“Spiritual Gifts”
1st Corinthians 12:1-11
God desires for man to be reconciled back to a right relationship with Him. He has provided the church with everything it needs to accomplish the mission of reconciliation and has given us “Spiritual Gifts” for this purpose. We has the body of Christ must understand the gifts God has given to us and operate in them effectively, accurately, and powerfully.
There must first be a distinction between the gift of the Spirit and Spiritual gifts. The gift of the Spirit is the receiving of the Holy Ghost and the speaking in tongues as the Spirit give utterance. This is the New Birth Experience, for the Bible says in John 3:5 “Unless a man be born of the water and of the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.” The gift of the Spirit is the assurance to eternal life.
The Spiritual gifts are the results of the New Birth Experience. They are the supernatural work of the Holy Ghost. They are given freely by God and must not be confused with talent. God gives the gifts, to secure the Church against the devil, the world, and the flesh. They represent a coalition between the human personality and the divine powers of God working together.
Spiritual gifts are not for you to achieve a level of superstardom, but are for the exalting of Christ and the edifying of the body of Christ.
Exalt: - To lift up, Glorify, Esteem highly with Praise. When we do this through the use of the Spiritual Gifts God has given us He said in John 12:32 “If I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.”
Edify: - comes from the Greek word “oikodome”, which is to build up or strengthen, to teach or guide.
The gifts of the Spirit were given to the Church to strengthen it.
Verses 4-6 “Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.”
These verses speak of the work of the Divine Trinity, the manifestations of God in the fullness of the Godhead.
a.) Diversities of gifts – which are of the Spirit
b.) Differences of administration – which is the work of the Lord Jesus, Son
c.) Diversities of operations – God
Gifts: are that which is freely given buy the Spirit. Romans 11:29 “For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.”
Administration is - performance of executive duties. John 1:14 “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us…”
Operation: - performance of a practical work or of something involving the practical application of principles or processes an exertion of power or influence.
Verse 7: - “But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.”
The word But is a conjunction, it states the fact before it and denotes the truth and responsibility after it.
The word manifestation means the public demonstration of power and purpose.
Verses 8-10 “For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; to another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:”
The Spiritual gifts are broken into categories:
1.) Manifestational – Revelational gifts
2.) Ministerial – Power gifts
3.) Motivational – Inspirational gifts
NOTE: The number 3 represents completeness and fullness. There are 3 groups the gifts fall into. Each group has 3 gifts for a total of 9. 9 is the last of the single numbers called digits; therefore it denotes end. It is the number of finality or judgment. 9 is 3x3 and 3 signifies Divine completeness 9 denotes finality in Divine things. There are named 9 graces of the fruit of the Spirit. (Gal. 5:22-23). Therefore this is the fullness and completeness of the gifts of God.
REVELATIONAL GIFTS: - (Manifestational = public demonstrations of power and purpose). Revelational gifts mean God supernaturally reveals through a believer that which their minds cannot conceive. The Bible say “Eye hath not seen, ear hath not heard neither hath it entered into the heart of man what God hath prepared for them that love Him, but God hat revealed them unto us by His Spirit.” God imparts brief insight into the spirit realm. The Greek word for revelation is “apoklupsis’ (ap-ok-al’-oop-sis), it means to disclose, an appearing, a coming, an enlightenment, a manifestation to be revealed.
1.) Word of Wisdom: Supernatural revelation of the divine purpose of God communicated through the Holy Ghost to the Church. It is the declaration of the mind and will of God, the supernatural unfolding of His plans and purpose concerning things, places, people, etc. 1st Corinthians 2:7 “But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory.” This gift often works hand in hand with the gift of prophecy.
2.) Word of Knowledge: The word of knowledge is the supernatural gift of a portion of divine information for a particular need. It deals with events that have taken place but are not known to the one operating in the gift. God reveals something that exists or did exists, it deals with fact and realities. This is divine impartation of factual information that you would not know naturally. It is used for protection, guidance, and correction to the body of Christ as a sign to unbelievers. It will often work with the gift of prophecy and the gifts of healing.
3.) Discerning of Spirits: The purpose of this gift is to discern the spirit that motivates a person; it is not discernment as a spiritual form of mind reading. It is not a psychological perception, sharp mental insight, or the power to find fault in others. There is no ESP in the Spiritual realm only HSP Holy Spirit Perception. The gift of discernment of spirits assist in bringing deliverance to the afflicted oppressed, and possessed. It unmasks the servant of the devil, uncovering the plans of the enemy, exposing error, and revealing demonic activity.
