What God Says About Our Spiritual Gifts / Romans 12:3-8
The Call to a New Mindset
If you have your Bibles, make your way to Romans chapter 12. We begin with a powerful exhortation. Paul writes, “I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to offer yourselves not as a dead sacrifice, one time and one time only, but as a living sacrifice.” This is acceptable to God, and it is your spiritual service of worship. One could argue it’s the least you can do. Based upon what God has already done for you, what more could we do but offer ourselves today, and then tomorrow, and then the next day? On a regular basis, as an aroma of Christ, we continue to simply offer ourselves to God.
Romans 12:1 (NASB)
Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, [which is] your spiritual service of worship.
In verse two, he tells us: do not be conformed any longer to the patterns of this world. The assumption here is that there was a season in our life—maybe near, maybe far—where we were indeed shoved into the world’s mold. We believed about ourselves what the world said about us. We believed about life what the world said about life. Paul says, don’t conform any longer. Instead, be transformed by the renewing of your mind.
There is a reset button that happens in our life as we place our faith in Jesus, where He begins to completely reformat our hard drive. It’s not just a system upgrade; it’s a complete reboot. And in that—then and only then—as we live not as the world says, but as God says, do we understand, prove, or affirm what God’s will is for our life. His will, which is good and acceptable and perfect.
Romans 12:2 (NASB)
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.
This passage makes a fascinating assumption. It suggests that God will affirm His will in our lives as we reject the patterns of this world. How many of you, like myself, spent years being shoved into the world’s mold of what was successful or what would bring peace? We dove into it headlong, only to find that those moments of excess or fleshly driven passions never gave us what we wanted. They never gave us a sense of purpose. That meaning only comes when we allow our minds to be renewed.
I want to caution you, though. If you reach the point where you recognize that the things of this world have nothing for you and you begin to embrace the renewing of your mind, it will change your life forever. It won’t be Kansas anymore. I promise you. But you will never regret it. It starts with you. You can’t point fingers at anyone else anymore. It becomes about what God wants to do in you and through you, and the heavy lifting He has to do to change you.
The Humility of the Kingdom
The world suggests that life is about power, prestige, accolades, and awards. It tells you that life is found in competing and looking out for yourself. It’s a narcissistically driven existence where you gather virtual friends, get likes, and build a platform so people can look at your grandeur in awe.
But God says something completely different. In the book of Philippians, it says of Jesus that He didn’t consider equality with God a thing to be grasped, but He humbled Himself and emptied Himself. The world may say it’s about you, but God says the road of life with Him is a humble road.
Philippians 2:6-8 (NASB)
who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, [and] being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
Jesus made this clear in Matthew 20. He called the disciples together and said that while the rulers of this world love to lord their power over others, it’s not that way with us. He said that whoever wishes to become great should be a servant, and whoever wishes to be first should be last. The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve.
Matthew 20:25-28 (NASB)
But Jesus called them to Himself and said, ’You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and [their] great men exercise authority over them. ‘It is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave; just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.’
See, the world says life is found in accumulation—that he who dies with the most toys wins. But God says he who dies with the most toys just has a bigger Daryl’s mini storage. If you wish to find your life, you’re going to lose it. But if you’re willing to lose your life for His sake, you’re going to find it. God speaks in a totally counter-cultural way.
Romans 12:3 (NASB)
For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith.
God says to keep your ego in check. Don’t believe your own press. Don’t walk around like a peacock flashing your colors. Why? Because pride and arrogance are sins that lead to entitlement, expectation, and an inflated view of self. The world might categorize us like junior high kids based on our clothes or status, but God says that doesn’t matter at all. It’s not about individual accomplishments; it’s about making much of Him.
The Body of Christ: A Team Sport
When we assemble together, it doesn’t matter how much money you make or what kind of car is in the parking lot. In here, we are equal. It doesn’t matter your skin color or how “jacked up” your family is. In humility and service, we begin to reflect God together.
