Question:  What are SPIRITUAL GIFTS? What are THE Spiritual Gifts?

         Spiritual Gifts are a NT concept and is primarily  found in Paul's writings. Although being empowered by the HS for a particular task is known in the OT the concept of Gifting is not there.

GREEK: pneumatika: Pneuma: Spirit (1 Cor. 14:1)  Charismata: Charis: grace (Rom. 12:6)

        Shows Spiritual gifts are given by an act of grace.

DEF: Spiritual Gift is a supernatural ability given by Christ through the Holy Spirit  to the Believer at the moment of his/her
          salvation.  2 Cor. 5:17

Question: What is a TALENT?

DEF: A talent is a human and natural ability given at birth. It may be in the area of    music, speech, organization...

Question: What is the difference between a talent and a spiritual gift?

         No natural talent, however great it might be, can be used by it's owner to glorify God until it is sanctified by the Holy Spirit. When that occurs, the talent may become a gift. The KEY is using the ability to glorify God. An unbeliever, no matter how great their talent, can not glorify God.

Question: What is the difference between the GIFT of the Spirit and the GIFTS of the Spirit?

         Gift of the Spirit occurred at Pentecost and happens in the life of the Believer at conversion.
         Gifts of the Spirit are what is given to Believers by the Holy Spirit to do the work of the ministry.

Question: Does each Believer have at least one Spiritual Gift?

         1 Peter 4:10-11,  Eph. 4:7,  1 Cor. 7:7,  1 Cor. 12:11

Question: Do all Believers possess all the Spiritual Gifts?

Read: 1 Cor. 12:29-30

Question: What is the purpose of the Spiritual Gifts?

         To Glorify God Rev. 4:11
         To edify or build up the church.  Eph. 4:12-13

Question: Who are Spiritual Gifts abused?

        Not using the gifts given to us.   2 Tim. 1:6,  1 Tim. 4:14
        Using a gift not given to us.  1 Cor. 12,13
        Not using a Spiritual Gift in Love. 1 Cor. 13:1

Question: How can you recognize a spiritual gift is being displayed in another?

        A Spiritual Gift is displayed/used with a servant attitude, to minister to a local congregation or church.
        A Spiritual Gift is displayed/used with a steward attitude, recognizing and managing this special ability not
            as  your own but as God's.
        A Spiritual gift is displayed/used as sacred worship, giving God the awe and credit due to Him.
        A Spiritual Gift is displayed/used as strengthened 'by the strength which God supplies.' Remember God works in
            you both to will and to do His good pleasure.

Question: How many different Spiritual Gifts are mentioned in the NT? and What are they?

        Giving , Exhortation, Ministering/Helps, Mercy, Ruling/Administration, Faith, Teaching, Evangelism , Pastor/Teacher,
        Wisdom, Discernment of spirits, Prophet, Apostle, Knowledge, Healing, Tongues, Interpretation of Tongues, Miracles.

SPIRITUAL GIFTS-DEFINITIONS

Helps: (Rom. 12:7; 1 Cor. 12:28)
         Supernatural ability to give practical help in both physical and spiritual matters.
         To provide  timely assistance that releases other Christian workers for direct spiritual  ministry.
         To help other Christian workers do their work more effectively.

Leadership:  (Titus 1:4-5; Rom. 12:8; 1 Cor. 12:28)
         The supernatural ability to organize, administer and promote the various affairs of  the local church.
         To set goals and motivate others towards their accomplishment in the church.
         To understand the goals of a particular segment of the church, to direct that area effectively keeping the church on
            course.

Hospitality:  (Heb. 13:2)
         The supernatural ability to cheerfully provide an open home to those in need of  food, lodging and fellowship.

Discernment: (Discerning of spirits)  (1 Cor. 12:10, 14:29; 1 Jn. 4:1)
         The supernatural ability to distinguish between demonic, human, divine spirits in    another.
         To distinguish between truth and error, good and evil.
         To discern an individuals spiritual character.

Faith: (1 Cor. 12:9)
         The supernatural ability to have an extraordinary confidence in God's promises, power and presence to take heroic
                stands for the future of God's work in the church.
         To keep Believers stradfast in times of persecution.

