Gifts of the Spirit

In this lesson, we will reveal the identity, character, authority and purpose of the gifts of the Spirit and also that of the offices of administration of these gifts. To do this would certainly destroy erroneous doctrines and remove any schisms from the Body. We need to examine the difference between diversities of gifts and administration of gifts. When Paul says that there are diversities of gifts, he is referring to the different manifestations of the Holy Ghost. He goes on to describe these nine manifestations to be: the word of wisdom, the word of knowledge, faith, healing, working of miracles, prophecy, discerning of spirits, divers tongues and the interpretation of tongues.

1 Corinthians 12:1-12

1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.

2 Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led.

3 Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.

4 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.

5 And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.

6 And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.

7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.

8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;

9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;

10 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:

11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.

12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.

THE PURPOSE OF ALL SPIRITUAL GIFTS IS TO REVEAL GOD. THEY SHOULD ONLY BE USED TO FURTHER GOD’S PURPOSE.

WORD OF WISDOM

The “word of wisdom” is given when you need God’s wisdom to be revealed to deal inside a particular situation, circumstance or relationship. The word may be to an individual or even an entire congregation. Its purpose is to instruct inside of God’s heart and mind and to always bring God’s purpose into perspective. This word may be given to comfort, settle your heart, instruct or even rebuke.

WORD OF KNOWLEDGE

The “word of knowledge” is insight that comes from God that speaks of things that only He could have revealed. It can be given either through a vision or by revelation. An example of this is when Jesus met the woman at the well in St. John 4:16-18. This word of knowledge is given to bring the individual to a place of belief. It is not necessarily futuristic. It can express a state of mind, a mindset, something that has already happened, an intent of the heart or an even an action.

FAITH

Faith is the manifestation of the Holy Spirit inside the life of the believer. This is not simply belief, but it is where God does supernatural things that causes one to have a strong belief in Him that is beyond the realm of the natural senses. The individual with the gift of faith will believe God for any manifestation of the supernatural. His purpose for doing this is to bring the individual to a point where they believe God so that His purpose is fulfilled in any situation. An example of this is in Acts 8:39 [And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.] where Phillip was translated from ministering to the Ethopian eunuch in route to Gaza to a place called Azotus.

SPIRIT OF DISCERNMENT

You discern from what you hear, see or observe. This observation may either be physical, seen or void.

1. To determine the state of being of a person, or to pin point one’s spiritual location.

2. Having the ability to judge the thoughts and intents of one’s heart.

PROPHECY

Prophecy is a demonstration of God’s power and wisdom. It is a manifestation of God’s power that glorifies just who He is. It exalts Christ and His redemptive work and sets forth the divine character of God’s revealed Word. Prophecy does not have to be futuristic. It can tell of things that have happened in the past or that are presently taking place. God desires that what He says to His people should be understood. Therefore, He does not speak, as so many in the church believe, in words that are so mysterious they cannot be comprehended.

GIFT OF HEALING

1. A supernatural cure of the physical, mental and spiritual disposition of man.

2. To make one whole.

3. Healing is also to bring a person’s heart to a place of belief in God, to confirm God’s Word and for the fulfillment of purpose in a person’s life.

GIFT OF MIRACLES

Miracles are used to prove and establish the power of God to the onlookers. “But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works; that ye may know and believe, that the Father is in me and I in him.” St. John 10:38

Miracles are also a supernatural work that cannot be produced by natural agents or means. The work may be physical or spiritual.

DIVERS KINDS OF TONGUES

The supernatural gift of speaking in another language without it having been learned. “Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe.”

1 Corinthians 14:22.

INTERPRETATION OF TONGUES

The supernatural gift to give the understanding of what was spoken in an unknown tongue. Purpose: So that the Body of Christ will be edified. These are manifestations of the Holy Spirit that every one who is born of the Spirit of God has access to. However, when we speak of administration of the Holy Spirit, we make reference not only to the service rendered (minister), but also to the offices through which the service is dispensed.

CALLINGS OF THE SPIRIT

While these offices are listed in 1 Corinthians 12:28 , they are best seen in Ephesians 4:10-16.

THE FIVE-FOLD MINISTRY

Ephesians 4:10-16

10 He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)

11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:

16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

We can see that the Lord, Jesus Christ gave these gifts to the Church when He ascended on high. They were given to us “for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry”. They will be here with us until we all come to maturity in Him. It is the anointing that gives evidence of the divine call. There is controversy in the body of Christ today regarding whether apostles and prophets still exist. If we look at the script, we cannot help but see that the body would be incomplete if all of the governing gifts are not functioning. If there are no apostles and prophets, then how can there be pastors, evangelists, or teachers. Without all of these offices functioning in the body, the church will not be able to come into perfection and will never “come into the unity of the faith” nor “unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ” (Ephesians 4:13).