Christianity is a team sport. There are no MVPs in the Christian community. We bring our uniqueness—our individual thumbprints—together to reflect a complete picture of God. Paul uses body language because it’s something we all understand.
Romans 12:4-5 (NASB)
For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.
I’ve had a chest cold for what feels like seven years—it’s actually been four weeks, but it’s driving me insane. With every wheeze and every cough, I am well aware that my body is not functioning as it should. Paul uses this imagery so we understand what it means to be the Body of Christ. If my eye decides to take a siesta, I’ve got a problem. If my heart says it’s taking the day off, I’ve got a problem.
In the Body of Christ, we all have a unique gift. The Bible assumes that anything less than full cooperation is “dis-ease.” Our body has a problem unless every part knows what it’s supposed to do and shows up to work every day.
Understanding Spiritual Gifts
Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, we are to exercise them. Whether it is prophecy, service, teaching, exhortation, giving, leading, or showing mercy, we must do it with the right heart.
Romans 12:6-8 (NASB)
Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, [each of us is to exercise them accordingly]: if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith; if service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching; or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.
There are two primary words used in the text for spiritual gifts. The first is pneumatikos, which means spiritual things or things pertaining to the Spirit. These are not natural talents we develop; they are spiritual gifts. The second is charisma, the idea of something that gives grace. This emphasizes that these gifts are given by God.
A spiritual gift is a divine endowment of a special ability or service upon a member of the Body of Christ. If someone can play guitar, that’s a natural God-given ability, but it’s not necessarily a spiritual gift. Spiritual gifts are specific. They are unique opportunities for us to reflect the power of God together.
Before we go further, let’s establish a few theological points. First, every authentic follower of Christ is sealed with the Spirit of God.
Ephesians 1:13 (NASB)
In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation– having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise,
Second, every follower of Christ is entrusted with at least one spiritual gift.
1 Peter 4:10 (NASB)
As each one has received a [special] gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
Third, these gifts are distributed by God. Don’t get mad if someone has a gift you wish you had; God gave you exactly what He wanted to give you.
1 Corinthians 12:11 (NASB)
But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills.
Fourth, we are called to exercise our gifts for the good of others, specifically the Body of Christ. There is not a single spiritual gift given for our own personal benefit; they are always given so that someone else will benefit.
1 Corinthians 12:7 (NASB)
But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.
Fifth, no one gift is given to every person. All are not apostles, all are not teachers, and all do not speak in tongues.
1 Corinthians 12:29-30 (NASB)
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? All do not have gifts of healings, do they? All do not speak with tongues, do they? All do not interpret, do they?
Sixth, no one person has every gift. Nobody is running the table on this. We are all lacking something, which is why we inherently need each other. Not only do you need me to bring what I bring, but I need you. My wife has an ability to feel and care that I don’t even understand. She’ll be reading an article and crying while I’m thinking the guy just needs a job! We look at things differently, and that’s the beauty of the Body.
Seventh, we should be aware of our gifts. Paul says he doesn’t want us to be unaware.
1 Corinthians 12:1 (NASB)
Now concerning spiritual [gifts], brethren, I do not want you to be unaware.
Finally, we should be actively developing our gifts. Paul told Timothy to take great pains in these things and be absorbed by them so his progress would be evident to all.
1 Timothy 4:15 (NASB)
Take pains with these things; be [absorbed] in them, so that your progress will be evident to all.
Navigating the Categories of Gifts
The world says you come to church to get fed, feel good, and hustle to Chipotle. But God says we assemble to exercise our gifts and equip one another.
Ephesians 4:11-13 (NASB)
And He gave some [as] apostles, and some [as] prophets, and some [as] evangelists, and some [as] pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.
I’ve divided the spiritual gifts into two primary categories. Now, as soon as I do this, I’m picking fights! If you disagree with me theologically, you can haze me in heaven later. But for clarity, I categorize them as Temporary Gifts (foundational or sign gifts used for the establishment of the New Testament church) and Permanent Gifts (speaking and serving gifts used for equipping the church today).
