Three Ways to See Your Spiritual Gift (Part 1)

As a Christian you have supernatural power.  Every one of you who believes in Jesus.  This is by the will of the Holy Spirit, as it is written,


It is the one and only Spirit who distributes all these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have.
1 Corinthians 12:11


Yet some believe that the Spirit gives believers gifts in one of three ways:
1. You receive only the spiritual gift, or gifts, the Spirit wants you to have, and no more.
2. You may receive new gifts over time, based on maturity or your own desire.
3. You receive gifts on a situational basis, according to whatever is useful at the moment.


PERMANENT GIFTS
Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles?  Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues ? Do all interpret? 1 Corinthians 12:29-30


Paul compares the spiritual gifts to body parts.  And of course body parts are permanent.  So from this perspective, when God gives us gifts by His Spirit, they are just as set in place as your eyes and ears.  Paul encourages believers to value the uniqueness of their gifts, and the value of gifts they don't have.  Yet he also encourages something else.


NEW GIFTS
Now eagerly desire the greater gifts.  1 Corinthians 12:31


Though the Spirit gives the spiritual gifts according to His will, and though the gifts are compared to permanent body parts, Paul says we can desire greater gifts.  He says those with tongues can pray for the gift of interpretation.  He urges believers to not only pursue love, but to desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy. 


So it is possible to receive new gifts...according to the Spirit's will.  Which suggests to me that if you desire a new gift, what you are really desiring is a gift you already have, but that the Spirit hasn't yet revealed.  But does he do this on the basis of need, so that none of us really have any set gifts, but can be given a needed gift at a needed moment? (To be continued...)