With the birth of the Church and the enduement of power by the coming of the Holy Spirit, believers were made to become a living testimony of Jesus Christ. Along with the dynamic change in their nature and character by the fruit of the Spirit, God gave gifts to the church to equip them to accomplish His purpose and plan.
Spiritual gifts belong to the Holy Spirit.
1 Corinthians 12:1 NKJV Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant:
The gifts “belong to the Holy Spirit.” In Galatians 3, we are instructed that the works of the Spirit are supplied by the Holy Spirit. The gifts are given by and at the discretion of the Holy Spirit and are completed by the power of the Spirit.
There are diversities of spiritual gifts.
1 Corinthians 12:4 NKJV There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.
Spiritual gifts are bestowed by the Holy Spirit by grace. They are not and cannot be merited or earned, but are given as the Spirt of God desires. All Spirit-filled individuals are candidates for the operation of spiritual gifts.
There are diversities of ministries.
Each of the gifts have their own unique ministries.
1 Corinthians 12:5 NKJV There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord.
The different kinds of ministry gifts are spiritual gifts that are given by the Lord for the edification of the body of Christ. Their value rests in the profit and edification of the church.
There are diversities of operations or activities.
1 Corinthians 12:6 NKJV And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all.
All of the spiritual gifts are energized and operate by the Holy Spirit Who produces the various operation of activity.
There are diversities of manifestations.
1 Corinthians 12:7 NKJV But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all:
Manifestations of the gifts of the Spirit are the outward evidence in the church, the body of Christ. These manifestations are given to profit every believer. Once again the manifestation of the gifts of the Spirit are an exercise of the Holy Spirit.
All of the diversity of the spiritual gifts are for the edification of the body of believers.
The same Lord and Holy Spirit works in great variety of spiritual gifts, manifestations, and ministries. All of the spiritual gifts are bestowed to profit and edify the whole body.
If they do not edify the church, they lose their value.
1 Corinthians 14:12 NKJV Even so you, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, let it be for the edification of the church that you seek to excel.
Ephesians 4:11-13 refers to the ministry gifts of apostles, prophets, evangelists, and pastors and teachers that “edify” — “enable or equip” — the body of Christ (the church).
The Holy Spirit uses various means and methods to prepare and equip us for service and spiritual growth.We are encouraged to earnestly desire the best gifts, (1 Corinthians 12:31). This involves understanding their operation and function, and applying an appropriate response to all spiritual gifts. So, we must understand the full impact of the Holy Sprit’s gifts in and through the life and witness of Christian believers. These gifts are placed in the church as resources for ministry in and to the body of believers.
Various kinds of gifts are given by each member of the Divine Trinity.
In the beginning, God gave form and life to the man that He formed from the dust of the ground, (Genesis 2:7; Hebrews 12:9). God the Father gave His only begotten Son as the Savior and Redeemer for mankind, (John 3:16). Jesus gives eternal life to those who come to Him, (John 5:40; John 10:28). The Father and Son have jointly given the gift of the Holy Spirit, (Acts 2:17; Acts 2:33). In addition, each member of the Godhead gives gifts to bring about the growth, ministry and worship of the church.
Romans 12:3-8 describes gifts given by God the Father.
Romans 12:3-8 NKJV For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.
The seven ministry gifts from the Father are foundational gifts for believers.
Every member in the body of Christ has a function that is provided as a result of these gifts from the Father.
Prophecy — refers to the capacity to utter inspired messages.
Note prophecy is mentioned in gifts from all three Persons of the Trinity. The gift of prophecy in Romans 12, refers to a level of the gift that every believer would have. 1 Corinthians 12 refers to the supernatural prompting to prophesy or interpret tongues. The office-gift of the prophet which Christ gives is on the same level as the Old Testament prophet.
Ministry — is a service gift which includes the work of a servant, attendant, deacon, apostle, pastor, etc. in the church.
