Are the Gifts Absolutely Necessary? 7-7-25

I was blessed to celebrate my eighty plus birthday this past weekend and it was such a blessing. Now I am back to doing what I love best!

I deviated somewhat from the series dealing with the church. Yet, there is still a connection because the gifts were given to the body of Christ; the church which is Christ’s body. Scripture.  And what we do with our assignments (gifts/ministry) has eternal ramifications (consequences).

A friend asked me how do figure out what yours gift is. I felt it was essential to share because there are any people in the body of Christ who have been saved for years and they don’t know what their gifts are. Sadly, to say, this should have been part of the elementary that was learned and understood after we learned the basics of salvation.

Many people know what their gifts are, but they are not functioning properly in those gifts. Also, many are functioning in something they were not called to do.

This is a command to obey the Word of God.  As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God (1 Peter 4:10). The manifold grace means there are different abilities to do whatever our assignment is. Each of us is different, therefore our assignment is different and we are given grace for that specific assignment, and the Lord knows how much each of us can handle.

There are diversities [different] of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord.  And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all.  But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all (1 Corinthians 12:4-6). 

None of us should think more highly of ourselves that we ought to think. For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith (Romans 12:3). And we should never look at what God is doing in someone else’s life as being better than the grace that has been given to us.

There are three set of gifts by each Persons of the Godhead- The Father: Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith;  or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching (different from the office of a teacher);  

he who exhorts (build up, edify), in exhortation; he who gives (different from regular giving that is required of every believer), with liberality; he who leads, with diligence (have a heart for the authoritative position, giving it your best); he who shows mercy (compassionate with others, not doing something out of a sense of duty), with cheerfulness (Romans 12:6-8).

Although the Holy Spirit distributes gifts, He is the power behind all gifts; this includes the Father’s  Motivational gifts in Romans 12:6-8.

Gifts given by Jesus Christ, the Son – They are the five ministry gifts; apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor, teacher (Ephesians 4:11).

Gifts distributed by the Holy Spirit- Revelation Gifts (Word of Wisdom, Word of knowledge, Discerning of spirits). Power Gifts (Gifts of healing, Faith, Working of miracles), and Utterance Gifts (tongues and interpretation (operate together). It is necessary to be baptized with/in the Holy Spirit in order to operate in these gifts. He gives these gifts as He wills. They are given like those of the Father and Son, which are permanent gifts.

The Holy Spirit can and will move on any of God’s people to use these gifts at any given time.

I will break them down simply enough (not to much to digest) for the readers to consider what their gift/s may be, so they can start functioning more effectively.

To be continued tomorrow, Lord willing.

His handmaiden, Betty A. Burnett ~ burnettministries.org