I AM GIFTED

EPHESIANS 4:1-161 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urgeyou to live a life worthy of the calling youhave received. 2 Be completely humbleand gentle; be patient, bearing with oneanother in love. 3 Make every effort to keepthe unity of the Spirit through the bond ofpeace.

EPHESIANS 4:1-164 There is one body and one Spirit, just asyou were called to one hope when youwere called; 5 one Lord, one faith, onebaptism; 6 one God and Father of all, whois over all and through all and in all.

EPHESIANS 4:1-167 But to each one of us grace has beengiven as Christ apportioned it. 8 This iswhy it says: “When He ascended on high,He took many captives and gave gifts toHis people.” 9 (What does “He ascended”mean except that He also descended tothe lower, earthly regions?

EPHESIANS 4:1-1610 He who descended is the very One whoascended higher than all the heavens, inorder to fill the whole universe.) 11 SoChrist Himself gave the apostles, theprophets, the evangelists, the pastors andteachers, 12 to equip His people for worksof service, so that the body of Christ maybe built up

EPHESIANS 4:1-1613 until we all reach unity in the faith and inthe knowledge of the Son of God andbecome mature, attaining to the wholemeasure of the fullness of Christ. 14 Thenwe will no longer be infants, tossed backand forth by the waves, and blown hereand there by every wind of teaching and bythe cunning and craftiness of people intheir deceitful scheming.

EPHESIANS 4:1-1615 Instead, speaking the truth in love, wewill grow to become in every respect themature body of Him who is the head, thatis, Christ. 16 From Him the whole body,joined and held together by everysupporting ligament, grows and buildsitself up in love, as each part does itswork.

WHERE IS JESUS AND WHAT IS HE DOING

TODAY?

JESUS IS IN HEAVEN WITH BELIEVERS.

JESUS IS SERVING THE CHURCH.

EPHESIANS 4:3-43 Make every effort to keep the unity ofthe Spirit through the bond ofpeace. 4 There is one body and oneSpirit, just as you were called to onehope when you were called;

So what is Jesus doing right now?He’s serving the church. He’s loving the church.

He’s paying attention to the church. He’s devoted to the church.

He’s concerned for the church.

And He’s working in the church through the person, and the presence,

and the power of the God the Holy Spirit.

The church of Jesus Christ is the most amazing group of people in

the history of the world.

“What is the biggest organization on the earth?” - The church

“What’s the strongest organization on the earth?” - The church

“What’s the longest-lasting organization on the earth?” - The church

“How could that be?Because God is with them.

What is on Jesus’ heart is every local church that loves and serves Him.

EPHESIANS 4:1-51 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urgeyou to live a life worthy of the calling youhave received. 2 Be completely humbleand gentle; be patient, bearing with oneanother in love. 3 Make every effort to keepthe unity of the Spirit through the bond ofpeace.

EPHESIANS 4:1-54 There is one body and one Spirit, just asyou were called to one hope when youwere called; 5 one Lord, one faith, onebaptism;

EPHESIANS 4:13-1613 until we all reach unity in the faith and inthe knowledge of the Son of God andbecome mature, attaining to the wholemeasure of the fullness of Christ. 14 Thenwe will no longer be infants, tossed backand forth by the waves, and blown hereand there by every wind of teaching and bythe cunning and craftiness of people intheir deceitful scheming.

EPHESIANS 4:13-1615 Instead, speaking the truth in love, wewill grow to become in every respect themature body of Him who is the head, thatis, Christ. 16 From Him the whole body,joined and held together by everysupporting ligament, grows and buildsitself up in love, as each part does itswork.

JESUS IS GIVING GIFTS.

Jesus is currently in heaven with believers. He’s serving the church. One of the ways that He serves the

church is through the giving of gifts.

God loves to give. We don’t have to beg God to give.

The easiest test for Christian maturity is determining whether you’re

a giver or a taker.

1. HE GIVES JESUS.

EPHESIANS 4:77 But to each one of us grace has beengiven as Christ apportioned it.

Our God, the Lord Jesus —He’s a giver.

Our God is not a taker. He’s a joyful giver, and He gives us Himself.

2. HE GIVES THE HOLY SPIRIT.

EPHESIANS 4:3-43 Make every effort to keep the unity ofthe Spirit through the bond ofpeace. 4 There is one body and oneSpirit, just as you were called to onehope when you were called;

God has given us His Spirit. We’re not orphans, we’re not

abandoned, and we’re not alone. We don’t have to live by our own power;

we can live by the power of God.

