Your Spiritual Gifts

 

Explanation of spiritual gifts

~~ Watch the Video ~~

Worship: Rest On Us

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xr_Aq2dY934

Scriptures:

• Romans 12:3-8*
• 1 Corinthians 12:4-8
• 1 Corinthians 14:2
• 1 Corinthians 14:27
• 1 Corinthians 14:21-22

Introduction

Romans 12:3-8*

4 For just as we have many parts in one body and all the body’s parts do not have the same function, 5 so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually parts of one another. 6 However, since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to use them properly: if prophecy, in proportion to one’s faith; 7 if service, in the act of serving; or the one who teaches, in the act of teaching; 8 or the one who exhorts, in the work of exhortation; the one who gives, with generosity; the one who is in leadership, with diligence; the one who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.

“We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us”?

• God gives the gifts to whom he pleases based on grace
• It’s not something that you earn or deserve
• Gifting is not a sign of spiritual maturity or closeness to God

Your gift is based on your assignment

“He distributes to each one just as He determines “

You won’t necessarily have the same spiritual gift throughout your whole life. Your spiritual gifts might change as your season in life and your roles change.

Today

• Discuss some general facts about spiritual gifts
• Next lesson go through one or more of the 3 lists of spiritual gifts in the Bible
• Won’t go deep on any specific gift today
• We’ll talk a bit about tongues since that came up last week
• We will go through the lists next week

We will run it through the filter of the word

• Your experience and what you see in your church don’t create doctrine

Outline:

• Introduction
• Finding Your Purpose in Life Series
• Review: Your Skills and Talents
• Gifts, Ministries, Effects
• Manifestations vs. Permanent Gifts
• Measure of Grace
• Conclusion

Finding Your Purpose in Life Series

The two greatest days in your life are:

1. the day you were born
2. the day you figure out why you were born

– – Mark twain

Purpose is the fundamental reason that something exists

The Bible tells us that everything was created by God, the Designer, for a reason

• That means that you were created for a specific reason

If you want to find your purpose… You have to start with God

Your calling is the purpose that God created you for

• It's the end goal of your assignment on earth
• It is how you serve his purposes in your world

It is The part you play in “thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven“

Having a purpose gives you

• a meaningful goal
• a sense of fulfilment
• clarity making life decisions
• makes suffering more bearable

“A calling“ is a God-given purpose

A Christian’s Callings

Christians have

1. General callings
2. A Unique calling

General Christian Callings

All Christians are called to:

1. To Love God
2. Love your neighbor
3. Make disciples

Unique Calling

Additionally, you were given unique

• Gifts, talents
• Personality
• Preferences
• Life experiences

to serve others, and to glorify God

In this series we will discover:

1. What a purpose is and why it matters
2. What are your unique attributes as it relates to your calling
3. What in your life has prepared you for your destiny
4. What is your unique purpose
5. How to overcome the barriers preventing you from pursuing your purpose

Over the next year, I will walk alongside you and help guide you to finding your purpose

Review: Your Skills and Talents

Three parts that make you unique

1. Natural ability
2. Acquired skills
3. Spiritual gifts

Natural Ability

Every person was born with a set of unique abilities

• Natural ability to sing well
• The ability to run fast or jump high
• Ability to process complex mathematical equations
• Ability to create art
• The ability to lead others
• Make friends easily

Natural talents are abilities you have possessed for as long as you can remember.

Physical attributes

Physical attributes can be grouped with natural abilities

• Esther’s beauty
• Saul’s height

Acquired Skills

Acquired skills are the result of intentional effort, education, and repetition.

These are things you didn't know how to do until someone taught you or you practiced them.

Source

• Training
• Environment
• Discipline

Examples

• Speaking a second language
• coding in Python
• Carpentry / electrician

Spiritual Gifts

Spiritual gifts are special enablements given by the Holy Spirit to believers for the purpose of building up the church, helping others, or helping you connect with God

Examples

• Prophecy
• discernment of spirits
• supernatural encouragement (exhortation)
• Speaking in tongues

Parable of the Talents

4 Takeaways

1. Your gifts and talents are owned by God… Not you
2. Your Ability Determines what your Assignment is
3. Success is Measured by Faithfulness, Not Impact
4. Inaction is the Only Real Failure

God will give you skills and gifts when you need them based on your current assignment

Gifts, Ministries, Effects

Spiritual gifts are special abilities. God gives every believer to use to contribute to human flourishing

1 Corinthians 12:4-7

4 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord. 6 There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons. 7 But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.

• Gifts
• Ministries
• Effects

Gifts

Gifts (Charismata) – "The Same Spirit"

The word charismata comes from charis, meaning "grace." These are "grace-endowments"—special abilities or capacities given to a believer.

What it is: The raw spiritual "tool" or talent (e.g., the gift of teaching, prophecy, or healing).

