Session 6 - The Gifts of the Spirit
In this final session we will look at the next
big issue that divides many denominations
within Christianity today
All Christians agree that spiritual gifts exist,
but some do not believe they are all still
active today. We will look at what spiritual
gifts are, their purpose, and if they’re all still
around today
What’s the purpose of spiritual gifts?
And what are the gifts?
William McRae defines a spiritual gift as a
divine endowment of a special ability for
service upon a member of the body of Christ.
The Greek word most often used for spiritual
gifts is charismata (where we get
Charismatic from) a word that relates to the
grace (charis) of God.
Charismata literally means grace-gifts--they
are sovereignty and undeservedly given by
the Holy Spirit.
Spiritual gifts are not decided by us
1 Cor 12:11: “All these are empowered by
one and the same Spirit, who apportions to
each one individually as he wills.”
The Holy Spirit is the one who decides what
gifts we are given as believers
All believers have a Spiritual Gift(s)
1 Corinthians 12:7: “To each is given the
manifestation of the Spirit for the
common good.”
Keep in mind, just because you have spiritual
gifts does not mean you are using them and
functioning within them
There are many lukewarm Christians who do
not use their gifts, or they use them for the
wrong reasons
The three main areas that we see a list of
these spiritual gifts is Romans 12, 1
Corinthians 12-14, and Ephesians 4
1. Prophecy
2. Service
3. Teaching
4. Exhortation
5. Giving
6. Leadership
7. Mercy
8. Wisdom
9. Knowledge
10.Faith
11. Healing
12. Miracles
13. Discernment
14. Tongues
15. Interpretation of tongues.
16. Apostleship
17. Helps
18. Administration
19. Evangelism
20. Pastor
No one passage lays out all the spiritual gifts,
but none of them claim to be naming them
all so there isn’t a problem
Some have suggested others gifts like:
Celibacy (1 Cor 7:7-9)
Voluntary Poverty (1 Cor 13:3)
Martyrdom (Cor. 13:3)
Hospitality (Rom. 12:13, 1 Pet. 4:9)
Missionary
Intercession
Exorcism
Cessationism vs. Continuationism
Cessationism is the theological position that
the Holy Spirit does not give certain gifts still
in the church, these gifts are typically
identified as speaking in tongues,
prophecy, and healing
They believe that those gifts were given at
the time of the apostles for a certain
purpose, and they are no longer active in the
church today
Many will put the timing on these gifts
ceasing at the end of the first century with
the finalization of the Biblical Canon
While others believe the gifts are still active
in the church today (Continuationism)
Continuationism teaches that the gifts have
been active since the day of Pentecost
(although some believe in waves
throughout history of the gifts) and that
they will remain active until the 2nd coming
1 Corinthians 13:8-12: “Love never ends. As for
prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues,
they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass
away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in
part, 10 but when the perfect comes, the partial
will pass away. 11 When I was a child, I spoke
like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like
a child. When I became a man, I gave up
childish ways. 12 For now we see in a mirror
dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in
part; then I shall know fully, even as I have
been fully known.”
The broad debate is if that word Perfect is
referring to the Bible (God’s Word) or to God
himself in the person of Jesus Christ being
revealed at His second coming
Keep in mind, none of these views is wrong
in identifying what they do as perfect. The
Bible certainly is perfect, and Christ is
certainly perfect, the question is what is this
verse talking about, there are a few reasons
why we believe it’s Jesus, not the Bible
Verse 12 says, " . . . then we shall see face to
face." The word "then" refers back to the
phrase "when the perfect comes."
"When the perfect comes... then we shall
see face to face"
In scripture, seeing face to face is used quite
a bit, and always refers to an encounter
with a person (Gen. 32:30; Ex. 33:11; Num.
12:8; Deut. 5:4; and Jer. 32:4, 2 Cor. 10:1; 2
John 1:12; 3 John 1:14, etc.)
Seeing Christ face to face would occur when
he returns, which is why we believe gifts will
be active until that point
Other areas seem to indicate that we will
have the spiritual gifts until Christ returns
1 Corinthians 1:7: “So that you are not
lacking in any gift, as you wait for the
revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ,”
You would be lacking gifts if certain gifts are
no longer available
We need to keep in mind that this debate has
been going on for quite some time, and we
will not have time to due it justice
There are many points that each side will
make that we will not have time to address
We will (naturally) emphasize the view that
we hold here at Family Worship Center,
which is that of continuation
That being said, we do not defend all the
“Charismatic's” today
The gift of prophecy
One of the strongest arguments that
cessationists will make has to do with the
nature of the Canon (and it being closed)
All cessationists and most who believe gifts
have continued agree that the Canon of
scripture is closed. That is to say, there is
something different between the time of the
apostles and today, after the death of John
God no longer inspired scripture
They will use this as evidence that things
have changed, and they are correct
They argue that much of scripture is
prophetic, but if prophecy is still going today
that is basically the same as scripture
We do need to define what we are talking
about when we say prophecy in the context
of a spiritual gift
What does the Bible say?
