I Corinthians 12:8-10
• Last Sunday we finished up talking about the Fruit of the Spirit. Today we will talk about the Gifts of the Holy Spirit.
• The Fruit of the Spirit pertains to the believer’s character, while the Gifts of the Spirit pertain to the believer’s service.
• Let’s get started
I. The Gifts of the Holy Spirit
Definition: The Gifts of the Holy Spirit are special endowments of power given to believers for the work of God on the earth. They are also referred to as manifestations of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8).
A. The Holy Spirit’s Manifestation
1. Holy Spirit has manifested a variety of spiritual gifts given to the believer.
2. Holy Spirit manifestations are intended for the building and sanctification of The Church.
3. Some gifts may be manifested through an individual on a regular basis, and a believer may have more than one gift to minister to individual needs. The believer ought to desire gifts, not just one gift.
• Gifts, Manifestations, Operations, Administrations all by the same Spirit.
B. Gifts are given according to need.
1. The manifestations of the Spirit are given according to the Spirit’s will – I Corinthians 12:11.
2. The manifestations of the Spirit are given when the need arises, and according to the believer’s eager desire to receive – I Corinthians 12:31; 14:1.
C. A Word of Caution: Gifts are not a measure of spirituality.
1. It is unscriptural and unwise to assume that because someone exercises a spectacular gift, that they are more spiritual than one who has less spectacular gifts.
2. Furthermore, possessing a gift does not mean that God approves of all that a person does or teaches.
3. Gifts can be counterfeited by Satan. That’s why we must try the spirits to see if they are of God or not.
• Paul lists nine gifts which can be grouped into three major divisions; there are three revelation gifts, three utterance gifts, and three power gifts (1 Corinthians 12:8-10).
II. The Nine Gifts Explained
A. THE REVELATION GIFTS
1. The Word of Wisdom gives:
The supernatural revelation of the mind and will of God, in answering questions, in solving problems, and in giving instructions (Luke 21:14-15; 1 Corinthians 2:6-7).
a. This is a wise utterance spoken through the operation of the Holy Spirit. It applies the revelation of God’s Word or the Holy Spirit’s wisdom to a specific situation or problem (Acts 6:10; 15:13-22).
b. Clarification: It is not, however, the same as having the wisdom of God for daily living. The latter is obtained by diligent study and mediation on God’s ways and the Word and by prayer (James 1:5-7).
2. The Word of Knowledge gives:
The supernatural knowledge is to know certain facts about people, places, or things without previous knowledge of the situations (Acts 5:1-3; 27:9-10).
a. This is an utterance inspired by the Holy Spirit that reveals knowledge about people, circumstances, or Biblical truth. It is often connected closely with prophecy (Acts 5:1-10; 1 Corinthians 14:24-25).
3. Discerning of Spirits gives:
Supernatural knowledge into the spirit realm, identifying the spirits whether they be of God or demonic (Acts 16:16-18).
a. This gift is a special Spirit-given ability to properly discern and judge prophecies and to distinguish whether an utterance is from the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 14:29; 1 John 4:1).
b. Toward the end of the age when false teachers and distortion of Biblical Christianity will greatly increase, this gift will be extremely important for The Church.
c. this gift is built up through practice. Hebrews 5:14
B. THE UTTERANCE GIFTS
1. Divers (Various) Kinds of Tongues is:
The supernatural gift of speaking in other languages without it being learned. This means that when someone speaks in tongues, it is sometimes in a known language.
a. It is God speaking to us a message by the Holy Spirit, through man to those present (1 Corinthians 14:22a).
b. Concerning tongues (Gr. “glossa”, meaning language) as a supernatural manifestation of the Spirit, the following must be noted:
i. Tongues may be an existing language spoken (Acts 2:4-6), or a language unknown on earth, as in tongues of angels (1 Corinthians 14:1). Such speech has not been learned and is often unintelligible both to the speaker and to the hearers.