APOSTLE

1. Apostolos ^652^ is, lit., "one sent forth" (apo, "from," stello, "to send").

"The word is used of the Lord Jesus to describe His relation to God, ; see < John 17:3>.

The twelve disciples chosen by the Lord for special training were so called, <Luke 6:13; 9:10>.

Paul, though he had seen the Lord Jesus, <1 Cor. 9:1; 15:8>,; had not `companied with' the Twelve `all the time' of His earthly ministry, and hence was not eligible for a place among them, according to Peter's description of the necessary qualifications, <Acts 1:22>. Paul was commissioned directly, by the Lord Himself, after His Ascension, to carry the gospel to the Gentiles.

"The word has also a wider reference. In <Acts 14:4,14>,; it is used of Barnabas as well as of Paul; in Romans 16:7 of Andronicus and Junias.

In <2 Cor. 8:23> (RV, margin) two unnamed brethren are called `apostles of the churches'; in (RV, margin) Epaphroditus is referred to as `your apostle.' It is used in <1 Thes. 2:6> of Paul, Silas and Timothy, to define their relation to Christ."

2. apostole ^651^, "a sending, a mission," signifies an apostleship, <Acts 1:25; Rom. 1:5; 1 Cor. 9:2; Gal. 2:8>. (Vine's Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words) God’s government is headed up by an apostle, the sent one.

An apostle must be appointed by God and is only chosen by foresight and foreknowledge. The test of the qualification for ministry is that the apostle knows God and has a genuine love for Him and His people. He/She must be an eyewitness to the resurrection power of Jesus Christ. In other words, he/she must know from a personal experience that Jesus rose from the dead and is thoroughly convinced that He is working in the lives of His anointed vessels. Does this mean those who have not had a face to face encounter with Christ cannot be an apostle? We cannot emphatically say that this is true. We do not have scripture that indicates that all apostles in the script were witnesses to the resurrection of Christ.

Romans 16:7 makes reference to the apostles Andronicus and Junia. We do not know definitely that they had an eyewitness account of Jesus Christ, but we know that they were definitely apostles.

Romans 16:7

Salute Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen, and my fellowprisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me.

One thing is certain, however, they did have the gift and anointing of the apostle. The apostle is given fresh revelation of the Word directly from God. This revelation is different than that a pastor receives, in that it will establish boundaries for an entire reformation. It is the job of the apostle to set order in the church. They are to install the method by which God is going to deal. The apostle also reveals God’s will. They receive revelation of the Word (which is the heart and mind of God) and are responsible for making certain it is handed down to the body of Christ. Wherever there is disorder, or lack of revelation of the heart and mind of God, the apostle must challenge and be confrontational. The apostle would, therefore, have had to make a conscious decision that he/she would be faithful to minister to others all God dispensed to them.

Ephesians 3:1-5

1 For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,

2 If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:

3 How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,

4 Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)

5 Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit . . .

PROPHET

Prophetes ^4396^, "one who speaks forth or openly" . A), "a proclaimer of a divine message," denoted among the Greeks an interpreter of the oracles of the gods. In the Sept. it is the translation of the word roeh, "a seer"; <1 Sam. 9:9>,; indicating that the "prophet" was one who had immediate intercourse with God. It also translates the word nabhi, meaning "either one in whom the message from God springs forth" or "one to whom anything is secretly communicated." Hence, in general, "the prophet" was one upon whom the Spirit of God rested, one, to whom and through whom God speaks, <Amos 3:7,8>.

By definition, a prophet is one who speaks forth the mind and counsel of God and proclaims a divine message. In the case of the Old Testament prophets their messages were very largely the proclamation of the divine purposes of salvation and glory to be accomplished in the future; the “prophesying” of the New Testament "prophets" were both a preaching of the divine counsels of grace already accomplished and the foretelling of the purposes of God in the future. (Vine's Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words)

While the prophet may reveal future events, this is not done to simply satisfy man’s curiosity. This revelation of future events may provide instruction, encouragement, hope, inspiration, or even warning of impending evil. The prophet receives the Word from the Lord but is not always the one who commits it to script. This Word that is received is for confirmation of that Word that has been spoken to the apostle. And Judas and Silas, being prophets also themselves, exhorted the brethren with many words, and confirmed them. Acts 15:32

Acts 21:11-14

11 And when he was come unto us, he took Paul's girdle, and bound his own hands and feet, and said, Thus saith the Holy Ghost, So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owneth this girdle, and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.

