Spirit, and if you are a Christian, then the Spirit leads you. The Question is, are you obeying Him?) On another note, there actually are no non-charismatic gifts, since they are all gifts of Grace by the Spirit. These are the abilities to do a specific function in ministry to glorify Christ with the display of attributes of Christ's character in a specific function that strengthens the church. Such as "pastor/teacher" for the minister, or "mercy" to those who visit the sick.
3. The role of Spiritual Gifts in the Body of Christ:
· It is the believer's responsibility to find and develop and exercise the gifts given.
· Some of the gifts include leadership, teaching, pastoral care, mercy, giving... (See Gift Definitions)
· Spiritual Gifts guide us on how we are to behave and interact with each other.
· We must acknowledge our role in the body of Christ; His church, there are no lone wolfs in Christ! We have a duty to fulfill, and a role to play. We have a duty to find our gifts and then use our gifts for the edification of those in the church and those around us outside of the church. When we refuse to yield to His truths and call we not only hurt ourselves, but each other too, and we hurt our Lord!
· Spiritual gifts are alive and well in the world, to deny their existence is to deny the work of the Holy Spirit! It is comforting to deny gifts, because then we do not have to respond to His call and duty, we can be lazy and conceited in our outlook to others instead; of course this thinking is straight from another source other than the Bible and God's call (Matt 28; John 7:38-39; 14:16-18, 26; 15:26; 16:7)!
· Fruits and Gifts are not the same. We must not confuse the "gifts of the Spirit" with "fruit of the Spirit." Gifts are services to be performed for others to benefit the church. "Fruit" speaks of the graces and character traits of Christ we all are to emulate as a believer. We accomplish this as we receive the Spirit's work within us, then we are called to cultivate and produce. From this Fruit our spiritual growth, faith development, maturity and holiness further develops (Gal. 5:22-23). Both the fruit and the gifts are essential. Both are manifestations of the indwelling Spirit within us.
· What is the difference between a gift and a talent? Most Bible teachers say that we are born with certain talents or natural abilities, but when we are "born again" we are given spiritual gifts. This may be true, but I find it interesting that talents being 'natural' and gifts being 'supernatural' are not a separate distinction in Scripture! So the difference between your pastor and secular professor is that the teaching may be from the same talent/gift thus can be used in a church or a secular classroom. But the purpose and glory is completely different. And as we grow in maturity the Spirit empowers us further, beyond just the 'natural' 'talent' (I Cor. 2:14-15; Gal. 1:15-16).
· What gifts are more important? Answer: I Corinthians12:28 And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.
· All the gifts are needed and essential because they all are designed to edify the Church and glorify God. The church is a body, where all parts of the body are important, some are more essential, like the brain verses a foot. The Corinthians had trouble distinguishing the importance of the Gifts, hence Paul's letter to them. (I Cor. 12:31; 14). Thus, leaders and teachers are the most important who clearly present the truths of the Christian faith, which the apostles (church leaders) give from the Word.
· A prophet is 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!
· Tongues and miracles may seem great! But they do not meet the basic and eternal needs of the Body of Christ as teaching. To think they are is putting the cart in front of the horse! The Bible does not make the case that they have ceased, although they are not considered normative or important, like milk for a baby; verses the meat of teaching for maturity.
· The most important and needed gifts are those that focus is on the Word of God, and focus on discipling the believers because without them the church would fall down (Matt. 28: 18-20). The teaching and preaching of the Word of God must be more valuable to you than any material or emotional things!
· Satan does not want you to discover your gifts; he wants you to ignore your responsibility and nurture of one another.
"God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ."
Questions
How to Determine your Spiritual Gift(s)!
This procedure is much more accurate and honest than just using an 'inventory.' Because we have a tendency to read into these 'tests' our desires and not listen to our Lord's leading. Use an inventory like the one we have on our Spiritual Gift Channel in our Spiritual Gifts Discovery Workshop. Inventories are not designed to be the indicator only as another source of information, but not your only source!
MY SPIRITUAL GIFTS___________________________________
(In this place write down what you think they are, and what others have told you)
· Read: Rom. 5:15; 6:23; 12:6-8; I Cor. 7:7; 10:31; 12:4-7; 14-31 ; 13: 8-13; 14: 1-40; 28-30; Eph. 4:7-12; and 1 Pet. 4:10.
