August 14, 2022
Passage:  Romans 12:3-8; 1 Corinthians 12:1-11, 12-31; Ephesians 4:10-11;
                 1 Peter 4:10-11
Speaker:  Pastor Ron Laeger
Main Point:  Part 1 – Discovering My Spiritual Gift.

I. Background.

            A. Matthew 5:16 – (Notice what will be the outcome of our good works).
            B. Ephesians 2:8-10 (Notice how closely our salvation is related to the
         work that God has for us to do)   – we work because we’re saved by
         grace.  We don’t work to be saved…we work because we’re saved.
            C. Outline.
                        1.  God wants us to understand His gift/s. (knowledge versus
               ignorance).  1 Cor. 12:1  (Understanding the backstory at Corinth
               & Paul’s defense before King Agrippa in Acts 25:11).
                        2.  God wants us to understand why He gives His gift/s – the
               purpose.  1 Cor. 12:7 to the profit of all (note the body metaphor
                14X in 1 Cor. 12:11-30!)  1 Cor. 14:25 (Glorifies God).
                        3.  God wants us to understand that the Holy Spirit distributes to
                 each believer as He wills. 1 Cor. 12:11; Rom. 12:6.

II. How to Discover Your Spiritual Gift/s.

Definition: Spiritual gift/s – a special God-given or divine empowerment/enablement.  It is conferred on every true believer by the Holy Spirit to accomplish a given ministry.

            1. Investigation: Where’s the needs?  What needs do I notice – hear about or
recognize? Spend time investigating how the gifts function.
ASK – (you have not because you ask not – James 4:2).
            2. Introspection: What moves your heart to deep joy when you share your life in
Christ? “God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him.”
– John Piper
            3. Interest: What needs get you thinking and feeling like “something needs to be
done about that!”
            4. Involvement: Get involved with various ministries in the church.
            5. Interaction: Ask others what they recognize in you.  Where are you noticing
God bringing impact and making a difference with your life & testimony.

Source:  Jeremiah Study Bible

III. Definitions.

            1. Apostle (Greek: apostolos). One sent forth — as God sent forth his Son, Jesus — into the world with the message of salvation (Heb. 3:1). Jesus, in turn, sent forth His twelve apostles, empowered by the Holy Spirit with the good news of salvation, and universal authority in matters of doctrine for His disciples until He comes again. (Matt. 28:16-20, Acts 1:8) These twelve apostles became the first building blocks to be placed on the firm foundation of Jesus Christ. They were also given the responsibility to equip saints for ministry within the church as well as minister to their surrounding community. (Eph. 2:20; 4:11,12) Each new generation has submitted to the authority of Jesus Christ, His apostles, and their writings up to this very hour. Paul was the last apostle to be placed on the foundation of Jesus Christ eliminating any need for new apostles (1 Cor. 15:9). He became a prime example of a man who discovered his gifts and wrapped his life around them; “I was appointed a preacher, and an apostle and a teacher” (2 Tim. 1:11).

            2. Prophet-Prophecy (Greek: prophetes, propheteia). The spiritual ability to speak forth the mind and counsel of God. Jesus was the prophet to come (Deut. 1:8-18; Acts 2:22-23). Prophets in the Old Testament were used by God to speak to Israel and the surrounding nations about current and future events. The prophets within the body of Christ were chosen along with the apostles to be placed on the firm foundation of Jesus Christ. (1 Cor. 12:27) They were also gifted by God to speak about present and future events (Acts 2:17-18, 11:27-28), equip the saints for ministry within the church (Eph. 4:11-12), as well as edify, comfort and encourage believers and reveal the secrets of men’s hearts. (1 Cor. 14:23-25) Agabus (Acts 21:10-11) and the four daughters of Phillip, the evangelist, were given the gift of prophecy among so many. (Acts 2:17, Acts 13:1-3, Acts 21:9, 1 Cor. 11:5; 14:29-32).

            3. Evangelist (Greek: evangelistes). The spiritual ability to communicate the good news of Jesus Christ’s redemptive story to a dying world lost in their sin and shame (Romans 3:23). Jesus modeled this gift of evangelism with Nicodemus (John 3:16). The good news is, in the words of Paul; “If you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.” (Rom. 10:9,10). The evangelists were also called of God to equip others to develop their spiritual gifts (Eph. 4:11, 12). Philip was known as an evangelist (Acts 8:4-13, 21:8).

            4. Pastor-teacher (Greek: poimen didaskalos). The spiritual ability to shepherd the flock of God (guard, guide, encourage, warn, etc.). Jesus was the good shepherd and teacher. (John 10:1-21, Luke 10:25-29) Pastor-teachers continue to be placed in the body of Christ to feed the word of God to the flock of God as well as equip them to find their spiritual gifts so they can do the work of ministry. (Eph. 4:11-12) Peter (John 21:15-17, 1 Peter 5:l-5).

            5. Serving (Greek: diakoneo, the root for deacon). The spiritual ability to meet the physical needs of men and women within the body of Christ and those living within the surrounding communities. The first example of the serving gifts in action was recorded in Acts 6:1-6 when the apostles selected seven men out of their group to minister to the poor Hellenistic Jewish widows who needed food. This in turn set the apostles free to minister with their spiritual gifts. (Phoeba, Acts 6:1).

6. Teaching (Greek: didaskalia). The spiritual ability to take the truth from the Word of God and explain it clearly so that the disciples of Jesus can understand it and apply those spiritual truths effectively to their daily lives, One can have the gift of teaching without being a shepherd of a flock, but one cannot have the gift of pastor-teacher without shepherding a flock as well as equipping others for ministry. Apollos had the spiritual gift of teaching (Acts 18:24-28).

            7. Encouragement (Greek: paraklesis). The spiritual ability to come alongside a person who may be hurting spiritually or emotionally and offer them a word of comfort concerning the past and a word of encouragement, admonishment (truth in love), and challenge so they will be able to walk in the steps of the Spirit in the future. A man named Joseph was renamed Barnabas (son of encouragement) by the apostles because of his ministry to the early church in Jerusalem (Acts 4:36-37).

            8. Giving (Greek: metadidomi). The spiritual ability to give financially or materially to the needs of others within the body of Christ or the community in which they live. They express this spiritual gift with liberality and in simplicity to the glory of God without drawing attention to themselves. Barnabas sold a field and gave the money to the apostles for the good of the church (Acts 4:36-37).

            9. Leadership (Greek: proisemi). The spiritual ability to provide guidance, direction, vision, and clarity for other members of the body of Christ as they seek to participate in various ministries. Timothy was used by God to bring order to the churches in Turkey. (1 Timothy).

            10. Mercy (Greek: eleos). The spiritual ability to manifest pity and give aid to those who are physically, emotionally or spiritually helpless. The spiritual ability to express compassion and lift up the one who is downtrodden with cheerfulness. Tabitha: “…this woman was abounding with deeds of kindness and charity, which she continually did” (Acts 9:36f).

            11. A word of wisdom (Greek: sophia). The spiritual ability to perceive life and truth from God’s perspective and then apply that wisdom to specific situations within the church or the world. Wisdom can be discerned by its fruit. “…The wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere” (James 3:17). James used his spiritual gift of wisdom at the Jerusalem council. (Acts 15:13-21).

            12. A word of knowledge (Greek: ginosko). The spiritual ability to communicate spiritual truth to fellow believers which has been acquired through the investigation of God’s word so they may grow spiritually mature. Stephen was a great example of a man of spiritual wisdom and knowledge when he spoke before the Supreme Court and broke open the scriptures to show that Jesus was their Messiah (Acts 7:1-53).

            13. Faith (Greek: pistis). The spiritual ability to see what isn’t, believe it to be, and trust God to do it in His way and time. Many men and women within the church have the faith to move mountains. Stephen, a man of faith and of the Holy Spirit. (Acts 6:5).

            14. Healings (Greek: iaomai). The spiritual ability to heal one who is sick. Paul called it the gifts of healings (plural) which may mean this gifted person could make one who is sick whole — either spiritually, emotionally, or physically. (1 Cor. 12:9) Physical healing is a symbol of how God wants to heal all of us spiritually. Peter and John healed a lame man at the temple gate (Acts 3:1 – 4:12), Paul brought spiritual healing to Paulus, (Acts 13:4-12).

15. Miraculous powers (Greek: dunamis). The spiritual ability to do works of a supernatural origin and character, such as could not be produced by natural agents and means. Philip (Acts 8:13), and Paul (Acts 13:9-12).

            16. Discerning spirits (Greek: diakrino). The spiritual ability to discern from God’s word between the spirit of evil and of God, the flesh and the spirit and truth and error, before the hit is evident. Paul had this experience with Elymas the magician (Acts 13:9-12). John discerned the spirits of False Prophets (1 John 4:1-3).

            17. Helps (Greek: antileppsis or antilempsis). The spiritual ability to come alongside others and support them and their ministry in physical ways. See Paul’s list of friends in Rom. 16:1-12.

            18. Administration (Greek: kubernesis). The spiritual ability to give guidance, pilot, steer. The spiritual ability to be a helmsman for a local church in helping direct its life, order, and vision. One who deals with people and not paper. The idea of governing as seen in the ministry of Stephanas (l Cor. 16:15-18).

            19. Tongues (Greek: glossa). The spiritual ability to speak a foreign language without learning it beforehand. Examples: On Pentecost at the birth of the Church when believers were filled with the Holy Spirit as the Spirit gave them utterance.  Those listening heard in their own languages. (Acts 2:1-12); Peter preaching to Cornelius’ household as Jewish converts were witnessing the Holy Spirit being poured out onto the Gentiles, also. (Acts 10:43-48); Paul preaching to converts to John’s baptism but had not heard of the Holy Spirit.  As Paul laid hands on them they spoke with tongues and prophesied (Acts 19:1-7). The gift of languages was used publicly to bring praise to God (1 Cor. 14:2), to edify the body of believers (1 Cor. 14:5), and to be used as a sign of judgment against unbelieving Jews. (1 Cor. 14:21-22). Must have an interpretation.

            20. Interpretation (Greek: diermeneko). The spiritual ability to translate the foreign language of the person speaking to the audience listening. The one who does the translation of that foreign language would be able, by the Power of the Spirit to interpret without learning that language beforehand. (1 Cor. 14:27).

Citation: Ron R. Ritchie (Peninsula Bible Church: January 29, 1996)


IV. Take Home Challenge:
            Read over the texts listed above and then read over and consider the various
spiritual gifts definitions and identify which gift/s that you believe God has
given you.