Gifts Of The Spirit

1. Gifts Of The Spirit
   
   
   • I Corinthians 12:1-6
     Paul deals with the gifts of the Holy Spirit given to the body of Christ. These gifts were a part of the life and ministry of the early church.
     
     
   • I Corinthians 1:2-7
     God intends that these gifts continue in operation until the return of Jesus.
     
     
2. Purposes for the Spiritual Gifts.
   
   
   • I Corinthians 12:7, Romans 15:17-19, Ephesians 4:8
     To manifest the grace, power, and love of God among His people in their individual lives, homes, families, and public gatherings.
     
     
   • Mark 16:15-20, Acts 14:8-18, Acts 16:16-18, Acts 19:11-20, Acts 28:1-10
     To help make the preaching of the gospel to lost people effective by giving supernatural confirmation to the message.
     
     
   • I Corinthians 12:7, I Corinthians 12:14-31, I Corinnthians 14:12, I Corinthians 14:26
     To meet human needs and to strengthen and spiritually build up both the church and individual believers.
     
     
   • Isaiah 61:1-3, Acts 8:1-8, Acts 26:15-18, Romans 12:3-8, I Peter 4:10-11
     To wage effective spiritual war against Satan and the forces of evil.
     
     
3. Gifts and Fruit are different. (I Corinthians 12:7-11; Galations 5:22-26)
   
   
4. The Nine Gifts Of The Spirit are divided into three categories of three gifts each.
   
   
   1. To Know Supernaturally.
   
   
   
   1. The Word Of Wisdom
   2. The Word Of Knowledge
   3. Discerning Of Spirits
      
      
   2. To Act Supernaturally.
   
   
   
   1. Faith
   2. Gifts Of Healing
   3. Working Of Miracles
      
      
   3. To Speak Supernaturally.
   
   
   
   1. Prophecy
   2. Divers Kinds Of Tongues
   3. Interpretation Of Tongues
      
      
5. The Nine Gifts Of The Spirit.
   
   
   1. To Know Supernaturally.
      
      1. The Word Of Wisdom
      
      The Bible does not talk about the gift of wisdom, but rather the "Word Of Wisdom".
      
      The Word Of Wisdom is a supernatural manifestation of the Spirit, and exists on a plane far above natural wisdom. Sometimes an answer we need will not come by human wisdom, but God gives a specific Word Of Wisdom at a particular time for a particular situation.
      
      The Word Of Wisdom implies a thought or utterance through a direct operation of the Holy Spirit at a given moment rather than an abiding deposit of supernatural wisdom.
      
      The church has a constant need for wise leadership. Problems will occur, and delicate situations arise among the most spiritual believers. The Word Of Wisdom can be vital in meeting these needs.
      
      Examples of the Word Of Wisdom.
      
      
      • The Apostles deal with the controversy over the daily assistance to widows. (Acts 6:1-7)
      • Paul's insight and advice concerning his shipwreck. (Acts 27:10, 31, 34)
      
      
      2. The Word Of Knowledge
      
      Every Christian must endeavor to "grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord" (II Peter 3:18). The Word Of Knowledge is a portion of supernaturally imparted knowledge to meet a particular need. The Bible does not speak of a gift of knowledge, but rather the "Word Of Knowledge".
      
      All knowledge ultimately rests with the Lord, "in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge" (Colossians 2:3). It is therefore reasonable to believe that God can impart any part of the divine knowledge at any time, as He wills.
      
      The Word Of Knowledge includes facts from God about people, places, things, and events that a person could not possibly know unless God revealed them to him.
      
      An example of the Word Of Knowledge
      
      
      • Peter's supernatural nkowledge of the secret sin of Ananias and Sapphira. (Acts 5:1-10)
      
      
      3. Discerning Of Spirits
      
      The Bible does not state that there is a gift of discernment, but rather it speaks of "Discerning Of Spirits". The Discerning Of Spirits is the ability on a particular occasion to ascertain whether a spirit or an action is of God, of the devil, or of the human nature.
      
      I John 4:1 admonishes us to "believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they be of God". The purpose of this gift is to detect what is true and what is false.
      
      The gift of Discerning Of Spirits is not only defensive in the sense that once an evil spirit is detected as operating through some human channel, that channel can then be delivered through the power of the name of Jesus Christ.
      
