Pentecost 13 Spiritual Gifts, Experiencing Grace First Hand

[HKHaugan]

Pentecost 13 Spiritual Gifts, Experiencing Grace First Hand

Just what are spiritual gifts? The Greek word for spiritual gifts is ‘charismata,’ literally, grace gifts. Briefly, gifts are pieces of grace. As Paul says, “We have different gifts, according to the grace given us (Ro.12:6).” Spiritual gifts demonstrate the grace of God at work. They allow God to act through us. They are the praises of God in relational action, they activate our minds and allow us to experience God’s grace first hand.

In Paul’s introduction to spiritual gifts he says this, “1Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual[a] act of worship. 2Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will (Ro.12:1-2).” So exercising spiritual gifts is holy and pleasing to God. It is His desire, the way He has given us to render our bodies as sacrificial offerings in the Body of Christ.

There are three things we need to know about spiritual gifts in relation to the Body of Christ.

First, the gifts are our spiritual identity in the Body. We no longer look at one another in terms of our worldly definitions of personality, bloodline, socio-economic standing and ethnic origin. When we see our selves as spiritual brothers and sisters we view their identity as the Holy Spirit has gifted them. Are we looking at one another in terms of the gifts God has given us?

Second, the gifts are how we minister to one another in the Body. We see each other gifted to support, heal and build one another in the Spirit because we are first spiritual people who have been taken out of the world to live spiritually with one another in order to go back to witness in a fallen spiritual world. Are we willing to seek out the gifts we need for our personal recovery and maturity?

Third, the gifts are how we grow the Body. As each of us ministers and allows ourselves to be ministered to we strengthen the spiritual family. As each helps the other grow the Body grows because the Body becomes a magnet that is irresistible. People want spiritual reality and can only find it in a Body that is growing spiritually within. Are we extending our maturing witness into the world to bring others into the process of knowing, growing and maturing in Jesus?

Paul again, Eph.4:7, 11-13 “But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it…It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.”

Spiritual gifts and the context in which they are practiced are the keys to letting the Holy Spirit grow the Body in heart and numbers.

More on the gifts in a very special context….stay tuned.