Spiritual Gifts (Applied)

In the LifeLift framework we reference the following: 

• 5 ministry office / equipping gifts (Ephesians 4)— gifts Jesus gives His church to help equip everyone to find their purpose
• 7 created designs (referenced in Romans 12)— gifts of the Father, unique bents given to each of His children
• 9 unique spiritual manifestations (referenced in 1 Corinthians 12)—  supernatural empowerments of the Holy Spirit

Look at the chart on the following page. That’s a total of 21 ways listed in Scripture whereby the Lord expresses Himself through us. 

Some pastors and teachers add at least three more gifts which Peter references in his first epistle. Notably, in this passage whereas translators refer to “gifts,” Peter— like Paul—  mentions charis, that is, “grace effects.” 

Some teachers believe all 20-something of these gifts are spiritual gifts. Some cite the 9 from 1 Corinthians 12 as their complete list. I don’t believe either of these views are correct. In fact, I don’t believe any closed list is accurate.

You see, Peter wasn’t trying to create an exhaustive list. He was simply  emphasizing that God works through each of us, and that we need to remember that we’re connectors to the Kingdom when we serve— however it is that we serve.

Paul wasn’t trying to create a comprehensive list, either— in any of the passages in which he mentions the “expressions” of the Spirit. In 1 Corinthians 12, he reminds us that these manifestations are to be used for the common good of everyone (see 12:7). Furthermore, in Romans 12 he urges people to use their gifts (see 12:6-7). Re-read each of the passages in full and you’ll see what I mean. Those are the unique emphases of each.

Remember what we said about the gifts in the previous chapter. They are each— 

• Pneumatikons (12:1)— the very presence of the “wind of God” breathing life into you.
• Charismata (12:4)— expressions of radical, unconditional grace.
• Diareseis (12:5)— appointments, placements, and specific places God has ordained (before time began) for you to make an eternal impact as you walk through time and space.
• Energematon (12:6)— energy, divine power-flow of God rushing through you to express Himself to the world.

God can blow His Spirit through us in any way He chooses!

Here’s what I’m getting at: each passage contains, in my mind, only a partial list of possible gifts. Remember, too, these are authentic, real-time expressions of the Spirit moving through us. He can do that in numerous ways.

Any gift list is really just a starting point. The spirit of God can do whatever He wants to do. So, we’re more interested in discovering how He works uniquely through you than we are fitting things into a theological box.

We’re not looking for a list— we’re looking for supernatural fruit! The goal is to discover how God supernaturally works through you and then continue using those gifts! In other words, work from the definition, not the list.

When we serve from that place— from remembering that the gifts are the presence  of God, that the definition is more important than a list, that the purposes of the gifts should remain forefront, and that we should openly evaluate our service— we realize that the gifts can vary dramatically— they can be anything the Lord calls us to do and then empowers at a supernatural level. The Spirit can express Himself in business, in crafts and trades, in the arts…

(This seems especially true when we align our three keys!)

Again, the first time we see the Spirit of God fill anyone to do anything is when He fills Bezalel. To be clear, the first person filled in order to minister was someone implementing the vision of the Tabernacle that was given to Moses, the great deliverer of Israel, and not Moses himself. This, to me, speaks volumes about the breadth and magnitude of how God gifts His people and the infinite number of ways He desires to express Himself through them. 

• Empower the preachers.
• And ordain the film-makers and artisans. Lay hands on the craftsmen and brilliant business women. 
• Embrace the writers and the painters and the people who can do incredible things with the Internet and social media.
• Recognize, too, that there will be unique expressions of our culture in the future, offering new ways whereby the Spirit of God will work through His children through means yet to be seen.

This is why it’s essential that we lead people back to the place of intimacy, to that sacred rest of awakening to who the Lord says they are. Then, we call forth the ways in which we see Him express Himself through them, ultimately resulting in His glory and the building of His Kingdom.