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| (READ – 1 Corinthians 12:8-27) The miraculous gifts of the Spirit are talked about in the scriptures in two different ways: 1) the abilities conferred; and, 2) the offices qualified for. The abilities conferred The word of wisdom indicates the ability to put into practical application the word of God. That is why Biblical Examples are so important. Their application was not a matter of human wisdom, but the wisdom of God provided by the Holy Spirit. The word of knowledge is the revelation of God. They did not have the complete New Testament. The knowledge they received was through inspiration. These were the words of God – those were the words of the gospel – these are the words of the New Testament . The working of miracles includes those sign and wonders, both in dealing with nature and sickness. As Mark lists them: “And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; …” (KJV—Mark 16:17, 18) Gifts of healing speaks of the ability to lay hands on the sick, and have them to recover. This is not a gradual recovery; but, a full, complete, instantaneous recovery. Prophecy in this instance seems to indicate the future telling, or predictive element of prophecy. Discerning of spirits refers to the ability to determine if a spirit comes from God. Not all spirits – not all supposed gifts – were from God. Without the complete New Testament a special gift would be needed to determine where the spirits had come from. “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them. We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.” (KJV – 1 John 4:1-7) Divers kinds of tongues refers to the ability to speak, in languages not learned. Tongues are languages. Divers is diverse without the “e.” Eighteen plus different languages and dialogues were spoken by the apostles on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:6-13). This is not the Adamic language, nor the language of angels; it is languages which men could hear and understand. The interpretation of tongues is the ability to understand and interpret the languages spoken by those who received the gift of tongues, or those who came from a different location. All of these abilities are given by the Spirit – the same Spirit. The same Spirit gave different people different gifts. “For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;”(KJV – 1 Corinthians 12:8) Therefore, because one had one gift, but not another, they were not any better, or more blessed, or lifted to another level of Christianity. “Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. {diversities: or, kinds} Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles? {workers...: or, powers?} Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret? But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.” (KJV – 1 Corinthians 12:27-31) The understood answer is NO. No, not all have the same gifts. Not everyone spoke in tongues. Just as not everyone could heal or interpret. Those who say that all should or must have a singular gift, such as speaking in tongues, are mistaken and at odds with what Paul says here. These gifts equipped people, by means of the Spirit, to be qualified for service. “And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:” (KJV – Ephesians 4:11,12) Some of these, such as apostles and prophets and miracle workers, belong only to the apostolic age. Others such as evangelists and pastors and teachers are continuing – being qualified for natural, rather than supernatural terms. The reception of the Spirit with its attendant gifts was necessary for the stability and growth of the church before the completion of the New Testament. With the completion of the New Testament the qualities and instruction which were formerly provided by the Spirit directly to individuals are now provided through the word. “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. {throughly...: or, perfected}” (KJV – 2 Timothy 3:16,17) CONTROL One of the things which separates the gifts as they are spoken of in the New Testament and how they are perceived in the religious world is the control of the individuals over the gifts. (READ – 1 Corinthians 14:1-40) Especially notice verse 32: “And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.” The religious world often speaks of “being slain by the Spirit,” and other terms saying that they are not in control of what happens. They have to do this or that, they cannot help themselves. Paul points out that the Spirit that within the Christian is under his control. If he is not in control, IT IS NOT THE SPIRIT OF GOD. The one who prophecies by the Spirit of God can control when he prophecies. The one who speaks in tongues by the Spirit of God can control when he speaks in tongues. Whatever the gift is, the Christian is in control. That way everything can and will be done decently and in order. THE END OF THE GIFTS (READ – 1 Corinthians 13:8-13) There would be a time when prophecies fail, when tongues cease, when knowledge vanishes away – when all these gifts of the Spirit would be no more. These spiritual gifts were partial, they provided partial revelation, they provided partial prophesy. But, there would come a time when we would no longer rely upon the partial, but have that which was complete and whole: the New Testament, along with the Old Testament – the completion of the Holy Bible. (see 2 Timothy 3:16,17) There was a time of infancy for the church. There was a time when the preparation was being made for the completion of the revelation. For revelation was “once for all” given (Jude 3). The time was coming when those childish things would be put away, and the church would be full grown (Ephesians 4:7-16). With partial revelation, the church could see only darkly. But, with the coming of the perfect law of liberty (James 1:23-25), if the Christian is not a forgetful hearer, he can see himself clearly in the mirror of God’s word, seeing himself even as God sees him and knows him. Therefore, with the completion of the New Testament, the spiritual gifts no longer continued. THEIR PURPOSE (READ– Hebrews 2:1-4) The purpose of the gifts of the Spirit was to verify the message, to both the world and the church. It was the confirmation that the message came from God. The message has been confirmed. It does not need to be confirmed again. The gifts have served their purpose. Their record is in the New Testament. If a man will not believe the word, neither will he believe though one be risen from the dead (Luke 16:19-31, especially verse 31). |
| The Holy Spirit The Gifts |
