Having Gifts That Differ: Speaking Gifts

Scripture Texts: Romans 12:6-8; I Corinthians 12:8-10; I Peter 4:7-11

We are talking about the Holy Spirit and the gifts of the Holy Spirit.  To all who have received Jesus as their Savior from sin and their Lord for life, to them He has given His Holy Spirit.  And to all to whom the Spirit has been given, to each one of them the Spirit gives at least one spiritual gift and usually two or more as a manifestation of His presence and power for the common good of the body, for the benefit of the whole church.  It is divine grace.

In other words, being part of a Christian fellowship is not just about me, but about us being in Christ, in His Church family, members one of another.

Notice the things Paul lists –teaching, encouraging, giving generously, serving, showing mercy–aren’t these things commanded of all Christians?  Aren’t we admonished in Scripture to serve one another, encourage one another, show mercy to one another, give generously, share our faith, making disciples by teaching what Jesus taught?

All these things are what all Christians do.  So why does Paul speak of these as gifts given to some, but not all?  How are we to think about these as spiritual gifts?  How are they different from what is an ordinary part of being a Christian?  Notice the phrase in vs. 6 “according to the grace given to us.”  There is something more going on here.  God gives certain believers an extra measure of grace in these things.  Spiritual gifts are a specialization in a duty given to all Christians.

Some of these virtues come more easily, joyfully and more fruitfully for some than for others. When that happens we can call it a spiritual gift.  Some take unusual spiritual delight in serving, or giving, or doing mercy, or teaching, or leading, or exhorting.  The Holy Spirit has shaped their hearts so that they find themselves unusually drawn to these things (John Piper).