The Difference: This is the internal enablement. You might have the gift of teaching, but that gift can be expressed in many different ways.

Measure of Gifting

Everyone doesn’t get the same level of gifting

• You get a “measure“ of the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit rests on you according to the assignment you have, and how much you have yielded to God's purposes on the earth.

-- Bill Johnson

Ministries / Functions

Ministries (Diakoniai) – "The Same Lord"

The word diakoniai means "service" or "administration" (where we get the word "deacon").

What it is: The specific office or sphere of service where you use your gift.

The Difference: Two people may have the same gift (e.g., Exhortation), but different ministries.

Exhortation

• prison ministry
• youth group

Titles Don’t Matter

Paul says “the body parts don’t have the same function“

• He doesn’t say that they don’t have the same “title“
• Because God doesn’t care what you call it

• … He just cares about your activity

These gifts are functions… Not titles

The way your gift plays out may vary according to your calling

Example: Gift of teaching

• Pastor
• Classroom
• Bible study teacher
• Social media videos
• Jail ministry
• Leading the new members class

Function / Ministry

You’ve been formed for your ministry

• maybe God wired you certain way because in order to do what you need to do you have to be wired that way

Your ministry is determined according to your gifts.  

my gifts are the evidence that confirm my ministry

If you get a function according to a title and not your gifting… You are dysfunctional

Effects

Effects (Energemata)

The word energemata (the root of our word "energy") refers to the "workings," "operations," or "power" of God.

What it is: The supernatural impact or outcome of the gift being used.

The Difference: You provide the gift and the service, but God provides the power that makes it effective.

You might teach a lesson (the gift and ministry), but only God can make that lesson "click" in someone's heart to change their life (the effect)

Example: visitor got mad at friend because he thought she told pastor his business

Talent vs Gifting

Is there a supernatural result?

Story: church choir

• “Feel the spirit”
• Talent versus gifting.
• Singing with excellent, but didn’t feel “the spirit“

Three Types/Manifestations of Tongues

To “speak in tongues” means to supernaturally speak in a language that you never learned

Theologians often say that there are three types of tongues distinguished by their purpose and how they are triggered:

The Personal Prayer Language

1 Corinthians 14:2

For the one who speaks in a tongue does not speak to people, but to God; for no one understands, but in his spirit he speaks mysteries.

Often called "praying in the Spirit," this is used for private devotion. Many traditions believe this is a resident gift that you can initiate at will once you have received it.

The Prophetic/Public Gift:

1 Corinthians 14:27-28

27If anyone speaks in a tongue, it must be by two or at the most three, and each one in turn, and one is to interpret; 28but if there is no interpreter, he is to keep silent in church; and have him speak to himself and to God.

This is a message meant for a congregation that requires an interpreter. This is usually seen as a spontaneous manifestation.  You don’t do it "at will," but rather as the Spirit prompts you for the sake of others.

The "Proof" Tongue (Xenoglossia)

1 Corinthians 14:21-22

21 In the Law it is written: “BY MEN OF STRANGE TONGUES AND BY THE LIPS OF STRANGERS I WILL SPEAK TO THIS PEOPLE, AND EVEN SO THEY WILL NOT LISTEN TO ME,” says the Lord. 22 So then, tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers; but prophecy is not for unbelievers, but for those who believe.

Acts 2:1-6 (NASB20) 1 When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly a noise like a violent rushing wind came from heaven, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 And tongues that looked like fire appeared to them, distributing themselves, and a tongue rested on each one of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with different tongues, as the Spirit was giving them the ability to speak out. 5 Now there were Jews residing in Jerusalem, devout men from every nation under heaven. 6 And when this sound occurred, the crowd came together and they were bewildered, because each one of them was hearing them speak in his own language.

This is the miraculous ability to speak a known human language you never learned, typically for the purpose of evangelism (as seen in Acts 2). This is almost always a "coming upon" experience and is not under human control.

The fact that Paul tells people not to speak in tongues at certain time implies that they have the ability to do it it will

Manifestations vs. Permanent Gifts

If you pray for somebody to get healed and they are healed , but it never happens again for the rest of your life do you have the gift of healing?

• You pray dozens more times and no one else gets healed

In theology, experiencing a supernatural ability only once does not necessarily mean you have a permanent spiritual gift. Scholars and traditions often distinguish between manifestations, and permanent gifts.

Manifestations

Manifestations (Spiritual "Sparks"): The Holy Spirit can manifest any gift through any believer at a specific moment to meet a specific need. Doing something once (like a word of knowledge or a healing) is often seen as a "manifestation of the Spirit" for that moment.

When the Holy Spirit "comes upon" you for a single act, it is often called an Anointing.

• Temporary Purpose: An anointing can be a temporary empowerment for a specific task or mission.