1 Corinthians 14:3: “On the other hand, the
one who prophesies speaks to people for
their up building and encouragement
and consolation.”
When you say prophecy, most people think
foretelling the future, and while that does
happen in scripture, that’s not the picture
we are given for the spiritual gift of prophecy
Those who prophecy speak into peoples lives
for their edifications, encouragement, etc.
This type of prophesying is not binding on
the universal church (as is the scriptures)
Prophecy can also be God telling someone
something that they would not other wise
know, God communicating a need someone
has, or something that needs to be
addressed even though that person hasn’t
brought it up with you
Just because there are false prophets today
doesn’t mean they’re aren’t true ones
Here’s a point made by Matt Slick
“This is a faulty argument because the
Scripture itself recognizes inspired revelation
that is not to be added to the Bible: "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" (1 Cor.
14:26). Here, in the Corinthian church…
revelations were given that were not made
part of the Bible. This shows that there were,
for a lack of a better word, "different" kinds
of revelation: one from the prophets and
apostles meant for canonization and another
through the Spirit to be used in the church
for edification--not canonization. So, in my
opinion, for someone to maintain that
revelation today is a threat to the Canon
does not consider 1 Cor. 14:26, and is not
applying scripture properly.”
The gift of tongues
The Bible (New Testament) says quite a bit
about the gift of tongues
All tongues are not the same, the Bible
speaks about several types
There is a difference between the tongues
that they spoke at Pentecost (preaching to
people in their own language) and what Paul
talks about in 1 Corinthians
1 Corinthians 14:26-28: “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. 27 If anyone speaks in a
tongue, let there be two or at the most
three, each in turn, and let one
interpret. 28 But if there is no interpreter, let
him keep silent in church, and let him speak
to himself and to God.”
Public use of tongues
The Bible is clear that when tongues is used
in a public setting, it should be done so in an
organized fashion, not chaos. And that there
is supposed to be an interpretation for the
edifying of the church
Private tongues (Prayer Language)
The verse above mentions private use of
tongues, other verses also talk about it
1 Corinthians 14:14-15: “14 For if I pray in a
tongue, my spirit prays, but my
understanding is unfruitful.15 What is the
conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit,
and I will also pray with the understanding. I
will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing
with the understanding.”
Some people say that all Christians should
speak in tongues, and that the baptism of
the Holy Spirit is always confirmed by the
gift of tongues, what does the Bible say?
1 Corinthians 12:17-19, 28: “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?
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.”
1 Corinthians 12:29-31: “Are all
apostles? Are all prophets? Are all
teachers? Are all workers of miracles? 30 Do
all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with
tongues? Do all interpret? 31 But earnestly
desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a
more excellent way.”
The Bible is clear that not everyone is
supposed to have every gift. The Spirit gives
certain people certain gifts as he sees fit
Some argue that if tongues is God speaking
(and not the individual) that’s a problem
because it then should be considered
scripture (but the canon is closed)
We would make the same argument here as
we did with prophecy. Another thing to point
out is that there is no passage in scripture
that says certain gifts will go away! There is
scripture that shows inspired scripture
would stop with the book of Revelation
The gift of healing
This gift is briefly mentioned by Paul
1 Corinthians 12:9: “To another faith by the
same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by
the one Spirit,” (Also in 1 Corinthians 12:29)
The gift of healing was not limited to the
apostles, but was active inside the church
There are different views depending on how
you define the gift of healing
The question is, does healing still take place
like it did with the apostles?
Acts 5:12-16: “And through the hands of the
apostles many signs and wonders were done
among the people. And they were all with
one accord in Solomon’s Porch.13 Yet none of
the rest dared join them, but the people
esteemed them highly.14 And believers were
increasingly added to the Lord, multitudes of
both men and women…
15 so
that they brought the sick out into the
streets and laid them on beds and couches,
that at least the shadow of Peter passing by
might fall on some of them. 16 Also a
multitude gathered from the surrounding
cities to Jerusalem, bringing sick people and
those who were tormented by unclean
spirits, and they were all healed.”
