THE GREATEST GIFT | Gifted

"But are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? Now eagerly desire the greater gifts, and yet I will show you the most excellent way." There's a couple things that, that I, I wanna review with you.

I want you to know this sets us up for the next, but not everybody has every gift.

But everybody has a gift.

And I, I want you to know you're not excluded from that.

Not, you don't have every gift, but you have a gift or gifts an- and the, and the Lord has given you.

Paul starts with these questions, "Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all, are all teachers?" And the, the answer is no, we're not.

And, and just these are the five ministry, three of the five ministry gifts that Paul gi- that Paul speaks that God gave the church.

So, so to equip the saints for works of ministry, Paul, uh, the Holy Spirit gifts these, these certain gu- the apostles, which are pioneers who establish and build and expand the work of God, and prophets who speak God's truth to strengthen and challenge and encourage the people to move towards God, and the evangelists who has a particular gift and effectiveness in reaching people that are far from God and helping others to do the same.

And then there's the pastor or the shepherd, the, the, the caregiver who guides and protects and nurtures the flock spiritually, and the teachers, the one who helps people understand Biblical truth and apply it to their lives.

So in this Ephesians chapter 4, the ministry gifts, the apostle builds, the prophet speaks, the evangelist reaches, the pastors care, and the teachers explain.

Those gifts equip the church for works of ser- service.

Then he talks about healing and tongues and interpretation of tongues.

Those are, those are three of the nine manifestation gifts in 1 Corinthians chapter 12, along with wisdom and healing and knowledge and, and, and, and miracles.

And, and those gifts display God's power.

When those gifts are in operation, people come into the service or, or you're out ministering amongst the people and, "Man, that had to be God.

Surely, surely God is in this thing." It's, it's, it's gifts that, that God gives us to display His power.

When those gifts are, are, are in operation, it's evidence that, that the presence of God is working and is, and He's amongst His people.

And then we talked about motivational gifts.

So ministry gi- gifts equip the saints.

Manifestation gifts display God's power.

And motivational gifts help serve and strengthen His church.