Gifted : Mine or Yours?

by Pastor Wilson Teo


Big Idea:
God has given a variety of gifts to bless the family


The problem with the Corinthian church is the believers overemphasized the gift of speaking in tongues versus other spiritual gifts.


1 Corinthians 12:1-3
Now about the gifts of the Spirit, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed. 2 You know that when you were pagans, somehow or other you were influenced and led astray to mute idols. 3 Therefore I want you to know that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus be cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.


Anyone speaking on God's behalf would always declare the Lordship of Christ and never curse Him.


Not all supernatural healing are of the lord. Occult and witchcraft can conjer powers also. Not all signs are from lord Jesus. The way to check is the person who tap into the power source. Does this person confess that power is from Jesus christ


1 Corinthians 12:4-11
There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. 5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6 There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work. 7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 8 To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a 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,[a] and to still another the interpretation of tongues.[b] 11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.


List of Spiritual Gifts:
1. Word of Wisdom
2. Word of KNowledge
3. Faith
4. Gifts of Healing
5. The Working of Miracles
6. Prophecy
7. Distinguishing Between Spirits
8. Tongues
9. Interpretation of Tongues


Paul listed these out for the Corinthians but the list are not exhaustive. There are 2 more gifts found in Romans and Ephesians. But suffice to say that these 9 listed were for the common good for the faith community.


What is common good?
Common good = build and edify God's people


"Continuationists"
= Christians who believe that spiritual gifts are available for them through the Holy Spirit.


"Cessationists"
= Christians who do not believe that spiritual gifts exist today.


Be the available human vessel for the Holy Spirit to use.


Can I have more than one spiritual gift?
Yes.

1 Corinthians 12:12-14
Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For we were all baptized by[a] one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. 14 Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.


1 Corinthians 12:15-17
Now if the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being 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 stop being 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?


1 Corinthians 12:18-21
But in fact God has placed 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. 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!”


1 Corinthians 12:22-26
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 put the body together, giving 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.


1 Corinthians 12:27-28
Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. 28 And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues.


1 Corinthians 12:29-31
Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30 Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? 31 But earnestly desire the higher gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way.


The term "Higher gifts" refers to spiritual gifts that meet the needs of the Body at the moment of need.


1. No one will curse the Lord Jesus when operating in the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
2. There are diverse spiritual gifts available through the Holy Spirit.
3. Every spiritual gift is to serve the Body.