· Study the Biblical teaching on gifts, put the emphases on what the Bible says not your experience or presumptions! Go over the Gift Descriptions below, and see which one(s) interest and excite you.
Do the following PRAYERFULLY and PRIVATELY.
· List those you are pretty sure you have.
· List those you think you might have.
· Examine Your DESIRES. (Be careful! You must examine your motives as well)
· Examine the EVIDENCE (what you have done or can do, what has been confirmed by others)
· Examine the OPPORTUNITIES (what are the needs?)
Share this list with someone who knows you such as a mentor or parent who knows the 'real you' for confirmation, prayer and encouragement.
· List where and how can you exercise your gift(s)?
Answer these questions.
1.What needs exist in your life and community or world that is a need that requires attention, i.e., in your family, local Church, city, etc.)?
· God will give someone, perhaps you, the spiritual gifts necessary to help meet those needs. Ask God what part you should take in helping to minister and serve.
· Be on the lookout for needs that God can meet through you!
2.What do you think the Holy Spirit is telling you to do?
· The Holy Spirit has given each Christian at least one spiritual gift.
· The Holy Spirit wants you to exercise that spiritual gift.
· You are to be open and sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit in your life.
· After you determine your gift(s) and the Spirit's direction in the use of the gift(s), you must obey Him!
3.Ask yourself honestly, would you naturally choose what the Holy Spirit is telling you to do or your desires? Usually your desires are a good starting indication, as long as you are honest and grounded in the Word.
- Usually the Holy Spirit will not cause you to do what you have no inclination to do, no liking and no sensitivity. Thus, He will not call you to Outer Mongolia to be a missionary unless you also have the desire and ability to go!
4. What natural talents, interests, abilities, inclinations, etc., do you have already that God would normally use to begin with?
- Usually the Lord starts with us where we are, not with trying to revamp our whole personality and gifts. He starts with natural talents and interests, and then adds supernatural abilities as we grow in maturity, and as He wills/leads for His purpose.
- Are the gift(s) that you are using giving you wonder and excitement or a feeling of stale obligation?
- If you are stuck, read through the description and Scriptures of the gifts below and then try to experiment with as many gifts as you can (such as teaching, helping…) and see if you feel comfortable with one or more!
- Examine your feelings; what do you want to do more than anything else? But do not rely on just your feelings!
- Is the gift you have just the gift you want? Make sure it is God's call not just your own desires.
5. What do you do well already?
- What we do well already is probably an indication of some sort of gift from God. The Spirit may grant us additional gift(s), but that is His decision, not ours.
6. What gifts do others in the Body of Christ, the Church, see in you?
- The Holy Spirit does not work with us in isolation from the other members of the Body of Christ. The others are given insight into our giftedness and we into theirs as means of checks and balances. We help each other to be honest to God! So, make sure you ask others!
- After discovering your gifts, evaluate your effectiveness with them, as a check and balance to make sure you are exercising the right one(s). But do not give up, like sports or music, exercising your gifts take time and practice!
7.Based on the above, what gifts do I seem to have?
8.Am I willing to check this out with the Lord through heartfelt surrendered prayer (Gal. 2:20)?
9.Am I willing to check this out with others who know me, e.g., my spouse, parents, children, pastors, elders, etc.?
10.How can I begin to use these spiritual gift(s)?
11.How can you now start to be discipled in these gifts, to get to know them and use them to glorify our Lord?
12.How can you now best use the gifts God gave you in a team effort with others?
Additional discussion Questions
1. What comes to your mind when someone says Spiritual Gifts?
2.Do you have passionate excitement desiring to discover and use your gifts, or do you hide in the fear of being convicted?
3.Why do some Christians deny their existence?
4.What do Spiritual Gifts mean to you and your church?
5. If you had the choice of any special talent and or ability to serve Him better with what would it be?
6. Spiritual Gifts guide us on how we are to behave and interact with each other. So what happens when we refuse to exercise them?
7.What is your church's position on gifts?
8.How are Spiritual Gifts determined and used in your church?
9.For you to build personal character and maturity, how would Spiritual Gifts help?
10. How would Spiritual Gifts help serve the community?
11. How are gifts a responsibility?
12. Why do Christians fight over Spiritual Gifts when the fighting nullifies their true purpose and intent?
13. Why is the function in ministry to glorify Christ?
14. With the above question in mind, how can you display of attributes of Christ's character fruit and gifts in a specific function that strengthens the church?
