Overview of Spiritual Gifts

Service Notes:

Needed adjustment to statement on gender.

Sermon Introduction

Please, turn to the back of your Bibles. You will find a short survey. If you fill it out and mail it to Jerusalem you will be told how you should serve in this church.

Uncomfortable on this topic due to division among believers concerning cessationism.

DEFINITION: Cessation refers to the conviction that the sign gifts that the Holy Spirit gives to the church ended with the death of the apostles.

It often feels like we lost some doctrines in a divorce.

Story of being at a conference that John MacArthur was teaching at. How do we know it is not in existence today, because you do not see it among us. Though I have been greatly helped by his teaching ministry, I wasn’t in that moment.

Spiritual gifts are critical to the ministry of the Church.

1 Corinthians 12:1 “1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.”

Since the church has been endowed by the Spirit of God with supernatural gifts for its ministry of edification and evangelism, they then become critical to our operation.

We need to ask some clarifying questions.

What are spiritual gifts?

How many are there?

Are they important?

How many do I have?

How do I get them?

How do I know what they are?

Can I seek certain gifts?

How do I understand the purpose of gifts?

What about miraculous gifts like languages and healing, are they still in operation?

What is the baptism of the Holy Spirit?

Does every Christian possess the fullness of the Holy Spirit?

Are all the gifts still in operation? If not, which ones still are, how did the others cease, and why?

Can the gifts be counterfeited?

What is the most important gift?

The Background of the Corinthian Church

The Corinthian church was established by the Apostle Paul during his second missionary journey (Ac. 18). He spent eighteen months there and during that time he established the saints, built up the church, fought his enemies, and then at the end of that time he left. Later, they had other pastors who came to minister to them, with some distinction, but Paul's ministry was foundational.

The Problems in Corinth

Paul has heard from several sources that their is a problem. 1 Corinthians 1:11 “11 For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you.” 1 Corinthians 16:7 “7 For I will not see you now by the way; but I trust to tarry a while with you, if the Lord permit.” 1 Corinthians 7:1 “1 Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman.”

Apparently “Snitches get stitches” wasn’t a thing at this point in history.

This church has problems so we shouldn't be surprised they have misapplied teaching on spiritual gifts.

Divisions (1:10-11)

Human wisdom (1:18-25)

Human personality cliques (1:12-17)

Carnality (3:1-9)

Sexual perversion -- fornication and incest (5:1-8; 6:12-20)

Worldliness (5:9-13)

Lawsuits (6:1-8)

Rebellion against apostolic authority (4:1-21)

Marital conflict (7:1-40)

Unmarried conflicts (7:1-40)

Abuse of liberty (8:1-13; 10:23-33)

Idolatry (8:4-13; 10:1-22)

Pride (8:1-3; 10:12)

Selfishness (11:17-22)

Demon worship (10:19-22)

Insubordination of women (11:2-16)

Abuses of God's intended roles for men and women (11:2-16)

Abuses of the Lord's Supper and love feast (11:17-34)

Abuses and perversions of spiritual gifts (12:1-14:40)

Did any of you grow up in a church called Corinth? Still amazes me that is an option.

They were not lacking in spiritual gifts.

They had not ceased to handle unclean things, but managed to drag them all into the assembly even though they “were rich in spiritual gifts.” 1 Corinthians 1:7 “7 So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ:”

Paul recognizes that the gifts were not the problem, but wrong attitudes and beliefs about the gifts.

The Corinthian Christians were indeed gifted, yet carnal. “Should it not show us that gifts are nothing, unless they are laid on the altar of God; that it is nothing to have the gift of oratory; that it is nothing to have the power of eloquence; that it is nothing to have learning; that it is nothing to have influence, unless they all be dedicated to God, and consecrated to his service?” (Spurgeon)

There was confusion concerning the Holy Spirit

Paul, in his letters, names three things he does not want Christians to be ignorant of:

· Don’t be ignorant of God’s plan for Israel (Romans 11:25).

· Don’t be ignorant of spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 12:1).

· Don’t be ignorant about the Second Coming of Jesus and the eternal state (1 Thessalonians 4:13).

This bring us to chapter 12. 1 Corinthians 12:1–3 “1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant. 2 Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led. 3 Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.”

The ministry of the Holy Spirit is not to promote Himself or any man, but to glorify and represent Jesus.

We can, therefore, trust that the true ministry of the Holy Spirit will be according to the nature of Jesus.

