Sermon Tone Analysis

From Gift of to gifts of

We have looked at the gift “of” the Holy Spirit and now we are going to look tonight at the spiritual gifts of the Holy Spirit, or from the Holy Spirit if you want to put it that way.

Gift of, promised to all who believe and are baptized (Act2:38-39)

Gift of, is the Holy Spirit Himself (Jn7:39; Act5:32 and Gal4:6)

Gift of pertains to the indwelling of the Holy Spirit (1Cor3:16; 1Cor6:19)

From gift to gifts (1Cor12:11;1Cor12:1, 1Cor14:1; 1Cor12:7-11)

F.F. Bruce says it like this, this is a good quote

“We must distinguish the gift of the Spirit from the gifts of the Spirit.

The gift of the Spirit is the Spirit Himself, bestowed by the Father through the Messiah; the gifts of the Spirit are those spiritual faculties which the Spirit imparts as He wills”

Same gifts as noted

These spiritual gifts are given to believers for the common good of the body.

So now as we venture into our look at the gifts of the Holy Spirit we want to look at

What were the spiritual gifts?

How did the people receive the spiritual gifts?

What was the purpose of the gifts?

How long were the gifts to last?

Turn to 1Cor12:8-11 and let’s see how we can start answering these questions.

I. What were the Spiritual Gifts

In looking at the passage (1Cor12:8-11) you can see the gifts that were given.

Keep in mind when these were given.

That will be important as we work through each of the questions tonight.

Word of Wisdom (1Cor2:6-10)

Ability to speak the wisdom of God as revealed by Spirit of God

The “us” is to the Apostles

Word of Wisdom (1Cor2:6-10)

Word of Knowledge (1Cor14:6)

Speaking truth, knowledge of the things already revealed by the Spirit.

Speaking spiritual truths for spiritual people for spiritual growth

Word of Wisdom (1Cor2:6-10)

Word of Knowledge (1Cor14:6)

To another, Faith (Mk11:23; 1Cor13:2)

mountain moving faith, this is not faith that brings salvation, but faith from salvation that had the miraculous element to it.

Word of Wisdom (1Cor2:6-10)

Word of Knowledge (1Cor14:6)

To another Faith (Mk11:23; 1Cor13:2)

Gifts of healing (Mt10:1)

In looking at Mt10:1 you can see this is the ability to heal all kinds of sickness under the power of the Holy Spirit as given by Jesus.

Word of Wisdom (1Cor2:6-10)

Word of Knowledge (1Cor14:6)

To another Faith (Mk11:23; 1Cor13:2)

Gifts of healing(Mt10:1)

Gift of working miracles (Act19:11)

Extraordinary miraculous power

Word of Wisdom (1Cor2:6-10)

Word of Knowledge (1Cor14:6)

To another Faith (Mk11:23; 1Cor13:2)

Gifts of Healing(Mt10:1)

Gift of working Miracles (Act19:10)

Gift of Prophesy (Act11:27-28)

In context this is foretelling of the things to come

Gift of discerning spirits (1Tim4:1)

To have spiritual discernment on the spiritual origin, spiritual source of a spirit be it from God or of demonic in nature

Gift of discerning Spirits (1Tim4:1)

Kinds of Tongues (Act2:4-11; 1Cor14:18)

Ability to speak in various tongues (known languages) that person is untrained to know (expand on Act2:4-11)

Why would Paul be grateful?

Because able to communicate with those he normally would not have been able to communicate with!

Kinds of Tongues (Act2:4-11; 1Cor14:18

Interpretation of Tongues (1Cor14:27)

Ability to understand and interpret various languages

On Pentecost we saw the speaking in 15 languages, hearing, being interpreted into 15 languages.

Remember they are a bunch of Galileen’s who suddenly did this!

These gifts of the Spirit may work with each other, the descriptions given are taken from various sources such as commentary by Jamieson, Faussett and Brown (new sources to me) and I liked what I read, so kept going to see, learn more as I worked on this message.

Paul presents these gifts, these spiritual gifts precisely through the scripture so may we take a minute and look at his description.

They are spiritual, not natural (1Cor12:1)

Differing gifts but from same Spirit (1Cor12:11)

The gifts were visible, audible evidences of the Spirits influence (1Cor12:7)

Not all had these gifts (1Cor12:28-30); some were ungifted (1Cor14:16)

Gifts did not equate to spiritual maturity (1Cor1:4-7); some were still babes in Christ, or carnal in nature (1Cor3:1-4)

Spiritual gifts could be abused (1Cor14:1-5)

They could be used improperly (1Cor14:23)

But when used properly they were beneficial to all (1Cor14:26-32)

If you have not figured it out yet, now you may know that these spiritual gifts that are being addressed tonight are gifts that were a miraculous manifestation of the Spirit.

So, this now leads us to the next question.

II.

How did people receive the gifts?

These gifts of the Holy Spirit, some directly from the Spirit, others through the laying on of apostolic hands.

From the Holy Spirit Himself (1Cor12:11)

We have already looked at that scripture tonight, the Holy Spirit distributes the gifts at His will

Given to those who had certain tasks, roles to fulfill (1Cor14:18)

Sometimes at special occasions (Act2:1-4; Act10:44-46)

To the laying on of hands (Act8:14-19; Act19:6 and even Rom1:11)

The Spirit was imparted at the laying on of hands but it was the Spirit that distributed, gave the gifts and determined who would receive the gifts.

The hands were just a tool that the Spirit used.

The power is from the Spirit not the man or the hands at all.

The exact detail as to the reception of the gifts of the Spirit the scripture does not describe, it could be because of the temporary nature of the gifts.

But if they were temporary, what was the purpose, and that is our next question.

III.

Purpose of the gifts

These spiritual gifts, gifts of the Holy Spirit, had a purpose.

To reveal, to confirm and to profit all.

To reveal God’s will and to confirm that it is the will of God (Mk16:17-20; Heb2:3-4)

After the commission given then the proof of the commission was given.

There was going to be visible and audible evidences of the Spirit.

Some to reveal God’s will (prophesy) - Mk16:17-20

Others confirm God’s will (miracles) - Heb2:3-4

Some to reveal God’s will (prophesy) - Mk16:17-20

Others to confirm God’s will (Miracles) - Heb2:3-4

Gifts revealed truth, or they were no value (1Cor14:6); truth spoken, truth confirmed (1Cor14:5; 1Cor14:9-11)

No greater gift than prophesy, hence why more valuable than tongues