Page 45 - In His Image

Chapter 8

Spiritual Gifts - The Tools of a Disciple
"Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant."
1 Corinthians 12:1

I would be remiss if I did not start this chapter with the following ... The
GREATEST miracle known to humankind is salvation (John 3:3-6); the GREATEST
gift given to the believer is the Holy Spirit. Amen

Webster defines gift this way...
"something voluntarily transferred by one person to another without compensation; a
notable capacity, talent, or endowment."

Our Heavenly Father (Son and Holy Spirit, as we'll see shortly) gives gifts freely,

according to His will, to all those in His family. These gifts are the talents and
capacities for ministry ("tools" if you will) that equip us under the influence of the
Holy Spirit to go and fulfill the Great Commission.

A few years ago I delivered a sermon in which I taught on the spiritual gifts. I
presented the concept of gifts this way...

The greatest of all gifts mean little if the following three principles aren't under
stood and applied.

Principle 1: The gift must be received! What good does the gift do me if I, for
whatever reason, do not receive the gift. A gift left on the shelf is of no value to
anyone!

Principle 2: The true value of the gift must be rightly perceived. We can receive
the gift, but if we do not understand the value of the gift to us, the gift means
nothing.

Principle 3: After the gift has been received and its true value perceived, the gift
must be used. Receiving and perceiving in the absence of using means nothing.

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