Spiritual Gifted to Give: The Manifestation or Miraculous Gifts

“But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.”

1 Cor 12:7-11 (NKJV)


The manifestation or miraculous gifts are somewhat different from the other gifts. Though all the spiritual gifts are special abilities given by the Spirit, these gifts are seen when an incredible anointing of the Spirit is present. 


Can these gifts be misused? Absolutely and they have been. So much so, that most Christians are very skeptical about these gifts and many do not believe that they are still evident in the Church today.


Can these gifts be faked? Absolutely and they have been. But that does not mean that these gifts are no longer for the body of Christ today. We as Christians need to use discernment and remember that all spiritual gifts should point to Christ and not another person or even the gift itself. All gifts should ultimately bring spiritual maturity and stability to the church body. They are meant to build up the body of Christ!


So, what are descriptions of these gifts?


Knowledge - This gift is seen when the Spirit supernaturally reveals facts about a person or situation. Knowledge can also be evident when a person is supernaturally empowered to memorize and recall Scripture. Cautions: The person with the gift of knowledge must always have love as a motive when speaking a word of knowledge to someone. The word of knowledge will not ever be in contradiction to the Word of God.


Wisdom - This gift is evident when a person gives specific direction on how to apply the Word of God or a word of knowledge.  Cautions: It is often easy to confuse one's own opinion or feelings on a situation with a word of wisdom. Make sure that the word of wisdom is always judged by the Word of God.


Faith - Of course, without faith is impossible to please God or even have relationship with Him. However, people with the gift of faith have an unshakable confidence that their lives are in the hands of God. They are great prayer warriors and often have a childlike faith. Cautions: One must not assume that they always have an accurate reading on the will of God. 


Healing - One with the gift of healing can either be the recipient of healing or an instrument of God's power to heal. This includes the healing of physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual brokenness. Cautions: People with this gift must rely on God's method and timing of healing. They must be careful to remember that they are only distributors of healing, not the Source.


Miracles - This gift is evident when God decides to perform supernatural acts through an individual. Cautions: This gift should always bring glory to God and not an individual or the miracle itself. God is always the Source and the Giver!


Discernment - The person with this gift is able to distinguish the spirit behind a situation, a teaching, or a course of action. They are able to determine whether the spirit is God, human, or demonic. Cautions: People with this gift must be careful to not be impulsive in their judgement and to always make sure their intuition lines up with God's Word. Stay in tune with God!


Tongues/Interpretation - The gift of tongues is the special ability to speak in a language that is foreign to the speaker. The gift of interpretation is the ability to interpret a prayer spoken in tongues for the body of Christ. Cautions: Spiritual gifts are meant to edify and build up the body. People with these gifts need to be careful not to bring confusion and disorder.


Bottom line: If you have or operate in any of these gifts, be sure to stay in line with God's Word and in tune with Him! It is so important to understand the heart of God when you use any of these gifts. Finally, remember ALL spiritual gifts are meant to edify and strengthen the body of Christ.


So, what do you think? Have any of these gifts? Do you have any encouragement or cautions for others who exercise these gifts? Would love to hear your thoughts. P.S. Thanks for being gracious with me this week. Sorry this post is so late in the week.


Unwrapping the gifts of the Spirit,


Kelli

Spiritual Gifts: They are just that!

If you are just joining this blog series, you might want to go back and read God Believes in You and Spiritual Gifts: Not a Secret. 

Spiritual gifts are just that. GIFTS. You cannot earn them, work for them, stand in line for them, or volunteer for them. They are GIFTS and they are given to each of us who follow Christ. And I always say, if you don't like the gifts you are given, well, you can take that up with the Holy Spirit! 

"All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and He gives them to each person, just as He determines." 1 Corinthians 12:11

I don't believe the Holy Spirit is selfish about them, either. He gives them freely and graciously! Most people who have gone through my classes have at least three gifts that are evident to them. I find that many more gifts continue to surface as a person grows in his/her relationship with God and seeks to serve Him in many ways. In other words, sometimes we are not aware of gifts until we have had opportunities to use and develop certain gifts. And then there are times that God equips us with gifts necessary for a specific ministry situation, even if they are not our primary set of gifts.

So why do we even have spiritual gifts?

• Our use and development of our spiritual gifts glorify God. People see God and not us...He is made known. 
• Our spiritual gifts help other people when we use them as God intended. For example, when we use the gift of teaching, we are helping others understand the Word of God. Those with the  gift of mercy/compassion see people in need and reach out to help them. 
• The body of Christ (the Church - individual churches and the CHURCH as a whole) is strengthened and built up when we identify and develop our spiritual gifts. Similar to our physical bodies, when the parts of the body of Christ function and thrive, the body is healthy, stable, and productive. 

