This is our third week at discovering the gifts that were presented to the church, the Bride of Christ. So far we have discovered the gifts given to the church by Jesus. These are the equipping gifts. Ephesians 4:11-12 “Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ.”
Next we discovered the gifts presented to the church by God the Father. These are the service gifts. Romans 12:6-8 “In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.”
Today we will discover the gifts presented to the church by the Holy Spirit. These are the power gifts. These gifts, as we will discover, are the most misunderstood and often abused gifts that are given. These gifts are given to complete the body of Christ in order to help one another. And everyone here today has one of these gifts prevalent in your life. My desire is that before you leave here today you will have recognized one of these gifts at work in you. Let’s begin by reading the list of gifts presented by the Holy Spirit.
1 Corinthians 12:7-11 “A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other. To one person the Spirit gives the ability to give wise advice; to another the same Spirit gives a message of special knowledge. The same Spirit gives great faith to another, and to someone else the one Spirit gives the gift of healing. He gives one person the power to perform miracles, and another the ability to prophesy. He gives someone else the ability to discern whether a message is from the Spirit of God or from another spirit. Still another person is given the ability to speak in unknown languages, while another is given the ability to interpret what is being said. It is the one and only Spirit who distributes all these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have. There are nine gifts listed here. We will briefly look at each one.
The gift of wise advice. James 3:17 “But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and the fruit of good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere.”
This gift is a combination of two Greek words, logos and sophia. Logos is Greek for word. The logos (word) became flesh. Sophia is Greek for clarity. Therefore it is a gift of speaking an inspired word of clarity into someone’s life. It is making spiritual truths relevant to a situation. If offers practical and proper decision-making in daily life situations.
An industrial titan remembered his farm boyhood. It was his chore to go to the barn in the dark to secure the farm animals before the family bedtime. He dreaded what lurked in the shadows on the way to the distant barn. His father gave him unforgettable advice.
The lantern from the farmhouse would cast its light to the yard gate and no further. When he came to the yard gate, the lantern cast its light to the corral fence and no further. When he came to the corral fence, the lantern cast its light to the windmill and no further. When he came to the windmill, the lantern cast its light to the barn door. The father reminded the frightened boy that he had only to go as far as the light took him, with the assurance that the light would take him further at the next point of need.
Simple advice that he took with him into the business world.
Gift of special knowledge.
Ephesians 4:13 “This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.”
This gift is designed to bring maturity to the body of Christ. It is having a unique perception of the scripture. It goes beyond reading and memorizing. It is the ability to peel back the layers of the word for a greater understanding. It is an uncommon ability to explain scripture in such a way that the knowledge shared with others will be clear. It will reflect the standard of Jesus shared throughout the word.
There’s a story about a proud young man who came to Socrates asking for knowledge. He walked up to the muscular philosopher and said, “O great Socrates, I come to you for knowledge.”
Socrates recognized a pompous numbskull when he saw one. He led the young man through the streets, to the sea, and chest deep into water. Then he asked, “What do you want?”
“Knowledge, O wise Socrates,” said the young man with a smile.
Socrates put his strong hands on the man’s shoulders and pushed him under. Thirty seconds later Socrates let him up. “What do you want?” he asked again.
“Wisdom,” the young man sputtered, “O great and wise Socrates.”
Socrates crunched him under again. Thirty seconds passed, thirty-five. Forty. Socrates let him up. The man was gasping. “What do you want, young man?”
Between heavy, heaving breaths the fellow wheezed, “Knowledge, O wise and wonderful …”
Socrates jammed him under again. Forty seconds passed. Fifty. “What do you want?”
“Air!” he screeched. “I need air!”
“When you want knowledge as you have just wanted air, then you will have knowledge.”
(M. Littleton in Moody Monthly, June, 1989, p. 29)
People with this gift will desire knowledge as much as air. They will spend time reading the Bible, researching words, and analyzing what they have learned.
The gift of great faith.
Matthew 8:5-10 “When Jesus returned to Capernaum, a Roman officer came and pleaded with him, ‘Lord, my young servant lies in bed, paralyzed and in terrible pain.’
Jesus said, ‘I will come and heal him.’
But the officer said, ‘Lord, I am not worthy to have you come into my home. Just say the word from where you are, and my servant will be healed. I know this because I am under the authority of my superior officers, and I have authority over my soldiers. I only need to say, “Go,” and they go, or “Come,” and they come. And if I say to my slaves, “Do this,” they do it.’
When Jesus heard this, he was amazed. Turning to those who were following him, he said, ‘I tell you the truth, I haven’t seen faith like this in all Israel!’”
The Roman officer had heard of Jesus and his miraculous power to heal. Out of love for his servant he swallowed his pride and humbled himself before a Jewish teacher. He exhibited trust that his plea would be heard and acted upon that trust. Great faith is faith in action. Great faith is not shaken by circumstances or obstacles. The Roman officer did not allow the fact that the Jews were his enemy to stop him from seeking the Healer. He did not allow his nationality to be an obstacle. He had faith and acted upon it with great results.
People with this gift always have a positive attitude. They totally trust in God to work out everything to their benefit. Even in the midst of crisis and suffering they will cling to their unwavering faith.
The gift of healing
Acts 3:6-8 “But Peter said, ‘I don’t have any silver or gold for you. But I’ll give you what I have. In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, get up and walk!’
Then Peter took the lame man by the right hand and helped him up. And as he did, the man’s feet and ankles were instantly healed and strengthened. He jumped up, stood on his feet, and began to walk! Then, walking, leaping, and praising God, he went into the Temple with them.”
