Fire & Wind: A Summer of Renewal // Body of Christ - Part 3
Fire & Wind: A Summer of Renewal //
Body of Christ - Part 3
Pastor Charlie Weir
Key Gift Points
• As the Body of Christ, we are to be mutually dependent on one another.
• “A spiritual gift is an expression of faith that which aims to strengthen faith. A spiritual gift is an ability given by the Holy Spirit to express our faith effectively (in word or deed) for the strengthening of someone else’s faith. Spiritual gifts are a way to disperse God’s grace to others!” Pastor John Piper
• A key differentiator between a spiritual gift and a talent is… A talent turns the spotlight on me. A spiritual gift imparts strength to you.
Slide The Spiritual Gift of Prophecy
• Prophecy is God’s “turn by turn” instructions.
• Prophecy in the Body of Christ is for the mutually edification and redemptive effectiveness of the Church.
Slide The Spiritual Gift of Service The Greek Diakonia can be translated ministry or serve and the frame of that ministry service is love not duty.
Slide The Spiritual Gift of Teaching The Spiritual gift of teaching is the gift to instruct and/or mentor from scripture for Christian living, discerning truth from lies.
Slide Guiding Principles in the Operation of Spiritual Gifts
• Spiritual Gifts aren’t owned, they are stewarded.
• My identity is in Christ, not my gift.
• Our spiritual gifts mature as we spiritually mature.
• As a Body we coordinate with one another, cooperate with one another and compensate for one another. We don’t compete with one another or compare ourselves to one another.
Romans 12:6-8 (AMP) 6 Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to use them accordingly: if [someone has the gift of] prophecy, [let him speak a new message from God to His people] in proportion to the faith possessed; 7 if service, in the act of serving; or he who teaches, in the act of teaching; 8 or he who encourages, in the act of encouragement; he who gives, with generosity; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy [in caring for others], with cheerfulness.
The Gift of Encouragement
• The Greek word Paul uses for this gift is paraklesis.
• The Greek word Jesus uses for the Holy Spirit is Parakletos.
• Paraklesis is the act of coming alongside, advocating, comforting.
The Gift of Giving. Do it Generously!
The imparting of one’s possessions.
A Christian should be the most generous person ever. Why?
1) Each of us have received the priceless gift of salvation.
2) Accepting salvation isn’t just the receipt of a gift but a relinquishing of our total selves to the Giver.
3) Everything we have has come from His hand, making us stewards not owners.
People with the Spiritual Gift of Giving are on the lookout for good soil to invest in! People with the gift of generosity go looking for needs and opportunities.
The Gift of leadership. Do it with diligence.
“The Church is the hope of the world. And it’s future rests in the hands of its leaders.” Pastor/Author Bill Hybels
The Gift of leadership.
The Greek means to stand before and it can also mean to stand between.
Needing to be in control might be the first sign you don’t have this gift or that it is in definite need of maturation. The spiritual gift of leadership is exercised for those who you are leading – this gift, as all the others, is not about your advancement.
“A leader’s responsibility isn’t to make all the decisions but to ensure the right decisions are being made.” Pastor/Author Andy Stanley
The Greek for leadership also carries the connotation of Helmsman – steering a ship in the proper direction. It’s not the gift of driving people but the gift of steering people
“Good leadership comes from good followership”. Dr. Lagi, Surgeon & Spiritual Pioneer
The Gift of mercy. Do it cheerfully.
This gift speaks not to forgiveness or sparing judgement but to the ministering to the sick and needy. This isn’t a passive gift, it’s the gift of getting right in there massaging a broken heart back to life.
The 7 Gifts of Romans 12
Prophecy, Service, Teaching, Encouragement, Giving, Leading, Mercy
God wants us to use our gifts to facilitate more people finding Him, being transformed by Him, shaped by Him, equipped for Him and sent into the harvest field from Him!
We don’t outgrow our spiritual gifts we grow into them. They feel a bit awkward at first but when you grow into them you can cover a lot of ground quickly!