When Apostle Paul teaches on spiritual gifts, what was he saying? Welcome to BibleStudyMinistry.com, an online Bible Study supplement source. Today we will briefly talk about Paul the apostle, and what he taught in regards to spiritual gifts. What exactly was Paul speaking about?
Let’s dive right into it.
When Paul taught on the spiritual gifts, what was he saying, and how do you identify your spiritual gifts?
When Paul writes about spiritual gifts, he is referring to special abilities or talents that are bestowed upon individual believers by the Holy Spirit. These gifts are given to Christians for the purpose of serving the greater good of the Church, promoting unity, and fulfilling God’s purposes on Earth. Paul’s teachings on spiritual gifts can primarily be found in his letters to the Corinthians and the Romans, specifically in 1st Corinthians chapters 12 through 14 and Romans 12:3-8.
Here are some key points regarding what Paul means when he writes about spiritual gifts:
Variety of Gifts: Paul emphasizes that there are various spiritual gifts, and these gifts are not the same for everyone. In 1 Corinthians 12:4-6, he writes, “There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but they all work for the same Master. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone, it is the same Creator at work.”
Unity and Diversity: While there are many different gifts, they all come from the same source, which is the Holy Spirit. Paul stresses that these diverse gifts should not lead to division within the Church but should promote unity and cooperation among believers.
Purpose of Spiritual Gifts: Paul teaches that spiritual gifts are given to believers for specific purposes. These purposes include edifying the Church, serving one another in love, and advancing the Gospel. For example, gifts like prophecy, teaching, and healing are meant to build up and strengthen the community of believers.
Importance of Love:
In 1st Corinthians 13, often referred to as the “Love Chapter,” Paul emphasizes that love is paramount in the exercise of spiritual gifts. Regardless of the gifts one possesses, they are worthless without love. Love should be the motivation behind the use of these gifts.
Desire for Spiritual Gifts: Paul encourages believers to desire spiritual gifts, especially those that contribute to the well-being of the Church. He also emphasizes the value of prophecy because it edifies and encourages the entire congregation.
Orderly Worship:
In 1 Corinthians 14, Paul provides guidelines for the orderly exercise of spiritual gifts during public worship services. He emphasizes the importance of clarity and understanding, ensuring that all things are done for edification.
In summary, when Paul writes about spiritual gifts, he is addressing the diverse abilities and talents that believers receive from the Holy Spirit to serve the Great Creator and others within the world community, beginning with those who are one with the Anointed Son, and then others, the Bantu (Jew) and finally the Gentile. These gifts are intended to promote unity, build up the Church, and spread the message of Christ’s love and salvation.
Minister Koko
BSM
1 Corinthians Chapters 12-14
1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.
2 Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led.
3 Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.
4 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.
5 And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.
6 And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.
7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.
8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;
9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;
10 To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:
11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.
12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.
13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
14 For the body is not one member, but many.
15 If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?
16 And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?
17 If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?
18 But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.
19 And if they were all one member, where were the body?
20 But now are they many members, yet but one body.
21 And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.
22 Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary:
23 And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness.
24 For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked.
25 That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.
26 And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.
27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.
28 And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.
29 Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? again, are all workers of miracles?
30 Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?
31 But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.
Chapter 13
1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.
3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.
4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;
6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;
7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.
9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.
10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.
11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.
Chapter 14
1 Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.
2 For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.
3 But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.
4 He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.
5 I would that ye all spake with tongues but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.
6 Now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, except I shall speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine?
7 And even things without life giving sound, whether pipe or harp, except they give a distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped?
8 For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?
9 So likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye shall speak into the air.
10 There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of them is without signification.
11 Therefore if I know not the meaning of the voice, I shall be unto him that speaketh a barbarian, and he that speaketh shall be a barbarian unto me.
12 Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church.
13 Wherefore let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret.
14 For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful.
15 What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.
16 Else when thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned say Amen at thy giving of thanks, seeing he understandeth not what thou sayest?
17 For thou verily givest thanks well, but the other is not edified.
18 I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all:
19 Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.
20 Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men.
21 In the law it is written, With men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the Lord.
22 Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe.
23 If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad?
24 But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all:
25 And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on his face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth.
26 How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.
27 If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret.
28 But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God.
29 Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge.
30 If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace.
31 For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted.
32 And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.
33 For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.
34 Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience as also saith the law.
