Have you ever taken a spiritual gift test to find a long list of activities? Or, a list of jumbled words with no clarity? I have and was completely confused following the test and results.
Actually, spiritual gifts are mentioned in three separate places in the Bible with three different meanings and functions. So, let’s take a look at each spiritual gift list in scripture to determine their meaning and how we operate in the spiritual gifts the Lord assigned to us.
God appointed the disciples for a mission in need of great grace and power. He empowered them with His Spirit and graced them with spiritual gifts to motivate (propel) them into ministry. God is still at work in His Church empowering Believers with His Spirit to operate and function with spiritual gifts.
Grace gifts are assigned to every Believer and propels Believers into ministries for excelling our growth in Christ.
Let’s Get an Overview of Spiritual Graces (Gifts):
There are varieties of gifts (charismata – motivations) but the same Spirit. (grace gifts).
There are varieties of service (diakonia – ministries) but the same Lord. (serving gifts).
Also, there are varieties of activities (energama–works/energy) but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation (phanerosis–to excel growth in Christ) of the Spirit for the common good. (–1 Corinthians 12:4-7)
Let’s take a look at gifts (motivations) service (ministries) and activities (works/energy) as mentioned above.
Motivational Gifts
Grace (charismata-motivations): “For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. . . . For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Having gifts that differ according to grace (gifts) given to us. (–Romans 12:3-8)
- Prophecy in proportion to our faith.
- Serving in our serving.
- Teaching in our teaching.
- Exhortation in our encouragement.
- Giving in proportion to our faith in generosity.
- Organization (Administration) in proportion to our faith, with zeal.
- Mercy in proportion to our faith, with cheerfulness.
The Holy Spirit appoints (places) each person into the Body of Christ where He chooses. We may live in humility with the gifts the Father has graced each of us, in order to glorify Him and edify the Church. Grace gifts differ just as people differ, but one (grace or motivational) gift usually characterizes each person. All gifts are given by the Lord, which motivate or propel us into ministries.
Ministry (Service) Gifts
There are varieties of service but the same Lord. . . God has appointed in the church first Apostles, Prophets, Teachers, Workers of Miracles, Gifts of Healing, Helping, Administrating, Tongues and Interpretations of Tongues. –1 Corinthians 12:5, 28.
God Assigns Areas of Influence/ministries. Paul’s Exhortation propelled him to minister grace to Jews and Gentiles.
I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. . . And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up. (–Acts 20:24, 32).
Equipping Gifts (Also Serving gifts):
He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers. (–Ephesians 4:11)
Manifestations (activities): There are varieties of activities (energama – work or energy of the Spirit), but it is the same God who empowers them all to everyone. Each is given the manifestations (phanerosis) of the Spirit for the common good (to excel growth in Christ).
- To one is given the word of wisdom
- To another the word of knowledge
- And to another faith
- Healing for the whole person.
- Working of miracles
- Prophecy
- Discernment
- Tongues and Interpretation of tongues
All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as He wills. Let it be for the edification of the church that you excel. (–1 Corinthians 12:6-11; 14:12).
Activities profit, bring together, benefit, and strengthen you and the Church to excel. Each manifestation is available to every Believer and may occur before, during, or after ministry.
Spiritual Gifts extend beyond these lists
The Holy Spirit guides the interest of each Believer to provide unique purpose and fulfillment for living in community. This teaching is to help clarify spiritual gifts and prevent confusion about gifts operating in you and in the Church. Get Placed and Graced: Spiritual Gifts Overview and Assessment here.
Nickola Tesla
A creative, Nickola Tesla, worked with minimal resources: wire, wood, silk wrap, and brass screws. All of Tesla’s inventions came with a flash of light where he saw the device in his mind’s eye in the flash of light with such detail, he created schematics of the device from memory. These tools were God-given by His grace.
In 1900, Tesla envisioned and forecasted wireless currents to send pictures and video and operate phones, giant machinery, and medical equipment. He proved himself as a genius to lay the foundation for modern inventions using wireless technology and communications.
So, he moved forward in the grace of his natural giftings and skills. We might say, “He was appointed by grace and placed as an inventor to bring electricity and power to our world.
Let’s move into our natural gifts and skills and spiritual gifts and abilities given by God.
He is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The Trinity plays a part in each gift appointed to us.
Motivations propel us into ministries to excel our growth in Christ. Determine your grace gifts (character of motivations) and your places of service (ministries). Learn to operate in the varieties of activities (energy and work of the Spirit) profit, bring together, benefit, and strengthen you and the Church to excel growth in Christ Jesus.
God Appoints the Body of Christ with Spiritual Graces (Gifts).
Where has God placed you in the Body of Christ?
With what gifts has God graced you with to glorify Him, edify the Church, and build your faith?
Click below for your spiritual gifts assessment!
Find a more thorough Overview and Spiritual Gifts Assessment called, Placed and Graced in my market, SURGE Bible Study Market The assessment helps you find where the Holy Spirit has placed you in the Body of Christ and how you may glorify the Lord, edify other Believers, and strengthen your faith by understanding spiritual gifts and learning how to function where God has placed you.
Once you have identified your spiritual gifts and determine where the Holy Spirit placed you in the Body of Christ, I pray you step into the gifts the Lord graced you with for building His Church and excelling your personal growth in Christ. Placed and Graced: A Spiritual Gift Overview and Assessment available HERE: Overview and Assessment.