Spiritual Gifts

Spiritual Gifts

"We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us... if it is giving, then give generously..."

So, in Sunday School this past Sunday the teacher was talking about the Spiritual Gifts of giving. It really intrigued my interests because I have always celebrated Christmas as the Birthday of Jesus whenever I didn’t have enough money to buy my children Christmas presents. I told them that they had a special day when it was their birthday and that Christmas was actually a special day for Jesus and he should have a special day this year. They would complain a little, but once we had the cake and celebrated for Jesus it was okay. Besides they got gifts from the Grandparents, so it made them feel even better. But I look back at those days and how horrible I felt because I couldn’t afford Christmas.

The lecture on Sunday made me feel better because I realized that now as a child of God it was ok to give myself and my family as gifts to God and not monetize Christmas. So here is my Christmas Blog. Finding your gift from God.

Let us pray Heavenly Father,

As we gather in the warmth of this season, we thank You for the incredible gift of Your love. Help us embrace the spirit of giving, opening our hearts to those in need. Let us be vessels of Your kindness, sharing joy and compassion with others. May our acts of kindness reflect Your grace, bringing hope and light into the lives of all we encounter.

In this season of giving, inspire us to give generously, not just in material ways, but through love, time, and understanding. May we be part of Your plan to bless others, spreading joy and warmth this Christmas and beyond.

Amen.

The spiritual gift of giving is explicitly mentioned in the Bible as one of the gifts given by the Holy Spirit to believers for building up the church. It appears in Romans 12:6-8 (NIV): "We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us... if it is giving, then give generously..."

This gift involves a supernatural ability to generously contribute material resources (money, time, possessions) to meet needs in the church and advance God's kingdom, often with simplicity, cheerfulness, and without seeking recognition. People with this gift find deep joy in supporting ministries, helping the poor, or funding gospel work, and they often give sacrificially beyond what seems typical.

1 Corinthians 12:1-11 (ESV)

1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be uninformed. 2 You know that when you were pagans you were led astray to mute idols, however you were led. 3 Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says “Jesus is accursed!” and no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except in the Holy Spirit. 4 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; 5 and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; 6 and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. 7 To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. 8 For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.

The breakdown of these verses is this:

• All legitimate gifts come from the Holy Spirit and point to Jesus.

o    Same Spirit (gifts).

o    Same Lord (Jesus—service).

o    Same God (Father—empowerment). This counters division in Corinth, where people boasted about certain gifts. All gifts are from the Triune God.

·         Purpose: For the common good—not personal status, but building up the church body.

• They are distributed sovereignly:

1.       Utterance/Message of Wisdom: Spirit-enabled insight to apply God's truth practically in situations.

2.       Utterance/Message of Knowledge: Supernatural revelation of facts or truth (not mere learning).

3.       Faith: Extraordinary trust in God for specific situations (beyond saving faith).

4.       Gifts of Healing: Ability to heal physically/spiritually as a sign of God's power.

5.       Working of Miracles: Performing supernatural acts beyond natural laws.

6.       Prophecy: Speaking God's message to edify, encourage, or comfort (not always predictive).

7.       Distinguishing/Discernment of Spirits: Ability to identify true vs. false spirits/sources.

8.       Various Kinds of Tongues: Speaking in unknown languages (human or angelic) by the Spirit.

9.       Interpretation of Tongues: Translating tongues for the church to understand.

·         The same Spirit empowers and distributes ("apportions") these gifts as He wills—not earned, not uniform. No room for pride or envy.

Identifying yourself – a believers identity in Christ refers to the profound transformation that occurs through faith in Jesus Christ. This Identity is rooted in Scripture and defines believers not by worldly achievements, past failures, or external labels, but by their union with Christ, resulting in a New Creation with eternal significance.

Key aspects:

·         A New Creation -2 Corinthians 5:17 (ESV): “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” The former identity tied to sin is replaced with one centered on Christ.

·         Child of God - Through adoption, believers become part of God’s family. 1 John 3:1 (NIV) declares: “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” This confers inheritance and intimate relationship with the Father (Romans 8:17).

