CHARACTER QUALITY # 42 Gifted

1 Corinthians 12:4-31

          4 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6 There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men.

HOW	WHO
Different gifts	same Spirit
Different Service	same Lord
Different Workings	same God

          7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. (Common good does not mean we are gifted to just bless other Christians – common good – we are gifted for service to work for the good of others = the common good. Neighborhoods, schools, cities, Nation, world.) 8 To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10 to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues.   11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines.

          Who gives gifts?  THE HOLY SPIRIT.  What does the Holy Spirit give?  GIFTS.  To whom?  Those who have the Holy Spirit?  Who is that ?  Christ’s followers = Christians.  Why? For the common good.

          12 The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. 13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit (Baptism in the Spirit – is a quality every Christian possesses) into one body — whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free — and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.  Like water baptism – we were baptized into the Holy Spirit (surrounded by…) and like taking a drink, the Spirit is in us.

          14 Now the body is not made up of one part but of many. 15 If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? 18 But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. 19 If they were all one part, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, but one body.

          If we were one part and not many parts making one body – we would be an organ – not an organism where each part is dependent on the other to make a wonderful living whole person/body.  So it is with the Church.

          21 The eye cannot say to the hand, "I don't need you!" And the head cannot say to the feet, "I don't need you!" 22 On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, 24 while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it, 25 so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. 26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.

          When your little finger gets hurt, the other hand/wrist/palm/fingers jump in to protect it.  The body functions as a perfect unit caring equally for all other parts.  When one hip suffers, the rest of the body suffers with it.  When one body part is renewed, all body parts work better.

          27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. 28 And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of administration, and those speaking in different kinds of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30 Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? 31 But eagerly desire the greater gifts.

          Is this a comprehensive list of gifts given by the Holy Spirit? NO – In verse 8 was another list and in Ephesians is another list.  This list sounds like church planting.  The point of the previous list was to show that all gifts are equal – it is not who gets them, rather who gives them – the HS.  Think about any list of spiritual gifts as merely a sample list – none is comprehensive.  The Spirit is not limited to those listed and they are in no order of importance.  For instance: ADOPT A SCHOOL – which of these acts of service that require different gifting are more important than any of the others?... 

…Painting Doors, Landscaping across from school entrance, Providing location and food for a beginning of school orientation breakfast, Provide gift baskets for teacher (supplies they would normally buy), Provide food and beverages for teachers meetings, Grandparent readers, Tutors, Playground assistants, Encouragement notes, Prayer partners, Collect and provide school supplies for the students, Collect and provide coats, hats and gloves, provide appropriate books for the school library, participate in career days; serve as resource speakers, sponsor awards for bringing up grades, most improved student, perfect attendance; sponsor academic awards banquet, citizenship projects, students of the month; be a mentor for a student, develop or sponsor arts festivals; sponsor visits by performing artists; provide scholarships to local cultural events, assist with classes in cafeteria during lunch; award mini-grants for teachers or departments; recognize teachers during Teacher Appreciation Week, assist families in need.

          And now I will show you the most excellent way.

READ: 1 Corinthians 13

You may be the best looking, the wealthiest, the strongest, the smartest, the most business savvy, the best bible scholar, the greatest preacher or teacher of scripture, but if you don’t have love you are nothing more than the most annoying cymbal crash the world has ever heard.

11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me.

Ephesians 4:7-13

7 But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. 8 This is why it says: "When he ascended on high, he led captives in his train and gave gifts to men."  9 (What does "he ascended" mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions? 10 He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.) 11 It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, (WHY?) 12 to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 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.

          How has God gifted you?

Why has He gifted you that way?

How has your giftedness been used in service for God’s glory?

How might your giftedness be used for God’s glory?

From the Heart,
Pastor Jeff Cooper