Judge things by how they relate to Jesus Christ. Does a supposed spiritual gift glorify Jesus? D

Their was confusion in the church

The loved following different Philosophers and arguing who was the greater. 1 Corinthians 1:12 “12 Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ.”

There was a lack of order. 1 Corinthians 14:40 “40 Let all things be done decently and in order.”

1 Corinthians 11:17 “17 Now in this that I declare unto you I praise you not, that ye come together not for the better, but for the worse.”

Transitional Statement: The spiritual gifts in the Corinthian church were not being used in the way God intended. Instead of unifying the body, they were splitting the body.

Importance of Spiritual Gifts

1 Corinthians 12:1 “1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.”

Now concerning means, now after I have dealt with the mess you have made of the Lord’s Supper lets move on to spiritual gifts.

When we say “spiritual gifts” we are saying " things characterized or controlled by the Spirit"

We have a synonym for these “spiritual things” in vs. 4 1 Corinthians 12:4 “4 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.”

There is a way we are to go about testing them.

1. The doctrinal test is the first test of a gift. If anyone ministers a gift, what does it say about Jesus?

1 Corinthians 12:3 “3 Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.”

2. It is in accordance with the purpose of the Holy Spirit. Is this something that the Spirit would empower?

The Holy Spirit ministers to two categories of people: The people who know God and the people who don't.

Review of the Holy Spirit’s Ministry

To unbelievers:

John 16:8 says that the Spirit of God convicts them of sin, righteousness, and judgment.

His ministry is to bring them to God.

To believers.

Individually

He Regenerates. John 3:5

He Assures. 1 John 4:13

He Adopts. Galatians 4:6

He Seals. Ephesians 1:14

He Indwells 1 Corinthians 12:13

He Frees 2 Corinthians 3:17

He Empowers Acts 1:8

He Makes Holy. 1 Thessalonians 4:7–8

He Reveals Truth 1 Corinthians 2:9

He Guides. Romans 8:14

He makes intercession for us. Romans 8:26

Collectively

He indwells His total church. Ephesians 2:22 “22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.”

He Creates Fellowship 2 Corinthians 13:14 “14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.”

He Assists Worship. Revelation 1:10 “10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,”

He Inspires Scripture 2 Peter 1:21 “21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.”

He Guides Acts 13:2 “2 As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.”

He Generates Unity Ephesians 4:3 “3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”

Understanding there are communicable and non-communcable attributes about God. We mus consider this when we look at the list. I will never “seal” someones salvation but I can teach them about it.

The Purpose of Spiritual Gifts

Definition: A spiritual gift is a God-given capacity through which the Holy Spirit supernaturally ministers to the body.

The Distribution

1 Corinthians 12:8–10 “8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; 9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; 10 To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:”

More given in v. 28 1 Corinthians 12:28 “28 And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.”

Similar list in Romans 12

The Corinthian Problem

They took the gift of languages (the ability to speak in a language not learned), and made it the best gift.

Michael Greene, in his book I Believe in the Holy Spirit (Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1975), says, "The Corinthians would have rated in ascending order of value the teacher (in reliance on his rationality), the prophet (who spoke under divine inspiration intelligibly), and the man who spoke in tongues (whose inspiration was marked by unintelligibility)."

What are the Spiritual Gifts we see in Scripture?

There are four temporary sign gifts listed in 1 Corinthians 12:10: miracles, healings, languages, and the interpretation of languages.

The biblical record shows that miracles occurred during particular periods for the specific purpose of authenticating a new message from God.

Moses was enabled to perform miracles to authenticate his ministry before Pharaoh (Exodus 4:1-8).

Elijah was given miracles to authenticate his ministry before Ahab (1 Kings 17:1; 18:24).

The apostles were given miracles to authenticate their ministry before Israel (Acts 4:10, 16). 1 Corinthians 14:22 “22 Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe.”

There are five speaking gifts mentioned in Romans 12:6-8 and 1 Corinthians 12:8-10.

Prophecy

There is a big debate today about whether the gift of prophecy still exists. There are people who want to say that prophecy has passed away, based on 1 Corinthians 13:8. They say that prophecy has been done away because the perfect thing has come (i.e., the Bible). 1 Corinthians 13:8 “8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.”

Decision must be made if we believe the word can be used to “speak publicly” and does not mean that we are given new revelation.

Word of Knowledge

1 Corinthians 12:8 “8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;”

It is the Spirit-given ability to observe biblical facts and make conclusions. In other words, it is the ability to understand the Bible.

