Spiritual Gifts

Sometimes we refer to talents or skills that people have as "gifts." This is not necessarily bad. When we read about some of the gifts people had in the Bible, though, we find ourselves confused and scrambling for the right words to distinguish those gifts in comparison to the gifts we feel like we have.

Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. Utterly amazed, they asked: "Aren't all these who are speaking Galileans? Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? (Acts 2:5-8 NIV)

Gifts in the Bible seems to be bigger. It seems more obvious to us that they are gifts. I wouldn't really doubt Moses when I was walking through the Red Sea with water like walls on either side of me. These gifts had a greater power than we have as humans. The power had to come from somewhere, so we give the credit to God. We call them Spirit-gifts.

But when they believed Philip as he proclaimed the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. Simon himself believed and was baptized. And he followed Philip everywhere, astonished by the great signs and miracles he saw. When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to Samaria. When they arrived, they prayed for the new believers there that they might receive the Holy Spirit, because the Holy Spirit had not yet come on any of them; they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. (Acts 8:12-17 NIV)

It can get confusing, though, when we refer to gifts as empowered by the Spirit and some people seem to have these gifts before receiving the Holy Spirit. Simon, for example, had the gift of sorcery before being baptized and receiving the Holy Spirit. Where did his gifts come from? They seem like spirit-gifts, but also seem to be without the Spirit of God.

Stories like this exist throughout the Scriptures - Old Testament and New. They are reminders to us that God is not the only Spirit out there. Angels are described as spirits. We can't see them most of the time, even when they are there. They are more powerful than us. They have abilities like appearing and disappearing at will. Sometimes when they exercise their powers, they give credit to God. (Think about the story of Job. Satan and his angels did the actual destruction and harm.) These angels can give spiritual gifts as well, at least within the confines of their own limitations.

Now about the gifts of the Spirit, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed. You know that when you were pagans, somehow or other you were influenced and led astray to mute idols. Therefore I want you to know that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, "Jesus be cursed," and no one can say, "Jesus is Lord," except by the Holy Spirit. There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work. (1 Corinthians 12:1-6 NIV)

God, then, gives us ways to start recognizing Holy Spirit gifts and distinguish them from gifts given by other spirits. Holy Spirit gifts will always give glory to God. Other spirits like to give glory to themselves (idols) or to people. Holy Spirit gifts point to Jesus as the Messiah/Christ and encourage you to follow Jesus as your Lord. Holy Spirit gifts are distributed based on God's overall plan, giving you what you need to execute your part of it. In other words, people with Holy Spirit gifts will work together as God's team because they are. God is the giver of the gifts and God wants the team to work together toward God's end. There are more ways to tell the difference, but we can explore some more tomorrow.

So how about you? Do you recognize spirit gifts? Can you tell when a spirit gift is from the Holy Spirit? Would you know if God was equipping you for a part of God's plan?