Lesson 1 - Understanding Spiritual Gifts


This past Sunday we began with Lesson One on Spiritual Gifts and it was quite interesting.  We will be studying this topic for 8 weeks.   We began by reading I Peter 4: 10 - 12; Corinthians 12; Romans 12; and Ephesians 4

There are different kinds of gifts,  but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. (1 Cor. 12:4-5)  Each of us has gifts and we should use whatever gift God has given us to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms. (1 Pet. 4:10)

Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we have different gifts, according to the grace given us. (Romans 12:4-6a).

Although opinions differ on the actual number of spiritual gifts, God's Word clearly indicates a variety of gifts.
  • Romans 12   : exhortation; giving; leadership; mercy; prophecy and service 
  • 1Corinthians 12: administration, apostle, discernment, faith, healing, helps, knowledge, miracles, prophecy, teaching, tongues, tongues interpretation, wisdom  
  • Ephesians 4 : apostle, evangelism, pastor, prophecy, teaching
The greatest of all gifts is the gift of Love.  If you have all these gifts and have not love your gifts are useless like a clanging cymbal. I Corinthians 13. 

We discussed whether or not the ability to interpret dreams was a gift.  I have been walking closely with God for 33 years and I have spent 24 of those years in ministry. This topic seems to come up in every generation. I believe because it was first rooted in secular psychoanalyst (Sigmund Freud book). The thought that people have a specialized ability to interpret dreams is a common practice in the New Age movement. It is a movement that masquerades as spirituality, but is filled with deception and darkness. Christian dream interpretation takes a biblical principle or teaching and runs with it and stretches it way beyond what the bible or God intended. We discussed that God gives us dreams ( Joel 3:1), but the Holy Spirit interprets the dream for us personally if it is from Him, and not so we can interpret dreams for others like in the new age movement.   Joel was referring to the Holy Spirit being poured out more than anything else in this verse. But it gives us an idea that God will give us dreams, but not all dreams are from God. Just because you had a dream does not mean it is from God or that it even needs interpreted. If it does God will speak to you personally about it. You have the Holy Spirit and you have His Word.  As my mother use to said, "You need to know Jesus for yourself."

A quote from a Pastor in Wyoming says it best,  "There are a couple of instances where God gave the interpretation to someone but there is no ministry of dream interpretation. Joseph, when he was in prison was given the interpretation to some peoples dreams, but there is no record he became the official dream interpreter. Instead he became the Pharaoh’s second in command. Daniel was given the interpretation to a dream but he never was considered a dream interpreter, but instead he was a prophet, and Paul was given a dream to go to Macedonia but he was never an official dream interpreter. In fact he went to his ministry team and shared with them the dream, and together they interpreted the dream as God telling them to go to Macedonia. "

When I was in college in the mid-70s,  I was a part of the New Age movement.  I am familiar with such techniques.  When I became a believer and gave my life to Christ I realized how wrong that movement was for me, and my life.  I was lost and in darkness. But one day I was found! And, I have not been involved for 36 years (since I found Jesus again).  Hallelujah! 

Next week we will begin to discuss 2 of the gifts and the importance of the gifts. 

Have a blessed week and see you Sunday! 
Rev. Patricia McNair
Riverside Assembly of God Women's Leader
Founder and Pastor of Noble Light Ministries

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