Devotions this week based on the Message: “BELIEVE: Week 17: Spiritual Gifts”
(NOTE: This sermon series and devotional series is based on a book by Randy Frazee entitled, “BELIEVE.”
You may choose to download or purchase the book as a supplement to your worship and devotional emails.)
A poll done in 2009 by Barna research found the following:
Between those who do not know their gift (15%), those who say they don’t have one (28%) and those who claimed gifts that are not biblical (20%), nearly two-thirds of the self-identified Christian population who claim to have heard about spiritual gifts have not been able to accurately apply whatever they have heard or what the Bible teaches on the subject to their lives. (https://www.barna.com/research/survey-describes-the-spiritual-gifts-that-christians-say-they-have/)
So perhaps you are one of those that have heard about spiritual gifts, yet have not taken or had the opportunity to better understand them in general and put them into practice specifically. I hope this week’s devotions help.
So what is a spiritual gift? There are many definitions on the web if you search “Definition of Spiritual Gifts,” but let’s go with this:
A spiritual gift is…
…a special, divine ability or talent GIVEN by the Holy Spirit…
- 1 Corinthians 12:4 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. 5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6 There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.
…to EACH believer…
- 1 Corinthians 12:7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. … 11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.
…to be USED in the context of the BODY of Christ…
- 1 Corinthians 12:12 Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. 14 Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.
- KEY VERSE Romans 12:4 For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us.
… to ACCOMPLISH a given MINISTRY in God’s kingdom.
- 1 Peter 4:10 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.
- 1 Corinthians 12:18 But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. 19 If they were all one part, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, but one body.
So as God’s Spirit has called you to faith, he has also gifted you to be a productive member of the body of Christ. Each one has been given a gift for the common good.
Do you know what God has given to you? There are many assessments online as well, but here’s one to start with. Over this week we’ll look at the different gifts and perhaps God will make clear the gift he has given to you and how he wants to use it.
Apply: Take this spiritual gifts assessment: CLICK HERE
Prayer: Spirit of God, thank you for calling me to faith and giving me gifts to live out that faith in a special way. Open my eyes to see the gifts you have given to me and how I am to use those to your glory and to the blessing of your ministry! AMEN