Foundational gifts included the Apostle and the Prophet. An Apostle was one of the original disciples called to establish the church, and a Prophet was one who received special, direct revelation from God. Because we now have the completed Scriptures, these foundational gifts seem to have served their purpose in the early church.
Then there are the temporary sign gifts, like Wisdom and Knowledge. In the early church, this involved receiving direct revelation. This doesn’t mean we don’t have “Gandalfs” among us today who have great wisdom, but the specific spiritual gift as described then was for receiving the revealed Word.
There was also the Distinguishing of Spirits—the ability to hear a message and know if it was from God before there was a Bible to check it against. There were Miracles and Healings. I believe God can still heal today, but in the New Testament, these gifts were primarily used to authenticate the messenger. If you are sick, I will pray for you and believe God can heal you, but I recognize that sometimes His sovereign answer is “no.” If He doesn’t heal, it isn’t because you don’t have enough faith. That idea drives me crazy.
Finally, there were Tongues and the Interpretation of Tongues. In the book of Acts, these were known, understood languages used for evangelism. Paul notes that uninterpreted tongues are of no benefit to the body. While people may disagree, I believe these specific sign gifts have largely ceased.
Identifying Your Permanent Gifts
Let’s focus on the permanent gifts—the ones I want you to write down. First, the speaking gifts:
Evangelism: A supernatural ability to communicate the gospel with clarity. These are the people who share their faith on a plane, and by the time they land, the flight attendant and the pilots have all come to Christ! It’s revival at 30,000 feet.
Teaching: The ability to explain God’s truth so that complex things make sense. If you teach and everyone is shaking you off or falling asleep, you probably don’t have this gift!
Pastor-Teacher: The ability to shepherd, care for, and protect God’s people. This person is a good listener who can recall Scripture immediately to provide direction.
Then we have the serving gifts:
Serving or Helping: The joy-filled ability to undertake tasks for others. This is the person who feels the delight of the Lord while taking out the trash or pulling weeds when nobody is looking.
Leadership or Administration: The ability to provide strategy and vision. It’s not just crunching numbers; it’s seeing the whole picture and putting the pieces in the right place.
Exhortation: The ability to encourage, comfort, or admonish. The exhorter calls people up to what they could be.
Faith: An unusual capacity to trust God for the impossible. This is your rock-of-Gibraltar prayer partner.
Giving: A unique delight in being generous with time, talent, and treasure.
Mercy: An extraordinary ability to feel compassion for the sick and afflicted. They don’t just see a need; they feel it deeply and move toward it.
Finding and Using Your Gift
How do you find your gift? Here are four simple steps. First, narrow the list. Cross off the ones that definitely aren’t you. Second, ask friends who love you and who you trust to help you narrow it further. Third, do a field test. Go try it! If you think you can teach, try teaching. If it doesn’t work, we’ll give you an “off-ramp”—no hazing required. Finally, get involved. When a gift is affirmed, become an expert in it. Study it and develop it.
The world says to sit back and watch the show. God says you are the show. It is maddening that 80% of the work is often done by 20% of the people. It’s maddening when a volunteer burns out because others are just sitting and watching. If you don’t show up and use your gift, the body is in “dis-ease.” We cannot reflect who Jesus is to our community unless we all show up.
I implore you to stem the tide. Reject the world’s mold. Be transformed. When you identify your gift and use it for His glory, you will sense His delight. You will find your life when you lose it by giving it away. May we never be just consumers. Not in this place, and not on my watch.
Let’s pray together. Father in heaven, give us courage. Challenge us to reject what the world says and embrace what You say—that we are gifted and have something to offer. I believe You are not done with this thing called the church. Reawaken the Body of Christ. Mobilize us to use our abilities for Your glory. Thank You for what could be, and what should be, for Your church. In Jesus’ name, Amen.