I don't hear that English expression much anymore, the title of this post. In years past, I heard it often, to explain a person's choices or preferences. I chose it for a slightly different meaning in the context of this post.
Yesterday I was telling a dear friend about the Peru trip. She lamented the fact that she could not go. Not that she could not afford to go, but that she did not have the emotional endurance to go. It is plain as can be that her spiritual gifts are different than mine. The Holy Spirit has gifted her differently. For example, while I have a small measure of the gift of hospitality, she has a heaping helping! I love that about her. She has the ability to make everyone feel welcome and loved.
God has equipped each of us differently so that, although we are united in our purpose to serve our Savior, we have the gifts to do that in a number of different ways. Listen to what Paul says in 1 Corinthians 12:1-12 (NET)
With regard to spiritual gifts, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed. 2 You know that when you were pagans you were often led astray by speechless idols, however you were led. 3 So I want you to understand that no one speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus is cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.
4 Now there are different gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 And there are different ministries, but the same Lord. 6 And there are different results, but the same God who produces all of them in everyone. 7 To each person the manifestation of the ZonaSpirit is given for the benefit of all. 8 For one person is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, and another the message of knowledge according to the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10 to another performance of miracles, to another prophecy, and to another discernment of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 It is one and the same Spirit, distributing as he decides to each person, who produces all these things.
When preparing to go to Peru, the leader of Zona Zegura asked that I prepare teachings for the women on "the woman's leadership role in the church". As I prayed about what to teach, the Holy Spirit led me to begin with personal holiness (although that segment ended up being taught by the other teacher, my pastor; so, I omitted that segment), then to move on to the woman's leadership role in the home, and then after proper spiritual authority had been established, the topic of spiritual gifts. I'm not going to reproduce that teaching here.
The point is this: we must embrace the spiritual gifts the Lord has given us. Why? Because He gave them to us so that we can bless others, both within the Body of Christ and outside it as well. Some gifts are given primarily for the unbelieving world (the gifts of evangelism and healing, for example) and others primarily for the building up of the Christian fellowship (the Body of Christ). An example of that would be the gift of teaching.
The crux of this passage is in the underlined verses above.
1. We are not the source of our spiritual gifts. We receive them the moment we accept Jesus as Savior because it is at that moment the Holy Spirit comes to live within us.
2. Because we are not the source of our gifts, we cannot take the credit for them nor can we accept any praise that comes from the use of our gifts. Verse 11 clearly states that it is the Holy Spirit who produces both the gifts and the results of exercising them.
3. It is SO important to remember that the purpose of our gifts is not only to benefit others, but also to glorify God. Some of the gifts - - healing, for example, should always lead to a praise session and an invitation to others/observers to accept Christ, the One who performed the healing.
Finally, a common mistake we make in the Body of Christ is to glorify some gifts above others. In fact, some use this "excuse" to not exercise their own gifts. However, Paul goes on to say that this is a deception and a trap from the evil one. Our gifts should bring unity, not disunity, peace not discord or dissension or envy or strife. We'll examine those verses tomorrow.
Dear Father, I praise You for the gifts you give to Your children. Each new day is an opportunity to use mine to advance Your kingdom, to encourage and support Your children, to bring You all the glory! May it be done in my life today. In Jesus' name, amen.
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