·         Forgiven and Redeemed - Sins are fully forgiven, and believers are redeemed from condemnation. Romans 8:1 (ESV) affirms: “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Colossians 1:13-14 describes this as deliverance from darkness and forgiveness through Christ’s blood.

·         United with Christ - Believers are spiritually joined to Christ, sharing in His death, resurrection, and life. Galatians 2:20 (ESV) states: “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.” This union provides security and vitality (Colossians 3:3-4).

·         Chosen and Loved - Believers are selected by God and deeply loved. Ephesians 1:4-5 (ESV) notes: “He chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption.”

·         Part of the Body of Christ - As members of Christ’s body, believers have purpose and belonging. 1 Corinthians 12:27 (ESV) says: “Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.” This includes roles in service and community (Ephesians 2:10).

·         Secure and Victorious - Nothing can separate believers from God’s love (Romans 8:38-39), and they possess strength through Christ (Philippians 4:13).

Seek the Giver First

The phrase “Seek the Giver first” expresses a principle commonly found in Christian teachings, emphasizing the priority of pursuing a relationship with God (the Giver) over desiring His blessings, provisions, or spiritual gifts (the gifts).

This concept draws closely from the biblical instruction in Matthew 6:33: “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” The idea is that by prioritizing God Himself—His presence, will, and righteousness—material, spiritual, or emotional needs will follow as secondary blessings.

Numerous Christian reflections elaborate on this theme:

•  Some stress seeking the Giver to avoid idolatry or treating God as a mere provider.

•  Others caution that focusing solely on gifts can lead to disappointment if blessings are withheld, whereas loving God for who He is fosters enduring faith.

•  A balanced perspective suggests appreciating gifts as means to know and honor the Giver more deeply.

This encouragement serves as a reminder to cultivate devotion to God above all else, trusting that He, as the ultimate source of all good things, will provide what is needed in due time.

Finally we come to the Desire or hunger for the spiritual gift.

This is the abilities bestowed by the Holy spirit for edification of the church.

In the New Testament, particularly in 1 Corinthians 14:1 (English Standard Version), the Apostle Paul instructs believers: “Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy.” Similar language appears in 1 Corinthians 12:31, where Paul urges, “But earnestly desire the higher gifts,” before introducing love as the “more excellent way” in chapter 13.

The Greek term translated as “earnestly desire” (ζηλόω, zēloō) conveys a strong zeal or fervent longing, akin to a deep hunger or passionate pursuit. This desire is not selfish ambition but a heartfelt yearning for gifts that build up the body of Christ, with prophecy highlighted as particularly valuable because it edifies, encourages, and consoles others (1 Corinthians 14:3–4).

Theologically, this command implies that believers should actively cultivate a spiritual hunger for these gifts through prayer, immersion in Scripture (e.g., 1 Corinthians 12–14; Romans 12; Ephesians 4), and seeking the Holy Spirit’s empowerment. Such hunger aligns with the purpose of the gifts: to manifest the Spirit for the common good (1 Corinthians 12:7) and to express love in service to others.

Paul balances this by subordinating the pursuit of gifts to the pursuit of love, ensuring that any desire remains rooted in humility and communal benefit rather than personal status. This teaching encourages a vibrant, Spirit-led faith where believers eagerly seek God’s empowering presence while prioritizing Christlike love.

As you can see there are many gifts our Father gives us. Different types of gifts are bestowed on different people as he wills to glorify our Father, edify his church and advance his Kingdom. To know yourself you must identify yourself since you became a Child of God. Are you going to live in His Kingdom or continue living in this world? Are you going to accept his gifts? Are you going to give him the only gift he asks for? All he asks for is YOU. Just as he came into my life without hesitation, if he asks, you go without hesitation. Whatever he asks of you, are you willing to drop everything and do what he asks? That is the Gift our Father wants. I wish you all a very Merry Christmas. I give my life to my Father, my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit abides in me. Hallelujah and Amen