Those who have the spiritual gift of healing are given a supernatural gift to heal the sick and reveal God to others. It can be but is not limited to a physical healing. It can be an emotional, mental, or spiritual healing. People with this gift have an immense amount of trust in God to restore those who are sick, and they pray for healing to those who need it.
While this gift is supernatural, it is not guaranteed. This gift provides a sense of hope and encouragement to those in need, but those with this gift know that it is not their power to bestow healing, but God's power, in his time.
The gift of miracles.
Acts 5:12 “The apostles were performing many miraculous signs and wonders among the people. And all the believers were meeting regularly at the Temple in the area known as Solomon’s Colonnade.”
It was hunting season and two friends were out hunting. One was always bragging about what a good shot he was and how he never missed when hunting duck. About that time a duck flew over. He took aim and fired. Rather than falling to the ground dead, the duck flew on by.
He immediately took off his hat and fell to his knees. After a few moments he stood back up, wiping tears from his eyes. His friend asked him if he was alright. He replied “I have heard of miracles but never saw one until today. My friend, there files a dead duck."
The word miracle as used to refer to this gift was composed of two Greek words. Dynamis, which meant power, and activity. It was a powerful activity that could only be of supernatural origim and means. I would be an exhibition of such power that witnesses could not deny it was by God’s mighty hand.
Let me read you an account from the Book of Acts about a miracle. “On the first day of the week, we gathered with the local believers to share in the Lord’s Supper. Paul was preaching to them, and since he was leaving the next day, he kept talking until midnight. The upstairs room where we met was lighted with many flickering lamps. As Paul spoke on and on, a young man named Eutychus, sitting on the windowsill, became very drowsy. Finally, he fell sound asleep and dropped three stories to his death below. Paul went down, bent over him, and took him into his arms. ‘Don’t worry,’ he said, ‘he’s alive!’ Then they all went back upstairs, shared in the Lord’s Supper, and ate together. Paul continued talking to them until dawn, and then he left. Meanwhile, the young man was taken home alive and well, and everyone was greatly relieved.” Acts 20: 7-12. As a side note, this service lasted for at least 12 hours so if I go over a few minutes, you can forgive me.
Gift of prophecy
Ephesians 3:4-5 “As you read what I have written, you will understand my insight into this plan regarding Christ. God did not reveal it to previous generations, but now by his Spirit he has revealed it to his holy apostles and prophets.”
This was the third time this gift has been given. It was given to the church by Jesus. It was given to the church by God the Father. And it was given to the church by the Holy Spirit. This is the most important of all gifts. It is not necessarily projecting future events although it can be. It is speaking an inspired message from God to His people. I dare say each of us have this gift. It is evident when you speak an encouraging word into someone’s life. It is evident when you share with others your testimony on what God has done in your life. It is evident when you speak words of forgiveness and kindness to those who might your enemy. This may be the only gift you have but it is the only gift you need.
The gift of discernment
Acts 16: One day as we were going down to the place of prayer, we met a slave girl who had a spirit that enabled her to tell the future. She earned a lot of money for her masters by telling fortunes. She followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, ‘These men are servants of the Most High God, and they have come to tell you how to be saved.’
This went on day after day until Paul got so exasperated that he turned and said to the demon within her, ‘I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.’ And instantly it left her.
When we first this read our reaction might be “what’s the problem?” She seems to be proclaiming the truth. Paul was a servant of God and Paul had the plan of salvation. But Paul was discerning a problem with what was being said. Notice, he did not react right away. Rather he waited until the Holy Spirit revealed the motivation behind this proclamation. If this was a pagan crowd, perhaps she was declaring them to be servants of Apollo as opposed to God. Maybe her insinuation was that they were proclaiming a way to be saved and not the way.
But regardless of why, Paul had discernment and rejected the spirit which motivated her proclamations. Discernment is the ability to distinguish truth from error. Discernment judges where the behavior and teaching originates, whether it is from God, satan, or simply human error.
Gift of tongues
Acts 2:1-4 “On the day of Pentecost all the believers were meeting together in one place. Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the house where they were sitting. Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them. And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability.
The gift of tongues has become one of the most misunderstood, abused, and frightening gifts given. Most denominations and Christians have rejected his gift as being no longer valid.
Allow me to share a news item from CharismaNews.
“After decade-long resistance, the Southern Baptist Convention will admit missionary candidates who speak in tongues, a practice associated with Pentecostal and charismatic churches.
Allowing Southern Baptist missionaries to speak in tongues, or what some SBC leaders call a ‘private prayer language,’ speaks to the growing strength of Pentecostal churches in Africa, Asia and South America, where Southern Baptists are competing for converts and where energized new Christians are enthusiastically embracing the practice.
‘In so many parts of the world, these charismatic experiences are normative,’ said Bill Leonard, professor of church history at Wake Forest Divinity School. ‘Religious groups that oppose them get left behind evangelistically.’”
Speaking in tongues in Africa, Asia, and South America is a normal part of conversion. It is the sign of the baptism of the Holy Spirit. I pray they never get so educated that this becomes a suspect superstition as it is in the United States.
The gift of interpretation
Acts 2:5-6 “At that time there were devout Jews from every nation living in Jerusalem. When they heard the loud noise, everyone came running, and they were bewildered to hear their own languages being spoken by the believers.”
Just as the gift of tongues was given in mass so was the gift of interpretation. The disciples were clearly speaking an unknown language that was being heard by individuals in their native tongue. For example in today’s world it would not be like all the French speaking people over here with Peter and all the Spanish speaking people over there with John. The French and the Spanish would be hearing one person speaking but it would be in their own language. Some in fact heard gibberish and accused the disciples of being drunk. But 3000 heard the message and were saved.
So there are the gifts. I pray you found yours. I pray you will use it to build up the body of Christ and his precious Bride.