12 And when we heard these things, both we, and they of that place, besought him not to go up to Jerusalem.

13 Then Paul answered, What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.

14 And when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, The will of the Lord be done.

PASTOR

Poimen ^4166^, "a shepherd, one who tends herds or flocks" (not merely one who feeds them), is used metaphorically of Christian "pastors," . "Pastors" guide as well as feed the flock, cf. <Acts 20:28>,; which indicates that this was the service committed to elders (overseers or bishops); so also in <1 Pet. 5:1,2>,; "tend the flock... exercising the oversight," RV; this involves tender care and vigilant superintendence. (Vine's Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words) The Greek word for pastor is literally translated as “a shepherd.”

He/She is responsible for the oversight of the flock. That leader must have the heart of a shepherd. This is of vital importance. A shepherd is one whom God has given the responsibility to feed and guide the flock. They must have compassion for people and be willing to go to whatever lengths to retrieve even one lost sheep. It is also the responsibility of the pastor to take the Word that has been given by God to the apostle (and confirmed by the prophet) and give it to the flock in a manner in which it can be easily understood and applied. That pastor is there with the flock to care for them and is ultimately responsible for the grass on which the sheep graze. It is further the responsibility of the pastor, in addition to preaching the Word, to install the order of worship and administer the sacrament. And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding. Jeremiah 3:15

Acts 20:28-31

28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

29 For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.

30 Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.

31 Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.

Acts 20:35

I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.

EVANGELIST

Euangelistes ^2099^, lit., "a messenger of good" (eu, "well," angelos, "a messenger"), denotes a "preacher of the gospel," <Acts 21:8; Eph. 4:11>,; which makes clear the distinctiveness of the function in the churches; <2 Tim. 4:5>.# Cf. euangelizo, "to proclaim glad tidings," and euangelion, "good news, gospel." Missionaries are "evangelists," as being essentially preachers of the gospel. (Vine's Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words)

As the above definition indicates, an evangelist is first a preacher/teacher of the gospel. They proclaim glad tidings to those who may not know Christ and also declare the heart and mind of God. Paul admonished Timothy in 2 Timothy 4:5 to “do the work of an evangelist” which lets us know that there is a specific function for this office. The evangelist is not a shepherd and does not provide the same type of instruction that one would receive under pastoral care.

2 Timothy 4:2-5

2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.

3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;

4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

5 But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.

All too often, people in the body of Christ who feel they have been called into ministry and do not want to submit to the authority of a pastor call themselves evangelists. These renegade “ministers” simply consider ministry as a means to acquire substance rather than see it as necessary to operate in the government of the Holy Spirit. The common school of thought about evangelists is that he/she is always mobile. We must understand that it might be necessary for the evangelist to remain in one place for an extended period of time until God’s purpose is performed at that particular location.

TEACHER

1. Didaskalos ^1320^ is rendered "teacher" or "teachers" in , by Christ, of Himself; in <John 3:2> of Christ; of Nicodemus in Israel, <3:10>,; RV; of "teachers" of the truth in the churches, <Acts 13:1; 1 Cor. 12:28,29; Eph. 4:11; Heb. 5:12; Jas. 3:1>,; RV; by Paul of his work among the churches, <1 Tim. 2:7; 2 Tim. 1:11>.

2. kalodidaskalos ^2567^ denotes "a teacher of what is good" (kalos), <Titus 2:3>.# (Vine's Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words)

The teacher is one who speaks by divine inspiration that which is gathered by the complete revelation of the scripture. They are called by God and set by the Spirit to stand in this office to teach. This does not just mean a Sunday School teacher as it is so widely referred to today. This ministry requires a divine gift. A minister is not called to be a teacher just by natural ability or educational background. This calling and appointment comes from the Holy Ghost. Paul describes the teaching ministry as “water.” He says that he planted, Apollos watered, but we must realize that God is the one who is responsible for growth.

1 Corinthians 3:6-7

6 I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.

7 So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.

Some saints feel that the calling to be a teacher is not as important as callings to other offices of government. This is far from the truth. God gave all the gifts to the Body and all are of equal importance.

St. Matthew 22:16

And they sent out unto him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, Master, we know that thou art true, and teachest the way of God in truth, neither carest thou for any man: for thou regardest not the person of men.