A Look at Spiritual Gifts

2/13/2017

I don't usually like to pick one topic and expound on it. I much prefer reading an entire book of the Bible and going through it verse by verse. You learn so much more that way. However, there are several topics within the Bible that deserve our attention. One of these is the subject of Spiritual Gifts. So for the next little while we will be looking closely at the gifts God gives us. We will examine how they are supposed to work within the body of Christ and since so many new Christians (and sometimes older ones) question whether they have any gifts at all, I think it is important to have a proper understanding of not only what gifts God has given us, but how we are to use them. And we will also examine the touchy subject of whether or not some gifts no longer exist. While some say they all currently exist, others say they don't. So I hope you will join me on this journey as we look at what the Bible has to say about Spiritual Gifts.

Let us start by listing all the Spiritual Gifts available to us as listed in Romans, 1 Corinthians, and Ephesians and 2 Peter.

Prophecy (Romans 12:6; 1 Cor. 12:10; 1 Cor. 13:2; 1 Cor. 14:1; 2 Peter 1:19-21)
Ministry or Serving (Romans 12:7)
Teaching (Romans 12:7; 1 Cor. 14:6; 1 Cor. 14:26)
Exhortation (Romans 12:8; 1 Cor. 14:3)
Giving (Romans 12:8)
Leading (Romans 12:8)
Mercy (Romans 12:8)
Word of Wisdom (1 Cor. 12:8)
Word of Knowledge (1 Cor. 12:8)
Faith (1 Cor. 12:9)
Healing (1 Cor. 12:9)
Miracles (1 Cor. 12:10)
Discernment (1 Cor. 12:10)
Tongues (1 Cor. 12:10, 28)
Interpretation of Tongues (1 Cor. 12:10)
Helps (1 Cor. 12:28)
Administration/Governing (1 Cor. 12:28)
Evangelists (Ephesians 4:11)
Pastors (Ephesians 4:11)
Apostles (1 Cor. 12:28-29; 2 Cor. 12:11-12; Eph. 4:11)

If I have left any out, please let me know! But this is a very good list to start with, don't you think? And aren't you amazed when you look at this list, over all that God gives us to carry out His mission here on earth? I don't know about you but it absolutely boggles my mind! We are so blessed.

Now, you may be wondering which gift you have and if you have more than one. Be assured that every Christian has at least one or more of the gifts above. What gifts do you think you have? I'd love to know and perhaps throughout this study you will learn if you have more than you thought!

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9 Comments

Michele Morin link

2/13/2017 08:01:14 am

Well, when I was younger, I thought I had the gifts of administration and teaching, but as I "mature" I wonder if it's just that I"m a teacher who happens (also) to be bossy. The Lord knows, and I try to follow His leading and say yes to the assignments He gives.

Laura Davis link

2/13/2017 09:05:50 am

Michele I laughed out loud at your "bossy" statement. Maybe that's a requirement of being a teacher?

Sherry Stahl link

2/14/2017 09:57:15 am

Great post by a girl who exhibits many gifts of the spirit. Thanks for expressing them. We're all blessed because you do!
~Sherry Stahl
xoxo

Laura Davis link

2/14/2017 11:36:28 am

Aw! Thank you Sherry. Have a great day!

MartenV link

2/17/2017 12:36:16 pm

Hi Laura,

Less than 2 years ago the Lord gave me the gift of being a seer. I do use it a lot to discern the enemy in spiritual battle. I fight a lot against the pricipalities in the heavens, who have authority over countries and continents.

With the seeing gift I can see who these bad angels are and when they are wounded or hurt. Or when the angels have taken them away, so that a country has more room for good angels and influences, and people can easier turn to our Lord.

The Lord gifted me with so many gifts, it's amazing. But the last one is that of being a seer.

The seeing gift can also be used for discerning demons as a help for deliverance, but also for many more things.

Have a great day,

MartenV

Laura Davis

2/17/2017 02:52:03 pm

Marten,

All spiritual gifts are to build up the church. I will be discussing each gift we have available to us from God in the weeks ahead. Prophets used to be called seers (1 Samuel 9:9) and the Bible is very specific on what prophets did and how the gift was to be used. What you are describing does not sound biblical to me.

MartenV link

2/17/2017 03:23:27 pm

Hi Laura,

Don't understand what you mean. Since long I am a prophet too. But there are many prophets. But not so many seers.

Do you mean if you cannot find it in the bible it is wrong? If something is not biblical, you mean then it is not from the Lord? Do not we have a creative God, or is He only sitting on His throne, looking down at us and that's it?

And yes, the seers are mentioned in the bible, although not very often. If I do fight against the principalities in heaven so that people can turn to the Lord, is that wrong? So that people are freed from their bondage.

I have seen countries changed in the good direction, missionaries who could enter closed countries, dictators who suddenly were gone. Even a terrorist organisation that suddenly broke down and everybody left it. Is this wrong?

If you have a relationship with the Lord, perhaps you can ask Him about this subject...

Many greetings,

MartenV

Laura Davis link

2/20/2017 02:12:56 pm

According to 1 Samuel 9:9 prophets used to be called seers, so they are one and the same. And yes, if I cannot find what you are talking about in the Bible then it is wrong. If it is not biblical, it is not from the Lord. Yes, we have a creative God and He is involved in our lives, but He has given us the ways and means through His Word to determine false doctrine from true. I have to wonder if you realize what the principalities in heaven are that you are "fighting" against. I recommend you read Truth or Territory by Jim Osman who has written one of the best biblically based books on Spiritual Warfare today. It will help you to understand a more biblical approach to what you are referring.

And yes, I do have a relationship with the Lord, which is why the Holy Spirit has me talking to you about this.

MartenV link

2/20/2017 02:56:51 pm

Hi Laura,

Thanks for your response. But I still do not understand what you mean. When you cannot find something in the Bible, than it's not biblical. We both agree on that. But we think different about whether it is true (or from God) or not.

A few examples... When you drive a car, it's not biblical, because it's not written in the Bible. So you have to drive a donkey or something similar, like Jesus.

When you watch tv, it's not biblical, because Jesus or his disciples did not watch tv, because it's not written in the Bible. So stop watching tv, because it is wrong.

(A free advise: If you have a car and a tv, get rid of both of them and you will experience an enormous improvement of your health...)

Throw your computers at home in the trash-can for they are not biblical. So they are wrong and (maybe) an invention of the devil? You should live without them just like the people in the bible lived without computers.

Then you can better move and live in Israel, where our Lord lived. Or in a desert, like the prophets in the Old Testament. That's really biblical, according to your own way of thinking.

------

Now, when I fight against evil entities in the heavenly places, with the help of the angels, whether mentioned in the Bible or not, you call it wrong? God can do no new things because you say it's wrong?

Is God allowed by you to do new things, not mentioned in the Bible?

Many greetings,

MartenV

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