The shadow of Peter was healing people…
Is this the norm in church history?
Nobody thinks that God cannot heal today,
the question is does it happen in the same
way as it did with the apostles? Or is the gift
of healing to the church different than what
the apostles did? How do you merge the gift
of healing with what James says?
James 5:14: “Is anyone among you sick? Let
him call for the elders of the church, and let
them pray over him, anointing him with oil in
the name of the Lord.”
Why call on the elders if there is a guy there
who can just come and heal the person?
We don’t have all the details on how the
healings actually took place by these people
in the churches during this time
This brings up another point, is it always
God’s will to heal you of a physical illness?
There are different views on this within the
charismatic theology
Some say that God chooses to heal some
people and not others
Some say it’s always God’s will to heal you,
it’s just a matter of if you have enough faith
We will be defending the position that it is
not always God’s will for you to be healed,
that while he is able to heal you from
anything he allows us to go through trials in
order to mold us and shape us
Reasons why we take this stance:
The Bible makes it clear that we live in a
sinful fallen world still, and even though we
are saved and have faith doesn’t mean we
don’t have to deal with pain in this life
We see Biblical examples of God allowing
people to go through hardships:
The most well known example would be Paul
and his thorn in the flesh
2 Corinthians 12:7-10: “And lest I should be
exalted above measure by the abundance of
the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was
given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet
me, lest I be exalted above
measure. 8 Concerning this thing I pleaded
with the Lord three times that it might
depart from me. 9 And He said to me,“My
grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is
made perfect in weakness.”Therefore most
gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities,
that the power of Christ may rest upon
me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities,
in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in
distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am
weak, then I am strong.”
You can’t tell me Paul didn’t have enough
faith to be healed with everything he did
Paul leaves Trophimus behind (not wanting
to) because he was sick, why not just heal
him and bring him?
Our point is not that faith is not important,
our point is healing is not automatic
Despite all the TV evangelist that you hear,
despite people who say “If you just have
enough faith” God has to right to decide if
and when he will heal people
There are many Christians who have strong,
solid faith in God who also suffer from a
physical ailment, they believe and pray God
would heal them, but he doesn’t
Wrapping it up: Just because someone
appears to have a gift does not mean they
do. The enemy (our flesh and demonic
powers) can fake and deceive people
Matthew 7:22-23: “On that day many will say
to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in
your name, and cast out demons in your
name, and do many mighty works in your
name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them,
‘I never knew you; depart from me, you
workers of lawlessness.’”
2 Corinthians 11:13-15: “For such men
are false apostles, deceitful
workmen, disguising themselves as apostles
of Christ. 14 And no wonder, for even Satan
disguises himself as an angel of light. 15 So it
is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise
themselves as servants of
righteousness. Their end will correspond to
their deeds.”
See also 1 Timothy 4:1; 2 Peter 2:1.
Remember, just because it’s not your gift
doesn’t mean your exempt from doing it
All Christians are called to:
Evangelism - Acts 1:8
Discernment - 1 John 4:1
Service - Galatians 5:13
Exhortation - Hebrews 3:13; 10:25
Giving - 2 Corinthians 9:7
Just because it’s not your spiritual gift
doesn’t mean you get to ignore it
What is the purpose of these gifts?
Ephesians 4:12-16: “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, 15 but,
speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all
things into Him who is the head—Christ—
16 from whom the whole body, joined and
knit together by what every joint supplies,
according to the effective working by which
every part does its share, causes growth of
the body for the edifying of itself in love.”
The purpose of our gifts is first for others,
and secondly for ourselves
1 Peter 4:10: “As each has received a gift, use
it to serve one another, as good stewards of
God's varied grace:”
There is a difference between Spiritual gifts
and the fruit of the Spirit
The fruit of the spirit guides how we should
live our life, and the gifts that we are given
should function within the fruits of the
spirit, especially love according to Paul
1 Corinthians 13:1-3: “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.”
Spiritual Gifts are temporary, but the way we
live our life has eternal impact
1 Corinthians 13:8: “Love never ends. As for
prophecies, they will pass away; as for
tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge,
it will pass away.”
Different functions, same mission:
Romans 12:4: “For as in one body we have
many members, and the members do not all
have the same function,”
Memory Verse
1 Peter 4:10: “As each has received a gift,
use it to serve one another, as good
stewards of God's varied grace:”