Know, Develop And Use Your Gifts-2
Perfect Gifts
There are many misconceptions about Spiritual gifts. One is that ‘if I have the Holy Spirit, I have all gifts.’ There is the Gift of the Holy Spirit Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. This is the person of the Trinity- the Holy Spirit himself. But when He is received, He bestows gifts- Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; 1 Cor 12:4; All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills vs 11. In the Spirit we are all united, but He works diversely through His gifts in each believer. For this reason, He does not give one person all His gifts (this does not refer to only the nine gifts mentioned in 1 Cor 12, there are far many more gifts than those mentioned that no one person can possess).
As He wills
The Scripture points to the fact that the Holy Spirit gives His gifts as He wills. Two questions arise, does he give gifts situationally or are we cut-out for specific purposes? The following Scriptures 1 Cor 12:18, 28, Rom 12:3; Eph 4:16 emphasize that God, like a builder, has placed or set each member where it belongs in the body, and each is equipped to function in that role for the benefit of the whole body. It is quite foreign to Scriptures to think that our roles (gifts) are constantly changing because of our environment and circumstances. Gifts that may have been dormant may get activated when we find ourselves in certain environments, but it has always been there! This understanding will help us to be careful about our choices of what work we do (spiritual) and where we do it. The story of Uzziah in 2 Chr 28:16-21 is a perfect type of how God has placed persons in specific roles. There are things that do not pertain to you. This is so that as each member working interdependently and properly (according to gift of grace), the Body will grow to full stature in Christ Eph 4:16.
The greater gifts
In 1 Cor 12:31, Paul encouraged the believers to ‘desire the greater gifts.’ Does this contradict the fact that the Spirit gives as He wills? What does it mean to desire the greater gifts? What are the greater gifts? To explain this point, Paul compared two gifts, Prophecy and Speaking in tongues. Prophecy has greater value than speaking in tongues because it edifies (builds up) the church. Therefore, the greater gifts are those that help in the building up of other members of the body of Christ. Speaking in tongues builds the believer up and it is valuable but of more value is the gift that serves in the strengthening of others. The quality that makes a gift to focus on other people and not oneself is love. Therefore, when a gift is operated in love for the edification of others it is of great value. In ranking, Paul ranks the Apostle as first. Why? He is Christ’s agent in building the church. The main point is this: a gift is valuable only as it is used with the motivation of love and aim to serve in building the members of the body of Christ. This is the reason prophecy, faith and gift of knowledge mean nothing without love 1 Cor 13:1.
Are you in your station based on God’s gift of grace? Have you identified your Spiritual gifts? What impact are you making that people point to? That is a very significant way to know your gift.
Submit yourself to the Holy Spirit and let him use you. Unlike gifts and talents which you submit to God as you use them, unless you are fully submitted to the Holy Spirit, Spiritual gifts will not be expressed through you. You are in control of your gifts and talents, and you can use them wherever is necessary, not so with Spiritual gifts. The Holy Spirit must be in control for them to manifest because through them the Holy Spirit reveals Himself. This is the reason they are perfect gifts!