Welcome!
If you’re reading this article for the first time today, we’ve been working our way through a topical series learning about the Holy Spirit.
Our text has been the Bible, Word of God, where we find absolute truth; where we find out what Godhas said about the Holy Spirit.
My last article, The Holy Spirit, Part 6, had to do with the baptism of the Holy Spirit. If you would like, you can go back and start at “The Holy Spirit Part 1, Is He Real?” and each successive article about the Holy Spirit.
This will be our last look at the ministry of the Holy Spirit. In this article, we take a look at:
The Gifts of the Holy Spirit
This is a fascinating study! It always generates conversation and some disagreement as people share their opinions and presuppositions.
In order to eliminate those opinions and “feelings,” which are subjective, we must get the facts from God’s Word and not from the traditions of men, or what someone thinks or feels about this very important truth, from Scripture.
Introduction
The Church, from its very beginning, has been plagued by two opposing extremes in its teaching of spiritual gifts:
- Paul’s letter to the Corinthian church tells us that there was abuse of spiritual gifts:
o Throughout the history of the Church, excesses of the wildest kind are found in relation to the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
- On the other hand, there has also been a failure to appreciate the importance of spiritual gifts with regard to the ministry of the church and that they are essential to its fruitfulness.
- We need to maintain a balance between the extremes and that balance is found in the Scriptures.
- The extreme views have been brought about by ignorance of what the Scriptures actually say and what they mean by what they say.
What Spiritual Gifts Are Not
Before we look at what they are, let’s take a look at what they are not.
First: A spiritual gift is notprimarily a place of service:
- The gift is the ability to serve God’s people in a unique way – one in which the believer, prior to salvation, neither had the ability nor the desire to serve others.
- Its notwhere that ability is exercised:
o This is a point that is frequently confused.
o The gift of pastor, for instance, is often thought of as being equivalent to the pastorate, which is a place of ministry.
o But a teacher may be in a pastorate, and a pastor may be the Dean of Students at a college.
Second: A spiritual gift is notprimarily a particular age-group ministry:
- There is no spiritual gift of young people’s work or children’s work:
o If there were, then there would have to be a gift of older people’s work – something that the Scriptures do not address.
o Children, young people, and adults all need to benefit from the exercise of the gifts of a pastor and a teacher, which the Scriptures do address.
Third: A spiritual gift is notprimarily a particular specialty of ministry:
- There is no gift of writing or Christian education named in Scripture:
o The gift of teaching, which is named, may be exercised through writing or through the educational program of the church.
- A spiritual gift is the ability to serve in the Church, notthe place or location of that service.
What They Are? Definition of Spiritual Gifts
We need to define what a spiritual gift is. Words are important and understanding their meaning is very important.
What Is Meant?
The Greek word for “spiritual gift” is “charismata.” It is related to the word for grace (charis). Charis means “grace” in New Testament Greek:
- A spiritual gift is due to God’s grace: It’s a “grace-gift.”
- You didn’t earn it or study for it.
The Greek word “charismata” is used in a wide range throughout the New Testament:
- To describe the “gift” of salvation (Romans 6:23), and the “gift” of God’s providential care (2 Corinthians 1:11).
- Usually it’s used of the special gifts or abilities given to men and women by God.
- With the exception of 1 Peter 4:10, the word is used in the New Testament only by Paul.
A spiritual gift may be defined as a God- given ability for service:
- Its origin is from God the Holy Spirit (we’ll see that in just a minute).
- It’s an ability to serve the members of the body of Christ, the Church.
- This is important: This “gift,” or “gifts,” are given for the purpose of serving the members of the Church:
o They are for the edification of others, for the building up of others.
o They are not for personal gain or to draw attention to oneself.
o They are not to be put on display or bragged about so others can see how “spiritual” a person is.
Which Passages Talk About Spiritual Gifts?
