Cultivating the Gifts

Understanding spiritual gifts begins with recognizing that they are expressions of God's grace, not rewards we earn through good behavior. The Greek word 'charismata' means concrete expressions of grace, emphasizing that these gifts flow from God's unmerited favor. This truth helps us understand why the operation of gifts doesn't necessarily indicate God's approval of someone's character, as Jesus warned that many would claim to have prophesied and cast out demons yet be told 'I never knew you.'The Bible doesn't provide just one exhaustive list of spiritual gifts, but rather multiple lists that highlight different aspects of how God works through His people. Romans 12 includes gifts like serving, giving, and showing mercy alongside prophecy and teaching. First Corinthians 12 lists more supernatural manifestations like healing, miracles, and tongues. This variety demonstrates that God uses whatever gift is needed in the moment to reach souls and build up the church, whether it appears supernatural or not.Perhaps most encouraging is that spiritual gifts are available to every believer. Paul clearly states that each person is given a manifestation of the Spirit for the common good, and he actually encourages believers to earnestly desire spiritual gifts. The proper motivation for using these gifts must be love, as outlined in 1 Corinthians 13, which serves as the foundation for all gift operation. When motivated by love and used for the common good, spiritual gifts work together like parts of a body to create unity and advance the mission of making disciples.🌐 Websitehttps://theshed.church📘 Facebook / theshedatprovence 📷 Instagram / theshed.church 🎵 TikTok / theshed.church 📺 YouTube / @theshedatprovence🎙️ PodcastThe Shed at ProvenceAvailable wherever podcasts are found