Spiritual Gifts: Finding Your Position on Team JesusSample

The Spirit-Filled Ministry of Christ and Christians

What does it mean to be Spirit-empowered in the truest sense of the word? It means to be like Jesus!

Being Spirit-empowered does not mean we are equal to Jesus, but it does mean we can do some of what He did by the Spirit’s power. Let me make this very clear and simple: by the power of the Holy Spirit, you can overcome the temptation to sin, you can become more like Jesus Christ, you can understand and apply Scripture, you can pray over the sick and not be shocked if/when some are healed. You can pray with those experiencing demonic torment and see deliverance. You can have a joy that does not come from the circumstances around you but from the Spirit within you. You can expect to see lost people saved, saved people grow, and inbreaking and outpouring of the Kingdom of God scattered throughout the otherwise mundane days of your life. 

Additionally God the Father endows each of His children with unique and specific giftings through the Holy Spirit. It’s important to note that these are called “gifts” because He gets to choose them...not us! 

In the New Testament, spiritual gifts are spoken of in the original Greek text as “pneumatikon” and “charisma” or “charismata”. The former refers to the work of the Spirit in and through a person. The latter refers to the grace of God flowing in and through a believer and is also the origin of the word “charismatic” that is commonly used to describe Christians. Therefore, a spiritual gift is the ability to have God’s grace work for you, in you, and through you by the power of the Holy Spirit. 

In the New Testament, there are four lists of spiritual gifts. None of these lists is the same, which has led some people to conclude that, by combining all the lists, we can arrive at the full list of spiritual gifts. More likely, these spiritual gifts lists are examples and not exhaustive. For example, leading worship is not listed as a spiritual gift, but it is self-evident that this is best done by a person gifted by and filled with the Spirit. 

The purpose of spiritual gifts is to glorify God by strengthening His people. Additionally, there is a great freedom and flexibility in the Spirit regarding how and when various gifts are manifested. We will study this more in depth in the coming days.

What has the Holy Spirit done in your life? What stands out to you about the four lists of spiritual gifts found in the New Testament?