The Holy Spirit is present in the church.The Holy Spirit is present and at work in

the world, but He is particularly and powerfully at work in the people of God, particularly when we assemble together.

He loves to help us work out our conflicts. He loves to help us love and serve one another. He loves to

be present wherever Jesus is praised.

God’s given us Jesus. God’s given us the presence, the

person, the power of the Holy Spirit.

3. HE GIVES PEOPLE.

God gives us people as gifts. You need to know that you are a gift.

You’re a gift to others. You’re a gift to our church.

People are gifts.

3. HE GIVES SPIRITUAL GIFTS.

God gives us Jesus, the Holy Spirit, one another, and then He gives to

each Christian spiritual gifts.

EPHESIANS 4:88 This is why it says: “When He ascendedon high, He took many captives and gavegifts to His people.”

SPIRITUAL GIFTS

1. It doesn’t really matter whether it’s a

natural talent or a supernatural gift.

NATURAL TALENT SUPERNATURAL GIFT

- is something you justinnately have from birth.- is something you cando before you’re aChristian.

- is something you havefrom your new birth.- is something thataccompanies thepresence and thepower of the Holy Spiritwhen you become aChristian.

2. The way you find your spiritual gift is

trial and error.

Some of you have one gift. Some of you have multiple gifts, and the gift mix is combined to give you a

particular ministry capacity. People have differing amounts of gift.

CONSUMER MENTALITY

VS.

CHRISTIAN MENTALITY

Why does God give gifts?

EPHESIANS 4:12

12 “To equip the saints for the work ofministry, for the building up of the body of

Christ.”

Some of you have one gift. Some of you have multiple gifts, and the gift mix is combined to give you a

particular ministry capacity. People have differing amounts of gift.

CONSUMER MENTALITY CHRISTIAN MENTALITY

- The leadership existsto serve you.- it’s more like abusiness transaction.

- The leadership existsto equip you to serveothers.- is “How can I give mymoney, my time, mygifts, my capacities, myabilities, and wherecould I help bring unityand health to our church

family?”

First perspective is really business. The second is really family.

Our goal is that all of God’s people would be giving, so that we could be reaching those who don’t yet know

Jesus.

YOUR GIFT IS NOT YOUR IDENTITY.

22 SPIRITUAL GIFTS

1 CORINTHIANS 12:8-108 To one there is given through the Spirit amessage of wisdom, to another amessage of knowledge by means of thesame Spirit, 9 to another faith by the sameSpirit, to another gifts of healing by thatone Spirit,

1 CORINTHIANS 12:8-1010 to another miraculous powers, toanother prophecy, to anotherdistinguishing between spirits, to anotherspeaking in different kinds of tongues, andto still another the interpretation oftongues.

Gifts of Speaking (Utterance Gifts)

1. Prophecy

2. Speaking in Tongues

3. Interpretation of Tongues

Revelation Gifts(Gifts of Knowing)

4. Word of Wisdom5. Word of Knowledge6. Discerning Spirits

Gifts of Doing(Power Gifts)

7. Faith8. Working of Miracles9. Gifts of Healing

NATURAL GIFTS

1 CORINTHIANS 12:28-3028 And God has placed in the church first ofall apostles, second prophets, thirdteachers, then miracles, then gifts ofhealing, of helping, of guidance, and ofdifferent kinds of tongues. 29 Are allapostles? Are all prophets? Are allteachers? Do all work miracles? 30 Do allhave gifts of healing? Do all speak intongues? Do all interpret?

10. Gifts of Service and helps11. Gifts of Administration12. Gifts of Encouragement13. Gifts of Giving

14. Gifts of Teaching15. Gifts of Leadership16. Gifts of Mercy17. Gifts of Hospitality

FIVE FOLD MINISTRY

EPHESIANS 4:11-1211 So Christ Himself gave the apostles, theprophets, the evangelists, the pastors andteachers, 12 “To equip the saints for thework of ministry, for the building up of thebody of Christ.”

God is choosing.Others, you can ask for it.

18. Apostles19. Prophet20. Evangelist21. Pastor22.Teacher

HOW ARE YOU GIFTED?

How am I gifted?Where do you have a passion to serve?

What do you have a burden to do?What needs do you see in the church?

What do you find joy in doing for others?What opportunities has God already provided for you to serve others?

What’s already working?What are you best at and have the most

success in?

It might be an indication of how God has made you and the kind of ministry that He’s prepared

for you.