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Spiritual Gifts 1 Cor.12

I believe that one of the most empowering things you can do as a church planter is to help your people discover and use their spiritual gifts. God has given every believer one or more spiritual gifts to empower us to serve the body of Christ and reach out in love to the world.

To learn more about how to humbly and powerfully use the spiritual gifts mentioned in 1 Corinthians 12, click here to enjoy a new edition of Multiply:

 

Spiritual Gifts Romans 12

In Romans 12 Paul lists seven gifts that many theologians have categorize as motivational gifts. They are: Prophesying, Serving,  Teaching,  Encouraging, Giving,  Leadership,  Mercy 

They are called motivational gifts because each one listed gives us a reason to act upon them. When we are motivated, we have “an incentive or a strong desire to do well!” This makes complete since because these gifts are given by God Almighty Who is the Creator of the Universe!

Spiritual Disciplines the Lord’s Supper

When we speak about spiritual disciplines, we often think of activities that we do when we are alone with God.  Praying and meditating on God’s word are spiritual disciplines that we often practice by ourselves.  But there is a spiritual discipline that must be practiced in fellowship with others.  We call it the Lord’s Supper, or Holy Communion.

Spiritual Disciplines Fasting

Our Lord Jesus Christ assumes his followers will fast. Yet many people struggle with the self-sacrificing behaviors Jesus mentions in Matthew 6.  But fating can bring blessing to others.

As we fast, each time we turn away from food, we are calling out to God for him to act.  But our call to God is not a spoken call.  With fasting, our actions do the talking for us.

Spiritual Disciplines Worship

As we worship God, we gain two attributes which make us useful to God in this world.  First of all, as we worship God, our faith grows. We trust him more because through worship, we remember better his love and his power. As we worship God, debilitating fear melts away. Fear is replaced by a sense of security that comes from being held in the Father’s arms. In additions to faith, we gain inner peace through worship. Faith and peace make us fit for the challenges we face in the world.

Offer Hospitality

“Be hospitable” means to be friendly to strangers or guests. A “stranger” is someone who we do not regard as a member of our extended family or a close friend. Strangeness produces mutual tension between natives and foreigners, but hospitality overcomes the pressure and makes friends of aliens. 

Instruct One Another

I have often said that one of the roles of a leader is to “instruct and inspire.”  As leaders instruct, we share facts and knowledge.  When we inspire, we are dealing with the emotional side of life. 

This reminds me of Philippians 4:7 where Paul wrote “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”  You see, our God understands us because He made us!  The Holy Spirit deals with both our emotions and our intellect.

Sanctifying Grace Part 1

One of the most challenging commands of Scripture is first mentioned in the Old Testament and is repeated in the New Testament: The Lord says, “You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy.” 

 

But can we really be holy?

How the Spirit Produces Fruit

How does the fruit of the Spirit reproduce? For me, the answer is simple! As we seek the Lord, worship Him and feast upon His Word, this fruit will be a part of our lives. The Fruit of the Spirit reproduced is not of us.

Accept One Another

Firstly, we are commanded to “accept one another.”  What does this mean, and what does it not mean?  To gain some insight, consider the two preceding verses (5-6).  ^“May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

I believe that what Paul is saying here is that accepting one another produces a spirit of unity in the body of Christ