Grace Gifts
Grace
1. God stoops down from where He is to give you gifts that you don’t deserve,
because of who you are, not because of what you’ve done
2. Grace is Empowerment for ministry (charis, charismato); spiritual gifts
God gives me what I need to do what I’m purposed to do
Romans 12:3–6
For I say, through the grace (charis) 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. 4 For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, 5 so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. 6 Having then gifts (charisma – favor) differing according to the grace (charis) that is given to us, let us use them.
Do all Believers have Grace-Gifts? YES
Some you receive at creation
Others you receive at re-creation (being re-born, Spirit-filled) – 1 Cor 12:7; Jn 3:6
Primary Gifts or Motivational Gifts – the reason we act the way we do
These are given at your creation & part of how God made you (Ps 139:13-16)
Creation Gifts can be used in all environments
Prophecy – foretelling future events, declarations, exhortations & warnings by prophets
Service – minister, attendance i.e. a waiter. Diakonias: deacon
Teaching – instruct by word of mouth
Exhortation – to comfort, encourage, aid, help. Parakaleo: call to the side of
Giving – to share with someone, to give, to distribute
Leadership – to stand before, to set over, to preside
Mercy / Compassion – an active desire to remove the miseries of others
1 Peter 4:9-11
Be hospitable to one another without grumbling. 10 As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. 11 If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ.
Hospitality – philoxenou: loving strangers, a friend of, or kind to strangers
Speaking – to talk; speech
Creation gifts meet more than Spiritual needs
Prophecy Spiritual
Service practical
Teaching mental
Exhortation psychological
Giving material
Leadership organizational
Mercy / Compassion emotional
Hospitality practical
Speaking mental, psychological
More Creation gifts Spirit Inspired Talents – likely to become professions
Ex 31:1-5
Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: 2 "See, I have called by name Bezalel…
3 And I have filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship, 4 to design artistic works…
and to work in all manner of craftmanship.
Artist Craftsman
Design Technology
Inventor Medicine
Creative Communication Writing
Music …other Creative Pursuits
Gen 4:21-22
His brother's name was Jubal. He was the father of all those who play the harp and flute. 22 And as for Zillah, she also bore Tubal-Cain, an instructor of every craftsman in bronze and iron.
Daniel 1:17
As for these four young men, God gave them knowledge and skill in all literature and wisdom; and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.
1 Cor 7:7, 32
For I wish that all men were even as I myself. But each one has his own gift from God, one in this manner and another in that.
Celibacy – abstaining from marriage and sexual relations, often for religious reasons
32 He who is unmarried cares for the things of the Lord — how he may please the Lord.
Manifestation Gifts – display the involvement of the Spirit in the affairs of man
Word of Wisdom
Word of Knowledge
Faith
Gifts of Healing
Working of Miracles
Prophecy
Discernment of Spirits
Tongues
Interpretation of Tongues
Manifestation Gifts are not ecstatic, random power, but ordered assignments
These gifts minister the Mind of Christ
1 Cor 2:9-16
12 that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.
16 we have the mind of Christ
These gifts minister the Mouth of Holy Spirit
John 16:13-14
When He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. 14 He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you.
These gifts minister the Power of God
John 14:12
Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.
With the Holy Spirit comes empowerment – Acts 1:8
Eph 3:20
Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.
Do not quench the Spirit. – 1 Thess 5:19
Do not frustrate the grace of God – Gal 2:21
All of the Power is not vested all in one Individual
The Spirit gives gifts as “He chooses”
1 Cor 12:4-7, 11
There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. 6 And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. 7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all:
11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.
· There are different gifts, according to the grace given (Rom 12:6)
· There are different ways of ministering – everyone functions differently
· There are different activities – there is different work to do
Gift Clusters – similar gifts that occur together; closely related gifts
1 Cor 14:12
Since you are eager for manifestations of the Spirit,
strive to excel in building up the church.
Mark 16:15 & 17
[Jesus] said to them, "Go… 17 And these signs will follow.”
Acts 5:12, 14
Now many signs and wonders were regularly done among the people by the hands of the apostles. And they were all together in Solomon’s Portico.
14 And more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women.
Manifestation Gifts advance the Kingdom of God
Matt 12:28–29
If it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons,
then the kingdom of God has come upon you.
29 Or how can someone enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods,
unless he first binds the strong man? Then indeed he may plunder his house.
These gifts ‘plunder’ souls from darkness
Jesus modeled this plundering: Eph 4:8
“When he ascended on high he led a captivity captive, and he gave gifts to men.”
Apostle
Prophet
Evangelist
Pastor
Teacher
These are Ministry Gifts – from Jesus, to build His Church
Eph 4:7, 12
To each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ's gift.
12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,
1 Cor 12:28 adds these Ministry Gifts
God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues.
Administration – Government
Helps – aid
Ministry Gifts are strongly connected to Motivational Gifts
Ministry comes out of how God ‘created’ you
Gifts are redemptive to the Believer – restoring God’s original purpose
Laying on of Hands is not a Gift;
Laying on of Hands is a doctrine concerning transference – Heb 6:2, 1 Tim 5:22
The gift is what you receive as a result of the laying on of hands
1 Tim 4:14
Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you
by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership.
2 Tim 1:6-7
Therefore, I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you
through the laying on of my hands.
All Grace-Gifts are not on a list
Criteria for a Grace Gift:
· Minister it to one another – 1 Peter 4:10
· The manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all – 1 Cor 12:7
· For the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ – Eph 4:12
Proper self-esteem must be dealt with re: Gifts
Rom 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.
1 Cor 12:20-23
But now indeed there are many members, yet one body. 21 And the eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you"; nor again the head to the feet, "I have no need of you." 22 No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary. 23 And those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor; and our unpresentable parts have greater modesty,
Strengths & weaknesses
Prophecy Quickly perceives & identifies
Blunt & judgmental, forgets to praise
Service Recognizes needs & quick to meet them
Critical of lazy; may neglect own family
Teaching Presents truth practically & understandable
Slow to accept views of others
Exhortation Loves people & encouraging them
Tends to interrupt out of eagerness
Giving Loves to give without others knowing
May try to control how contributions used
Leadership Motivated to organize & advance
Driven & can ‘miss’ people in seeing task
Mercy, compassion Great capacity to love; looks for good
Can be indecisive; easily hurt
Hospitality Makes people feel welcome & included
Speaking
Opinionated; overly self-confident; poor listener