Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
This is the month for gift-giving. Christmas is marked as a time of giving gifts to those we love. We remember the greatest gift of all: the Lord Jesus. He came into our world, took on human flesh, and died on the cross to pay for our sins, after which He rose again. That’s why Paul closes His major section on grace giving with the exclamation, “Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!” (II Cor. 9:15). This “indescribable gift” is essential to our salvation! Without Him being given, we would never have the gift of eternal life (Rom. 6:23).
Another wonderful gift that has been given to us is the Holy Spirit (Rom. 5:5; II Cor. 1:22). He has been sent to us by both the Father (John 14:26) and the Son (John 15:26; 16:7). In the past eleven articles, we have been studying the Holy Spirit, our Divine Comforter. We have seen that He is essential to us receiving the salvation which has been provided through the work of Christ. We have studied the work of the Holy Spirit in salvation: His work of conviction, regeneration, indwelling, anointing, sealing, and baptism. Let’s now look at another aspect of His work related to salvation: His giving of gifts. He is not only the wonderful “Gift” given to every believer, but He also gives spiritual gifts to every believer. We will answer the question: “The Holy Spirit: What Kind of Gifts Does He Give?”
What is meant by the Spirit’s work of giving gifts?
The Spirit’s gift-giving defined
This ministry of the Holy Spirit is that ministry by which He bestows on the believer a God-given ability for service. What is a spiritual gift? First, realize that it is not primarily, as Charles Ryrie points out. . . .A natural talent or innate ability. o A place of service.
A particular age group ministry. o A specialty of ministry.
Rather, it is a God-given ability for service (Charles C. Ryrie, The Holy Spirit, pp. 83-84).
The Spirit’s gift-giving described
Who gives spiritual gifts? The Holy Spirit is the Giver of spiritual gifts (I Cor. 12:7-11). I Corinthians 12:11 makes this clear: “But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.” God has sovereignly placed every believer in the Body of Christ by the Spirit (I Cor 12:13) and has sovereignly given every believer a spiritual gift by the Spirit (I Cor. 12:7-11). These gifts are given to us as a result of God’s grace—undeserved favor (the Greek term for “grace”—charis—being the root of the term for “spiritual gift”—charisma). They are also responsibilities of His stewardship entrusted to us (I Pet. 4:10).
To whom are spiritual gifts given?
Every believer in this present Church age is given a spiritual gift (I Cor. 12:7, 11; I Pet. 4:10).
No believer has every gift (I Cor. 12:29-30).
Every believer has at least one gift (I Cor. 12:7, 11; I Pet. 4:10).
The Body of Christ cannot properly function without each member fulfilling its designed function (I Cor. 12:14-26).
Why are the spiritual gifts given? Spiritual gifts are given to equip believers for service for the edification of the Body of Christ (I Cor. 12:7; Eph. 4:11-12). The temporary gifts were also given as signs to confirm God’s message and messenger (I Cor. 14:21-22). Each gift should be exercised most importantly for the glory of God (I Pet. 4:11).
What are the spiritual gifts?
There are four chapters in which spiritual gifts are listed: Rom. 12:6-8; I Cor. 12:7-10, 28-30; Eph. 4:11-12; I Pet. 4:10-11.
There is disagreement among Bible students and scholars concerning the exact number of spiritual gifts listed in the New Testament (ranging in number from 14 to 20 or more) and which gifts are permanent and which are temporary. Part of the problem lies in the fact that some of the gifts, such as word of wisdom, word of knowledge, and discerning of spirits, are difficult to define. There is an overlap of the same gifts in various lists.
After study and research, this is my personal conclusion as to which gifts are temporary and permanent:
The temporary gifts: apostles, prophets (prophecy), miracles, healings, tongues, and interpretation of tongues
The permanent gifts: ministry (service), teaching, exhortation, giving, administration, showing mercy, faith, evangelism, and pastor-teaching.
The debatable gifts (temporary/permanent?): word of wisdom, word of knowledge, and discerning of spirits.
(It is not my purpose here to present a description of each gift or to explain why I grouped them this way.)
The Spirit’s gift-giving detected. . . how to discover your own spiritual gift(s)
Study and pray—study prayerfully the lists of gifts in Romans 12, I Corinthians 12, Ephesians 4, and I Peter 4.
Experience (become involved in some gift areas) and check the following. . .
Desire: do you really like doing it?
Effectiveness: are you effective when you do it?
Recognition: do others recognize that this is your gift? Ask those close to you.
Exercise (your gifts) and function (in the Body)—don’t neglect it, stir it up, develop it (Rom. 12:6-8; I Tim. 4:14; II Tim. 1:6)!
(Sources to Consult: Class notes—Soteriology, Professor Otis Stone, Calvary Bible College, 1978; The Holy Spirit, Charles C. Ryrie, pp. 83-92; The Divine Comforter, J. Dwight Pentecost, pp.. 165-192; Systematic Theology, Vol. VI, Lewis Sperry Chafer, pp. 215-220)
We as believers can rejoice that God has placed us into the Body with a particular function to fulfill and a particular gift to exercise. The Spirit gave us each at least one gift to exercise, not for ourselves, but to serve others and to glorify Him. Let’s faithfully use the gifts that He has given!
Because of His Grace—Pastor Charlie