Word of Wisdom

1 Corinthians 12:8 “8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;”

Often misapplied to say we give new revelation to people.

Wisdom is the ability to take the facts that the gift of knowledge has brought out and make a skillful application of it.

The Attempt to Eliminate the 3 Gifts / There are people who want to eliminate knowledge, wisdom, and prophecy as still existing today. They have a problem, because if they eliminate prophecy, then what do they say the people are doing who proclaim the Word? If they eliminate knowledge, what are the theologians and the people who dig out deep truth with their skill doing? And if they eliminate wisdom, what are they going to call the gift of taking the truth and applying it to life? They will have to come up with new names because God is still doing these things, and there are people still ministering in these ways. - John MacArthur

Teaching

Romans 12:7 “7 Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching;”

The gift of teaching is the ability, in the Holy Spirit, to pass on truth to someone else.

Exhortation

Romans 12:8 “8 Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.”

It is the gift of strengthening.

Counseling is not a gift. It is a process that requires all of the things above including exhortation.

There are three serving gifts mentioned in 1 Corinthians 12:28 and Romans 12:6-8.

Leadership

Romans 12:8 “8 Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.”

Leadership is the ability to see an objective, formalize it, mobilize a group of people, and then get them to reach that objective.

Support

1 Corinthians 12:28 “28 And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.”

The word helps literally means "to take a burden off of someone else and place it on yourself."

So needed, so we pray it is common among us.

Giving

Romans 12:8 “8 Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.”

The gift of giving is not a public gift. Giving with pretension and public display is not a gift, it's hypocrisy.

We don't believe that the gift of giving even relates to how much someone has.

Mercy

Romans 12:8 “8 Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.”

The gift of mercy is the enablement to sympathize with a suffering person -- to come alongside the poor, the sick, the destitute, the orphan, the widowed, and those in prison, and minister.

Maybe you won't give them anything, except your heart.

Dr. Criswell tells a beautiful story of a little girl who came home from school and said, "Mommy, my best friend came to school today and said that her mother died." The mother said to her little child, "Well, what did you say to her, dear?" The child replied, "Oh, I didn't say anything, mother. I just went over to her desk, sat beside her, and cried with her." The gift of mercy includes sympathy.

Faith

1 Corinthians 12:9 “9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;”

The supernatural capacity for believing God.

If you have the gift of faith, use it. Spend time on your knees. Spend time believing God and encourage others by allowing them to see what God does in response.

Discernment

1 Corinthians 12:10 “10 To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:”

Discerning spirits is simply to evaluate the spirit -- whether it is God, or a spirit other than the Holy Spirit.

Sadly, the Corinthian church had people with the gift who were either not using it, or when they did use it, they were being ignored by the rest.

So how do I define my spiritual gifts?

There are so many varieties of ways in which gifts function, that I'm not sure we can catalog them. 1 Corinthians 12:4 “4 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.”

Also In all the varieties there are different manifestations of power.1 Corinthians 12:6 “6 And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.”

You are a unique mix of gifts

Would you pray this with me. “God equip and enable me to do what is needed among this church family at this time.”

The combination of gifts, energizings, and services that God has given you is unlike anything that He has given to someone else.

Our use of our gifts manifest the work of God into this world. 1 Corinthians 12:7 “7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.”

"Manifestation" is a simple word that means "to make clear, to make visible, to make known, to make manifest."

These eleven gifts are like colors on an artist's palette -- the Holy Spirit mixes these eleven "primary colors" into combinations, so that by the time they are given to you, they are different than they are with anyone else. / Coke Freestyle

Your spiritual gift is given to manifest the work of the Spirit to everyone that has been gathered together.

Summary

Spiritual gifts are a combination of five facets:

Their source is the Holy Spirit.

They are a gift of God's grace.

They are given for the purpose of providing service.

They are enabled by God for action in the believer's life.

They are given to publicly declare the work of the Spirit.

What are we to do

Walk in the Spirit

It doesn’t matter if you define your gift.

Ask the Spirit to dominate and control your life.

As you yield to Him, the Spirit of God operates through you. And that will be your area of ministry.

You will look back and say, "So that's what I do."

Appreciate the diversity of gifts

This means appreciating the unique people God has placed in your life.

Remember when you try to define your gift, you will run into some problems because there is so much overlapping of the gifts.

Do not try to magnify your gift above another knowing we all are one body being enabled by the same Holy Spirit.

Let’s end reading this passage together.

1 Peter 4:10–11 “10 As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. 11 If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.”