The Gifts of The Spirit

Good Morning,

Romans 12:6-8 (NIV)
We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.
1 Corinthians 12:1, 4-11 (NIV)
Now about spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be ignorant.
There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines.
1 Corinthians 12:27-31 (NIV)
Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of administration, and those speaking in different kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret?
But eagerly desire the greater gifts.
1 Peter 4:10 (AMP)
As each of you has received a gift (a particular spiritual talent, a gracious divine endowment), employ it for one another as [befits] good trustees of God's many-sided grace [faithful stewards of the extremely diverse powers and gifts granted to Christians by unmerited favor].
(ALL Emphasis mine...DRB)

Last night I was privileged to have heard a most marvelous message delivered by Pastor Bryan Lamoureux at Journey Church where I attend and am blessed to be a member. His message concerned the gifts of the Holy Spirit and, to say the least, it made a huge impression on me and prompted me to send this message along to you.
(You can visit http://livestream.com/journeychurch and look up his message there. It would be well worth the time and effort!)

I'm not going to go into all of the many points made by Pastor Bryan and I'm not going to attempt to explain Scripture this morning. I'm not going to list all of which Scripture tells us are the Spiritual Gifts. No, none of that at all. What I AM going to do is to remind every one of us that we DO have a gift or gifts which have been given by God through the Holy Spirit. The next thing I want to remind us of is that we are to USE our gifts and giftedness for the "common good"...that is, I'm to use my gift to uplift the Church and all of my brothers and sisters in it...as are you.

YOU have a gift that has been given to you by God. If you don't know what that gift is, then, please, do all you can to find out what it is. Pray for the Holy Spirit to reveal it to you. Google "Spiritual Gift Inventory Test" and go to one of the many sites which will help you to more fully realize where your giftedness lies. Again, PLEASE, strive to fully understand how God has blessed you with a Spiritual Gift or Gifts.

Next, I implore you to USE your gift! Use it, as we read in Scripture, for the "common good," so as to lift up the entire Church of Jesus Christ, for the good of your local congregation, and to help all of your brothers and sisters in Christ. Use it to it's fullest and utmost. USE IT!

Finally, I would remind us all that, even though we might know what our particular gifts are at the present time, we can "eagerly desire the greater gifts" in addition to that which we already have. Or, in the case where we might not know what our giftedness might be, we ought to pray that the Holy Spirit bless us with the "greater gifts" available to us from God.

This is much too important a subject matter to gloss over or to simply put aside. The gifts given by the Holy Spirit have NOT been done away with. The gifts of the Spirit are NOT a thing of the past. God's Spiritual gifts aren't something that were of "Biblical times" only. The gifts of the Holy Spirit are given to every believer in Jesus Christ. They were given in those ancient times, of course; they are given to each of us today; they will be given to all Christian believers for always.

It's our job to find our giftedness. Then, equally...or maybe even MORE...importantly, to use what we've been given.

Thank you Pastor Bryan for a wonderful and meaningful message!

Love, peace, and blessings,

David