MIDWEEK: SPIRITUAL GIFTS – “GOOD TO KNOW SERIES”

• Do you know that God is the most generous gift-giver you can ever know?
• When we are saved, God gives each of us a Spiritual Gift so that we can live for him and others.
• So, what are these gifts, and are they the same as talents?
• Both come from God; however, talents are like gifts that come naturally to everyone, whether you believe in God or not.
• Spiritual gifts are different. They’re only given to people who believe in Jesus Christ. These special gifts help us serve the Lord effectively and successfully.
• 1 Corinthians 12:4-11 4 There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit is the source of them all. 5 There are different kinds of service, but we serve the same Lord. 6 God works in different ways, but it is the same God who does the work in all of us. 7 A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other.
• We all have unique gifts, but they come from the same source. These gifts can be service-oriented or work-related, and they’re all meant to help others.

PERSONAL GIFTS OR MANIFESTATION GIFTS.

• These gifts are given to individuals for the common good of the church.
• 1 Corinthians 12:8-11 8 To one person the Spirit gives the ability to give wise advice; to another the same Spirit gives a message of special knowledge. 9 The same Spirit gives great faith to another, and to someone else the one Spirit gives the gift of healing. 10 He gives one person the power to perform miracles, and another the ability to prophesy. He gives someone else the ability to discern whether a message is from the Spirit of God or from another spirit. Still another person is given the ability to speak in unknown languages, while another is given the ability to interpret what is being said. 11 It is the one and only Spirit who distributes all these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have.
• 1 Corinthians 12:7 clearly states that “A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other.”
• We should always be careful not to abuse our gifts for personal gain or to make ourselves feel better than others.

MINISTRY GIFTS

• Ephesians 4:11-12 11 Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. 12 Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ.
• The ministry gifts are God’s way of showing believers how to serve others and meet their needs.

MOTIVATIONAL GIFTS

• Romans 12:4-8 6 In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So, if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. 7 If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. 8 If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.
• The motivational gifts are how the Spirit of Grace flows through us, inspiring our words and actions.

WARNING

• Romans 12:3-4 3 Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us. 4 Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, 5 so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other.
• The warning is not to think too highly of ourselves because our gifts are from God’s grace. We don’t earn them; He gives us them freely. So, we shouldn’t be proud of our gifts but instead use them humbly to serve others.
• Our top three gifts at Cielo Vista Church are: Administration, Mercy, and Shepherding.

GENERAL NOTES

• Characteristics: These vary by gift but reflect a supernatural empowerment beyond natural talent.
• Benefits: All gifts build up the church, serve others, and glorify God (1 Corinthians 12:7).
• Cautions: Misuse often stems from pride, lack of love, or imbalance (1 Corinthians 13:1–3).
• Ministries: While each gift shines in specific areas, they’re most powerful when working together in a healthy church body.

1. Administration: Helps organize, lead, and make plans to guide others in different areas of the Church. Focused on goals and details.
2. Evangelism: Evangelists clearly communicate the Gospel of Jesus Christ to others. This gift enables meaningful conversations with non-believers, reaching diverse people and eliciting a greater response to salvation through Jesus.
3. Exhortation (Encouragement): Encouragers uplift, motivate, and gently challenge others to grow spiritually and take action.
4. Giving – People with this gift love sharing God’s blessings and are hospitable, always looking to help others. They’re great stewards, often sacrificing to spread the Gospel and care for the needy. They’re grateful to help and happy to lend a hand. They’re generous with their time, money, and resources, finding joy in supporting others without expecting anything in return.
5. Mercy – Love and support for those who are suffering, walking with them until God lifts their burden. People with this gift can “weep with those who weep” (Romans 12:15) and “bear one another’s burdens” (Galatians 6:2). They’re attuned to others’ feelings and can quickly tell when someone is struggling. They’re great listeners and just want to be there for others.
6. Prophecy – Those with this gift are attuned to the Holy Spirit’s guidance and the needs of the church. They should be humble and always study the Scriptures to test their revelations before speaking. When they do speak, they should welcome others to compare what they say to the Scriptures and interpret the message in their own way.
7. Serving (Helps) – Special gift that helps fill the gaps in ministry and meets the needs of the church as it follows the Great Commission. Their goal is to boost the church and free up others to use their gifts to the fullest. Ability to see beyond their own needs and reach out into the community.
8. Pastor/Shepherd – Their mission is to teach, guide, protect, and lead the church in fulfilling God’s Great Commission. Pastors deeply love the Gospel of Jesus Christ and make it the core of their lives and ministries. They don’t seek fame or recognition for themselves, but the Holy Spirit places them in positions of authority. Pastors serve with humility, constantly reminded of their reliance on God’s grace for the task ahead.
9. Teaching – Teachers are like guardians of the Word, ensuring it’s used correctly and lovingly. Without them, the church would quickly get lost in confusion and sin. They love the truth and speak it with all their heart. They’ll never hide or keep it to themselves. They’re called to show God’s love to the world while sharing His truth without fear.

• When we try to operate outside our spiritual gifts, it’s like trying to force a square peg into a round hole. You might be able to make it fit, but there will always be tension points and gaps.
• How do we discover what spiritual gifts we have been given? One way is to notice our reactions to different situations or needs. Another way is to attend our Partnership Class, where a spiritual Gift assessment link is sent to all attendees. Our next Partner class is this Saturday, March 1, from 9pm to 1pm.
• 1 Peter 4:10-11 10 God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another. 11 Do you have the gift of speaking? Then speak as though God himself were speaking through you. Do you have the gift of helping others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ. All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen.
• 1 Peter 4:10-11 reminds us that everyone has a gift, and we should use it to bless others. We are stewards, meaning we manage something that belongs to God. Our gifts are part of God’s grace, and we are responsible for using them wisely. Being a good steward isn’t just about sitting in these chairs on Sundays. God wants us to be available for service.
• No matter what we do or whom we serve, we’re working for Jesus, even in the most ordinary jobs (Col. 3:23). One of the reasons God gives us spiritual gifts is to make us into the people He wants us to be and to help us accomplish His purpose. But hear this: without love, even the greatest gifts are nothing.
• 1 Corinthians 13:1-3 If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing. 3 If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing.

Lord Jesus, I admit that I am a sinner. I know that the penalty for my sin is physical, spiritual, and eternal death. I acknowledge that I can’t do anything about my situation. But I know that You came to pay the penalty for my sin. I trust in You alone as the One who died in my place. I repent of my sin and trust in You as the only One who can place me in an eternal relationship with the living God. I desire to be Your child. I desire to live as Your child. In Your name. Amen.

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