Craftsmanship: (EX. 31:3)
         The supernatural ability to be creative and make things to be used in God's service.

Giving: (Rom. 12:8)
         The supernatural ability to accumulate, manage and give large amounts of money  to theLord's work.
         To do so with exceptional willingness, cheerfulness and liberality.

Mercy: (Rom. 12:8)
         The supernatural ability to minister to those sick and afflicted.
         To aid the suffering or deserving and to spare them from punishment or penalties  justly deserved.

Wisdom: (Words of Wisdom)  (1 Cor. 12:8)
         The supernatural ability to rightfully apply and spiritually employ the Word of God.
         To use knowledge effectively coupled with a reverential awe of God.
         To be empowered with an understanding of God's will and work as it relates to life.
         Supernaturally inspired utterances of prudence and decision making.

Knowledge: (Words of Knowledge) (1 Cor. 12:8)
         The supernatural ability to master God's revealed truth in Scripture.
         Supernaturally inspired utterances of facts.
         To understand in an exceptional way the great truths of God's Word, to make them relevant to specific situations
                in the life of the church.
         A word spoken only after long thought and consideration. Usually from a teacher.

Exhortation: (Rom. 12:8)
         The supernatural ability to deliver challenging words.
         To come alongside another in need of encouragement, challenge or advice.
         To win Christians to a higher way of life and a deeper dedication to the Lord.

Teaching: (Rom. 12:7; Eph. 4:11)
         The supernatural ability to communicate and clarify the details of God's Word.

Pastor/Shepherd:  (1 Peter 5:1-4; Eph. 4:11)
         The supernatural ability to preach and teach the Word of God and feed and lead the flock of God.
         To assume responsibility for the spiritual welfare of a group of Believers.
         To effectively guide, feed and protect the flock of followers in Christ.

Apostleship: (1 Cor. 12:28)
         The supernatural ability to lead, inspire and develop the churches of God by the proclamation and the teaching of true
                doctrine.
        To minister cross culturally with the goal of church planting.
         To be exercised primarily among unbelievers.

Prophecy:  (1 Cor. 12:8; Eph. 4:11; Rom. 12:6)
         The supernatural ability to go from church to church and build up the Believers by teaching the Word to them.
         To interpret and apply God's revelation in a given situation.
         To cause the authoritative Word of God to shine.
         Supernaturally inspired utterances from God. It never contradicts nor is equal to the written Word of God.
                To foretell or forthtell. To speak the mind of God.

Evangelism: (Eph. 4:11)
         The supernatural ability to point sinners to Christ and to burden Christians about soul-winning.

Intercession: (1Thess. 3:10-13)
         The supernatural ability to pray for extended periods of time with great positive effect for the building up of the
                Kingdom of God.

Healing: (1 Cor. 12:9, 28, 30)
         The supernatural ability to minister health to those sick.
         The person who exercised the gift as well as the one being healed always had one thing in common faith in God.

Works of Miracles: (1 Cor. 12:10, 28-29)
         Miracles comes from Greek word dunameis (power). It is the supernatural ability to cast out of evil spirits and
                healing of bodily ailments.
         Supernatural intervention of the natural laws, implies instantaneous results.

Different kinds of Tongues: (1 Cor. 12:10,28)
         The supernatural ability to speak in an unlearned language.
         To speak in an unintelligible way addressing himself/herself to God in prayer or praise. One would lose control of
                intellectual faculties, possibly disjointed, high  pitched ecstatic series of sounds.

Interpretation of Tongues: (1 Cor. 12:10,30)
         A necessary corollary to speaking in tongues. Supernatural ability to give meaning  to unmeaningful ecstatic speech
                (tongues).

SEEKING SPIRITUAL GIFTS

Question: Is it biblical to seek spiritual gifts that you don't have?

        1 Cor. 12:31, Rom. 1:10-12

         If it is not the will of the HS we will not get what we ask for. We must remember to ask not demand and accept what gifting the HS decides to bless us with. We are not to envy others who have different gifting than we do.  (1 Cor. 12:12-31)

Question: Are the spiritual gifts we have been given, permanent?

