Thank you for being here! Today’s study will reveal God’s purpose for spiritual gifts and how we are to properly execute using them. Praying you will be sensitive to the Spirit’s leading in order to fulfill His will. Eric

The purposes and plans God has for believers, His children and the Church are truly amazing! When we really think about His plan, way and design, it can boggle the mind!

God’s intention and purpose for the Church, His body of believers, is for perfect unity. We see the Lord’s desire and will in John 17:6,20 and 21 (ESV). Jesus was praying to the Father concerning His disciples, “I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the world. Yours they were, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. ... 20 "I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, 21 that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.” Then we see in 1 Corinthians that each individual in the body of Christ has a specific function and if one part does not fulfill their role, the body will not be able to function wholly. 1 Corinthians 12:12-21(ESV), “For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body--Jews or Greeks, slaves or free--and all were made to drink of one Spirit. 14 For the body does not consist of one member but of many. 15 If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," that would not make it any less a part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," that would not make it any less a part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? 18 But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. 19 If all were a single member, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, yet one body. 21 The eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you," nor again the head to the feet, "I have no need of you." Every part of the body, every person in the Church is needed for the body to function correctly.

Just as with Adam in the Garden, when God noted that it was not good for man to be alone, He didn’t create an entirely new entity when He created Eve. He started with Adam’s rib. It was an intentional design which showed a completion of humanity, reflecting God’s image in both male and female. Eve, being a suitable helper for Adam, highlighted the complementary roles within the divine order. When God brought the woman to the man, it established the pattern for marital relationship where God unites individuals. This presentation can be seen as a type of Christ and the Church. God’s plan is that Christ, the bridegroom will be united with His bride, the Church. (Ephesians 5:31,32). We read in Ephesians 5:27 what God’s intent, purpose and plan is for the church. Verse 27 in the Weymouth New Testament reads “That He might present the Church to Himself a glorious bride, without spot or wrinkle, or any other defect, but to be holy and unblemished.”

You see, the issue we believers have, as members of the body of Christ, is the same as Adam had, in needing Eve and the unity that He established with them. This is the beauty of His plan, way and design. We need each other! But wait! That is not all! His plan includes gifting each one of us with what He desires so that we are able to minister and serve the other members of the Church or the Bride of Christ.

For the purpose of our post today, I am going to share some other important insights about why the spiritual gifts (of the Spirit) are important, why the Lord desires that we each use the gifts and what their purpose is.

“Paul the Apostle expresses it is important that the church have a clear understanding of spiritual gifts. The emphasis on being informed highlights the importance of knowledge and discernment in the Christian life. Believers are called to grow in wisdom and understanding.” (Bible Hub, Study Bible). 1 Corinthians 12:1 ESV, “Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be uninformed.”

“The diversity of spiritual gifts reflects the multifaceted nature of God’s work among His people. The variety of gifts underscores the idea that each believer has a unique role to play in the body of Christ.” (Bible Hub, Study Bible - 1 Corinthians 12:4-6).

Why has the Lord given spiritual gifts to the believers? The gifts of the Spirit were given to the body of Christ for: the edification (building up), comfort, encouragement, and the common good of the church. His gifts prepare and equip His people for service and enable His plan or design to be fulfilled. Note though, we don’t earn or achieve these gifts - they are ‘given by the Holy Spirit’ (divine grace) according to His will.

We have seen clearly that God, through His Spirit, has given His gifts to empower believers to do His work on this earth.

Let’s shift our focus to another vitally important aspect concerning spiritual gifts - that is the proper execution of these gifts! “Paul emphasizes the need for proper motivation in the use of spiritual gifts. The gifts are valuable and should be sought after. However, the desire for these gifts must be rooted in love and aimed at building up the body of Christ.” (Bible Hub, Study Bible). Note also, the gifts are tools for ministry and service - not personal status!

1 Corinthians 14:1, instructs us to, “pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts but especially that you may prophesy.” The Greek word translated ‘pursue’ is ‘dioko’ meaning to pursue, or chase something with intensity, to strive for or press forward toward a goal, reflecting a sense of urgency and determination. ‘Love,’ agape in the New Testament is used to describe a selfless, sacrificial, unconditional love. It is the highest form of love, often associated with the love of God for humanity and the love that believers are called to have for one another. Bible Hub, Study Bible states, “The absence of love renders even the most extraordinary spiritual gifts meaningless.” ‘Desire’ zeloo means to be zealous for , to burn with desire, to pursue ardently, to desire, eagerly or intensely.

Then, the Greek word for ‘prophesy’ refers to the act of delivering a message from God. I believe there has been quite a bit of misunderstanding about prophesy so I want to be very clear. Prophesy often involves fortelling future events OR declaring God’s will. In the New Testament, it encompasses both the prediction of future events and the proclamation of God’s truth. It is a spiritual gift that involves speaking under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, often for the edification, exhortation and comfort of the church. (1 Corinthians 14:3).

The Bible, by nature, is prophetic as it was inspired by God, given to teach, correct, prepare and equip His people to do every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16,17). Preaching the truth from the Bible is prophetic.

If you do not hear the Word of God rightly preached in your church, you are not hearing prophetic messages which present the proclamation of God’s truth nor the edification, exhortation, or comfort that God wants presented to the believers.

Remember, the gifts of the Holy Spirit or spiritual gifts are given to all believers as God wills. Why does He give these gifts to all believers? So we can minister to, encourage, comfort, edify and teach each other effectively by the power of the Holy Spirit. Have you ever seen someone come into your church and you feel a nudging to go talk with or pray for them because you can see their discouragement or sadness? That is the Holy Spirit leading you to minister to the need of your brother or sister.

Did you notice, when we read 1 Corinthians 4;1 that we are to first ‘pursue love?’ “Pursue love and desire spiritual gifts.”

1 Corinthians 12:31, “But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way.”

What is that more excellent way?

1 Corinthians 13: 1-3, “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.”

Without love, God’s love in us, we cannot accomplish the work of the Holy Spirit effectively. Love is never selfish but always looks to the benefit of others first.

The gifts of the Spirit are not given to show how spiritual we are, but should demonstrate how humble and obedient we are. Allow God to use you to serve and minister to His body of believers, the Bride of Christ, the Church!

Each believer is responsible for using their gifts wisely and faithfully. This involves seeking opportunities to serve and being open to the Spirit’s leading. The proper execution for moving in spiritual gifts is through love  

Serving with love is key in our journey of ministry to others.

Serve with a heart of compassion, reflecting God’s love.

For anything positive that results from your obedience - God gets the credit, honor and glory, for it is His Holy Spirit Who works through us!

Unless noted otherwise Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version.

ESV English Standard Version