“Receiving and Releasing the Spiritual Gifts” - 1 Corinthians 12:1-11
“No one can say ‘Jesus is Lord’ except in the Holy Spirit.” (v.3 b)
“All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.” (v.11)
1. Discerning the gifts
a. Discerning the true purpose.
“To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.” (v.7)
“Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit, and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone.” (v.4-6)
“Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast what is good.” (1 Thessalonians 5:19-21)
b. Discerning the characteristics of false.
“There shall not be found among you anyone who burns his son of his daughter as an offering, anyone who practices divination or tells fortunes or interprets omens, or a sorcere or a charmer or a medium or a necromancer or one who inquires of the dead.” (Deuteronomy 18:10-11)
“That there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another.” (v.25)
Conversation between John Piper & Rick Warren
2. Cultivating and sharpening the gifts
“A spiritual gift usually reveals itself in the confluence of what we are passionate about, what we’re good at, and the affirmation of others.” (J. D. Greear, Jesus, Continued…)
“But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it.” (v.24 b)
“When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways.” (1 Corinthians 13:11)
3. Increasing the impacts of the gifts
“For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands.” (2 Timothy 1:6)
a. Through God’s word
“It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look.” (1 Peter 1:12)
b. Through testing
“but test everything; hold fast what is good.” (1 Thessalonians 5:21)
c. Through holiness
“Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work.” (2 Timothy 2:21)
“But earnestly desire the higher gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way.” (1 Corinthians 12:31)
What might your spiritual gifts be? Use this spiritual gifts assessment from Lifeway to help you discern