       1 Cor. 12:11

         The HS has full authority over the gifts, not us. He can give a gift to a particular person, for a particular reason for a particular period of time.... then remove it. However, when we recognize a gift given to us by God we are to effectively exercise it as if it was permanent. (Rom. 12:6)

Hierarchy of Spiritual gifts

Question: Is there a hierarchy of spiritual gifts?

         The 4 lists are not the same and are not in any particular order.
              (Rom. 12:5-8; 1 Cor. 12:1-11; Eph. 4:11: 1 Peter 4:10)

         1 Cor. 12:31...seek the higher gifts?       What are these?
                  Prophesy: 1 Cor. 14:1 defined as exhortation/edification/consolation =building up the body
                  Love: Some say this but love is not a gift but a fruit of the spirit. (1 Cor.14:1)

Question: With the spiritual gifts assessment and definitions in mind.
                Knowing that we are to seek spiritual gifts especially the greater ones,

          What gifts do you think are needed here at CBC?
          What gifts do you want to ask for to minister here at CBC?
          How many of you are ministering in the areas of your spiritual gifting?
          What has this study helped you to learn about yourself?

The Miraculous Gifts of the Holy Spirit

Question: Who was the last of the prophets mentioned in the Bible?

Continuity of Old and New Testaments

 Prophecy and the prophets form the greatest line of continuity between the OT and NT. This is evident from
     1. the attitude of Christ and the apostles to OT prophecy,
     2. from the prophetic character of Jesus' own ministry,
     3. from the general outpouring of the Holy Spirit — the spirit of prophecy — upon the church,  all leading to a continuing
        acceptance of prophets and prophesying in NT churches.

    The OT prophetic line did not end with Malachi, but with John the Baptist, as our Lord expressly declares (Mt. 11:13). Prophetic utterances of John's father Zechariah, and of Anna, Simeon and Mary at the beginning of Luke's Gospel all bear witness to the continuance of prophetic inspiration  (Lk. 1:46-55, 67-79; 2:26-38). The customary division into two 'Testaments' unfortunately obscures this marvelous unity of God's program of revelation, but the line is continuous from Moses to John

The Spirit of prophecy and the Christian church

        Christ promised his disciples that after his ascension he would send them his Holy Spirit who would empower them to bear witness to him in the world, and would bear witness with them (Lk. 24:48-49; Jn. 14:26; 15:26-27; Acts 1:8).
The apostles and those who preached the gospel at the first did so in the power of the same 'Holy Spirit sent from heaven' who inspired the predictions of the OT prophets as they looked forward to the coming of Christ (1 Pet. 1:10-12).

        Therefore, every Christian is potentially a prophet for the Spirit which is given generally to the church for its testimony to Jesus is the Spirit of prophecy (1 Cor. 14:31;  Rev. 19:10). So Paul tells the Corinthian Christians, 'earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy' (1 Cor. 14:1). Jesus predicted that people would prophesy in his name (Mt. 7:22). Prophecy is repeatedly mentioned as one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit with which Christ equips his members to function as his body.  (Rom. 12:4-7; 1 Cor. 12:10-13; 1 Thes. 5:19-20; 1 Pet. 4:10-11).

        It would seem that we are missing out if we believe the gift of prophesy has eased and is no longer needed in the church today.

Question: Do you think this is true?

DEFINITION:
 profhteia = signifies the speaking forth of the mind and counsel of God.
      pro=forth, phemi-to speak

        Though much of OT prophesy was predictive , biblical prophecy is not necessarily or primarily fore-telling.  A formal definition might be : a spontaneous word given or revealed by God through the will and inspiration of the HS and conveyed by a willing participant for the edification of the Body of Christ.

 -It is a message that is intelligible and oral, intended  to edify and encourage the body of Believers.
 -It is a revelation which could expose the heart of a believer or unbeliever alike moving them to repentance. (Gal. 2:2)
 -The individual is always in control of their intellect and senses.

Pentecostal/Charismatic's add:
     It could also mean for-telling, predictive. But should not be considered infallible. that is why it should be tested by the church. It is possible for the human spirit to enter into an inspired  utterance and discolor it.

