Gifted or Spiritual?

Article Index
Gifted or Spiritual?
Page 2
Page 3
Page 4
All Pages

Page 1 of 4

GIFTED OR SPIRITUAL?
WHY PEOPLE LIVING IN SIN ARE SEEMINGLY USED BY GOD
Tony Shirley

Many months ago, I heard Brother Tommy Steele make a statement in one of his messages that gripped my heart like maybe no thought ever had. From this statement was born the thought that I want to present to you today. The statement is this: There is a difference between spiritual gifts and spirituality!!! In 1 Corinthians 1:7 Paul wrote to this church, “…ye come behind in no gift…” Most agree that this church at Corinth was probably the most gifted of all these early churches to which Paul ministered. If you attended one of their services, you would come away amazed. You would tell your friends, “They had the best musicians and singers I’ve ever heard! Their door greeters were the friendliest I’ve ever met. The preachers and teachers were amazing; they were easy to listen to.” You would no doubt be excited about the opportunity of going back. However, if you were to join the church, you would find out in just a little while what Paul said in 1 Corinthians 3:1-3, “And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. For ye are yet carnal…” They had all the spiritual gifts, but were NOT spiritual. Let me say a few things about this idea of there being a difference between spiritual gifts and spirituality.

First of all, let me give you the declaration articulated. I want to explain very clearly what I mean by this statement, and in order to do so, we need to make sure that we understand the two parts: spiritual gifts and spirituality. The concept of spiritual gifts can sometimes be a little confusing because some of the gifts that were given to the Apostles are no longer available. We call these the sign gifts, or the gifts of the Apostles. These include things like: the gift of prophecy, the gift of healing, the gift of tongues, etc… However, God DOES STILL gift His people to make them able to do His work. We could define spiritual gifts this way, “Abilities given by God that can be used in His work and for His glory.” Romans 12:6-8 gives this list of gifts: ministry (serving), teaching, exhortation (encouraging or motivating), and the gift of giving. 1 Corinthians 12:28 mentions gifts of helps and governments (leadership). I’m sure all of us would agree that we have seen people who seem to be “naturally gifted” at some of these things, and unfortunately, we have all been exposed to someone trying to do these things without a gift!!! Have you ever found yourself sitting under someone who was a horrible teacher? You spend your time trying not to fall asleep and look like a woodpecker with your head bobbing up and down!!! He/she has probably NOT been given the gift of teaching. We see other gifts given by God, such as musical gifts, humor, or a truly charismatic personality. Have you ever watched a skit in a youth service and realized very quickly that the person they chose to play the “funny” part was not gifted in humor? It is painful!!! These are spiritual gifts. Now, what do I mean by “spiritual?” In 1 Corinthians 3:1 we see the contrast of spiritual or carnal. I am simply referring to your personal relationship with the Lord, including your personal devotions and personal sanctification. I want to point out, your spiritual gifts are seen by all, but your spirituality is truly only known by you!!! The fear that I have is that, just like this church in Corinth, we sometimes mistake our spiritual gifts FOR spirituality.

Prev - Next >>

Missions Minutes
Solve Church Problems
Ladies Only
Just for Youth
Baptist History
Preaching Schedule
Free Sermons

FOUR THINGS YOU NEED IN FINDING GOD’S WILL
by: Dr. Steve Heidenreich

I want to thank God for soul-winning people. A soul-winning pastor and a deacon came by our country farmhouse on a Thursday night and led my wife to Christ. They then returned on the following Saturday morning to lead me to Christ. Those will be the greatest days of our life. We should always remember those days to keep us excited through the years of living for Him! We were blessed to have a pastor lead us in our Christian growth. After going to church and following the Lord in baptism, we were able to...{READ MORE}

IT’S NOT OVER UNTIL IT’S OVER!

2 Samuel 23:5, “Although my house be not so with God; yet he hath made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things, and sure: for this is all my salvation, and all my desire, although he make it not grow.”

May I pen these words to all of the imperfect people? May I write these words to those of you to whom everything has not turned out as you had wished or hoped? May I intrude into the world of those of you who have not lived up to your own expectations? May I dedicate this article to those of you for whom things have not turned out as you dreamed and planned?...{READ MORE}

IS YOUR LIFE A MASQUERADE PARTY
by: Sandy Domelle

Masquerade parties go back to the 17^th century with the purpose that people would show up wearing costumes and masks to hide who they were and keep people guessing until the end of the party.

In recent months, as I have helped different ladies, two common sayings I hear are...{READ MORE}

IT’S TOO HARD FOR ME
by: Cindy Crutcher

I married my high school sweeheart! He was my prince charming and I couldn’t wait for our “happily ever after.” Almost 32 years ago, I was expecting my first baby (I was 21 years of age at the time). It was an exciting time. I had dreams of her being the “perfect little child.” I could hardly wait for...{READ MORE}

BE CAREFUL, YOUR TONGUE CAN WORK THROUGH YOUR FINGERS!
by: Bette Owens

When we think of gossip, we think of the phone or whispering; but how about texting, Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, Faithout, Lifespace, Fundamental Forums or any social networking or so-called Christian networking? Now our tongue isn't the only member that can...{READ MORE}

TRUSTING GOD WHEN YOU DON’T UNDERSTAND HIM
by: Tim Trieber

One of the foundational principles of any relationship worth having in life is that of TRUST. Relationships cannot thrive and flourish into what they could be or should be without trust. Take into consideration what the following relationships would be like if trust were absent:

Marriage - The Bible tells us in the book of Proverbs that, “...the heart of her husband doth safely trust in her.” Standing at the altar, you trusted and still do trust, that the vows your spouse made will be kept, as does your spouse with you.
The Parent-Child Relationship - The child should trust that, though Mom and Dad are not perfect, they are doing what they believe is in the best interest of their child.
The Employer-Employee Relationship - When an employer reviews the résumé of a perspective employee, undoubtedly he will ask himself whether or not this individual is trustworthy. {READ MORE}

DOCTRINE AND HISTORY ARE IMPORTANT
by: Gregg Nash

Famed 19^th Century Baptist preacher, Charles Haddon Spurgeon, firmly believed the following:

We believe that Baptists are the original Christians. We did not commence our existence at the Reformation, we were reformers before Luther or Calvin where born; we never came from the Church of Rome, for we were never in it, but we have an unbroken line up to the Apostles themselves.

Indeed, before the end of the 19^th Century, virtually all Baptist historians believed that the Baptists began in the time of the early church. Of course, some non-Baptist historians disagreed, but interestingly, some non-Baptist historians have agreed, including Methodist historian John Clark Ridpath, who wrote the following in the 19^th Century: “I should not readily admit that there was a Baptist church as far back as 100 A.D., although without doubt there were...{READ MORE}