Difference from Gifting: A person might be "gifted" in music but not "anointed" in a specific moment, or they may be "anointed" to speak once without having a lifelong "gift" of prophecy.

Story: Brian spoke in tongues once

• Another in his small group interpreted

This is similar to the old testament when they say “the Holy Spirit came upon him“

Permanent Gifts

The Gift (Residency): Having "the gift" typically implies a consistent, recurring enablement given by the Spirit for regular service.

Possession: We don't "own" the power; we "host" the Spirit's activity.

What people call "having the gift" is often actually a consistent history of God choosing to work through them, rather than an on-demand supernatural talent.

Motivational Gifts vs. Manifestation Gifts

Scholars often categorize these into groups that behave differently:

• Motivational/Serving Gifts (Teaching, Encouragement): These are often seen as permanent enablements that reside in the believer. Because they are "resident," you can generally choose to exercise them whenever an opportunity arises.
• 
  
• Manifestation/Sign Gifts (Healing, Miracles, Prophecy): These are often viewed as spontaneous "bursts" of power given by the Spirit for a specific moment. You cannot "will" a miracle to happen; you must wait for the Spirit to move.

Operating "At Will"

Scholars debate whether spiritual gifts are ever truly "at will" in the sense of human control.

• Spirit’s Sovereignty: Gifts operate as the Spirit wills, not on human command. Even those with a strong gift of healing or prophecy cannot usually "turn it on" without the Spirit's leading.

The measure of “at Will“ that a person have may depend on the “grace“ that they were given in that gift

——

The Logic: If even Jesus —couldn't heal "at will," then the "gift" is clearly subject to God's timing and purposes, not human desire.

Referring to the fact that the Bible states that when Jesus went to his home town “he could only heal one or two people“

“Your faith has healed you”

Faith as a Conduit, Not the Power Source

Think of a lamp and a power plant. The power plant (God) provides the electricity, but the wire (Faith) is what allows that power to reach the bulb.

• When Jesus says, "Your faith has healed you," he isn't saying the person generated the power. He is saying their trust in Him "unlocked" or "channeled" the power that was already present in Him.

——————

In theology, gifts like teaching and encouragement (often called "serving" or "motivational" gifts) are typically viewed differently than "manifestation" gifts (like healing or miracles) because they are often more integrated with a person's life and choices.

However, the phrase "at will" is still technically debated. Here is how theologians distinguish them:

"At Will" vs. "Under Sovereignty"

• The Responsibility to Act: For gifts listed in Romans 12 (teaching, encouragement, giving, leadership), the Bible actually commands believers to use them. For example, "if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage". This implies a level of human choice and "will" to step into the role.
• The Spirit’s Empowerment: While you can choose to teach or encourage "at will," theologians argue that the spiritual effectiveness of that act is not under your control. You can prepare a lesson, but the Holy Spirit decides when that teaching penetrates a listener’s heart or provides supernatural insight.

Measure of Grace

Every spiritual gift comes with a measure of grace in some related area

you can work your Way into a talent but you can’t work your way into grace

You get the measure of grace you need for your assignment

Example: I got the Grace to read the Bible

• I’ve read less than 10 books for pleasure in my life
• I can study the Bible for four hours six nights a week
• Even though I hate to read

The love for studying the Bible came to me when I was called to teach

• A desire to know the truth
• An interest in the different theological arguments
• The ability to understand the King James Version

Those with the gift of healing were often given the gift of knowledge.

• To know that someone needs healing

One person’s gift of teaching may work in a room of 5000

• Another person's gift may work in a room of three

Example: Leader of thousands: Ron Carpenter

• Leader of 1000s
• Leader of 10s
• Leader of 1s

He’s completely comfortable speaking in a stadium of 5000 people

• He’s uncomfortable one on one and in small groups

He made the mistake of promoting people out of their level of grace

Conclusion

Your gift will make room for you

Esther, Daniel and Joseph’s destiny required them to be in the palace

• Their gifts opened up the door for them to gain access to the palace

Your gift is not for the ones who don’t receive it.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DQk7fDtEufk/?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==

• * I do not recommend watching other videos from the creator of this video or from this speaker, but the words here were in alignment with the truth. Just replace “the creation“ with “God“.

Story

Mama used to buy gifts all year to give away at Christmas.

• You feel good when you find a person who matches the gift you bought
• We feel good when we find the opportunity to use our God giving gifts

Do what you do

• You got to gift of encouragement and you’re waiting on the church to do something
• You can encourage the people at your job

References

Your Skills and Talents

https://unchaineddisciples.blogspot.com/2026/01/your-skills-and-talents.html

Do what you do

Daniels TV show

Spiritual gifts

https://unchaineddisciples.blogspot.com/2015/05/spiritual-gifts.html

Extra

Has the pastor been following me around?

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DTX4lHYjA4K/?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==