Christianity is a race. Our consciousness of fulfilling the purpose must go with the discovery, development, and deployment of the spiritual gift the Lord made available to everyone who seeks Him.
What is a Spiritual Gift?
Ken Hemphill defines a spiritual gift as an individual manifestation of grace from the Father that enables him or her to serve the Lord and thus play a vital role in His plan for the redemption of the world.
Hence, spiritual gift is special ability, skill or capacity given by the Holy Spirit at salvation which enables the believer to perform a meaningful work in the church and society with ease and effectiveness for kingdom growth.
TYPES OF SPIRITUAL GIFTS
a. Revelation Gifts: These can manifest in the form of:
√ Word of wisdom: Right application of knowledge Matthew 4:4, 7, 10
√ Word of knowledge: Facts supernaturally released by Holy Spirits prompting Acts 5:3
√ Discerning of the spirits: Perceiving the source of manifestation Acts 8:23; 16:18
b. Vocal Gifts: These can manifest in the form of:
√ Gift of tongues: The Supernatural means of Communication - 1 Corinthians 2:10
Two types of tongues
i. Tongues as a sign to believers Mark 16:17
ii. Tongues as Foreign language to the Speaker Acts 2:4-8
√ Interpretation of Tongues – The act of giving meaning to the Spiritual unknown language spoken through the inspired vessel to the Church (1 Corinthians 2:10)
√ Prophecy - This is an inspired utterance to proclaim the mind of God on events of life. The prophecy can be fore-telling (Prediction of the future occurrence), or forth-telling (Declarations of the written word of God) - -Rom 12:6; 2 Pet 1:20-21
c. Power Gifts: These can manifest in the form of:
√ Gift of faith - The Gift of Faith is God-given ability to believe Him for the impossible - 1 Cor 12:9; Mark 11:22-23.
Dimensions of faith
• Saving faith = The common endowment for all believers (Eph 2:8).
• Wonder working faith = An Unusual Measure of Trust in God for Greater works (Mark 11:22-24).
√ Gifts of healings - This is the supernatural endowment upon the anointed one to bring sound health without the intervention of medical science (1 Cor 12:9, 28).
√ Working of miracles - This is the act of bringing into existence what is contrary to natural occurrences (1 Cor 12:10).
EFFECTIVE MANIFESTATIONS OF SPIRITUAL GIFTS:
Believers in Christ Jesus did not just get spiritual gifts to showcase themselves, but to bring profit to the body of Christ (1 Cor 12:7). To be effective in the divine manifestations of the spiritual gifts involves:
1. Distribution of Spiritual Gifts (Heb 2:4):
We are all equally born into the body of Christ to do good works, but we are not equally gifted. The spiritual gifts are given to each one of us as the Lord wishes. God gives spiritual gifts according to:
• God's will - Spiritual Gifts do not come by our desire. God distributes to everyone according to His will (Heb 2:4; 1 Cor 12:11). The Psalmist said, our God is in heaven, doing whatever pleases Him (Psalm 115:3). No man can gain access to any spiritual gifts on his own, except the one pleasing to God to release unto him.
• Our Good Standing with God - Spiritual Gifts are given as a loan from the Lord. We have access to the offer in order to give back profit in our labour (1 Cor 12:7). One of the criteria for God releasing the offer of the Spiritual Gifts to us is our right standing with Him (Eccl 2:26).
• Individual Ability - Kingdom business operates on abilities. Every believer has elastic limit to which he may be stretched. Gifts of the Spirit responds to individual abilities (Matt 25:15). God does this to prevent us from being overburdened and possibly break down in the course of discharging our God-given responsibilities.
• Measure of Grace - The grace of God for salvation is a general grace. It appears to all men to teach us to live Godly in this present age (Titus 2:11-12). But the grace for impacts is a specific grace made available to each man as he has needs for it (Rom 12:6; John 1:16). The measure of Gifts of the Spirit a man can manifest is a function of the measure of grace God made available to him. But, grace can be maximized by the level of Sacrifice God revealed to man to pay.
2. Discovery of Spiritual Gifts (1 Cor 12:1):
The first step to manifestations of the Spiritual Gifts is the discovery of the Gifts God gives. This is a step of knowing what God gives to you to contribute to the glory of your time.
Guidelines to discover your Spiritual Gift(s).
• Ease - What is easier for you than for others?
• Enjoyment - What puts a smile on your face?
• Excitement - What is your passion? What do you like talking about?
• Experience: What has God opened the door for you to do?
• Effectiveness - What are you good at? Are the blessings of God upon what you have given yourself to do?
3. Development of Your Spiritual Gifts (1 Cor 14:12):
Your spiritual gift(s) is a divine trust. God gives to man to proof his dependency on Him. No one should lay claim of ownership of the grace God gives for exploits of the faith.
Guidelines to Develop your Spiritual Gift(s).
• Pray for opportunities to manifest your spiritual gifts.
• Fan into flame the grace you have received by giving quality time to study the word of God and for effective prayer.
• Accept responsibility in the area of your spiritual gifts.
• Take time to learn from those who are more experienced in the area of your spiritual gifts.
• Seek feedback from those who are older than you in the faith and accept correction to improve.
4. Deployment of Your Spiritual Gift(s)
The deployment of your spiritual gifts has to do with putting to work the divine endowment placed upon you for maxima impacts in your world.
Guidelines to Develop your Spiritual Gift(s).
• Pray for empowerment and direction from the Holy Spirit for effective uses of your spiritual gifts.
• Use what you have been given for God's glory.
• Give the glory for impact in the discharge of your spiritual gifts back to God.
• Seek to encourage others in their use of Spiritual Gifts.
• Use whatever gift you are given to the fullest in order to receive divine reward (Matt 25:14-30).
Note:
God gives Spiritual Gifts to test our:
• Trust in Him - Our loyalty must be to God alone. The man God endowed with Grace must not put confidence on the gift at the expense of the giver.
• Stewardship of the grace - Operation of the Spiritual Gifts is a product of grace. The steward of grace is a man who owns nothing, but is responsible for all things. We must use the Spiritual Gifts with the consciousness that we shall give account of our stewardship to God one day (1 Pet 4:10-11).
Peace!
© Rev'd Dr. Tade Obaniyi.
Set man, Dayspring Vision Ministry.
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