Spiritual gifts are a gift from God that the Holy Spirit uses to work in and through the believer for His glory. While the source of each spiritual gift is God, a spiritual gift is not always supernatural. Some gifts are “natural abilities” that are heightened and directed by the Holy Spirit.
There is no agreement on the exact number of Spiritual gifts. We are given four lists in the New Testament (Ro. 12:4-8, 1 Cor. 12:4-11, Eph. 4:11-12). Each list is different from the other. There is debate if some of the gifts given in the lists are the same just worded differently.
The gifts that are given are diverse. Some believe there are more gifts not mentioned specifically in Scripture, they believe Paul is just giving lists of some of the gifts God bestows on His people.
The purpose of the gifts are to glorify God and to build up the church.
There are four Greek words, found in 1 Corinthians 12 that describe spiritual gifts:
- Gift (Pneumatikos) “spiritual things”- Holy Spirit is active and plays a role
(1 Cor 12: 1)
- Gifts (Charisma )“gift of grace” receive without any merit of our own (1 Cor 12: 4 and Romans 4: 6)
- Ministries/Administrations (Diakonia) “service”- used to serve or minister to other members of the body (1 Cor 12: 5:))
- Effects/Operation (Energemata) “event or operation”- whenever this word is used its a supernatural work of God (1 Cor 12: 6:)
James 1: 17- “Every good and perfect gift is from above”
The Purpose of Spiritual Gifts:
1 Corinthians 12:7 – gifts are given for the “common good” of the body.
1 Corinthians 14:12 – they are “to build up the Church.”
1 Peter 4:10 – they are “to serve others.”
1 Peter 4:11 – “so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ.”
Ephesians 4:12 – for “works of service so that the Body of Christ may be built up.”
Parable of the Talents- Matt 25: 14-25
We are all given different gifts, talents, abilities (5,2,1). We will be rewarded based on how we use them (Faithfulness to opportunity)
Different types of gifts:
Ministry gifts- “Church or office gifts” that are required to lead a church. Found in Ephesians 4: 11-13 (Apostles, prophets, evangelists, shepherds, teachers)
Manifestation gifts- These are often contrary to our nature and involve the Holy Spirit working through us. Found in 1 Cor 12: 7-11 (Wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, miraculous powers, prophecy, discernment, speaking in tongues, interpretation of tongues)
Motivational/Personality gifts- our motivation or perspective on life, most likely comes more naturally or is tied into how we think or act. Found in Romans 12: 6-8 (Prophesying, serving, teaching, encouraging, giving, leading, mercy.)
Spiritual growth is often directly connected with using spiritual gifts
Corinthians 12:4–6 says, “There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.”
List of Spiritual Gifts:
Romans 12:6-8 1 Cor. 12:8-10 1 Cor. 12:28-30
-Encouragement -Wisdom -Apostles
-Giving -Knowledge -Prophets
-Leadership -Faith -Teachers
-Mercy -Healing -Miracles
-Prophecy -Miracles -Healings
-Service -Prophecy -Helps
-Teaching -Discernment -Administration
-Tongues -Tongues
-Interpretation
Different views of Spiritual gifts:
Continuationism-the belief that all spiritual gifts, including healings, tongues, prophecy and miracles are still in given to believers and very much in use in the church.
Cessationism- the belief that the “sign gifts” cease to exist and were only prevalent during the times of the New Testament.
Third view: sign gifts are not normative, but may occur. Ex. There is healing but not healers. The Spirit does speak to us.