The Gifts of the Spirit
1Cor. 12:7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.
1Cor. 12:8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;
1Cor. 12:9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;
1Cor. 12:10 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:
1Cor. 12:11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.
What The Gifts of the Spirit are and how they are to Work:
God our Father has accepted us and endued us with Authority to become the sons of God with Power to represent Him in the world as He would represent Himself. There is nothing more explicit in Scripture than the plan of God for divine-human sons endued with Power to represent God in the earth.
The Spiritual Tools of God are the Gifts of the Holy Spirit which He wants exercised in full by all of His Children. Everything in existence partakes of the same nature, powers, attributes and characteristics that belong to its particular species. Men who are Born of God Spiritually partake of the same nature, powers, attributes, and characteristics that belong to God who is our Heavenly Father.
We are not to be ignorant of these gifts. Listen to what Paul says:
1Cor. 12:1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.
Notice:
1. The Gifts of the Holy Spirit were manifest in the OT with the exception of the gift of tongues and interpretation of tongues.
Interpretation of Dreams and Visions (Dan 1:17; Gen 37:5-11)
Faith (Heb 11:1-40; Rom 4:1-25)
Wisdom and Knowledge (1Ki 3:12; 4:29-34; 2Sam 14:20)
Healings (Gen 20:7,17; Ex 15:26; Ps 105;37; 107:20)
Miracles (Ex 4:12; 17:6; Num 16:30; 1Ki 17; 2Ki 8)
Prophecy (Acts 3:21; Lk 1:70; 2Pet 1:21; Heb 1:1,2)
Discernment (2Ki 5:25-27; 6:12; 2Sam 14:20)
The Gifts of the Spirit are not “new.” They have been exercised of old in greater power than we see manifest in the church today.
2. The purpose of the Gifts of the Spirit is to enable all believers to do the works of Jesus and to continue the work that He began both to do and to teach (Acts 1:1-2; 15-15; 1Cor 1:7; Rom 12:3-8; 1Cor 12:4-31; 14:1-40; Heb 2:3-4). They were given to confirm the Gospel and to demonstrate the power of God among men….”These signs shall follow them that believe…”
3. The Gifts of the Spirit are available to every Believer for service and worship and to be used for specific purposes in the public meetings of Believers. (Local assembly).
4. In 1Cor 12:4-11 we are told that the gifts are for “every man” and for “all” and that “to one is given…. to another…. to another…. ” etc. The gifts of the Spirit are signs of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit and are perfectly normal in the New Testament Church.
5. Gifts of the Spirit are for children of God whether they are baptized in the Holy Spirit or not. They were active in the lives of believers in the OT. Many believers who never “spoke in tongues” have done great things for God… however, no doubt, they could have done even greater works had they been baptized in the Holy Ghost. A believer without the Gifts of the Spirit is like a man who has a job to do and no tools to work with.
6. Gifts can be abused and misused. Solomon was in a backslidden state when he exercised the wonderful gifts of wisdom and knowledge to further his own rebellion against God (Ecc 1:12-18; 2;4-11). Moses misused his gift of miracles when he smote the rock instead of speaking to it (Num 20:7-13; Deut 32:48-52). Paul states that one may have the gifts of the Spirit and still not have love and they would profit nothing (1Cor 13:1-3).
7. The Gifts of the Spirit, as permanent abilities, can be exercised by the recipient at his will at any time and in any place. Man is free to use these gifts as he sees fit for the glory of God. They are given by God to us to be so used. God leads and guides and urges in their use. Paul commanded Timothy to “neglect not” and to “stir up the gift” that was in him, proving that he could let it remain dormant or he could use it at his own will (1Tim 4:14; 2Tim 1:6).
8. The Gifts should be exercised when any known personal or public need is manifest. The gifts are for personal edification (1Cor 12:7; 14:4) and for public edification and profit and to build up the body of Christ. (1Cor 12:4-31; 14:2-3; 5, 12, 17, 26, 31; Eph 4:7-11). When there are sick to be healed, demons to cast out, miracles that need to be performed, the church to be edified and instructed in the things of God, sin to be rebuked, or any human need to be met, it is appropriate for the Gifts of the Spirit to be exercised.
9. The Gifts are needed today. The church must have them to cope with satanic powers and defeat the works of the devil in the lives of individuals. Each Child of God needs them in order to be able to meet the needs of his own personal life and fulfill his responsibilities in the Church.
10. Believers can have Gifts and not know how to use them. This is the purpose Paul had in instructing the church in the use of the Gifts. It should be the desire of every believer, not only to have the gifts, but to know how to use them.
11. The Gifts of the Spirit are to be manifest throughout this age. Just like all other blessings of the Gospel, the gifts are to continue through this age. Tongues, prophecy, knowledge, and other gifts were to cease “when that which is perfect is come.” (1Cor 13:8-13). We still have knowledge and prophecies and all these gifts, so the Perfect (Complete) has not yet come. Most who teach that the Gifts ceased in 64AD still have some semblance of “knowledge” so it is clear from the Scriptures that the other gifts have not been done away with.
Classification and Definition of the Gifts of the Spirit:
The Gifts of the Spirit fall into three natural divisions:
1. The Gifts of Revelation
(1) The Word of Wisdom
(2) The Word of Knowledge
(3) The Discerning of Spirits
2. The Gifts of Inspiration
(1) Prophecy
(2) Tongues
(3) Interpretation of Tongues
3. The Gifts of Power
(1) Faith
(2) Healing
(3) Working of Miracles
The Gifts of the Spirit, as supernatural manifestations, are to enable the church to act in the place of God and do what He would do if He were here on earth doing the work Personally.
They are desperately needed in the Body of Christ today
dickbraswell 
Leave a Reply