It is the loving service to meet other’s needs. This is similar to the office of a deacon, (Matthew 20:26). Ministry involves those who are willing to fit in anywhere and are willing to serve, (1 Corinthians 3:5; 2 Corinthians 3:6; 2; Corinthians 6:4; 2 Corinthians 11:23; Ephesians 3:7; Colossians 1:23,25; Romans 16:1). In Acts 6, seven deacons were appointed to serve the church. In Romans 16:1, Phoebe was a servant in the church in Cenchrea.
Teaching — involves a special anointing of the Holy Spirit for a special occasion.
This is a God-given ability to explain and apply truths given from God to believers. It takes into account both personal application and the Spirit’s illumination to make the truth clear. Teaching appears to be similar to the word of wisdom, word of knowledge or prophecy. After the anointing for the occasion lifts, the individual is unable to continue as a teacher.
Exhortation — a calling to one’s side, and so to one’s aid, advocate, comforter.
It means to cause someone to be encouraged. This is a gift of coming to the aid and comfort of others. It is a unique ability to comfort, instruct, and encourage others.
Giving — refers to a God-given spirit of generosity.
The gift of giving enables one to give liberally and with cheerfulness. This involves giving of spiritual gifts, of one’s time, energy and means. (Romans 12:8; Ephesians 4:28; Luke 3:11; 1 Thessalonians 2:8)
Leadership — the gift of administration, guides, steering, governments.
This is one who stands before others and models and develops the body of Christ. Elders, Deacons, Pastors, Apostles, Evangelists, Teachers, Ministers may all be used of the Spirit in this area.
Mercy — a special gift to feel empathy, sympathy and express kindness and encouragement to others.
Gifts of the Son — Ephesians 4:11, 1 Corinthians 12:28
These ministering gifts are given by Christ and are manifested through individuals by the power of the Spirit. Neither reference gives the entire list of ministering gifts. The Holy Spirit manifests Himself through the ministry of individuals in many methods and ways.
Ephesians 4:11 NKJV And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers,
1 Corinthians 12:28 NKJV And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues.
Ephesians 4:11 delineates the five-fold ministry gifts and 1 Corinthians 12:28 expands this list with additional forms of ministry.
The Holy Spirit is showing us various forms of ministry. Just as the body of Christ has many members, so the ministry in that body has many forms. All of the gifts function as we surrender to the Spirit’s leading. Romans 12:4-6 shows the many members in the body of Christ and tells us that we have different functions. Since we are members of one another and have various gifts, we should use them. Regardless of the divine Giver of the gift, the Holy Spirit works in individuals to edify the whole body of believers. The Holy Spirit has tempered the body so that there is cohesiveness and self-ministry. This is called edification. The gifts are as diverse as the needs and demands of the body.
Apostles — the term apostle can have several different meanings.
Apostles and prophets are called the foundation of the Church along with Jesus Christ the Chief Cornerstone, (Ephesians 2:20). According to the strictest interpretation, an Apostle is one who is divinely called and commissioned by Christ before His death. This limits the number of apostles to 12. The first twelve apostles were given for the establishment of the church, (Revelation 21:14). After Jesus ascension, the 11 appointed a replacement for Judas Iscariot with the help of the Holy Spirit. Then Paul was called by Christ to be an apostle to the Gentiles, (Galatians 2:7-9). There are a total of 24 apostles recorded in the New Testament.
“Apostle” also refers to individuals who have the spiritual endowments necessary for the apostolic work of extending the church, opening fields of ministry to unreached peoples, and overseeing larger sections of the body of Christ, the church.
An apostle may be a prophet, evangelist, pastor, or teacher (Acts 13:1; 1 Corinthians 12:28). New Testament apostles were used in the nine gifts of the Spirit.
Prophets — are those who speak openly the divine message.
