Gifted (Part Seven) Series

GIFTED (part seven)

In Rom. 12 we looked at the seven motivational gifts. Now, we'll be focusing on 1st Cor. 12 where we find the seven manifestation gifts. Wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, miracles, discernment of spirits, tongues/interpretation of tongues. Today we'll look at the first three

1st Cor. 12:4-11, "There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.

To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues.

All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines."

Vs. 7- 'manifestation'. This is the only occurrence of this word in the bible. Greek word phanerosis, meaning disclosure, revelation, setting forth plainly. It's important to understand that although these might be gifts, they are different from the gifts listed in Rom. 12:6-8. The gifts in Rom. 12 are more of a practical and ongoing nature, whereas the gifts in 1st Cor. 12 come about as God wills.

For instance, take the gifts of healing or miraculous powers. The Apostles had these gifts but they didn't manifest themselves all the time. Peter walked on water but that didn't mean he could walk on water whenever he liked. So these types of gifts aren't a constant like encouragement, mercy, teaching or service are, they're gifts that are used in certain circumstances as God wills and as he moves people to act in the Spirit.

1) Wisdom.

We are all to seek wisdom. Some who have excelled in wisdom have the ability to apply the principles of God's word in a practical way in specific situations and then to recommend the best cause of action at the best time. They can give practical insight and solid advice.

Wisdom takes the truth of God's word and holds it up to the problems and situations of life and connects them and makes sense out of them so they can be addressed, attacked and dealt with. In 1st Cor. 12 Paul words it as the message of wisdom. Again, in keeping with the word manifestation, this would be different than living in wisdom. This would be a special revelation of a word of wisdom from God given for a specific purpose.

Denver Cheddie makes a connection between this and the ability to understand mysteries. He writes, "The first 2 vs. of 1st Cor. 13 contrast the temporal nature of the gifts with the eternal nature of love. The structure goes: “If I have such and such a gift but not love, I am nothing.”

He mentions gifts like tongues, prophesy, understanding mysteries, knowledge, faith. All of these are gifts mentioned in the previous chapter. But right in the middle, there is a reference to understanding mysteries. Where did this come from?

Well, by the process of elimination, we can equate that with the word of wisdom. After all, the bible does teach a correlation between wisdom and understanding. This scripture implies that the word of wisdom is a supernatural ability to understand mysteries. Daniel exhibited this gift."

Daniel 1:17-20, "To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning. And Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds. At the end of the time set by the king to bring them in, the chief official presented them to Nebuchadnezzar.

The king talked with them, and he found none equal to Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah; so they entered the king’s service. In every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king questioned them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in his whole kingdom."

And if you read on you will learn about Daniel interpreting dreams. Daniel and his friends were given this special insight and ability to show themselves to be better than their pagan counterparts so the king would see the God of Israel as the one true God. God will give these abilities to his followers so that people could be convinced that God is the one and only.

Denver Cheedie continues, "Paul demonstrated this gift in the New Testament. In various places, he referred to the mystery that was given to him, that God offered the same salvation to the Gentiles as he did to the Jews (Rom. 16:25; Eph. 3:3-10).