“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us”
"The Gifts of the Spirit" is a loaded phrase. Firstly, the Greek word for “gifts” is charisma. The root word of charisma is charis, which is translated as grace. So they are more accurately called “graces of the spirit.” This distinction is essential because of the nature of grace.
Grace is a divine influence in your heart that brings about ability or capacity. Grace is power and strength in your inner self. The manifestation of the Spirit of God in you or through you is grace in action, signifying God's empowering presence in and through you.
The gifts/graces, or manifestations of God’s Spirit, are not individualized abilities that one person has while another person doesn’t. Meaning the gifts are not individual abilities. They are varied forms of expression of the indwelling Spirit of God.
I emphasize this distinction because some people think they don’t have a particular gift, while others think they have a gift that no one else has. There are no individualized gifts. Every believer has the Spirit; therefore, every believer can manifest the Spirit in the form of a “gift.”
Every believer can flow in all of the gifts.
While we all have the capacity to flow in all the gifts, we should tune our hearts to God’s guidance because he will lead some to operate in one gift while he leads others to operate in different gifts. As the body of Christ jointly harmonizes with God’s leading, we become a beautiful multi-faceted expression of God’s Spirit, seeking to accomplish his will in and through his body.
The Gifts Made Easy
We know of the list of gifts mentioned in 1 Corinthians 12 and Romans 12, but I want to highlight a gift mentioned in 1 Corinthians 12:28, the gift of “helping.”
Helping someone is a spiritual gift. Yes, you can help someone in your strength, but when you are motivated by love, you are walking in a gift of the Spirit.
Can you help someone? Then you can flow in the gifts.
For most of us, operating in the gifts is a desire, but we don’t have much confidence. We’ve done it before, or at least desired it, but for many, it feels like it doesn’t work consistently for us. So we just draw back and stop leaning into it.
Then Do It
May I make a suggestion? If you desire the gifts to be active in your life, try these two things first. Cultivate compassion in your heart for the person, then see if there’s any way you can help them.
As you’re helping them, lean in a bit. Pay attention to see if a scripture or an encouraging word comes to mind. Or a facet of Christ’s finished work is impressed upon your thinking that you can share with them. And then ask them if you can pray for them. As you’re praying, pay attention to see if any specifics arise that you might need to pray for.
The more you actively love and help people, the more you will create opportunities for the Holy Spirit to manifest in all his varied forms.
I’ll leave you with this thought from Paul. Don’t let the first part of verse 6 confuse you; remember that all believers have the Spirit. He’s making the distinction based on each person knowing which gift God would lead them to operate in. I love how he makes his point. The emphasis is mine.
Romans 12:6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; 7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.
THEN DO IT!
HOMEWORK: Lean into the gifts
So far, you were to read 1 Corinthians and identify which gifts you want operating in your life. If you desire to prophesy, write a sketch based on all the aspects associated with New Covenant prophecy. See last week's message and homework video.
This week we go a step further. Based on the message, love is the greatest gift of the Spirit. We also identified "helping" as a spiritual gift. This week's homework is to read 1 Corinthians 13 and get a vision of what it looks like for the other gifts of the spirit to blend with love. You may have to spend some time thinking about it, and it may not be an obvious thing at first. There's no right answer, and it's more about reframing the gifts through love than individual acts of "doing a gift."
If it's new to you or you haven't stepped out in a while. Commit to two things, to love people and to help people. As you're helping someone motivated by love, lean in a bit more and see if a scripture comes to mind you can share with them. Ask if you can pray for them and pay attention to God's spirit within for any specific things to bring up. It's ok to ask questions.