35 And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.
36 What? came the word of God out from you? or came it unto you only?
37 If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.
38 But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant.
39 Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues.
40 Let all things be done decently and in order.
Romans Chapter 12:3-8
3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
4 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office:
5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.
6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;
7 Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching;
8 Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.
How do we identify our gifts?
We all have skillsets that are unique to us. They are typically the thing that comes so natural to us. So natural, we do not even notice or think it is skill. Listen to people around you. Those who are close to you, you’ll hear them say that you should go into a certain field because you’re really good at what your gift is.
I believe the reason we ignore it is because more often than not, our spiritual gifts do not line up chairmen of companies, basketball scouts, and other large institutions at our doors, begging us to sign multi-year contracts with them.
Therefore, we ignore our spiritual gift as if it were nothing. I did this for years as a youth; I believed everyone had my spiritual gift. It wasn’t until I dug into the lives of people that I realized, not everyone has my gift, I I don’t have gifts others have.
Thus, become very aware of what people come to you for help for.
Also, follow the path of the thing or things that take the least effort from you, but produce the maximum yield when it comes to output. The Anointed Son, the Christ, is a great example. He meditated with the Eternal Father for hours early mornings.
Then when He came upon people who were ill, either physically or spiritually, He could heal them in seconds. He didn’t need a 60 min massage to take kinks out of people’s back, He didn’t need an hour of counseling to give people clarity. The Anointed Son certainly had the gift of healing.
Your spiritual gift takes the least amount of effort from you, but produces the maximum yielding output. Some cooks do not need the greatest ingredients to make a meal that makes everyone smile. Again, some comedians and counselors only need a few words to make someone feel at maximum vibrancy.
Some mechanics and plumbers can look at a problem in two minutes and fix the solution.
In Math, some children and adults only need five minutes to understand a concept, the typical person may need five days. Steph Curry needs 15 minutes in the gym to tune up and make 100 threepointers, Kawhi Leonard may need 45 minutes. Gifts vary; identifiy yours so you can edify the church and world.
If that’s not enough, here are additional ways to identify your spiritual gift.
How to Identify your spiritual gifts?
Identifying your spiritual gifts involves a process of self-reflection, prayer, and sometimes seeking guidance from others. Here are steps to help you discover your spiritual gifts:
Self-Examination: Begin by reflecting on your interests, passions, and abilities. What activities or tasks do you enjoy doing? What comes naturally to you? Consider both your natural talents and acquired skills.
Prayer: Seek guidance through prayer. Ask God to reveal your spiritual gifts to you. Pray for wisdom and discernment in recognizing how you can best serve God and others.
Assessment Tools:
There are various spiritual gifts assessment tools available, both online and in print. These surveys or questionnaires can help you identify your potential gifts. While not definitive, they provide a starting point for self-discovery. Some churches also offer spiritual gifts assessments.
Consult Scripture: Study the Bible, particularly passages like Romans 12:3-8, 1 Corinthians 12, and Ephesians 4:11-13, which discuss spiritual gifts. As you read, consider which gifts align with your characteristics and experiences.
Feedback from Others: Sometimes, friends, family, or fellow church members may recognize your gifts more clearly than you do. They may have observed your talents in action or experienced your service firsthand. Don’t hesitate to ask them for their input.
Serve in Different Areas:
Engage in various forms of service within your church or community. Trying out different roles can help you discover where your gifts are most effective. And where you find the greatest fulfillment.
Pay Attention to Confirmation: When you serve using your gifts, pay attention to how it feels. Do you find joy and satisfaction in the work? Do others affirm your effectiveness in that role?
Experiment and Reflect: Don’t be afraid to try different ministries or roles. Sometimes, it takes experimentation to determine where your gifts are most useful. After each experience, take time to reflect on your feelings and feedback.
Seek Spiritual Guidance:
Consult with a pastor, spiritual mentor, or counselor who can provide insight and guidance. Guidance based on their own experiences and knowledge of spiritual gifts.
Be Patient: Identifying your spiritual gifts can be a process that takes time. Don’t rush it, and remember that God may reveal your gifts gradually.
Stay Open to Growth: As you grow spiritually, your gifts may evolve or become more refined. Stay open to new opportunities for growth and service.
Remember that spiritual gifts are meant to serve others and edify the Church and world community. The goal is not to exalt yourself but to humbly use your gifts to glorify the Creator and benefit the community of believers and even nonbelievers.
Stay strong and very courageous
Minister Koko
BSM
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