Gifts
Today we are going to talk about how God loves to give gifts. God gives good gifts to His children. He loves us and has given us the best gift of all: His Son!
• John 3:16 [Full Chapter]
• For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Salvation is a free gift that is offered with no strings attached.
• Romans 8:32
• He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?

• Acts 4:12
• Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”

He only wants you to love Him, and believe. It’s hard for some people to accept free gifts, because this world often says, “There is no such thing as a Free gift!” That is true of the world’s way of giving, but not of God’s.
• John 14:27
• Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

• 1 Corinthians 2:12
• What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us.

• Ephesians 1:6
• to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.

He loves us so much that He gave us the gift of choosing to even believe in Him. And when we do, it opens up so many more gifts He longs to give us. We will look at some of these gifts in the Word.
We see in scripture that God gives us His gifts through the Holy Spirit.
• John 14:16
• And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—

• Acts 5:32
• We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him.”

• 1 John 4:13
• This is how we know that we live in Him and He in us: He has given us of His Spirit.

There are several times when spiritual gifts are spoken of and in 1 Cor. 12:4-11, Paul explains some of the different gifts.
• 1 Cor 12:4-11
• 4 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. 5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6 There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.
• 7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 8 To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10 to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues,[a] and to still another the interpretation of tongues.[b]11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.

Paul states pretty clearly here that there is only ONE Spirit; the Holy Spirit working through you to manifest these gifts of God. He says in the end that God distributes them to each one, just as He determines. That means you can’t go out and just decide you are going to have the gift of Prophesy, and start trying to say words over people on your own. That is not how it happens. And, like we have mentioned numerous times, the words you speak out of your mouth are powerful. They are life and death. You could speak something over someone that can deter God’s plan for their life. You can speak death when you aren’t letting God work through you to speak life.
So, it is “just as He determines.” Someone once told me that you can only have one of these gifts. I don’t believe that is true. I believe that these gifts are all available to us, and God grants them when we need them. We may be more fluent in one area, but that doesn’t mean we can’t work in others. Heb 2:4 says:
• Hebrews 2:4New International Version (NIV)
• 4 God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.

We just have to step back and let God use us. We need to be willing and available.

Romans 12:6-8 shows us more
• Romans 12:6-8New International Version (NIV)
• 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your[a] faith; 7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead,[b] do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

God loves us and longs to give good and precious gifts to His children. All we need to do is ask.
• Matthew 7:7-11New International Version (NIV)
• Ask, Seek, Knock
• 7 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

God showed me in one of my journal entries that you need to ask first of all. Then you wait and listen for Him (seek). Knocking is something you have to do, though. It’s your choice.
• Mt 7 goes on the say:
• 9 “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!
So, let’s recap. God gave us the gift of Salvation through His Son. It is a free gift. He loves to give us gifts, and He does so by the Holy Spirit, according to His will, just as He determines. We just need to do our part and ask, seek and knock. He loves us and does not want us to go without. We have a GREAT God!