1. Romans 12:6-8:
- Prophecy
- Service
- Teaching
- Exhorting
- Giving
- Leadership
- Mercy
2. 1 Cor. 12:5-10:
- Prophecy
- Wisdom
- Knowledge
- Faith
- Healing
- Miracles
- Discernment
- Tongues = languages
- Interpretation of tongues/languages
3. 1 Cor. 12:28-30:
- Apostles
- Prophets
- Teachers
- Miracles
- Healings
- Helps
- Administration
- Tongues/languages
- Interpretation of tongues/languages
4. Eph. 4:11:
- Apostles
- Prophets
- Evangelists
- Pastor-teachers
Explanation of the Gifts:
Paul tells the church at Corinth, in 1 Cor. 12:1-7, “Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware”:
- Paul wants the members of the Church in Corinth to understand what these gifts are all about.
- He will spend three chapters, 12, 13 and 14, explaining what they are, how and when they are to be exercised, and which ones are truly the most important.
In v.2-3, Paul writes, “You know that when you were pagans, you were led astray to the dumb idols, however you were led. 3 Therefore I make known to you, that, no one speaking by the Spirit of God says, ‘Jesus is accursed’; and no one can say, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ except by the Holy Spirit.”
- Paul apparently believed that some of the Corinthians’ problems were due not entirely to their worldly attitudes (3:3), but also to the presence of false teachers who preyed on their spiritual immaturity and made the problems worse.
- The pagan background out of which many had come (and some were still coming) did not help them discern the presence of false prophets.
- When they were pagans, they had been influenced and led astray to dumb idols:
o Lifeless idols are totally useless in helping them to be wise.
o The Corinthians were lacking wisdom and were very gullible.
- So, Paul gave them a simple test related to the person of Christ:
o The false teachers obviously claimed that their visions, revelations, and messages were from God, but they denied the humanity of Christ.
- He’s telling them that:
o A truly born-again person will not curse Jesus and . . .
o Only a truly born-again person can say, “Jesus is Lord.”
o Only believers, speaking by the Holy Spirit, acknowledge that Jesus is Lord.
o Nonbelievers—including false teachers—deny His Sovereign Lordship.
- Therefore, anyone who tries to contradict Jesus’ authority and His word should be considered a false teacher.
Now we’ll look at vv.4-6:
v.4, “Now, there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord. 6 And there are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons”:
- Paul had referred to God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit in verse 3.
- Now, in reverse order he stresses the unity of the Godhead in relation to the different spiritual gifts.
- The Holy Spirit gives a diversity of gifts so that individuals can serve the Lord and His body, the Church, in various ways, all empowered by the Holy Spirit and exercised under His guidance.
- Though there are different kinds of gifts, service, and working, the same Spirit, the same Lord (Christ), and the same God are involved in all of them.
Who Has These Gifts and For What Purpose Have They Been Given? (1 Cor. 12:7).
v.7, “But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the commongood”:
- “Each one” means every single truebeliever:
o All believers are given at least one spiritual gift.
- Why does the Holy Spirit give those gifts?
o “For the commongood” means for the edification of the local church; for the building up of the local body of Christ.
- Your gift is to be given to you so that the rest of us can grow from you ministering to the local church.
What Types of Gifts Were/Are Given? (1 Cor. 12:8-10).
“For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit; 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10 and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues.”
- We’ll look at these more closely in just a minute.
For now, we’ll look at verse 11:
“11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as Hewills.”
- God the Holy Spirit gives these gifts as He wills, not as we may want:
o We don’t get a choice.
o We need to be grateful for whatever gift God has given us.
o And then use it and share it with the body of Christ to bless us.
Defining Each Gift
These definitions are taken from the original Greek words:
- Depending on a person’s theology, some believe that a few of these gifts are no longer active in the church today.
- And there are some people who believe that all the gifts are still active in the church today.
- My purpose is not to engage in that debate, but to simply define these gifts as they appeared during the times of the apostle Paul.
- 1. Prophecy. The Greek word, prophetes, was used in both a general and a limited sense:
o In general, it meant to preach; therefore, generally speaking, preaching is prophesying, and the preacher is a prophet in that he speaks the message from God.
o But the “gift” of prophecy also included receiving a message directly from God through special revelation, being guided in declaring it to the people, and having it authenticated in some way by God Himself.
