The Greatest Gift of All 1 cor 13

The Greatest Gift of All

Sunday 2/18/07 p.m.

1 Corinthians 13

I.          The List of Gifts: 12:8-10, Romans 12:6-8, Ephesians 4:11

The list here includes 9 gifts. Add another 7 from other scriptures, and subtract the temporary gifts (asterisk *), your final total is 12.

(1) Wisdom refers to insight into doctrinal truth.

(2) Knowledge refers to the ability to apply doctrinal truth to life.

(3) Faith as a spiritual gift is probably an unusual measure of trust in God beyond that exercised by most Christians (e.g., 13:2).

*(4) Healing is the ability to restore health (e.g., Acts 3:7; 19:12) and also to hold off death itself temporarily (Acts 9:40; 20:9-10).

*(5) Miracles empowers me with the ability to exorcise demons (Acts 19:11-12) or inducing physical disability (Acts 13:11) or even death (Acts 5:5, 9).

(6) Prophecy is the ability, like that of the Old Testament prophets, to declare a message of God for His people (1 Cor. 14:3).

(7) Ability to distinguish between spirits is the gift to differentiate the Word of God proclaimed by a true prophet from that of a satanic deceiver (cf. 2 Cor. 11:14-15; 1 John 4:1). If the Corinthians possessed this gift (cf. 1 Cor. 1:7), it was not being put to good use (cf. 12:1-3). The discernment gifts are also given to those with the ability to give wise counsel.

*(8) Tongues refers to the ability to speak an unlearned, living language

(see Acts 2:11).

*(9) Interpretation of tongues was the ability to translate an unlearned, known language expressed in the assembly (1 Cor. 14:27).

Ephesians 4:11 adds three more;

(10) Evangelist is the ability to see salvations, either individually or in mass;

(11) Pastor is the ability to shepherd and lead God’s people;

(12) Teacher is the ability to impart knowledge.

Romans 12:6-8 adds 4 more

(13) Exhortation is the ability to build up and encourage someone;

(14) Giving is the ability and means to meet needs;

(15) Ruling or Administration is the ability to lead, guide, direct and administrate God’s people;

(16) Mercy is the ability to show mercy where others struggle to naturally.

II.        Categories of Gifts, 12:27-31

            A.        Temporary Gift categories:

1.         Apostles

2.         Miracles

3.         Healings

4.         Tongues

            B.        Contemporary Gift Categories:

1.         Prophets or proclaimers of truth (preachers, pastors, evangelists)

2.         Teachers

3.         Helps - Wisdom, Knowledge, Faith, Discernment or discernment of Spirits, Exhortation, Giving, Mercy

                        4.         Governments, Ruling or Administration