Church History: Prophesy

QUESTION: Does anyone know what position was held by the early reformers; Luther and Calvin, on the continuing of the
                     gift of prophesy in the church?

         Luther and Calvin limited  the spontaneous  character of prophesy by defining this gift as the 'proper exposition of Scripture.' therefore prophesy = preaching or teaching. Sola Scripture as the cry of the reformers: Scripture alone.

         Later BB Warfield and the Dispensationalists held to a cessation theory of all the miraculous gifts, prophesy included. They held that 1 Cor. 13:8-10 suggests the perfect is the finished canon of Scripture and there was no need for NEW revelation. Therefore, prophesy was replaced with preaching and teaching.

QUESTION: If there could be NEW revelation, what would that say about Scripture and it's authority

Modern Pentecostalism

     Pentecostals will agree with this in that they believe that prophesy can include spontaneous revelation or illumination or application of the Text made by the HS during the act of preaching. It also includes for-telling or predictive spontaneous revelation.  But this revelation is not infallible therefore it must be tested by the church. It is possible for the human spirit to interfere with or discolor the inspired utterance from God.

          Prophesy is for a specific time and specific place and people
          It is not universally authoritative
          Prophesy must be tested by Scripture therefore scripture is the supreme authority.
          Prophesy must be consistent with the nature and character of God.
          Not confusing or contradicting to Scripture, decent and orderly as well as ultimately edifying.

         Whether or not believer still have the gift of prophesy in the church really depends on how you define the term. Wayne Grudem a professor at trinity Evangelical Divinity School has a unique definition and if accepted can bring back the gift of prophesy into the conservative church today.

READ ARTICLE

Question #1
     What do you think? Does God  spontaneously prompt us , put something in our minds, to say things that others need to hear? Can you give us an example. Do you think this is the gift of prophesy?

READ NEXT SECTION OF ARTICLE

Question #2
     There is a difference according to Grudem between OT prophesy and NT prophesy.
         -First, do you think the people reading this in Paul's day would have acknowledged a difference?
         -Second, do you see the difference as he outlined it?

READ NEXT SECTION OF THE ARTICLE

Question #3:
     If the gift of prophesy was defined across the board like this, how would you feel about it?

READ THE LAST SECTION OF THE ARTICLE

Question #4
     If we are to 'speak to the needs of the peoples hearts in a spontaneous and direct way', what does that say about us and our relationship with God and with those around us?

 Why are spontaneous messages from God concerning  His people not prevalent ?
  1. We don't recognize them when they happen.
  2. We call it something else.
  3. We don't believe so we don't experience it.
  4. We don't ask for it so we won't get it.
  5. We are not in a close, deep personal relationship with God so we cant hear when he speaks to us.
  6. We are not in a close, deep personal relationship with others where we are sensitive to their needs so that the HS could
      speak to us concerning them.
  7. It sounds charismatic or pentecostal so we don't want to get involved or even explore what Scripture says that which we
      are to seek above all other gifts.

       Because of the lack of a consensus on the definition of Prophesy in the Church, I don't think I would want to go around saying that we believe the gift of prophesy is still in use today. If we eliminate the 'predictive' element, the 'thus says the Lord' element as well as the 'new revelation' element, I think we can seek and use this gift.  But my question is if we take all that out of the definition, are we just talking now about the gift of exhortation?

Tongues

        What are tongues? Are they a heavenly , angelic language that is unintelligible or are they  human languages that  have never been learned by the one speaking them? Connected to this is the question, Is the tongues associated with the  baptism in the H.S. in Acts the same as the tongues written about in 1 Corinthians by Paul?