- 2. Service/helps. This is helping or serving in the broadest sense of the word:
o Doing whatever is needed.
o Working behind the scenes.
- 3. Teaching. This is a God-given ability to explain the details of God’s revelation:
o Sometimes the gift is given all by itself.
o Sometimes it’s given with the gift of being a pastor.
- 4. Exhorting. This is encouraging, comforting and admonishing people.
- 5. Giving. This is distributing one’s own money to the church and others:
o It’s done with simplicity, meaning there is no thought of return or gain for self in any way.
o This person gives joyfully, quickly and without hesitation.
o One who sets goals and objectives for self and the ministry.
o Someone who enjoys managing people to achieve a common goal.
o Others express confidence in them and they’re willing to follow his/her leadership.
- 7. Mercy. Someone who suffers when others are in discomfort:
o They are easily affected, personally, by identifying with others’ problems.
o They have a special sensitivity to and for others.
o They find joy in visiting those who are suffering.
o They have a strong sense of compassion.
- 8. Wisdom. This is someone who easily reduces biblical truth down to principles for living:
o They can clarify people’s problems and give them biblical solutions.
o They are very concerned with applying God’s Word to living a godly life.
- 9. Knowledge. In Paul’s day, it was the ability to know and instruct the assembly in truth, which we now have recorded in the New Testament.
- 10. Faith. This God-given ability to believe and trust in God’s power to supply specific needs:
o Every believer has been given a measure of faith, but not everyone has been given the gift of faith.
o Everyone may believe God, but this cannot be the same as possessing the gift of faith, otherwise there would be no significance to its being listed as a separate spiritual gift.
o This person trusts God even when others say, “Its impossible!!”
- 11. Healing was the gift of healing that had the specific reference to restoring complete health to an ailing body instantaneously.
- 12. Miracles was the active operation of the power of God in a believer’s life, giving them the ability to perform supernatural works:
o Criswell says, “A miracle is an interruption, in intervention, in the system of nature as we know it. It’s a temporary suspension of the laws that govern this world as we commonly observe them. A miracle is ‘supernatural,’ above and beyond the “natural.”
- 13. Discernment is the ability to distinguish between true and false sources of supernatural revelation when it was being given in oral form.
- 14. Tongues/languages was the God-given ability to speak in another knownlanguage, one that had not been studied or learned through education or cultural familiarity.
- 15. Interpretation of tongues/languages was the God-given ability to understand another knownlanguage, one that has not been studied or learned through education or cultural familiarity.
- 16. Apostle, in a general sense, is the word that means “a sent one,” or “a messenger”:
o In a specific sense, it refers only to the twelve whom Jesus personally chose.
o They were the ones upon whom the foundation of the Church was built.
- 17. Prophet was someone with the gift of prophecy (we’ve already defined that word).
- 18. Administration is someone gifted at managing programs rather than people:
o They are well organized.
o They are aware of and can manage all the little details.
o They gain great satisfaction from the successful operation of an activity.
Again, What Is the Purpose of Spiritual Gifts?
It’s worth repeating again, so that there’s no confusion as to the purpose of these spiritual gifts.
According to God’s Word --
1 Cor 12:7, “But to each one is given the manifestation of the spirit for the commongood.”
- The gifts are for edifying, or enriching, the lives of those in the local church.
- They are given to the believers for serving the body of Christ by sharing your spiritual gift with the rest of us.
Summary:
- Spiritual gifts are given to every believer.
- They are given by the Holy Spirit, as He sees fit. We don’t get a choice.
- They are given for the “common good,” that is, for the building up of the body of Christ.
- If you’re not using your spiritual gift:
o You’re disobeying God.
o You’re depriving us of something that we need as the Church.
o Every member of the body of Christ is important!
Sign gifts:
Some of you would like for me to address the issue of the “sign gifts” – tongues, miracles and healings.
One day we’ll talk about those and I’ll give you my convictions and why I hold those convictions, but not today. That is, perhaps, for another article.
If you’re a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, then you’ve been given a spiritual gift to share with all of us. Please do. Thank you.
By His Grace,
Gary T. Dromi, Ph.D., D.Min.
