Because every believer has at least one spiritual gift, we each have a responsibility to discover
and use our gift.
You will not be judged by how many spiritual gifts you have. You will be judged by your
faithfulness to use the spiritual gift or gifts you have been given. The parable of the talents in
Matthew 25:14-30 confirms this truth.
There are many spiritual gifts, but no believer has all of the gifts of the Holy Spirit:
Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of
miracles?Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?
(I Corinthians 12:29-30)
A person may have more than one gift, but no one has all the gifts of the Spirit. If he did, then he
would have no need of others in the Body of Christ.
THE ABUSE OF GIFTS
A spiritual gift from God can be abused. To "abuse" a gift means to not use it properly. You can
abuse spiritual gifts by:
NOT USING GIFTS GIVEN TO YOU:
The Apostle Paul told Timothy:
Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with
the laying on of the hands of the presbytery. (I Timothy 4:14)Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which
is in thee by the putting on of my hands. (II Timothy 1:6)ATTEMPTING TO USE GIFTS NOT GIVEN TO YOU:
While ministering in Samaria, Peter and John met a man named Simon who wanted to have the
powerful gifts he saw demonstrated. Simon offered money to obtain these abilities. Peter said:
Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God
may be purchased with money. Thou hast neither part nor lot in this
matter... (Acts 8:20-21)