Bible Study – Wedsite - Spiritual Gifts Study 2
Review:
The purpose of this Bible Study is to look at what the Word of God says about the issue of Spiritual Gifts & not what denominations, church doctrines, or other Christians say or believe.  This is only an introductory level for those who desire to know what the Bible says about Spiritual Gifts.   There are numerous studies on the internet for those who desire to look deeper into this study. However, take note: some are written w/their denomination & doctrines included. 
 
Spiritual Gifts are tools God gives a believer to do the work of the ministry – to fulfill the Great Commission to reach, baptize, teach & to minister to one another.   Spiritual Gifts are not rewards, are not natural talents, are not a place of service, are not an age-group ministry, & are not a specialty ministry.   Spiritual Gifts express themselves through various ministries which, in turn, accomplish a variety of results. A Spiritual Gift is the primary channel by which the Holy Spirit ministers through a believer. It is a supernatural capacity for service to God – giving you a supernatural desire to perform the duties of that gift. Spiritual gifts are tools for building the church.   They are a source of joy in your Christ-like life & influence your motives.   A Spiritual Gifts is a Divine calling w/a Divine responsibility, b/c what God has called you to do, has gifted you to do!
 
We begin from the premise that everyone has gift(s), useful, even necessary to the work of God in & through the church.   The second premise is that the gift(s) we have are not the same gifts, that each of us has something different that we can offer.   In no way can it be construed that any one gift is better than any other gift.   All gifts are precious & necessary in the life & ministry of the church.
 
Ministry should yield fruit! For instance, if one has the gift of hospitality then having people in one’s home should bring forth feelings of love, joy, peace, etc., rather than making one feel anxious, impatient or imposed on.

Difference between gift & gifts:
The biggest gift we’ve been given is not our family, other people, nature, or the universe,
(although these are certainly gifts from God.    In Acts 2:38 Peter says to those who asked about salvation, "Repent, & be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, & you shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." The "gift" (singular) of the Holy Spirit is simply the Holy Spirit Himself.   The Holy Spirit was the promised Gift to all who believe on Jesus.   The Holy Spirit is Christ's Gift to His church, & this is basic to receiving the gifts (plural) of the Spirit: when we receive Him, we then also receive what He gives; i.e., spiritual gifts – God chooses not only to put up w/us, but to be w/us. Jesus is, “God w/us.” We’ve been given the gift of Jesus!  BUT, He’s not walking among us today.   So another gift has been given - God in yet another form, the Divine Spirit through Whom Christ is still effect right here, walking & talking w/us now.   The Holy Spirit leading, shaping, empowering, & giving us joy.   When we accept Jesus as our personal Savior – at that moment, we have the Holy Spirit living w/in us.
 
When speaking of gifts of the Spirit, Spiritual Gifts (charismata), it's about what the Spirit gives as part of bettering people's life in general, & specifically for the life of following Christ.   The apostle Paul spoke of gifts from the Spirit often in his letters to local churches. He gave detailed lists of what kinds of gifts there were, in 1 Corinthians 12, & again in Romans 12. The word he used for these gifts was charismata, which is a Greek plural term related to the word for grace.  Like grace, charismata are given at no price by the Spirit.   But there is one thing expected of those who are given charismata: the gift is to be used for building up other people - the other believers of the faith, but also everyone else, believer or not.  
God gives us the charismata so we can express the love of one another which is at the core of the believer’s way of life.   The Spiritual Gifts empower what is done for others, & the Spirit meshes them together among the believers so they can work together to love more effectively. This meshing of Spiritual Gifts was central to the success of the early church, & too many remarkable acts & movements since then.
 
God has hand picked specific Spiritual Gift(s) just for you.   Look up Ephesians 4:7, 11, 12

The Bible draws a parallel between your physical body & the Body of Christ.   As a part of the Body of Christ, you have been given a specific spiritual function. Look up 1 Corinthians 12:12
 
If we continue w/this comparison, we find one major similarity - God did not create any part of your physical body w/out a gift or purpose that is required for the whole body to function properly.
 
The same holds true for when God masterfully created you as a part of the Body of Christ.
 
All of you together are Christ’s body, & each of you is a part of it. Here are some of the parts God has appointed for the church:

apostles,
prophets,
teachers,
then those who do miracles,
those who have the gift of healing,
those who can help others,
those who have the gift of leadership,
those who speak in unknown languages (tongues).
-1 Corinthians 12:27-28
 
The question now, is not does the Holy Spirit hold a Spiritual Gift for you, but which one(s) will you be blessed w/in order to bless the Body of Christ? 
 
Let’s take a look at the Spiritual Gifts you found in each of the four major Scriptures given to you last session & some gifts noted elsewhere in Scripture.  
 
They are as follows: 
Romans 12: exhortation, giving, leadership, mercy, prophecy, service, teaching
 
1 Cor. 12: administration, apostle, discernment, faith, healing, helps, knowledge, miracles prophecy, teaching, tongues, interpretation of tongues, wisdom
 
Ephesians 4: apostle, evangelism, pastor, prophecy, teaching
 
1 Peter 4:11: serving, speaking
 
Other noted gifts - Misc. Passages:   celibacy, hospitality, martyrdom, missionary, voluntary poverty
 
Some of these may be similar, but as we study them carefully you will find that they are all distinctly different gifts.
 
**Special Note: In your personal study you may have found that some categorize the gifts, i.e., motivational gifts, manifestation gifts, & ministry gifts. In this study the gifts are NOT categorized.   The important issue is to accept each gift & learn about each one so that we may seek & accept those gifts God gives each of us for the building-up of all!   You may also have found that some use different names for gifts…this comes from the translation of God’s Word that you are using. Whatever translation you are using, know that the title of gifts are again unimportant as to the gift that we are given.   The definition of each will show you that the gifts are the same, w/only different titles.
 
**Another Special Note: A question arises if the Gifts of speaking in tongues, interpretation of tongues, prophecies, healings & discerning of spirits & other supernatural signs are still occurring today?   MY ANSWER: “YES!” (This is a study w/in itself.) So, I will just state in this study…..let the Holy Spirit lead you in your decision.
 
 
In the next study we will begin looking at each of these gifts in detail plus looking at a few Gifts noted elsewhere in Scripture.   Meanwhile, you may certainly go on the internet & see how others define each gift & then share w/others in your study what you have found.