ii. Speaking in tongues involves the human spirit and the Spirit of God intermingling so that the believer communicates directly to God (as in prayer, praise, blessing or thanksgiving) giving expression or utterance at the level of one’s spirit rather than the mind (1 Corinthians 14:2, 14); and also praying for oneself or others under the direct influence of the Holy Spirit apart from the activity of the mind (1 Colossians 14:2, 4, 15, 28).
iii. Tongues in the congregation must be accompanied by a Spirit-given interpretation that communicates the content and meaning of the utterance to the community of believers (1 Corinthians 14:3, 27-28). It may contain revelation, knowledge, prophecy, or teaching for the assembly (1 Corinthians 14:6).
iv. Speaking in tongues within the congregation must be regulated. The speaker may never be in ecstasy or out of control (1 Corinthians 14:27-28).
2. Interpretation of Tongues is:
The Divine enablement to explain the meaning of or interpret a message in tongues (1 Corinthians 14:5). This is the Spirit-given ability to understand and communicate the meaning of an utterance spoken in tongues.
a. When interpreted for the congregation, the tongue’s functions either as a directive to worship and prayer or as prophecy. The body of believers can then participate in this Spirit-inspired revelation.
b. Interpreted tongues can be a means of edification as the whole congregation responds to the utterance (1 Corinthians 14:6, 13).
c. The gift may be given to one who speaks in tongues or to someone else. Those who speak in tongues should pray also for the gift of interpretation (1 Corinthians 14:13).
3. Prophecy is:
The supernatural utterance of the speaker, speaking forth in a known tongue, of the mind and counsel of God (1 Corinthians 14:3; Isaiah 9:6).
a. We must distinguish between prophecy as a temporary manifestation of the Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:10), and prophecy as a ministry gift of The Church (Ephesians 4:11).
i. As a ministry gift, prophecy is given only to some believers, who must then function as prophets within the church.
ii. As a spiritual manifestation, prophecy is potentially available to every Spirit-filled Christian (Acts 2: 17-18).
C. THE POWER GIFTS
1. Faith is:
The supernatural ability to believe God to do the impossible (Daniel 3:16-17; Acts 3:6-7).
a. This is not saving faith, but a special supernatural faith imparted by the Holy Spirit that enables the Christian to believe God for the extraordinary and miraculous.
b. It is a faith that moves mountains (1 Corinthians 13:2) and is often found in combination with other manifestations such as healings and miracles.
2. Gift of Healings are:
The supernatural ability to heal the sick and the diseased without the aid of any kind of natural means (Matthew 4:23; Acts 19:11-12).
a. These gifts are given to The Church to restore physical health by supernatural means (Matthew 4:23-25; 10:1; Acts 3:6-8; 4:30).
b. The plural “gifts” indicates healing of various illnesses and suggests that every act of healing is a special gift of God.
c. Although gifts of healings are not given to every member of the body in a special way, all members may pray for the sick.
i. When faith is present, the sick will be healed.
ii. Healing may also come as a result of obedience to the instructions of James 5:14-16).
3. Working of Miracles is a:
Supernatural ability to interfere and change the course of nature, events, or circumstances (Acts 6:8; 19:11).
a. These are deeds of supernatural power that alter the normal course of nature. They include divine acts in which God’s Kingdom is manifested against Satan and evil spirits.
III. Why Are the Gifts Given to The Church?
A. For the common good (1 Corinthians 12:7).
B. For edification (1 Corinthians 14:12)
C. To convict and convince (1 Corinthians 14:24-25)
D. To confirm and establish ministry (Acts 13:2)
CLOSING: Who Can Have the Gifts in Operation?
? The Gifts of the Spirit are supernatural abilities that meet needs in lives, defeating the devil and his work and confirming God’s Word.
• As the gifts operate, they meet every need spiritually, physically, and materially.
• The gifts are the only thing that Paul suggests we covet (1 Corinthians 12:28-31; 14:1; Romans 1:11).
? Believers who possess a genuine love for others in the Body of Christ must desire spiritual gifts to be able to help comfort, encourage, and strengthen those in need. They must not wait passively for God to give the Gifts of the Spirit (12:7-10). Instead, they must earnestly desire, seek and pray for those gifts, especially those that were to exhort, comfort, and strengthen.
