Summary: A five part series on the manifestational gifts of the Holy Spirit. Part 1 covers three kinds of gifts, ministerial, motivational & manifestational.

The Gifts of the Holy Spirit part 1

 The Holy Spirit is striving to bring man to a place of reconciliation with God.

 He desires to use us for that purpose.

 Because of this he has given us ‘gifts’.

 The gifts are not optional or returnable.

 We should understand them and flow in them effectively, accurately and with great power.

 Our church should be one that not only flows in the gifts but is also knowledgeable of them.

1 Cor 12:1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant:

The gifts are broken into three categories;

a. Manifestational gifts

1 Cor 12:7-11

7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: 8 for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, 10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.

b. Ministerial gifts (These speak of offices, only certain members of the body are called to these offices.)

Eph 4:11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting,

 The Thumb - The Apostle, touches all other ministries because he has to fill those roles & gets along well with the other offices He is the pioneer, the entrepreneur, establishes

 The Index finger - The Prophet, because the prophet points out error and points the direction, not directing, but pointing

 The Long middle finger - the Evangelist, because the evangelist reaches out extending, calling others to come into the Body.

 The Ring finger – the Pastor, one who is married to the flock, loving and cherishing it, keeping up with the day to day aspects of their flock

 The Little finger – the Teacher, the one who is picky on details and will make a concerned, big deal over all the little nuances.

c. Motivational gifts (Speak mainly of talents, all believers have these gifts, the part of our personality or make up, used to serve one another)

Rom 12:4 For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, 5 so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. 6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; 7 or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; 8 he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.

 Prophecy "propheteia" predicting for edifying, differing from Eph 4:11 "prophetes" a foreteller

 Ministry "diakonia" serve, service, - using god given talents to serve (music, hospitality…)

 Teaching "didasko" is different than, Eph 4:11 is "Didaskolos" a teacher

 Exhort "parakaleo" invite, call near, comfort

 Give "metadidomi" give, impart, disperse

 Lead "proistemi" rule, lead, maintain

 Mercy "eleeo" have mercy, compassion

Charisma

a. Greek word for ‘gift’ or literally ‘something freely given.’

b. The Greek word ‘Charismata’ is the plural word. Found in I Cor 12:4, 9, 28, 30 & 31.

c. The gifts are separate and given by the Holy Spirit as He chooses 1Cor. 12:11

Manifestational gifts

d. These gifts are given by God, to secure the Church against the devil, the world and the flesh.

e. They represent a "coaction" with the human personality and the divine powers of God working together.

f. The "charismata" is for every believer who will receive and use them.

g. They are evidenced in every denomination.

h. They normally come with the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

There are 3 categories of Manifestional gifts.

a. Revelation – the word of wisdom, the word of knowledge, the discerning of spirits.

i. God reveal something from heaven to man, we would not know any other way

b. Power – the gift of faith, the gifts of healing, the working of miracles.

i. God does something for man through man

c. Inspiration – prophecy, divers kinds of tongues and the interpretation of tongues.

i. God flows blessing through you to others by edification, exhortation and comfort.

2. The gifts must operate in Unity and Love.

a. There is power in unity

i. Look at the left wing organizations that have such a devastating effect on our country. (i.e. gay and lesbian groups, Madelyn O’Hare)

ii. What can God do with us when we are in Unity?

b. Diversity in the body is by God’s design.

1 Cor 12:12 For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. 13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body--whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free--and have all been made to drink into one Spirit. 14 For in fact the body is not one member but many.

20 But now indeed there are many members, yet one body. 21 And the eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you"; nor again the head to the feet, "I have no need of you."

c. The most excellent way

i. "Power without love can be disastrous." – Lester Sumrall

ii. The gifts without love are worthless.

1 Cor 13:1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.

1 Cor 13:8 Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away.

3. The gifts are for today!

1 Cor 13:8-13

8 Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part. 10 But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away. 11 When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 12 For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known. 13 And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

a. Vs. 10 "but when that which is perfect has come"

b. This is not the canonization of scripture! How arrogant a thought.

c. Vs. 11 We are as children in our earthly condition.

d. Vs. 12 Who will we see face to face? Who truly is perfection? When will perfection come?

1 Cor 14:26

26 How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification.

1 Cor 14:26 What then shall we say, brothers? When you come together, everyone has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. All of these must be done for the strengthening of the church. (NIV)

4. How to receive the gifts

a. Divine revelation (Paul in Acts 9)

b. Laying on of hands

1 Tim 4:14 Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership.

c. Desire them

1 Cor 12:31 But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way.

1 Cor 14:1 Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.

1 Cor 14:12 Even so you, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, let it be for the edification of the church that you seek to excel.

CONCLUSION

 These gifts are called gifts to reveal there is only one way to obtain them. They cannot be earned or merited.

 These gifts are a necessary part of our equipment for warfare.

 It is absolutely essential for a end-time Christian to not only understand the gifts but to also flow in them with power, accuracy and effectiveness.