Spiritual Practices: Spiritual Gifts
It may not be typical to discuss spiritual gifts in a series on Spiritual Practices. However, the New Testament is clear that we must exercise our gifts, which seems to be practicing them. Our gifts are a valuable part of us, are intended for the common good and furthering his kingdom, and are gifts from the Spirit and nurtured by and with the Spirit and community.
In January of last year with the start of this series, I said, “Spiritual Practices are activities known to strengthen our Christian walk and draw us nearer to God to become more Christlike. These activities are not things that we naturally do but choose to participate in them on a regular basis to deepen our personal relationship with God and grow spiritually. Some practices are solely individual, others are corporate and some fall into either category. Some are outward practices and others are inward.”
Spiritual gifts need be active in our lives and indeed strengthen our walk and draw us nearer to him. Gifts are given for corporate use and help us grow spiritually, personally and relationally.
What Spiritual Gifts?
Spiritual gifts are not natural strengths but are instead given to all followers by the Holy Spirit. 1 Corinthians 12:7 opens a passage about the gifts with “Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given…”. Each follower has received a gift or multiple gifts from the Spirit. The passage continues to list gifts: a message of wisdom, a message of knowledge, faith, gifts of healing, miraculous powers, and the list continues. The point I wish to make here is the closing of this section, “he distributes them to each one…”, God has given gifts to each of his children. None are left out.
Ephesians 4, 1 Peter 4, Romans 12 and 1 Corinthians 12 all add to the list started above. The Lord does not lack imagination and each community of believers has its own needs. The Spirit supplies for those needs through the church’s followers.
Many believers are unsure what their gifts may be. We may hesitate to discuss such things, thinking it is boasting. Perhaps thinking of it as boasting about the Spirit’s work would help move beyond that. It is common for gifts to reveal themselves as we serve and participate in community. Through prayer, scripture study and counsel from those around us, we may identify our spiritual gifts. If we are aware of certain gifts, the Bible encourages us to use them diligently.
For the Common Good
Paul talks most extensively of gifts and how they are for serving others and glorifying God. Some spiritual gifts may put people in more prominent positions, but all gifts are valued by God and needed by the community. We considered the first part of 1 Corinthians 12:7 above, let’s now look at the ending of the verse, “Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.” Ephesians 4:12-13 reinforce this idea, saying that it is that “the body may be built up…until we reach unity…and become mature.”
There is personal development in the use or exercise of the gifts for the body. The important point here, however, is that the gifts are used for the building up of the church and as a consequence, we grow. Practice of the gifts then also offers the opportunity to praise God, as 1 Peter 4:11 says.
The prominence of gifts or the personal growth may cause some to find pride in certain gifts of the Spirit. However, it is no mistake that 1 Corinthians 12 moves from the discussion of gifts to the discussion of the body as many parts yet all unified and all necessary. There is no part of the body (including the body of Christ) that is superfluous or less important than another part. The unity of the Body of Christ is key in the exercise of gifts and growth of the church to keep us all in balance and far from prideful behavior. The Spirit works with us to form the role each of us plays in the church and to guide us in unity.
Spirit works through gifts
The Spirit works within us and through us in our gifts, but we must be the one to work with the Spirit. Using our gifts in love for the community and for God’s glory sounds pretty simple. However, as humans we are also full of (or have a bit of) doubt about using our gifts. I have used the analogy that it is easier to turn a vehicle in motion. If you have ever had a car stall out, you know that trying to turn the car off the road is more difficult when it is stationary. Once the car gets moving, the wheel turns more easily. In many ways, I see the Spirit working that way as well. When we move, the Spirit will move, revealing himself to us in our gifts.
God has entrusted a role to us, given trust in us to carry out a role and he will carry it out with us. We need merely exercise the gifts and see where he leads us.
What gift have you used this week for the common good? Drop a note in the comments.
