KNOWING AND USING YOUR SPIRITUAL GIFTS | Mike Prah
Jesus: "Whoever wants to become great must be a servant to others." Matthew 20:26 (GWT)
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THE GIFT OF HIS SPIRIT
“… God has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with His love.” Romans 5:5 (LB)
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THE GIFT OF SOME SPECIAL ABILITIES
“Brothers and sisters, I want you to understand about spiritual gifts.” 1 Corinthians12:1 (NCV)
“I always thank my God for you and for the gracious gifts He has given you, now that you belong to Christ Jesus. Through Him, God has enriched your church in every way … Now you have every spiritual gift you need …” 1 Corinthians 1:4-7 (NLT)
“A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help the entire church.” 1 Corinthians12:7 (NLT+LB)
“God has given each of you a gift from His great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another.” 1 Peter 4:10 (NLT)
I. FOUR REASONS YOU NEED TO KNOW YOUR GIFTS
1. YOUR SPIRItUAL GIFT SHAPE YOUR WORK
“You made my whole being; You formed me in my mother's body. I praise You because You made me in an amazing and wonderful way. You saw my bones being formed as I took shape in my mother's body. When I was put together there, You saw my body as it was formed. All the days planned for me were written in Your book before I was one day old.” Psalms 139:13-16 (NCV)
Jesus: “I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work.” John 9:4 (NKJV)
“Life is worth nothing unless I use it for doing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus...” Acts 20:24 (LB)
“There are different spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit gives them. There are different ways of serving, and yet the same Lord is served. There are different types of work to do, but the same God produces every gift in every person.” 1 Corinthians 12:4-6 (GW)
2. YOUR SPIRITUAL GIFT SHOW YOUR WORTH
“We are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago.” Ephesians 2:10 (NLT)
“Each of us finds our meaning and function as a part of his body [the church]. But as a chopped-off finger or cut-off toe we wouldn’t amount to much, would we? So since we find ourselves fashioned into all these excellently formed and marvelously functioning parts in Christ’s body, let’s just go ahead and be what we were made to be, without enviously or pridefully comparing ourselves with each other, or trying to be something we aren’t.” Romans 12:6 (MSG)
3. YOUR SPIRITUAL GIFT EXPRESSES YOUR WORSHIP
“When you produce much fruit, My Father is honored and glorified...” John 15:8 (AMP)
“Bring Me all the people who are Mine, whom I made for My glory, those I formed and created.” Isaiah. 43:7 (NCV)
4. YOUR SPIRITUAL GIFT SHINES YOUR WITNESS
“Let your light shine in front of people. Then they’ll see the good that you do and praise your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:16 (GW)
“The people I have shaped for Myself will broadcast My praises.” Isaiah 43:21 (NJB)
II. FOUR STEPS TO USING YOUR GIFTS
1. DISCOVER THEM
“Do not neglect the spiritual gift that is in you.” 1 Timothy 4:14 (GN)
We have about 24 or more spiritual gifts:
Administration, Apostle, Craftsmanship, Discernment, Exhortation, Evangelism, Faith, Giving, Healings, Helps, Hospitality, Knowledge, Leadership, Mercy, Miracles, Music, Pastor, Prophecy, Service, Teaching, Tongues, Tongues Interpretation, Wisdom
(Rom. 12:4-8; Eph. 4:11-13, 1 Corinth. 12:4-12; 1 Corinth. 12:27-30)
2. DEDICATE THEM
“Give yourselves completely to God since you have been given new life. And use your whole body as a TOOL to do what is right for the glory of God.” Romans 6:13 (NLT)
3. DEVELOP THEM
“Fan into flame the gift God gave you …” 2 Timothy 1:6 (JB)
“…keep using the gift God gave you when I laid my hands on you. Now let it grow, as a small flame grows into a fire.” 2 Timothy 1:6 (NCV)
4. DEPLOY THEM
“In His grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. 7 If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. 8 If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly." Romans 12:6-8 (NLT)
THE REWARDS: MY SERVICE WILL BE REWARED FOR ETERNITY
Jesus said, "My Father will honor anyone who serves me." John 12:26 (NCV)
"Well done, good and faithful servant! You've been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!" Matthew 25:23 (NIV)
MY RESPONSE
"Teach me to serve you with complete devotion." Psalm 86:11 (GN)
"Serve the Lord with gladness!" Psalm 100:2 (KJV)