I know that many of you are anxious to complete an assessment. But I feel it necessary to lay a strong foundation about spiritual gifts in general before we start getting specific.

Coming Thursday: What Spiritual Gifts are Not.  ( And hopefully, the assessment)

So, tell me. Do you know what your gifts are? Have you ever been frustrated with the gifts you have been given? Are you using your gifts to build up the body of Christ? Please comment!

Unwrapping the gifts - the "spiritual" ones,

Kelli

Linking up with SDG...if you have never visited this blog, you need to.  Jen is a terrific writer and loves the Lord!

Spiritual Gifts: Not a Secret

I am constantly amazed at the number of Christians who are not aware of their spiritual giftedness. It motivates me, actually. I want to stand on the street corner, write a blog (ha!), tweet, whatever to educate believers about their spiritual gifts. They are not meant to be a secret!

Flikr

I am guessing there are a couple of reasons why this lack of knowledge exists:
1. Never thought about it
2. Not necessary to think about it
3. If I don't know my spiritual gifts, I don't have to use them.


Paul says in 1 Corinthians 12: 1, "Now about spiritual gifts, I do not want you to be ignorant." Thanks for cutting to the chase, Paul. In other words, Corinthian church, you are ignorant about them! Not only were they not informed about their individual gifts, but they had taken it on themselves to assign superiority to certain gifts. 


Ok, so what about you? Do you know YOUR spiritual gifts? If you do know them, are you using them? Developing them? Or are you taking the easy way out, preferring not to know them so that you are free not to use them?


Friends, spiritual gifts give us the opportunity to glorify God, serve others, and build up the Body of Christ.  And they remind us that we have a special place of service within the Kingdom. 


There is no one else who can do what God has called you to do like you do it. That's why He called you.


Next week I will provide an assessment for you folks that are not sure what your gifts are.  And then we will start looking at the gift descriptions.


In the mean time, PRAY that God would reveal how He has spiritually gifted you. ASK others in your life where they see fruit, and you will often find your gifts. 
So, what comments or questions do you have that we can cover in weeks to come?


Unwrapping the spiritual gifts,


Kelli

God Believes in You!

Thanks for all of you who entered in the giveaway for Teri Johnson's empowering book, Overcoming the Nevers. It was such a fun day to interact with Teri and hear her heart!

THE WINNER OF THE SIGNED COPY IS.... Daniela Castila!  (Daniela, please email your mailing address to kelli{at}ccclive{dot}org. Thanks! Congratulations!

We are going a new direction for November and December on the blog. We are going to be discussing Spiritual Gifts and Personalities. I am so excited to share this with you...I think it will have impact on your life.  So, join me the next few weeks on Mondays and Thursdays as we explore how God has created us and how He wants to use us to glorify Him and benefit others. Today is a foundational message.

Photo credit: only Alice, flickr

God gifts every believer.

“Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.” 1 Cor. 12:7

GOD is the giver of spiritual gifts! 

EVERY believer has at least one gift – usually more than one.  Why?  because

God believes in you.

He loves you.  He has a plan for your life.  He wants to use you.

One of the greatest blessings of my ministry at CCC is spending an hour with people after they go through the SHAPE class. During this hour, God allows and empowers me to speak truth and life into someone’s heart.  God loves and believes in us, and He wants us to know He has a purpose for our lives, no matter what we have done.  


Jesus spoke words of truth into Simon Peter while He was still on earth.  “Who do you say that I am?”

Peter exclaimed, "You are Christ!"

“Jesus replied, ‘Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven.  And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church...’”  Matthew 16: 17 – 18

Even though Christ knew that Simon Peter would soon deny Him three times, He also knew that Peter would be the one to proclaim the Gospel on the day of Pentecost and be the rock on which His church was built.  He believed in Peter and He believes in you!

Paul goes on to emphasize this in his book to the Corinthian church. “We are Christ’s ambassadors as though God were making His appeal through us.”  2 Cor. 5:20

Wow!  We are His representatives.  We have been entrusted with the gospel of Christ because He chose us to be his ambassadors.

Isn’t it amazing that He could have accomplished His purposes all by Himself, but He chose to use us?  Every member of the body of Christ is a minister!  He has gifted us to join Him!


Do you need to hear that God believes in you? That He has gifted you to join Him in accomplishing His purposes? Please comment and let me know.


Unwrapping the gifts God has entrusted us with,


Kelli