Springs Article 2020-11 (2)
1 Corinthians 12:1-6
1 Corinthians 12:7-11
What is the difference between the gifts of the Spirit, the gifts of Christ and the gifts of God?
- The gifts of the Spirit are your spiritual tools (manifestations) for divine assignment
- The gifts of Christ are your spiritual callings (offices, roles, ministries, services, administrations) for divine assignment
- The gifts of God are your specific spiritual missions (deployments, directions, instructions, operations) for divine assignment
- 1 Corinthians 12:4-6
- The gifts of the Spirit are your spiritual tools (manifestations) for divine assignment
- The gifts of Christ are your spiritual callings (offices, roles, ministries, services, administrations) for divine assignment
- The gifts of God are your specific spiritual missions (deployments, directions, instructions, operations) for divine assignment
- 1 Corinthians 12:4-6
Example:
Spiritual calling: Pastor/Teacher
Spiritual tools: The gifts of utterance
Spiritual mission: Lead Pastor of Healing Springs Church, Basingstoke
What are the gifts of the Spirit?
- The gifts of the Spirit are spiritual tools for spiritual service. These can be used by every believer according to the needs of their spiritual calling (service)
- There are 9 gifts of the Spirit as listed in 1 Corinthians 12:7-11
- The gifts of the Spirit help you to function effectively and produce more results in your spiritual service to God
What are the gift of Christ?
- The gifts of Christ are spiritual callings to serve/function as a member of the body of Christ
- Every member of the body has unique functions of service that help the body to flourish
- The gifts of Christ are are referenced in Romans 12:4-8, 1 Corinthians 12:28-30 and Ephesians 4:7-12
- These include the 5-fold ministry gifts of Apostles, Prophets, Evangelist, Pastors and Teacher at the top
- They also include every other spiritual service that helps the 5-fold ministry gifts to function well (i.e. the wide-ranging ministry of helps)
A list of the wide-ranging ministry of helps includes:
- Hospitality (this involves different aspects that can apply to different believers such as catering, welcoming, ushering, chatting & visitation (listening, empathy and encouragement), washing & cleaning, sorting, decoration, distribution, welfare, etc.)
- Giving (this is voluntary generous giving that goes very well beyond tithing. The tithe (10%) is your foundational giving to the church which applies to all believers)
- Music
- Drama
- Publicity
- Organising (setting up, maintenance, clearing up)
- Organising (planning and administration)
- Organising (entrepreneurship)
- Organising (leadership)
- Organising (transportation)
- Organising (security)
- Writing
- Children’s ministry (pastoring/teaching)
- Women’s ministry (pastoring/teaching)
- Men’s ministry (pastoring/teaching)
- Youth ministry (pastoring/teaching)
- Counselling (pastoring/teaching)
- Mentoring (pastoring/teaching)
- Intercession (prophetic)
- Outreach (evangelical, missionary)
- Outreach (social: the gifts of showing mercy)
- Public/motivational speaking (exhortation, preaching)
- etc.
How can I know/enter my spiritual calling?
- The 1st evidence is intrinsic desire (passion)
- The 2nd evidence is intrinsic endowment (natural and spiritual gifts)
- The 3rd evidence is tangible results
- The 4th evidence is deep fulfilment
- Note that tangible results are highly improved by study (training) & diligence. Laziness will compromise the fulfilment of your calling
- A lazy believer may never even discover their calling
What are the gifts of God?
- These are the specific operational deployments of your ‘gifts and callings’ by the Father for divine assignment
- The Father has the master plan and gets to direct the ‘how, where and when’ of divine service/ministry
- The Father runs the operations and we must be willing to listen and follow His instructions and directions, otherwise we will miss or compromise God’s plan
- No matter what your spiritual gifts and callings are, you need instructions and directions on ‘how, when and where’ to go about doing God’s work
- God’s work must be done in accordance with God’s will
- The ‘instructions and directions’ of the Father are His gifts to you, for the fulfilment of your divine assignment
- You cannot fulfil God’s plan for your life without paying attention to what God is saying to you.
How can I understand the Trinity of God?
- Trinity means 3-in-1
- We serve only one God (whose name is YHVH: Yahweh, Yehovah, Yahavah)
- God is three persons in perfect unity (triune): the Father, His Word and His Spirit, 1 John 5:7-9
- The Father has a personality, the Word has a personality and the Spirit has a personality. All three personalities are non-contradicting and inseparable. John 1:1-3
- The spirit, soul and body make a human being 3-in-1. Each of them are distinct yet they are inseparable if a person is to have a meaningful life on earth
- The Father is the soul (operation) of God
- The Word (Jesus Christ) is the body (representation) of God
- The Holy Spirit is the spirit (demonstration) of God
- John 1:14, Hebrews 1:1-3