Spiritual Gifts

Throughout this journey, we’ve shared one primary conviction — Jesus invites us to follow him (Matt. 16:24; 1 Jn. 2:6). He invites us to be with him and to do what he did (Mk. 3:14; Jn. 14:12). You can think about spiritual practices as being with Jesus and spiritual gifts as doing what Jesus did. Therefore, spiritual gifts are just as vital to apprenticeship to Jesus as spiritual practices. They go hand in hand.

When you do something Jesus did, you are likely operating in a spiritual gift whether you know it or not. When you share your faith with someone, you are operating in the gift of evangelism. When you serve the poor, you operate in the gift of generosity. When you build up a fellow Christian, you are operating in the gift of exhortation. 

There is a difference between operating in a gift and possessing a gift. We are all called to share our faith (evangelism), share our possessions (generosity), serve (helps), have faith (faith), hear God’s voice for others (prophecy), and exercise sound judgment (discernment). This is operating in the gift. But there are those who actually possess one or more of those gifts (Rom. 12:6). And the surprising news is you probably do too! Every Christian is filled with and gifted by the Holy Spirit (Eph. 1:13).

Our way of life is built off of the practices that made up Jesus’ life. However, Jesus was also empowered by the Holy Spirit to do what he did. Jesus did the stuff he did because he was empowered and led by the Holy Spirit. And he gave us the very same Holy Spirit so that we could do what he did (Jn. 14:12).  Think about that! You have the same Holy Spirit Jesus had leading and empowering you! Yes, you!

The main difference between us and Jesus is that Jesus had all of the gifts, and we have the gifts distributed among us (1 Cor. 12:8-11). This means that no one person (other than Jesus) possesses all of the gifts of the Spirit (1 Cor. 12:29-30). This means as a follower of Jesus, you have spiritual gifts! There are ways that God specifically works through you and empowers you to do what Jesus did.

Apprenticeship to Jesus is about imitating Jesus and being animated by the Spirit (1 Cor. 11:1; Gal. 5:25). It’s about imitation and animation. It’s about spiritual practices (imitation) and spiritual gifts (animation).  Spiritual practices position us to be filled and led by the Spirit. Spiritual gifts empower us with the Spirit. Spiritual practices help us become more like Jesus. Spiritual gifts help us to serve and love like Jesus. 

In John 14:12, Jesus said that his followers would be able to do what he did. In fact, he expected them to. But how? Through the power and presence of the Holy Spirit (Jn. 14:15-17).  Jesus expected us to do what he did through spiritual practices and spiritual gifts. They are both important to be a mature, healthy, and fruitful apprentice of Jesus (Jn. 15:4; 1 Cor. 12:7). 

Whether you know it or not, God has generously given you spiritual gifts, has asked you to steward them, and will one day ask you what you did with them (Rom. 14:12; 1 Pet. 4:10-11; 2 Cor. 5:10; Matt. 25:14-30). I bet you want to be found faithful. I bet you want to discover your spiritual gifts, grow in them, and use them to the glory of God. But I also bet you feel underprepared, nervous, and not sure where to start. You’re not alone. Let’s take this journey together. You may just find life and life to the full on the other side of this journey (Jn. 10:10; Jn. 6:63)!