Spiritual Gifts (Parts 1& 2)
The "Love Chapter" of the Bible, 1st Corinthians 13, is really introduced with the last verse of chapter 12 which reads, "But earnestly desire the higher gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way." It can also be translated, "You desire the best or greatest gifts. But let me show you the very best!" Then begins the "Love Chapter" which lists several spiritual gifts but states that without love they are useless or unprofitable. Chapter 13 mentions gifts like tongues, knowledge, faith, and martyrdom.
A HISTORY In the Old Testament there is a history of God’s Spirit giving extraordinary powers to people. Samson received extra power through the Spirit of God "And the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him…" (Judges 146). He then was given the strength to kill a lion with his bare hands. And again "And the Spirit of the LORD came upon him, and he went down to Ashkelon, and slew thirty men of them" (1419).
God filled people who were to make the garments of Aaron the priest with the "spirit of wisdom" (Ex. 283).
Samson wasn't the only one. Saul prophesied by the Spirit (1Sam. 1010). There were prophets such as Ezekiel and Micah (Ezek. 13; Micah 38). Jesus seemed to indicate what God’s Spirit was giving Him the power to do in Luke 418-19.
NEW TESTAMENT WORDS Thus we see a history of God’s Spirit empowering His servants and giving them powers above the normal human ones. In the New Testament, when Paul wrote to the Corinthians he acknowledged their spiritual gifts, "so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift (ca,risma charisma), as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ" ( 1Cor. 17 RSV). This church virtually had all the spiritual gifts. Charisma means a "gift in grace." It refers to gifts freely given by God’s grace unearned. They include faith, wisdom, knowledge, etc.
The other main Greek word that is translated "spiritual gifts" is used in 1 Cor. 121. It is pneumatikw/j pneumatikos and means literally, "the spirituals." We will now take a look at the main passages which deal with the spiritual gifts.
THE LIST In Romans 12 Paul explains that the church is like a human body. All members are part of the body but all members do not have the same function. In verse 6 he writes, "Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them if prophecy, in proportion to our faith." Paul is saying that we have gifts but they are different. In Romans 12 he mentions seven gifts 1)prophecy (inspired preaching or utterance), 2) service, 3) teaching, 4) exhortation, 5) giving, 6) leadership, 7) mercy. In first Corinthians chapter 12, Paul mentions eleven more spiritual gifts in addition to those in Romans 1) wisdom, 2) knowledge, 3) faith, 4) healing, 5) miracles, 6) discerning of spirits, 7) tongues, 8) interpretation of tongues, 9) Apostle, 10) helps, 11) administration.
Ephesians 4 tells us that other gifts were given "And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers" (v. 11 RSV). Here we have 3 in addition to those already mentioned1) evangelists, 2) pastors and 3) teachers.
The PURPOSE OF SPIRITUAL GIFTS is given in 1Cor. 127 and in 1Pet. 410 which state respectively "But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good" (NAS); "As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God."
We are told that God gives these gifts for service and edification (Eph. 412; 1Cor. 1211, 28; Rom. 126). The gifts come from God through the Holy Spirit and they are called "gifts in grace" (charismata) because they cannot be earned or bought.
SCHOOLS OF THOUGHT REGARDING SPIRITUAL GIFTS Some churches do not believe that any spiritual gifts are extant today. Others believe that some gifts remain today and that the miraculous gifts ended with the birth of the Church. They feel that the "sign gifts" are no longer needed.
A third position holds that all the gifts are still with us but that only the church hierarchy may dispatch or dispense them and that they are dispensed according to the church’s corporate wisdom (Matt. 1618-19).
Others believe that all Christians have all the gifts and that circumstances determine which gifts to use. They believe that at baptism each person receives all the spiritual gifts.
Another school of thought says that all gifts are just as needed and valid as they were in the times of the Apostles. This school holds that there is widespread ignorance of these gifts and that Paul addressed this issue in his writings (1Cor. 121; 1Thess. 519).
THE PITFALLS There are pitfalls when Christians consider spiritual gifts.
1) There is the tendency to exalt over gifts. Paul had to deal with this in 1Cor. 12-14. Some thought they were better because they had the gift of tongues. Can you imagine how exalted one would feel with a gift of healing today?
2) "Everyone can do it" syndrome. That is, a person may have a gift but they act as though "everyone should be able to do like I do." They really don't recognize they even have a gift.
3) Some use their gift to excuse themselves from other Christian duties. "I have the gift of wisdom, I can't be bothered serving others.
WHAT SPIRITUAL GIFTS ARE NOT In order to better understand what spiritual gifts are we need to understand what they are not
1) They are not acquired skills though a person which a gift may also acquire skills to enhance it.
2) They are not natural talents though I believe gifts are often given in line with natural talents.
3) Gifts are not roles. We all have to fulfill roles as Christians. We are to be lights to the world. We all must witness to our faith in Christ. We all have to give to support the church and to support evangelism and outreach. We all must pray. But there are people who have a spiritual gift for giving, for evangelism and for intercessory prayers.
4) Gifts are not offices designated by church organizations. Every church organization designates offices. These may or may not have anything to do with the spiritual gifts in Eph. 411.
5) Spiritual gifts are not the "fruit of the Spirit" (Gal. 522-23). All Christians must show the fruit of the Spirit in their Christian lives. But spiritual gifts are a special manifestation of the Spirit given for the common good.
6) Spiritual gifts are not "agape" the love of God. But no gift is effective without agape (1 Cor. 13).
7) Spiritual gifts are not for self gain. They are for service to others and edification of the Church (the great Body of Christ).
8) Spiritual gifts are not divisive. Some groups have splintered because of claims, uses, denials, and buses of spiritual gifts. In fact the Corinthian church had to many divisions in it and was rebuked by Paul for its many divisions.
9) Spiritual gifts are not the same for everyone. Paul makes that plain in Romans and 1 Corinthians 12. We are not all an eye, or an ear, or a hand, or a foot. If we were all an eye, where would be the hearing, Paul argued.
10) Spiritual gifts are not even the same mix in every congregation.
We'll talk more about spiritual gifts in our next Sabbath Thoughts.
A HISTORY In the Old Testament there is a history of God’s Spirit giving extraordinary powers to people. Samson received extra power through the Spirit of God "And the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him…" (Judges 146). He then was given the strength to kill a lion with his bare hands. And again "And the Spirit of the LORD came upon him, and he went down to Ashkelon, and slew thirty men of them" (1419).
God filled people who were to make the garments of Aaron the priest with the "spirit of wisdom" (Ex. 283).
Samson wasn't the only one. Saul prophesied by the Spirit (1Sam. 1010). There were prophets such as Ezekiel and Micah (Ezek. 13; Micah 38). Jesus seemed to indicate what God’s Spirit was giving Him the power to do in Luke 418-19.
NEW TESTAMENT WORDS Thus we see a history of God’s Spirit empowering His servants and giving them powers above the normal human ones. In the New Testament, when Paul wrote to the Corinthians he acknowledged their spiritual gifts, "so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift (ca,risma charisma), as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ" ( 1Cor. 17 RSV). This church virtually had all the spiritual gifts. Charisma means a "gift in grace." It refers to gifts freely given by God’s grace unearned. They include faith, wisdom, knowledge, etc.
The other main Greek word that is translated "spiritual gifts" is used in 1 Cor. 121. It is pneumatikw/j pneumatikos and means literally, "the spirituals." We will now take a look at the main passages which deal with the spiritual gifts.
