4:7 But to each one of us
Paul has been talking about unity in the Church, and now he wants to focus on us as individual believers a little bit, he says “But to each one of us grace was given.” In the oneness of the body there is also wonderful diversity of gifts and ministries that He puts together in the same Church. The variation and difference in these gifts is part of the Grace of God to us in that it makes us dependent on one another.
And, we have a responsibility to use these gifts as God has intended. All believers receive spiritual gifts, and all are responsible to use them as instructed by the Holy Spirit.
grace was given
The word χάρις, Charis “grace,” means God’s unmerited or undeserved favor. God not only saved us because of unmerited favor, but He also equipped us to serve Him using these Spiritual gifts, out of unmerited favor. That prevents us from getting arrogant or conceited about the gifts that we’ve been given, since we didn’t deserve to receive them anyway. The spiritual gifts that we are given, aren’t for us, but to enable us and empower us to minister, or serve one another.
according to the measure of the gift of Christ.
We are a recipient of the gracious gift according to the measure of the gift of Christ. So Jesus not only gives each believer a gift or gifts, but He also determines the amount of the gift, and the ministry in which it will be used. These gifts are a manifestation of God’s grace and divine empowerment.
What Are the Spiritual Gifts?
We can find spiritual gifts listed in Scriptures, specifically in Romans 12:6-8, 1 Corinthians 12:8-10; 28-30, and Ephesians 4:11. In Romans 12:6-8 we read 6 However, since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to use them properly: if prophecy, in proportion to one’s faith; 7 if service, in the act of serving; or the one who teaches, in the act of teaching; 8 or the one who exhorts, in the work of exhortation; the one who gives, with generosity; the one who is in leadership, with diligence; the one who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.
1 Corinthians 12:8-10 we read 8 For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit; 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10 and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues.
1 Corinthians 12:28-30 28 And God has appointed in the church, first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, and various kinds of tongues. 29 All are not apostles, are they? All are not prophets, are they? All are not teachers, are they? All are not workers of miracles, are they? 30 All do not have gifts of healings, do they? All do not speak with tongues, do they? All do not interpret, do they?
Ephesians 4:11-12 And He gave some as apostles, some as prophets, some as evangelists, some as pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the building up of the body of Christ;
Categories of Spiritual Gifts
1. Ministry Spiritual Gifts–The ministry gifts are the way God works with what believers do to serve others and meet their needs. It’s how we minister or ad-minister the love, grace, and truth of God to others.
2. Manifestation Spiritual Gifts -Manifestation gifts are to strengthen each other, for the common good, to minister to others, and to ourselves.
3. Motivational Spiritual Gifts of the Holy Spirit
The motivational gifts are how the Spirit of Grace moves through us, motivating our words and actions.
Discovering Your Gift(s)
If you look at the things you do, examine the why behind them. This is how you’ll identify which one you are motivated by. God will give you a love for the area to which your gift is related.
4:8. “Therefore it says, ‘When he ascended on high he captured the captives, he gave gifts to people.’ ”
“Therefore it says.” Paul has just made a statement about the giving of gifts to each believer, and he’s going to illustrate God’s provision by sumarizing Ps 68. Notice that Paul therefore considers the Old Testament as not only authoritative, but valuable in explaining the consistency of God, and how He tends to work in similar ways in similar situations. We see another example of how the Old Testament is in the New Testament Revealed, and the New Testament is in the Old Testament Concealed.
“ ‘When he ascended on high he captured the captives, he gave gifts to people.’ ” Paul summarizes Ps 68, as a rabbi would, encouraging us to go back and look at the Psalm to appreciate the many examples of God’s gifts and provision to people. David wrote the Psalm as a song of victory, likely His victory in conquering Jerusalem from the Jebusites in 2 Sam 5:9-10 , when he established his capital So David lived in the stronghold, and called it the city of David. And David built all around from the Millo [terraced structure] and inward. 10 David became greater and greater, for the Lord God of armies was with him. David received gifts from the enemy, and recalled the victories of the Israelites over Og, and the giants of Bashan (the Rephaim) (Ps 68:15–18) 15 The mountain of Bashan is a mountain of God; The mountain of Bashan is a mountain of many peaks. 16 Why do you look with envy, you mountains of many peaks, At the mountain God has desired as His dwelling? Indeed, the Lord will dwell there forever. 17 The chariots of God are myriads, thousands upon thousands; The Lord is among them as at Sinai, in holiness. 18 You have ascended on high, You have led captive Your captives; You have received gifts among people, Even among the rebellious as well, that the Lord God may dwell there. Bashan symbolized a contested place, the contest between the fleshly exaltation, the giants in our life, versus the spiritual place, the victory of God. This battle of Mount Bashan vs Mt. Zion exalting the flesh vs. exalting God. And Paul is using it here to encourage us that God has given us this provision of spiritual gifts so that we can achieve spiritual victory for His people, the Church. As we encourage others, and strengthen them, using our spiritual gifts, we ourselves are also strengthened. As we deny the flesh, and walk by the Spirit, we walk in the plan and purpose of God for our lives, which includes the use of the spiritual gifts that He has given us. And, we find that we have victory over the flesh, as we walk by the spirit. Gal 5:16-17 16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. The conquering of the Land by Israel is mirrored in our own lives. In order for Israel to ascend to the high (Zion) they had to conquer the Canaanites, just as we have to conquer our own fleshly desires. And just as in the case in Ps 68, it is God’s victory. Christ gives gifts to those who are on the victorious side with him. The use of the gifts are a part of the victory, and if we are to increase the spoils of war that God receives from the enemies, then we must use these spiritual gifts that God has given us as our provision. Since Christ has the victory over Satan, sin, and death, He has provided means for this victory to us. And, what’s more, we are able, through the use of these gifts to bear witness and persuade those people who have been the captives of Satan, sin, and death, and allow them to become like us—those who are now servants of Christ in redemption. Those who were held in their bondage are freed and will themselves obtain the gifts of the Spirit from their victorious Lord and Savior Jesus Christ to continue to bring more and more people to Jesus.