By OLUMOFIN Kehinde Benjamin

SPIRITUAL GIFTS

Looking @spiritualgifts from the perspective of marriage and @familylife.

TEXT Acts 2:16-18

Acts 2:16 But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; 

2:17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: 

2:18 And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy: 

We are starting a new series on SPIRITUAL GIFTS today. It will be a many parts series. I will personally take most of the teaching, and I will also invite 1 or 2 guest speakers to take a part or two as well. It’s going to be a systematic study on the subject of Spiritual Gifts and their importance from Christian Family perspective. From our text, Acts 2:16-18, God has promised gifts that cut a crossed everyone in a family. The gifts were not just for church used and expressive only in church but God promised to pour His Spirit upon everyone in the family. Everyone! Sons, daughters, young men and women (married and unmarried) and even the old and aged parents are all inclusive in the promise of Acts 2:17-18. Spiritual gifts are for everyone in the family, children as well as parents as well.

Isaiah  59:21 As for me, this is my covenant with them, saith the LORD; My spirit that is upon thee, and my words which I have put in thy mouth, shall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy seed, nor out of the mouth of thy seed’s seed, saith the LORD, from henceforth and for ever.

You know what, a gift you don’t often talk about, you are not likely going to activate for use, even when you possessed it.

Romans 10:17  “…faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

You know lately, the Lord has been telling me, I have not been placing much emphasis on giving (and receiving help). When you don’t give and place emphasis on service, you are most likely not going to receive as well. Give and you shall be given is a universal law that affect all parts of life.

Definition of Important Terms:

1. SPIRITUAL: The unseen reality of the spirit. The immaterial part of our universe. It is the realm of spirits and in this case, the realm of God. This mean the Source is divine, it is spiritual, supernatural. From God and God alone, and for spiritual (born again) people alone. Spirit relates with spirits – John 4:24; Psalms 42:7.

2. GIFTS: A gift is something that you are given without paying for it. A present. This time, the present is from God to His children upon whom He freely bestow His Holy Spirit.

3. SPIRITUAL GIFTS: A spiritual ability that you are endowed with and is activated from the time you surrender your life to Jesus Christ. They are spiritually transferred or given to you and are to be used and profit with by the one who is blessed by it.

However, spiritual gifts can both manifest in both spiritual things and in physical things as well. Just as all human have a natural ability (talent) each one is created with, so is all members of a Christian family is endowed with one spiritual gift or another. Every (or most) spiritual gifts have physical replications e.g. gift of a father, a mother, an orator, prophet in contract to an ability to predict and guest right.

WHY IS GIFTS IMPORTANT TO HOMES, MARRIAGES AND FAMILIES?

1. They are meant for you to profit with (to make life easy for you). To protect, provide, warn against dangers, comfort, direct etc. I usually feel worried/concerned when things happened too suddenly – Amos 3:7, Psa. 25:14. 

1 Corinthians 12:7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to EVERY MAN to profit withal.

Romans 1:11 For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established;

2. They are given to you to bless others. Giving principle. To only receive without the intention of giving will only tends towards barrenness and fruitlessness.

There is something in you to give.

You only need to prayerfully identified and activate yours. Don’t be a lake always receiving, be a flowing river, fulfilling the words of Jesus Christ – John 7:38.

1 Corinthians 14:12 Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church.

Ephesians 4:7 But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.

4:8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.

4:12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 

4:13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

3. They are meant to make you different from the person next door.

Matthew 25:15 And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.

Differences between Spiritual Gifts and Talents?

1. Spiritual Gifts are spiritual and Talent are physical abilities.

2. Gifts require spiritual strengths, talent needs physical strength.

3. Gifts spiritual wisdom, talents natural wisdom.

4. Gifts uses spiritual senses, talents physical senses mainly.

5. Talents put food on your table to nourish your body and family only, Gift primarily nourishes your spirit and soul and secondly can put food on your table. The gifts of a man makes way for him.

6. Gifts distinguish you in spiritual services, while talents distinguish you in physical activities.

7. Gifts come with power, grace and love in humility but talents can give power that is selfish and stain with pride and self.

1 Corinthians 7:7  For I would that all men were even as I myself. But every man hath his proper gift of God, one after this manner, and another after that.

4. They are your gifts to your generation when they are well used.

Acts  13:36 For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell on sleep, and was laid unto his fathers, and saw corruption:

WHY ARE SPIRITUAL GIFTS GIVEN/RECEIVED

1. Gifts are given in love and appreciation and are to be received in love and appreciation.

2. Gifts are based on the benevolent and magnanimous will of the giver and should be received with heartfelt appreciation.

3. Gift shows commitment from the giver to the receiver, and vice versa.

4. Gifts brings joy to the giver and the receiver.

5. Gifts promotes close and enduring relationship.

6. Gifts are reflection of personal interests on both sides.

7. Gifts help you understand and identify the way God communicate, speak or direct you as a person and by extension as a family.

8. Gift can deteriorate to talent e.g. king Solomon; and talent can upgrade to gift e.g. the boy with 5 loaves of bread and 2 fishes; Peter the fisherman to fisher of men.

WHY IS GIVING AND RECEIVING GIFTS SPECIAL

Gifts are mostly not requested for, nor sought after. There is an element of surprise in receiving a gift. A gift that is requested for or known prior to receiving may have lost the most important part of giving and receiving a gift….surprise. Gifts are given without repentance. However, gifts can be coveted and asked for….

CAN SPIRITUAL GIFTS BE DOCILE AND UNKNOWN TO THE CARRIER?

The simple answer is yes!

No one believing child of God is void of spiritual gift.

Romans 11:29 For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.

1 Corinthians 7:7 For I would that all men were even as I myself. But every man hath his proper gift of God, one after this manner, and another after that.

However, not all carrier of spiritual gifts are aware of the grace they carry.

1 Timothy 4:14 Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.  

2 Timothy 1:6 Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands.

HOW CAN YOU DISCOVER AND ACTIVATE THE SPIRITUAL GIFTS IN YOU.

1. Hunger for spiritual gifts.

1 Corinthians 12:31  But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.

1 Corinthians 14:1 Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.

2. Learn about spiritual gifts.

Proverbs  18:15 The heart of the prudent getteth knowledge; and the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge.

3. Identify the spiritual gifts you are likely/mostly interested in.

4. Any supernatural ability you have exhibited and display in the past.

5. Once discover pray about it and be ready to use them.

6. Put your prayer and faith to action. Practice your gifts, and exercise them.

7. Build your confidence and spiritual sensitivity with used and experience.

8. Use your gifts to bless and help others.

9. A gift not used will surely go dormant.

10. A gift will make a way for the carrier.

Proverbs 18:16 A man’s gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men.

11. The spiritual gifts in you is likely to be in your children, and the gifts in your children may likely have been in you as well.

2 Timothy  1:5 When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also. 

1:6 Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands. 

1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

Isaiah  38:19  The living, the living, he shall praise thee, as I do this day: the father to the children shall make known thy truth.

Most faithful pilgrims who have gone through this journey before had discovered and used the gifts of God deposited in them.

Romans 11:29 For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.

Proverbs 18:15 The heart of the prudent getteth knowledge; and the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge.