Gifts of the Spirit Part 1

Gifts of the Spirit Part 1 1. What is the role of the Holy Spirit's presence in the life of the believer? a. The Holy Spirit is the energizer of Creation (Gen. 1:1-3). b. The Holy Spirit works wonders through weak people (Judg. 3:7-11; 6:24-8:28; 11:1-40; 13:25-15:15). c. The Holy Spirit causes people to be born again (John 3:1-10; 4:7-26; Titus 3:5; 2 Thess. 2:13). d. The Holy Spirit comforts and encourages Christians (John 14:12-17; 15: 26-16:7, 13-15; Acts 9:31). e. The Holy Spirit convicts unbelievers (John 16:1-11). f. The Holy Spirit illuminates and teaches Christians (John 14:26; Luke 12:12; 1 Cor. 2:12-15). g. The Holy Spirit emboldens evangelism (Acts 1:8; 4:1-31; 6:8-7:60; 13:4-12). h. The Holy Spirit enables Gospel proclamation (1 Pet. 1:12). i. The Holy Spirit empowers mission and ministry (Acts 2:1-12; Luke 4:14; 24:49; Rom. 15:19). j. The Holy Spirit glories and testifies to Christ (John 15:26; 16:14). k. The Holy Spirit helps us pray (Rom. 8:26-27; Jude 1:20). l. The Holy Spirit guides believers (Acts 5:3-9; 8:29-40; 10:19-23; 11:12-15; 13:2-4; 16:6-10). m. The Holy Spirit opposes the flesh and affirms/assures believers (Rom. 8:1-23, 26-27; 1 John 3:24). n. The Holy Spirit sanctifies and transforms Christians (Gal. 5:16-6:2; 2 Cor. 3:18; 1 Pet. 1:22). o. The Holy Spirit seals and guarantees believers (Eph. 1:3-14). p. The Holy Spirit strengthens Christians (Rom. 1:11; Eph. 3:16; Col. 1:11). q. The Holy Spirit helps us to experience God's love (Rom. 5:5). r. The Holy Spirit provides access to God (Eph. 2:11-22). s. The Holy Spirit unifies God's people (Eph. 4:1-16, 25-32). t. The Holy Spirit produces joy within Christians (1 Thess. 1:6). u. The Holy Spirit fills God's people (Eph. 5:18-6:18). v. The Holy Spirit baptizes God's people (1 Cor. 12:12-13). w. The Holy Spirit casts our evil forces (Matt. 12:28). x. The Holy Spirit helps us to wait for God's promises (Gal. 5:5). y. The Holy Spirit sets apart leaders (Acts 20:28; 13:2). z. The Holy Spirit causes us to experience freedom (2 Cor. 3:17; Rom. 8:2). aa. The Holy Spirit confirms truth (Rom. 9:1). bb. The Holy Spirit will resurrect believers (Rom. 8:11). cc. The Holy Spirit provides gifts (1 Cor. 12-14; Rom. 12:6-8). 2. Where does the Bible mention Spiritual gifts? a. 1 Cor. 1:4-9; 12-14; Ro. 1:11; 12:3-8; Eph 4:11-16; 1 Pet. 4:10-11; 1 Tim. 1:18, 4:14 (?); 2 Tim. 1:6-7; 1 Cor. 7:7-8; Heb. 2:4; Gal. 3:5; 1 Thess. 5:20; Throughout Acts. 3. What is a spiritual gift? a. Spiritual gifts are a "manifestation" (GK. Phanerosis) of the Holy Spirit. They are not some thing or some stuff that is separate from God, something else sent by God. The gifts are God Himself working in and through us. They are concrete, often tangible, visible, and vocal disclosures of divine power showcased through human activity. Gifts are God going public among His people. b. "According to Paul s usage of the concept, charismata meant a diversity of experienced concentrations of the grace of God, sovereignly bestowed by the Spirit upon members of the community of believers and functioning interdependently for the purpose of the upbuilding of the church in love, thereby demonstrating the lordship of Christ. c. Gifts of the Spirit are more than just natural talents and abilities. Natural talents and abilities can however be empowered by God for the good of the local church. The inclusion of what appears to be natural and supernatural abilities is not an issue because Paul teaches that all the gifts are

empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills. (1 Cor. 12:11) 4. What is the purpose of spiritual gifts? a. Romans 1:11-12 (ESV) 11 For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you 12 that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other s faith, both yours and mine. b. 1 Corinthians 12:7 (ESV) 7 To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. c. 1 Corinthians 14:26 (ESV) 26 What then, brothers? When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done for building up. d. Ephesians 4:11-14 (ESV) 11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, 14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. 5. Where do the gifts of the Spirit come from? a. All three persons of the Trinity are involved in the empowering of God's people for ministry. i. 1 Corinthians 12:4-6 (ESV) 4 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; 5 and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; 6 and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. b. The Holy Spirit is chief in the work of empowering the saints for ministry. i. 1 Corinthians 12:7-11 (ESV) 7 To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. 8 For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills. ii. 1 Corinthians 12:18 (ESV) 18 But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. 6. Should we desire and seek spiritual gifts? a. 1 Corinthians 12:31 (ESV) 31 But earnestly desire the higher gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way. b. 1 Corinthians 14:1 (ESV) 1 Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy. c. 1 Corinthians 14:39 (ESV) 39 So, my brothers, earnestly desire to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues. 7. What is God's desire and design in giving the gifts of the Spirit? a. Unity of gifts to reach disunited peoples. i. 1 Corinthians 12:12-13 (ESV) 12 For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body Jews or Greeks, slaves or free and all were made to drink of one Spirit. b. Diversity of gifts to reach diverse peoples. i. 1 Corinthians 12:14-20 (ESV) 14 For the body does not consist of one member but of many. 15 If the foot should say, Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body, that would not make it any less a part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body, that would not make it any less a part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an

ear, where would be the sense of smell? 18 But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. 19 If all were a single member, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, yet one body. c. Interdependence of gifts to reach all peoples. i. 1 Corinthians 12:21-26 (ESV) 21 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. 22 On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, 24 which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, 25 that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. 26 If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. d. Variety of gifts for various peoples. i. 1 Corinthians 12:27-31 (ESV) 27 Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. 28 And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30 Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? 31 But earnestly desire the higher gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way. 8. What is the manner in which we ought to use our gifts? a. Humility i. Romans 12:3-8 (ESV) 3 For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. 4 For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, 5 so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. 6 Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; 7 if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; 8 the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness. b. Love i. 1 Corinthians 13:1-7 (ESV) 1 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing. 4 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. 7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 9. How many spiritual gifts are listed in the NT? a. There are five "listings" of gifts within the NT. i. 1 Cor. 12:28 1. Apostleship 2. Prophets 3. Teachers 4. Workings of miracles 5. Kinds of healings 6. Helps/service 7. Administration/leadership

8. Tongues ii. 1 Cor. 12:8-10 1. Word of wisdom 2. Word of knowledge 3. Faith 4. Gifts of healings 5. Miracles 6. Prophecy 7. Distinguishing between the spirits 8. Tongues 9. Interpretation of tongues iii. Eph. 4:11 1. Apostles 2. Prophets 3. Evangelists 4. Pastor/teachers iv. Rom. 12:6-8 1. Prophecy 2. Serving 3. Teaching 4. Encouraging 5. Contributing 6. Leadership/Administration 7. Mercy v. 1 Pet. 4:11 1. Whoever speaks 2. Whoever serves vi. 1 Cor. 7:7 (?) 1. Marriage 2. Celibacy b. Each list diverges significantly from the others. None is complete, but each is selective and illustrative, with no effort to force various gifts into a neat scheme. Even all six lists do not present a full catalogue of gifts. c. The gifts of the Spirit within the NT appear to fall within three categories: charismata as manifestations of the Spirit, charismata as deeds of service, and charismata as ministries or functions. 10. How do you determine, receive, or operate in your gift? a. Examine your spiritual life, service, and ministries. Listen to your life. b. Serve in a variety of ministry capacities. Seek opportunities to use a gift. c. Seek the counsel and advice of those around you. d. Pray for God to illuminate an area where you are specifically gifted. e. Desire and make yourself available to be used by God. f. Ask God to empower you within the gift that you desire. g. Take a spiritual gift questionnaire or quiz. h. Be content in the gifting that God has given you. 11. Can you lose a gift of the Spirit? a. Gifts appear to vary in strength and power according to their use, disuse, and our faith (2 Tim. 1:6-7; Rom. 12:6). It is not clear that gifts are permanent or that each believer has only one. 12. What about the abuses of spiritual gifts?

a. Paul does not correct abuses within Corinth by disallowing the operation of the gifts. He corrects abuses within Corinth by teaching, preaching, and admonishing them on the gifts. b. Experience cannot be the determiner of faith and practice within the Church of God. As Protestants, we believe the supreme authority is the Word of God. c. Many other things within the Church are abused that we do not do away with completely (teaching, money, alcohol, sex, etc.). d. Be aware that spiritual gifting is rarely if ever a sign of spiritual maturity (1 Cor. 3:1; Matt. 7:22-23).