9-1-10 1 Cor Message 48: Gifts: The Big Picture

Gifts: The Big Picture

Text:    1 Cor 12:7-14

2 Corinthians 10:12  For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.

Intro: Most fanfare over gifts is about pride, bigshotism and punkinballism.  It is about comparing ourselves among ourselves which is not wise.

This is not union work

The foundation for understanding Spiritual gifts is having a proper understanding of where we were before we were saved, what we are now after having been saved and the purpose of gifts.  The gift, the measure, the timing, the process are all of God.

I.          verse 7 – to profit withal: for the benefit of each individual and to promote the work of the Church- the furtherance of the Gospel.

II.        A Church whose members are afraid to serve God because of what another member might say.

A Church where there is a competitive Spirit among those who are active.

III.       The List is not exhaustive

Galatians 5:19-26 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, ²⁰Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, ²¹Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. ²²But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, ²³Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. ²⁴And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. ²⁵If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. ²⁶Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another

IV.       There is no indication that anyone ever spent one ounce of effort in an attempt to figure out what his or her gift is.  They prayed.  They studied.  They gathered together.  They followed Jesus.

V.        The point is not to list all the Gifts.  The point is that the gifts are all the work of the Spirit no matter how diverse they may be.