The ministry gift of prophets is different than the spiritual gift of prophecy. The ministry gift is a calling or office and the spiritual gift is temporary. The prophet is one to whom and through whom the Holy Spirit speaks. They will be shown things both inside and outside the Word of God, but always according to Scriptural standards and content. They speak the utterances of God as He supplies, (1 Peter 4:10-11). The prophet is uniquely gifted with insight through the Holy Spirit.
Evangelist — one who proclaims good news.
Evangelists are especially gifted to preach the Gospel to gather and establish converts and new works. The term “evangelist” is used only three times in the New Testament.
Philip was called an evangelist in Acts 21:8. Paul instructed Timothy to do the work of an evangelist in 2 Timothy 4:5.
Pastor — implies the function of nurture, teaching, and care for the spiritual needs of the body.
Many combine the gift of pastor and teacher. The terms pastor and teacher are not interchangeable. One may be a teacher without being a pastor but it is impossible to be a pastor without being a teacher. The office of a pastor / teacher is very broad and includes bishops, overseers, and elders. Apostles, prophets, evangelists, teachers and elders were pastors in the New Testament. The care of the church has been committed to them. In some cases in the New Testament, the Apostles maintained a position as pastor over the church. In the case that a person is called to be a teacher and not a pastor, the Holy Spirit gives special insight
Teacher – is a continuing gift of guidance and edification.
One may have an immediate gift of teaching and not be called to be a teacher. The ministry gift of teacher is in conjunction with the offices of apostle, prophet, evangelists and pastors.
Gifts of the Holy Spirit — 1 Corinthians 12:8-10
The nine gifts of the Holy Spirit are listed in 1 Corinthians 12.
1 Corinthians 12:8-10 NKJV For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.
The gifts of the Spirit are in three categories.
- There are three Gifts of knowledge or understanding — a word of wisdom, a word of knowledge, and discerning of spirits.
The three gifts of knowledge should not be confused with learned administrative wisdom, discretion, prudence, the ability to apply possessed knowledge and experience, deep spiritual insight or understanding of God’s Word. These three gifts are supernatural knowledge divinely applied and given by the revelation of the Holy Spirit. Gifts of wisdom and knowledge are the Spirit’s supernatural intervention into the natural course of things revealing what could only be known in the mind of God. These two gifts are a specific word of wisdom and knowledge. The gift of discerning of spirits is a revelation of things in the spirit realm. The Holy Spirit gives supernatural insight into the source of supernatural workings. There are three realms of the spirit world — divine, Satanic, and human. This gift is necessary in dealing with the source of spiritual activity.
- There are three gifts of power — faith, miracles, healing.
These are gifts of power that are supernatural works of the Holy Spirit within believers. Everyone has faith and the ability to be healed as a gift from God. The gifts of power are beyond the natural means of faith, miracles or healing. They are a divine intervention and suspension of the ordinary course of nature.
- There are three gifts of utterance — different kinds of tongues, interpretation of tongues, and prophecy.
The gifts of utterance enable believers to speak words of edification, exhortation, and comfort by or through the unction of the Holy Spirit. These gifts are unique to the church after Pentecost. The gift of prophecy and interpretation of tongues is not equal to the ministry gift of the prophet. The gifts of utterance were common in the New Testament church. Paul told the Corinthians they could all prophecy. The gift of speaking in tongues is both the initial physical evidence of the baptism in the Holy Spirit and the gift of utterance.
Messages in tongues are always in one of these categories:
- Praise which is addressed to God only, 1 Corinthians 14:2,
- Prayer which is addressed to God only, 1 Corinthians 14:2; 14:14,15; Romans 8:26,
- Definite message for the Church 1 Corinthians 14:5; Acts 2:6,8. When the gift of tongues is accompanied with the gift of interpretation of tongues, the church is edified, 1 Corinthians 14:5.
The nine gifts of the Spirit operate within the church by the power and unction or anointing of the Holy Spirit. They are evidences of the supernatural power of God and are not given at the discretion of the individual being used.
