Every Christian has been given unique spiritual gifts for use in daily life and ministry. We call these the team ministry spiritual gifts, because when they are used alongside other Christians who are also using their spiritual gifts, we can create a dynamic and powerful team ministry.
While everyone does not have the same spiritual Gifts…
Every Christian does have the ability to develop all of the enabling gifts.
What does this mean?
Just as a catalyst in a chemistry experiment is an extra agent that speeds up or causes an action to take place, such as increased heat or pressure, the enabling gifts are the agent God introduces to cause our spiritual tasks to be successfully performed.
The enabling gifts of faith, discernment, wisdom and knowledge are qualities possessed rather than activities performed.
Here are a few scripture references for these four enabling gifts…
- Faith 1 Corinthians 12:9
- Discernment 1 Corinthians 12:10
- Wisdom 1 Corinthians 12:8
- Knowledge 1 Corinthians 12:8
For example, knowledge is something you possess within you.
Likewise, faith is something you possess within you.
In contrast, the spiritual gift of teaching is an activity which you perform.
The enabling gifts provide a foundation for action. They do not describe what you do but rather what you are.
The Holy Spirit reveals Himself to you through the enabling gifts as you use your spiritual gifts.
The Holy Spirit reveals the qualities of the enabling gifts to you and to others as you minister to their needs.
As an example, I once taught a Bible series on creation. As I studied, the Holy Spirit revealed Himself and gave me more faith. This process strengthened my faith in Christ. This increased faith which I experienced was evident to my students as I taught.
The Bible tells us how important the enabling gift of faith is in the functioning of spiritual gifts…
We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith. Romans 12:6
How can we prophesy? According to the measure of our faith.
How can we teach? According to the measure of our faith. The more faith a Teacher has the better he or she will be at teaching.
The enabling gift of faith is the determining factor of the level of ability for the spiritual gift of teaching which God has given to the Teacher.
All Christians have the ability to develop all of the enabling gifts, including faith, discernment, wisdom and knowledge.
For more about spiritual gifts, read the article How Many Spiritual Gifts Are There?
Dr. Larry Gilbert is founder and chairman of Ephesians Four Ministries, and founder of ChurchGrowth.org. For more on spiritual gifts, see Dr. Gilbert’s books: Team Ministry: Gifted to Serve (for pastors, teachers and group leaders) and Your Gifts: Discover God’s Unique Design for You (for individuals and groups).
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Here are more free articles, one for each of the nine Team Ministry Spiritual Gifts…
Discover more about your spiritual gifts and each of the nine team gifts.
For individuals and groups.
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For pastors and group leaders.