THE LIST In Romans 12 Paul explains that the church is like a human body. All members are part of the body but all members do not have the same function. In verse 6 he writes, "Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them if prophecy, in proportion to our faith." Paul is saying that we have gifts but they are different. In Romans 12 he mentions seven gifts 1)prophecy (inspired preaching or utterance), 2) service, 3) teaching, 4) exhortation, 5) giving, 6) leadership, 7) mercy. In first Corinthians chapter 12, Paul mentions eleven more spiritual gifts in addition to those in Romans 1) wisdom, 2) knowledge, 3) faith, 4) healing, 5) miracles, 6) discerning of spirits, 7) tongues, 8) interpretation of tongues, 9) Apostle, 10) helps, 11) administration.
Ephesians 4 tells us that other gifts were given "And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers" (v. 11 RSV). Here we have 3 in addition to those already mentioned1) evangelists, 2) pastors and 3) teachers.
The PURPOSE OF SPIRITUAL GIFTS is given in 1Cor. 127 and in 1Pet. 410 which state respectively "But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good" (NAS); "As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God."
We are told that God gives these gifts for service and edification (Eph. 412; 1Cor. 1211, 28; Rom. 126). The gifts come from God through the Holy Spirit and they are called "gifts in grace" (charismata) because they cannot be earned or bought.
SCHOOLS OF THOUGHT REGARDING SPIRITUAL GIFTS Some churches do not believe that any spiritual gifts are extant today. Others believe that some gifts remain today and that the miraculous gifts ended with the birth of the Church. They feel that the "sign gifts" are no longer needed.
A third position holds that all the gifts are still with us but that only the church hierarchy may dispatch or dispense them and that they are dispensed according to the church’s corporate wisdom (Matt. 1618-19).
Others believe that all Christians have all the gifts and that circumstances determine which gifts to use. They believe that at baptism each person receives all the spiritual gifts.
Another school of thought says that all gifts are just as needed and valid as they were in the times of the Apostles. This school holds that there is widespread ignorance of these gifts and that Paul addressed this issue in his writings (1Cor. 121; 1Thess. 519).
THE PITFALLS There are pitfalls when Christians consider spiritual gifts.
1) There is the tendency to exalt over gifts. Paul had to deal with this in 1Cor. 12-14. Some thought they were better because they had the gift of tongues. Can you imagine how exalted one would feel with a gift of healing today?
2) "Everyone can do it" syndrome. That is, a person may have a gift but they act as though "everyone should be able to do like I do." They really don't recognize they even have a gift.
3) Some use their gift to excuse themselves from other Christian duties. "I have the gift of wisdom, I can't be bothered serving others.
WHAT SPIRITUAL GIFTS ARE NOT In order to better understand what spiritual gifts are we need to understand what they are not
1) They are not acquired skills though a person which a gift may also acquire skills to enhance it.
2) They are not natural talents though I believe gifts are often given in line with natural talents.
3) Gifts are not roles. We all have to fulfill roles as Christians. We are to be lights to the world. We all must witness to our faith in Christ. We all have to give to support the church and to support evangelism and outreach. We all must pray. But there are people who have a spiritual gift for giving, for evangelism and for intercessory prayers.
4) Gifts are not offices designated by church organizations. Every church organization designates offices. These may or may not have anything to do with the spiritual gifts in Eph. 411.
5) Spiritual gifts are not the "fruit of the Spirit" (Gal. 522-23). All Christians must show the fruit of the Spirit in their Christian lives. But spiritual gifts are a special manifestation of the Spirit given for the common good.
6) Spiritual gifts are not "agape" the love of God. But no gift is effective without agape (1 Cor. 13).
7) Spiritual gifts are not for self gain. They are for service to others and edification of the Church (the great Body of Christ).
8) Spiritual gifts are not divisive. Some groups have splintered because of claims, uses, denials, and buses of spiritual gifts. In fact the Corinthian church had to many divisions in it and was rebuked by Paul for its many divisions.
9) Spiritual gifts are not the same for everyone. Paul makes that plain in Romans and 1 Corinthians 12. We are not all an eye, or an ear, or a hand, or a foot. If we were all an eye, where would be the hearing, Paul argued.
10) Spiritual gifts are not even the same mix in every congregation.
We'll talk more about spiritual gifts in our next Sabbath Thoughts.
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