        The 'Pentecostal experience' which is the baptism in the H.S. is claimed to happen  subsequent to conversion. It is believed  by  Pentecostals that all who share this experience will speak in tongues.  According to Bruner,  the gift of tongues is ' the power to speak supernaturally by the H.S., in a language not known to the one possessing the gift.' (Bruner, 144) He states that  the tongues received at baptism and the continuing gift of tongues are in essence the same thing, they have different functions. The tongues at baptism are an evidence of the H.S.'s indwelling and the continuing gift of tongues is to edify believers and convict unbelievers. He continues to say that although these two purposes should be kept distinct, the 'spirit-filled' believer should continue to exercise the gift of tongues or it would indicate that there was some unspiritualness or lack of faith and obedience in the person if they did not continue to speak in tongues after the baptism. (Bruner, 144)

        Pentecostals see tongues as a special evidence and experience of the work of the H.S. in the church today. Therefore, it holds a most valued position in their doctrine and practice.  Besides, there is no Scripture that states specifically that this gift has ceased.  For the Pentecostals there are two uses for the 1 Cor. kind of tongues; private and public. Private use is between the person and God and is edifying only for the individual believer. (1 Cor. 14:2,4) There is no need for an interpreter as this is a private prayer time. The public use of tongues with the accompanying interpretation, builds up the church  (1 Cor. 14:5) and convicts unbelievers. (1Cor. 14:22)

         Pentecostals believe that 1 Cor. 12:30  is speaking of the public NOT the private use of tongues when Paul says 'Do all speak in tongues?'.  (Bruner, 148; Fee, 194) This verse, to non-Pentecostals, would be interpreted that not all members in the church have the gift of tongues especially when seen in light of 1 Cor. 14:5  where Paul says that he wished all spoke in tongues. This is a strong verse used by the non-Pentecostals to show that  Paul was speaking of diversity within the church and that not everyone has this gift. (Leon, 174)  I believe that the Pentecostals have manufactured their interpretation of this passage and do a great injustice to the integrity of this passage.

         Non-Pentecostals would define tongues as 'the act of speaking in a language either unknown to the speaker or incomprehensible.' (Tyson, Logos)  This causes a problem when deciding if the tongues in Acts is the same as the tongues in 1 Corinthians.  Lowery has stated that the Greek word glossa must be interpreted consistently throughout the NT. He claims that nowhere is it used to mean anything other than human language.  (Lowrey, Logos)  Elwell, on the other hand, states that the gift of tongues in 1 Cor. 12-14 is not human language and is unintelligible without an interpreter.  (Elwell, 1045)

        Sellers has an interesting perspective on this subject. He states that since 1 Cor. was written before Acts and since Luke accompanied Paul at times, he would have used the term tongues was Paul would have understood it. Therefore, when Luke said in Acts 2:1-4 that all understood what the disciples were saying in their own language, he was saying that tongues, all tongues was a human language. (Seller, 1)

         I see the tongues at Pentecost (Acts 2:1-4) as a special use of this phenomenon for a specific people at a specific time for a specific purpose. Pentecost, to me, was a reversal of Babel. Babel saw the confusion of languages because man wanted to unite and become one where God wanted man to spread out and multiply. Pentecost saw man now being reunited as a people of God, creating the One True Church. It was a sign to all that God  once again reunited His people from all nations. I believe that there was both a miracle of speech and hearing at Pentecost. The disciples spoke in one language yet everyone heard them in their own language. Therefore, I do see the tongues mentioned in Acts 2 as being  used differently by God than even those mentioned in Acts 8,10,19 and in 1 Cor.

         Non-Pentecostals do not see the two fold use of the gift of tongues; private and public. Private tongues gets it's Scriptural basis from Romans 8 where the Holy Spirit is said to intercede for us with groans that words cannot express.  Yet according to Sellers, the word 'gift' is not mentioned in this passage and therefore is not talking about the gift of tongues. The Bible Knowledge Commentary states that what the Holy Spirit does for us is not with words at all. All creation, Believers and God is sighing and that does not include words.  Therefore, this is not a tongues passage or a passage dealing with the private use of tongues.

         This is all very confusing! To me, it seems, tongues is speaking in a human language, for how can the unbelievers be won over if it were unintelligible. The gift of tongues is not the same as what happened at Pentecost, as I mentioned earlier.  It does seem that Seller's theory that since Acts was written after 1 Corinthians, that his initial use of tongues to mean human languages would continue throughout the book.  The actual meanings given to the word glossa all seem to point to human languages. I also believe  that Rom. 8 does not talk of the gift of tongues and that it is speaking of a sighing that all creation is doing, where the Holy Spirit intercedes for us but not with audible words that we or anyone else can hear.

