What are Natural Gifts? God has distributed gifts that are natural to all men. Christian or not… you have the breath of God in your lungs. God created you in his own image. He’s given you this great earth upon which to flourish. You are fearfully and wonderfully made—created “free” to live a magnificent life. The thought of realizing your full potential… the adventure of life… ought to cause us to spring out of bed filled with joy eager to subdue this earth.
What are Spiritual Gifts? However, are special, supernatural gifts God gives us when we believe on Jesus. If we marvel over what the natural man can achieve—how much more the spiritual? Ephesians 4:8 says, when Jesus “ascended on high…he gave gifts to people.” 1 Peter 4:10 instructs, “Just as each one has received a gift, use it to serve others, as good stewards of the varied grace of God.” God wants the kaleidoscopic array of his own beauty, love, grace and shine out through us.
Spiritual gifts enable us to reflect God’s love in powerfully profound, particular ways. For example, 1 Peter 4, showing hospitality without grumbling. Speaking as if speaking God’s words. Serving with the strength God provides. Loving people in ways that promotes their worth, value, dignity and potential. Living in ways that elevate all that’s righteous, good and holy. Spiritual gifts are supernatural abilities given by God's grace that enable believers to reflect Christ, strengthen His church, and advance His kingdom.
The measure of a spiritual gift is not how impressive it appears, but how faithfully it reflects Christ and strengthens His church. A talented musician can move people emotionally but a spiritually gifted musician can move people toward Christ. A gifted teacher can communicate information but a spiritually gifted teacher communicates truth in a way the Holy Spirit uses to transform lives. Anyone can organize a project but a spiritually gifted leader inspires people to follow Jesus and accomplish God's mission.
While Natural gifts reveal something about you; Spiritual gifts reveal something about Jesus. While Natural gifts can impress people; Spiritual gifts transform people. While Natural gifts point to human ability; Spiritual gifts originate from and point to divine grace.
There are several lists of gifts found in Scripture. Romans 12:6-8 says, “According to the grace given to us we have different gifts: If prophecy use it according to the proportion of one’s faith; if service, use it in service; if teaching, in teaching; if exhorting, in exhortation; giving, with generosity; leading, with diligence; showing mercy, with cheerfulness.”
We’re sometimes tempted to hyper-spiritualize some of these gifts. Take prophecy. What is it? Prophecy is boldly speaking God’s truth, wisdom, and warnings into a person’s life, or a circumstance, or cultural moment. Silence comes naturally… but speaking with full conviction, filled with Spirit and power, as one speaking the very oracles or words of God is supernatural. Teaching and exhorting is much the same.
People of all stripes serve or volunteer. That’s natural. But to serve beyond what you’re able, with God’s strength, is supernatural. Giving someone a tip is expected. Giving generously, freely, without restraint—that’s supernatural. Or, take leading. Everyone aspires to lead. But leading diligently, conscientiously, with a deepened sense of call and duty, not just to make a wage, not just to impress men, but to serve God is supernatural! In our hospitals many acts of mercy are done for patients—but when those acts are done with cheerful joy, whether seen or unseen, day-in and day-out, it’s of God.
What is the “Flavor” of Spiritual Gifts? In Romans 12:9-18, Paul gives us the flavor of what makes a thing spiritual or supernatural. “Let love be without hypocrisy. Detest evil; cling to what is good. 10 Love one another deeply as brothers and sisters. Take the lead in honoring one another. 11 Do not lack diligence in zeal; be fervent in the Spirit; serve the Lord. 12 Rejoice in hope; be patient in affliction; be persistent in prayer. 13 Share with the saints in their needs; pursue hospitality. 14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud; instead, associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own estimation. 17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Give careful thought to do what is honorable in everyone’s eyes. 18 If possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”
In every instance it’s not just the thing itself that is spiritual—it’s the spirit, the zeal, the heart, the integrity, the genuineness, the intent, the extent, the personal cost to which a thing is undertaken. Also, what makes it spiritual is “For whom” it’s undertaken… not for ourselves, not merely for the good of others, but so that God's glory shines through us in extraordinary ways. Every gift ultimately serves love.