      Examples of Discerning Of Spirits
      
      
      • Peter's denunciation of Simon the sorcerer based upon discernment of the intent of his heart. (Acts 8:23)
      • Paul's rebuke of a spirit possessing a girl at Philipi. (Acts 16:16-18)
        
        
   2. To Act Supernaturally.
      
      4. Faith
      
      The "Spiritual Gift Of Faith" is to be distinguished from saving faith or the daily faith without which it is impossible to please God. (Hebrews 11:6)
      
      The Gift Of Faith is a measure of faith above the faith that all of us have as children of God. It is a special faith imparted to us by the Holy Spirit of God, as are the other gifts of the Spirit, to meet a particular need. The Gift Of Faith surpasses all reason, looks impossibilities in the face, and turns them into miracles.
      
      Examples of the Gift Of Faith
      
      
      • The faith of Peter and Paul for the lame man. (Acts 9:40)
      • Paul's supernatural faith during his shipwreck. (Acts 27:25)
      
      
      5. Working Of Miracles
      
      The Working Of Miracles is a suprenatural release of God's power through a person's life to effect an immediate, supernatural event. It is a sign or wonder that humans cannot explain by an appeal to "natural laws". It can be a miraculous "coincidence" effected by God when we pray.
      
      Examples of Working Of Miracles
      
      
      • Raising of Dorcas back to life. (Acts 9:40)
      • Raising of Eutychus back to life. (Acts 20:10)
      • Miracles in Paul's ministry at Ephesus. (Acts 19:11-12)
      
      
      6. Gifts Of Healing
      
      The Gifts Of Healing are plural. They refer to special healings of various types performed by God. All believers in the Lord Jesus Christ can lay hands upon the sick for their recovery. (Mark 16:18), and all elders in the church can anoint with oil for healing (James 5:14) Nevertheless, it appears that on certain occasions God operates in a special way to heal miraculously.
      
      When the Gifts Of Healing are in operation, God removes the cause of the disease or affliction and healing ensues.
      
      Some of the many examples
      
      
      • Acts 5:16
      • Acts 8:7
      • Acts 9:33-34
        
        
   3. To Speak Supernaturally.
      For more on this subject try Speaking Supernaturally
      
      7. Prophecy
      
      In general, Prophecy is an anointed utterance from God. It can consist of foretelling or forthtelling. The Gift Of Prophecy is a specific message from God to the hearers in their own language.
      
      True Prophecy will always be in harmony with God's Word. Prophecy will never replace the Bible or diminish its worth. Prophecy must always agree with the Bible.
      
      A prophet may prophesy, but not everyone who exercises the Gift Of Prophecy fulfills the office or ministry of a prophet. (Ephesians 4:11-13)
      
      The Gift Of Prophecy brings edification, exhortation, and comfort to the church (I Corinthians 14:3-5). Prophesying does not serve them that believe not, but serves them which do believe (I Corinthians 14:22). Prophecy does not replace or supercede doctrinal teaching or spiritual leadership.
      
      8. Tongues
      
      Speaking with tongues means speaking miraculously in a language unknown to the speaker. There are different kinds of tongues.
      
      The Bible reveals three different purposes or uses of speaking with tongues.
      
      
      • The first use is the initial evidence when someone is baptized with the Holy Ghost
        (Acts 2:4, Acts 10:44-46, Acts 19:6).
      • The second use is speaking to God in personal prayer (I Corinthians 14:2, 14, 15). The believer can speak in tongues in private devotion or in corporate worship when everyone is praying individually. In such a case there is no need for interpretation (I Corinthians 14:28).
      • The third use is addressing the church, coupled with interpretation (I Corinthians 14:28).
      
      
      9. Interpretation Of Tongues
      
      By this gift a person does not merly translate but interprets the meaning of a message in tongues for the church. When a person brings a message to the church through the Gift Of Tongues, The Gift Of The Interpretation Of Tongues is used to edify the church (I Corinthians 14:12). "Wherefore let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret" (I Corinthians 14:13).
      
      If there is no interpreter, the one speaking in the unknown tongue should keep silence in the church, although he can continue to pray in tongues personally (I Corinthians 14:28).
      
      What a blessing the gifts can be in the local church under the proper direction. The pastor should always have the oversight in the operation of the gifts (I Corinthians 14:29-33).