Are the Miraculous Gifts for Today

         As mentioned earlier, the Pentecostals believe that what took place in the book of Acts and in the Corinthian church was normative for all believers of all time. They believe that nowhere in Scripture is speaking in tongues forbidden nor is said to have ceased, nor any of the other miraculous gifts for that matter. Pentecostals base these beliefs on the historical accounts of  Acts and on the presentation of the topic in 1 Cor. 12-14 by Paul.

         Fee states that Paul does discuss the question of cessation in 1 Cor. 12-14. He believes that they will cease, in the future. The Corinthians were so involved in the here and now that they thought they already arrived spiritually. Paul was trying to tell them that they have placed too high an emphasis on this gift because, it will cease. (Fee, 893) 1 Cor. 13:8-12 are speaking of the 2nd coming of Christ when we will be bodily resurrected and glorified. It is at this final consummation that the gifts will cease. Until then they continue to build up the body of Christ. (Fee, 893)

         Non-Pentecostal, however, believe that there is evidence that the miraculous gifts have ceased. Historically the miraculous gifts have ceased; they were virtually unknown throughout most of the history of the church. Erickson states that when they were present it was generally in isolated groups characterized by unorthodox beliefs on a number of other major doctrines. (Erickson, 878)

         Sellers, Erickson and others  look to 1 Cor. 13:8-12 as evidence for the cessation of these gifts. They say that some see a distinction between the verb used with  tongues and the verb used with prophecy and knowledge.  Some believe that it is necessary for tongues to cease before prophecy and knowledge. Associated with this is the idea of the perfect thing (neuter) that will come, the imperfect (sign gifts) will pass away. Some see this perfect thing as the completed Scripture. (Vines, Logos)

        Non-Pentecostals see other reasons for the cessation of the miraculous gifts. They include; tongues were a sign to confirm the gospel message in the Apostolic age and now that we have the complete Scripture, signs to confirm the gospel message are no longer necessary. (Heb. 2:3-4) They also say that other sign were temporary. For example, Paul had the gift of healing yet he could not heal himself of his thorn in the flesh. (Sellers, 12)  Also important to the non-Pentecostal belief in the cessation of the gifts is the history of the church where it is believed that tongues and other sign gifts have in fact ceased.

        Personally, I struggle more with his than any other aspect of the Pentecostal movement. I am not convinced that Scripture clearly defines the cessation of the miraculous/sign gifts. I can see how it intimates it, in 1 Cor. 13:8-12 and in Heb. 2:2-3 but there is some room for another  interpretation. Logically, it seems that with the Scripture completed, there is no need for authenticating signs but Scripture just doesn't  make it clear enough. Besides, nowhere is tongues forbidden or said directly that they will cease.  Just as some look to the lack of tongues throughout church history as a indication that they have ceased, the Pentecostals look to the history in Acts to show that they are normative. So history, to me is not conclusive. I also can't base my position solely on experience on  the abuses I have seen in the church related to tongues. The Pentecostals base much of their belief in the gift of tongues on their experience and I don't consider that strong enough support.

        So what am I willing to say? At this point in my life, I am leaning toward cessation, I believe that as a rule, God is not distributing these gifts in the church today. However, I want to leave a door open wide enough to say that God can and will do anything that He wants, anytime He chooses! I believe there is a real danger in ascribing to Satan what is the work of the Holy Spirit. So for me to say that tongues is not from God makes an assumption that they are from Satan. I am not willing to go that far.

        I am willing to say that I do not believe that there is a heavenly prayer language that is part of the gift of tongues where the Holy Spirit speaks for us with unintelligible 'groanings' that we can actually hear. I am willing to say that if someone should speak in tongues in the church, there should be an interpreter and only 2 or three should speak in the service. I can say that I have never been in a service where tongues was spoken and any  these rules were followed.  So I am suspect but I will not deny the possibility of any work of the Holy Spirit within the church today.