15. What can you do if you are a leader or pastor to motivate the congregation from the pulpit and boardroom to find and use their gifts?
16. How can you help others discover their gifts?
17. What can you do to find a mentor who has the same gifts as you with more experience to show you the ropes?
18. How can you set a schedule for accountability with your mentor?
19. What can you do to continue the exercise and growth of your gifts indefinitely?
20. What can you do to explore the possibilities of what you can do with your gifts of grace?
21. What can you and your church do to experiment with as many gifts as you can?
22. What can you do as a church to make sure you all are working together in love and cooperative unity with the gifts?
23. How can the fruits make the gifts work better?
24. What will you do now with your knowledge of your gift(s)?
Remember: Satan does not want you to discover your gifts; he wants you to ignore your responsibility and nurture of one another.
SPIRITUAL GIFT DEFINITIONS AND SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
The following contains suggested definitions of the spiritual gifts as defined by the Bible in no particular order. This is not meant to be dogmatic or final, these definitions and supporting Scriptures do correspond to the characteristics of the gifts as expressed in most evangelical and reformed thinking.
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
The spiritual gifts listed in Romans chapter 12 are known as the redemptive gifts, the motivational gifts and the gifts of the Father. The Romans 12 spiritual gifts are less about activation and more about discovery. The idea is that there is a measure of each gift that has already been given to each person and our responsibility is to search it out.
The gifts are as follows
- Prophesying or prophesy
- Serving
- Teaching
- Encouraging
- Contributing or Generosity
- Leadership
- Mercy – Empathy
How do The Motivational Gifts Work?
These gifts listed in Romans are part of the body.
The Roman people that Paul was writing to were raw people, and Paul appealed to them from a natural man’s perspective. This perspective also connects them back to the Father as opposed to the gifts of the son or gifts of the Holy Spirit. God revealed himself in nature, or in the physical world, this made the most sense to the audience.
Because of this, the author of Romans shared the gifts that made sense to that audience. And these gifts were of a natural sense, meaning that they already existed, they just need to be identified.
This identification process is collaborative, but generally speaking, your primary gift is evident. There are also different gift mixes, meaning that some people will have various amounts of different gifts. Some people are quite prominent in one, and some people have more than one.
They are motivational because they are a part of who we are. We are motivated by the internal sense of who we are. Your very nature established by God creates a compass inside of you that leans towards your gifting. When it comes to the motivational gifts they are set, they are inherited, and they are you.
How Do I know what My Motivational Gift Is?
I’ll start by saying that we are not designed to find out in isolation. The Kingdom of God is a spiritual kingdom, but it is also a relational kingdom, and having others as part of the process is critical.
Having said that there are some general questions that you can ask yourself to get an understanding of what you might be. There are also some tests you can take that will give you a general idea.
The way other people help is by confirmation, prophetic understanding and by seeing things that you may not.
Prophetic – This gift is actually in all three of the gift lists. There is the prophet in the Ephesians gifts, the prophetic gift from Corinthians which is from the Holy Spirit to give utterance and the prophetic gift from the Father seen here in Romans.
The Romans’ gift is more connected to who you are which is a person who sees things and has insightful perceptions. These people typically see things in black and white, they don’t like grey. They are motivated to tell the truth in all situations regardless of social tact.
Servant – This gift is seen in someone who is always willing to be a part of helping others, generally without compensation or recognition. They just love helping. They can however become upset if they are not appreciated.
Teacher – These people love to share what God has shown them, or what they have learnt. They also love doing research and finding hidden truths.
Encourager – This spiritual gift is seen in people that are vocal and usually want to lift others up with words of encouragement. They can often overlook the emotional needs of people however and just try to “mind over matter” the situation. Even though they are encouragers or exhorters they can sometimes be unkind.
Giver – Although it’s not only about money, these people do have a natural joy when giving money, and feel like they are created to make money and use it to help others. They also like to rally other people to a cause when they don’t have enough to give. They can become hardened to those that don’t give as much as they do.
Mercy – These people are generally empathetic to other people’s needs, especially emotional and spiritual needs. They help people to heal, and to feel supported. Can be taken advantage of, and will often take other people’s pain when they shouldn’t. God’s gifts are given so that we can understand each other and work together.
Leaders – These people see the big picture and can inspire people to a cause, they see what needs to be done and begin assigning tasks to others. These people can be manipulative and controlling if they are not aware of the methods they use to inspire and motivate.
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