POWER GIFTS: Ministerial - performance of executive duties. The are gifts in which the Holy Ghost performs supernatural exploits for man, without man’s strength or intelligence involved.
1.) The Gift of Faith: There are many types of faith. Oftentimes people will confuse the Gift of Faith for faith in general, but according to Romans 12:3 we all have a measure of faith, for faith in God is essential for salvation. We live by faith, walk by faith, and receive from God by faith. This is the fruit of faith, which builds spiritual character in a believer, but the gift of faith demonstrates the power of God. The Gift of Faith is a supernatural ability to believe God for a particular need, God imparts a degree of faith to believe for something you have never been able to believe before, and then fulfills that which we have this faith for. This gift often works with other gifts like discerning of spirits to cast out demons.
2.) The Gifts of Healing: This is the only plural gift. This shows that there are many different kinds of healing and various ways one can be healed. Harold Horton in his book “The Gifts of the Spirit: said these gifts are for the supernatural healing of diseases and infirmities without natural means by any sort.” This gift is limited only by man’s faith or heart. (Some commentators say that Jesus received 39 stripes one for each sickness and therefore say there are 39 different gifts of healing.) However this is limiting God in His power and His suffering.
3.) The Working of Miracles: A miracle is the supernatural interruption of the normal order of nature, the temporary suspension of the laws of nature, as we know it. It is a supernatural happening as far as man is concerned; man cannot do these things in his own strength or wisdom. The Greek words for the working of miracles are “energema dunamis” translated the operating power of God.
INSPIRATIONAL GIFTS: Speak of gifts that are used to serve one another they are prophecy, divers kinds of tongues, and the interpretation of tongues. Inspirational gifts are where God speaks to His church
1.) The Gift of Prophecy: The word prophecy originates from a Hebrew word “naba” meaning to flow forth, to spring forth, to tumble. Prophecy involves human will and faith, but does not involve human intellect. It is entirely supernatural in a natural tongue. Prophecy is not complete 1st Corinthians 13:9.Prophecy is exercised in proportion to our faith Romans 12:6. Prophecy has 3 divine function: edification, exhortation, and comfort.
a.) Edification: Greek word “oikodome” – to build up or to strengthen, to teach or guide. The gifts of the spirit are given to the church to strengthen it.
b.) Exhortation: To encourage, motivate, prompt, urge or light a fire under.
c.) Comfort: Greek word “paramuthia” to give consolation and comfort in distress, sorrow, persecution or suffering. The church needs divine comfort where the Holy Spirit brings the healing forces of heaven to people’s hearts.
NOTE: Prophecy is not the office of a Prophet, it is not a ministry of criticism, it is not regular preaching, and it is not direct towards unbelievers. Prophecy should not disturb the flow of a meeting.
2.) The Gift of Divers Kinds of Tongues: The gift of divers tongues and its counterpart the interpretation of tongues are the only two gifts specially identified with the church age. Prophesied by Isaiah 28:11 “For with stammering lips and another tongue he will speak to this people.” Prophesied by Jesus in Mark 16:17 “And these signs will follow those that believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues.” The gift of tongues is a supernatural gift of utterance in one or more languages that are not known to the speaker. There are 3 ways tongues are used 1.) As the initial sign of the infilling of the Holy Ghost. 1st Corinthians 14:22 “Therefore tongues are a sign, not to those who believe but to the unbelievers,” Acts 2:4 “And they were filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” 2.) In personal prayer and devotion, this is praying in the Spirit 1st Corinthians 14:14 “For I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful.” Romans 8:26 “Likewise the spirit also helps in our weakness. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.” 3.) In public when it can be interpreted. The gift of speaking in tongues is to arrest the attention of the people present and cause them to pay attention to what God is about to say, then the gift of interpretation reveals what God actually wants to say to the people.
3.) The Gift of Interpretation of Tongues: The gift of interpretation closely related to the gift of prophecy. Its purpose is to BLESS the body of Christ. The gift of interpretation enables someone to give the meaning of the tongues spoken. Tongues are an inspirational gift to be inspired you must be able to understand the message, the interpretation of tongues reveals that message and inspires you to heed to the voice of God.
Verse 11 “But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.” God has always desired for His church to be blessed with the operation of His Spirit and gives the Gifts of the Spirit freely and as many to whom ever desires them.
Spiritual gifts are what God imparts to His church; they are not optional or returnable. We must understand the gifts of the Spirit, how to operate in them, and seek them, but remember 1st Corinthians 14:12 “Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church.”
Elder Melvin L. Maughmer, Jr.
Boanerge Ministries
