The book below is available in paperback books & printable downloads: 2nd Edition, completely revised beyond online 2004 first edition. 2008 version at a donation price.
14. THROUGH SPIRITUAL NEWBIRTH IMPARTED GIFTS Other gifts are given to us when we become born again and we begin to grow as spiritual children. These gifts are superior to natural gifts. They transcend the laws of the natural world. For instance, they can operate in an individual regardless of his natural abilities, his education, background, sex, age, personality and so on. Like natural gifts, spiritual gifts are God given and intended to fulfil God’s purpose in our lives and others he purposed to benefit from the gifts. Every believer is therefore a minister in the eyes of God. He/she is meant to minister to God with his particular gifts. No one is superior to another. Each one of us can be where God wants us to be and considered of equal value. Spiritual gifts include, 1) Wisdom, 2) knowledge, 3) faith, 4) healing, 5) working miracles, 6) prophecy, 7) distinguishing between spirits, 8) speaking diverse tongues, 9) interpretation of tongues and other matters (1 Corinthians 12: 7-11), 10) teaching, 11) encouraging, 12) giving, 13) serving, 14) leading, 15) showing mercy (Romans 12:4-8), 16) evangelism, 17) pastoring, 18) prophet (Ephesians 4: 11-14), 19) helping others, and 20) administration. Spiritual gifts equip an individual to do tasks beyond what is naturally conceivable. Spiritual gifts can work independently of natural gifts or God can use them to back up a believer’s natural gifts. For instance, an individual with a natural gift in the medical field can be empowered with any of the above combination of gifts. God can build the church through him in his medical assignment. His medical career then becomes his full-time ministry before God. Most believers are called to remain in this category of ministry. It can also happen the other way round. Spiritual gifts can take precedence over natural gifts. For instance, a businessperson in the transport sector can be called to be an evangelist after having been given the gift of evangelism. In this case evangelism becomes his full time ministry. The transport business has to be surrendered completely in order to avoid it being an inconvenience. The natural gift can lose value completely. The disciples who were called into evangelism left their fishing business completely. More content available in the Second Edition of the book: Click here to acquire it Book on hearing from God:- Hearing from God: How to Hear God’s Voice in Your Life © 2008 Eric Gondwe |