God gave me an amazing insight into the nature and purpose of the gifts He has given us.
One day, I was riding a bus on the way to work. As the bus was packed already and all seats were taken, I had to stand up during the ride. A few drives and this man in front of me gets up and offers his seat. I was grateful and sat down, thanking the man. And then I noticed my seat was too wide and can sit another passenger. I turned to the first lady that I could ask, "Would you like to take a seat?" She thanked me and said she'll be fine. So she did not take the extra space. I asked a second lady, this time she was grateful and said yes.
What is the insight as to the nature and purpose of gifts?
1. The nature of a gift is it's free. I just receive it. What are examples of free gifts? Salvation. Salvation is a free gift. We just receive it. It is not given according to a person's standing or good works. It is free.
2. A gift can be refused. Like the first person I offered a space to sit to, a person can refuse a free gift. Some receive salvation. Some don't. Take the two people that were crucified with Jesus at Calvary. Both were criminals. But only one was told by God that he will be in paradise. That was the person who repented (Luke 23:40-41) and turned to God asking to be remembered in heaven (Luke 23:42).
What did Jesus say? "Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise."
3. The purpose of gifts are first for you and then for other people.
3a. Gifts are for you.
God wants to bless you.
Do I have to work for it? Is it free?
No and Yes. I'll explain free gifts and "reaped" gifts in a moment.
Free gifts are those God chose beforehand to give you - life, love, and salvation through Jesus Christ. Your name is now written in the book of life. In His mercy, He has forgiven you, taking away your shame and punishment and placing it upon himself on the cross. God did the work for you so you can receive the righteousness, riches, joy, love, salvation, holiness, and prosperity of Christ that if they weren't gifts, we would have been disqualified to receive. But God sent His son Jesus as a sacrifice for eternal life from a life of condemnation and shame. That those who receive His son, God's amazing overflow of abundance and grace are now received.
What else? God gives you a call and a purpose. He placed in you gifts and abilities that are meant to be maximized and exercised. God specifically designed your gifts thinking of what role you will fulfill in this journey of life.
Gifts can be natural gifts such as personality strengths, mental and physical abilities, talents that allow you to find work and meet a need in the community, city or a marketplace. They can be spiritual gifts. The Holy Spirit is a gift. One just has to ask. He is given to the brothers and sisters of God's family. The Spirit cannot dwell in an unrepentant heart. The word of God says in the words of David when he realized he sinned with adultery, "Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me" (Psalm 51:11). The Holy Spirit is the inheritance of the righteous. The righteous are those that have been cleansed of their sins because of Jesus manifesting his sinless accomplishment in them.
There are three kinds of spiritual gifts - manifestation gifts, ministry gifts, righteousness gifts.
Manifestation gifts are gifts that are a manifestation of the presence of the Holy Spirit.
"Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a 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 distributes them to each one, just as he determines." (1 Corinthians 12:7-11)
Second, ministry gifts are appointments that signify the role of the recipient in the body of Christ. They connote a specific kind of work or task and stewardship.
"So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up..." (Ephesians 4:11-12) My ministry gift is evangelism.
"If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 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." (Romans 12:6-8)
Third, righteousness gifts (I don't know what to call them aside from the fruits of the Spirit) are gifts that exhibit the life of Christ in a person's life.
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control." (Galatians 5:22)
All of these are from God. They are irrevocable (Romans 11:29). And they are given by grace (Romans 12:6).
3b. Gifts are for other people.
The beauty of a gift is that it can multiply. Remember the Parable of the Talents? When a servant is a faithful steward of what he was given, his gifts multiply and more are given to him because he can be trusted to make them multiply. Our natural gifts are not just for us, but for the others too.
There is a difference between a free gift and a "reaped" gift. Your natural abilities are free gifts. The house, wages, promotion, recognition are "reaped" gifts. They are a product of effort, timing, waiting, plowing, harvesting, infrastructure, training, equipping, etc.
I am so excited for Christmas. It is the time when people understand the purpose of their gifts. And they remember that they are for other people.
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| Holiday-wrapped gifts: I'm excited for Christmas! |
God bless you. Amen.
For additional resources on spiritual gifts, you may want to check out Pastor Chip Ingram from Living on the Edge's teachings on this. He spent more time studying this topic and it's available already online at http://livingontheedge.org/broadcasts/archive. Click "Your Divine Design" series: How to Discover, Develop, and Deploy Your Spiritual Gifts.
For additional resources on spiritual gifts, you may want to check out Pastor Chip Ingram from Living on the Edge's teachings on this. He spent more time studying this topic and it's available already online at http://livingontheedge.org/broadcasts/archive. Click "Your Divine Design" series: How to Discover, Develop, and Deploy Your Spiritual Gifts.
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