SPIRITUAL GIFTS

SERVICE: SPIRITUAL GIFTS

Romans 12: 6-8

Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith, or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.

Service: Pray and ask God where He would have you to serve within the body of Christ.

This spiritual gift guide is used only to help you understand the gifts of the Spirit. Only the Spirit can reveal to you what is your God-given purpose within the body of Christ.

Use Lifeway's Spiritual Gift survey as a guide: https://blog.lifeway.com/explorethebible/downloads/spiritual-gifts-inventory/

Accountability is necessary! "Where there is no counsel, the people fall; But in the multitude of counselors there is safety" (Proverbs 11:14).

Go to our "Be Encouraged" page for further reading on spiritual gifts in the church, under: Part II. The Body (vs. 4-5).

PROPHECY

"This Gr. word means 'speaking forth' and does not necessarily include prediction of the future or any other mystical or supernatural aspects. Although some prophets in Acts did make predictions of future events (11:27, 28; 21:10, 11), others made no predictions but spoke the truth of God to encourage and strengthen their hearers (15:32). The evidence does suggest, however, that in the first century, before the NT was complete and the sign gifts had ceased (1 Cor. 13:8-10), this word may have had both non-revelatory and revelatory facets. In its non-revelatory sense, the word 'prophecy' simply identifies the skill of public proclamation of the Word of God." (MacArthur Study Bible, NKJV)

MINISTRY

"From the same Gr. word as 'deacon,' 'deaconess' come from, it refers to those who serve. This gift, similar to the gift of helps (1 Cor. 12:28), has broad application to include every kind of practical help (Acts 20:35; 1 Cor. 12:28)."

(MacArthur Study Bible, NKJV).

TEACHING

"The ability to interpret, clarify, systematize, and explain God's truth clearly (Acts 18:24, 25; 2 Tim. 2:2). Pastors must have the gift of teaching (1Tim. 3:2; Titus 1:9; 1Tim. 4:16), but many mature, qualified laymen also have this gift. This differs from preaching (prophecy), not in content, but in the unique skill for public proclamation."

(MacArthur Study Bible, NKJV).

EXHORTATION

"The gift which enables a believer to effectively call others to obey and follow God's truth. It may be used negatively to admonish and correct regarding sin (2 Tim. 4:2), or positively, to encourage, comfort, and strengthen struggling believers (2 Cor. 1:3-5; Heb. 10:24, 25)."

(MacArthur Study Bible, NKJV).

LEADER

"Lit. 'standing before.' Paul calls this gift 'administrations' (1 Cor. 12:28), a word that means 'to guide' and is used of the person who steers a ship (Acts 27:11; Rev. 18:17). In the NT, this word is used to describe only leadership in the home (1 Tim. 3:4, 5, 12) and the church (1 Cor. 12:28; 1 Tim. 5:17; Acts 27:; Rev. 18:17). Again, the church's leaders must exercise this gift, but it is certainly not limited to them" (MacArthur Study Bible, NKJV).

MERCY EXTENDER

"One who actively shows sympathy and sensitivity to those in suffering and sorrow, and who has both the willingness and the resources to help lessen their afflictions. Frequently, this gift accompanies the gift of exhortation. One who shows mercy, does it with cheerfulness. "This attitude is crucial to ensure that the gift of mercy becomes a genuine help, not a discouraging commiseration with those who are suffering (Prov. 14:21, 31; Luke 4:18, 19)

(MacArthur Study Bible, NKJV).

GIVER

"This denotes the sacrificial sharing and giving of one's resources and self to meet the needs of others (2 Cor. 8:3-5, 9, 11; Eph. 4:28)."

"Liberality"...Simplicity, single-mindedness, and openhearted generosity. The believer who gives with a proper attitude does not do so for thanks and personal recognition, but to glorify God (Matt. 6:2; Acts 2:44, 45; 4:37-5:11; 2 Cor. 8:2-5). (MacArthur Study Bible, NKJV).

For further information on Gifts: see the below reference:

Office Gifts: Ephesians 4:11-13

"And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ..."