Now when we turn to 1 Corinthians 12 we find gifts that we might characterize as “extraordinary” if not “mystical”. 1 Corinthians 12:7 says, “A manifestation of the Spirit is given each person for the common good.” Verses 8-11: “to one is given a message of wisdom through the Spirit, to another, a message of knowledge by the same Spirit, 9 to another, faith by the same Spirit, to another, gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10 to another, the performing of miracles, to another, prophecy, to another, distinguishing between spirits, to another, different kinds of tongues, to another, interpretation of tongues. 11 One and the same Spirit is active in all these, distributing to each person as he wills.”
Believers are deeply divided as to just what some of these gifts may be, or whether they are still operational today. The ultimate test of a spiritual gift isn't how spectacular it appears. It's what fruit it produces. Does it edify believers? Is it truly a manifestation of the Spirit? If of the Spirit… the Spirit of God is a Spirit of holiness, love, unity, goodness, truth, he is the Spirit of Christ… If a person’s gifts lack character of holiness, love, unity, goodness, truth, sound doctrine… they may very well be self-deceived, it not evil. But you will know a tree by its fruit if you keep watching. If something doesn’t feel of God is probably isn’t.
Which Gifts are Greater? 1 Corinthians 12:27-30 says, “Now you are the body of Christ, and individual members of it. 28 And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, next miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, leading, various kinds of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all do miracles? 30 Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? 31 But desire the greater gifts. And I will show you an even better way.” Per 1 Corinthians 12:31, Paul's "more excellent way" is love. Before Paul explains the operation of gifts in chapter 14, he pauses in chapter 13 to remind us that gifts used without love are spiritually empty. The greatest gift is not tongues, prophecy, leadership, or miracles. The greatest evidence of spiritual maturity is love.
In Ephesians 4:10-13 Paul says, “The one who descended is also the one who ascended far above all the heavens, to fill all things. 11 And he himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, to build up the body of Christ, 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of God’s Son, growing into maturity with a stature measured by Christ’s fullness.”
Certain gifts generate addition, while other gifts generate multiplication. God gifts some as apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers to “Equip.” If you can fish, you should fish. But if you can teach another to fish, you ought teach. Everyone ought to be released for ministry… but there are some who must be released to teach, equip, prepare, train. The end game is… to what extent is the body elevated to stature and measure of Christ’s fullness? Leaders ought to lead and equip the body diligently. If something comes up, you should make it happen yourself, and serve. If that thing is too impossible, you ought to ask leader to equip you; if that thing is bigger than what one person can handle, you ought find someone to help you, so you can multiply yourself. It’s not about any one person being better than another… it’s about ensuring the greater work and bandwidth of church get unleashed.
What is My Responsibility? With great gifts comes great responsibility! Jesus told the Parable of the Talents (Mt 25:14-29). A master entrusts 5 talents to one, 2 to one, and 1 to another (all according to their ability). In faith, the first guy goes to work immediately and doubles his talents to ten! But in fear, the man with 1 talent digs a whole in the ground and buries his potential and is summarily condemned by Master.
But the guy with 5 talents is commended (Mt 25:23), “Well done good and faithful servant! You were faithful over a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Share in your master’s joy.” In fact, the owner says, (25:28-29) “Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has ten talents. For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have more than enough….” In this parable one becomes zero; a two becomes four; and the five becomes… eleven! Faithful with little… faithful over much!
What’s Next for Me? Every believer has received a gift. Every believer has a place in God's mission. First… Explore Faith. Trust Christ. Be Baptized. Second… Discover your gift. Develop your gift. Deploy your gift. Imagine what would happen if every believer in this church discovered their gift, developed it, and faithfully deployed it. Ministries would multiply. People would mature. Needs would be met. The gospel would spread. The church would begin looking more and more like Christ Himself.
God did not save you to sit, but to serve, love, and give. Every believer has received grace. Every believer has received a gift. Every believer has a place in God's mission. The only question is: What are you going to do with what He's entrusted to you? Come talk with us about it at the POINT. Take a gifts test online. Check out the serve page for areas explore.