Pentecost 16 The Way Jesus Develops and Matures Us---Spiritual Gifts

[HKHaugan]

Pentecost 16 The Way Jesus Develops and Matures Us---Spiritual Gifts

Eph.4:4-6 “There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope when you were called— one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.…..”

Oneness is the theme of God’s thrust into the world. The reason for this is the sinful tendency of the heart to search for different ways to control the unseen dimension of life. “God made mankind upright but men have gone in search of many schemes (Ecc.7:29)." The devil has an assortment of spirits and demons to tempt and assist the frightened heart to act in the anxieties of any given moment. Without God the heart is victimized by the spirit of fear that draws the others in the dark caverns of our aloneness.

Oneness brings with it simplicity in understanding and acting. Paul’s emphasis on the oneness of the Spirit and the Body came in the midst of a world dominated by multiple gods, many religions, the deification of an empire and its leaders and the desperation of the human heart in its idolatrous search for peace and security. To know for sure that we have One loving God seen through One Savior and experienced through One Spirit takes away the confusion of the many spirits and the fear of not appeasing them.

In our time the same spirits dress in more subtle forms but still raise havoc through war, social division and interpersonal conflict. Eph.6:12 “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms [We will name a few in a succeeding article].” The fact that we have One Spirit who exposes and overpowers the devil and his spiritual arsenal, frees us from their promotion of fear and anxiety to serve the Lord and bring others to Him in a hostile world.

It is One Spirit who gives us our spiritual tasks called gifts to minister in One family called the Body of Christ. They are gifts not spirits. They are spiritual tools empowered by the One Spirit to restore the broken parts of the heart. They are alive because it is the One Spirit that causes them to function in us. Spiritual gifts are our job description in the Body. As we minister ours and others minister theirs to us we grow in the Spirit and are restored to the image and likeness of God He intended. When we are equipped with the gifts and practice them there is no spirit or demon that can sidetrack us. Gifts will excite us and keep us looking forward to the opportunities to use them.

Let’s look at a few of them.
(Eph.4:7, 11-13) “But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it…..11It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers.”
(1Cor.12:8-11) “For to one is given the word of (A)wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of (B)knowledge according to the same Spirit; to another (C)faith by the same Spirit, and to another (D)gifts of healing by the one Spirit, and to another the effecting of (E)miracles, and to another (F)prophecy, and to another the (G)distinguishing of spirits, to another various (H)kinds of tongues, and to another the (I)interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, (J)distributing to each one individually just as He wills.”
Cross references:
A. 1 Corinthians 12:8 : 1 Cor 2:6; 2 Cor 1:12
B. 1 Corinthians 12:8 : Rom 15:14; 1 Cor 2:11, 16; 2 Cor 2:14; 4:6; 8:7; 11:6
C. 1 Corinthians 12:9 : 1 Cor 13:2; 2 Cor 4:13
D. 1 Corinthians 12:9 : 1 Cor 12:28, 30
E. 1 Corinthians 12:10 : 1 Cor 12:28; Gal 3:5
F. 1 Corinthians 12:10 : 1 Cor 11:4; 13:2, 8
G. 1 Corinthians 12:10 : 1 Cor 14:29; 1 John 4:1
H. 1 Corinthians 12:10 : Mark 16:17; 1 Cor 12:28, 30; 13:1; 14:2-ff
I. 1 Corinthians 12:10 : 1 Cor 12:30; 14:26
J. 1 Corinthians 12:11 : 1 Cor 12:4

(Ro.12:6-8) We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his[a]faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.

Three ways to discover your gifts, ---pray for a conscious recognition of your gifts, ---search Scriptural references (like those above) and contexts in both Testaments, then, ---share what you have found in a small group or in the larger Body to seek confirmation. That will come when others are blessed and respond when you use them.

Paul was an example of gifts in action. His main function was as an apostle, then a missionary, most of all a teacher and a pastor as evidenced in his letters. But one more important thing. As a witness to Jesus we may be the only disciple present in a particular situation that calls for ministry. The glory of the Holy Spirit is that He will provide the gifts necessary for the moment needed.

Spiritual gifts are the way a Body functions in truth, in Spirit and in love to accomplish God’s purpose, “…that the body of Christ may be built up until 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 (Eph.4:12-13).”
Stay tuned for more.