THE GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

THE GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

Being filled with the Spirit is not one of the gifts of the Spirit.  Many today wait for the “filling” as though it is somehow, a separate and distinct Gift to be expected by the believer sometime after salvation.  There are gifts or signs which “follow” salvation, distinct indicators that one has indeed been saved.  When a person is born again and receives the Holy Spirit of God it should be evident.  However, it is not indicated by the “filling of the Spirit” as taught by so many churches today, especially those in the modern charismatic movement.

The controversy begins with a misunderstanding of the difference between being indwelled by the Spirit and being filled with the Spirit.  The saved already, as seen in earlier studies, have the Holy Spirit indwelling them (Rom 8:9  But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.)  One cannot be saved and not have the Holy Spirit living within.  However, being filled with the Spirit is a different concept and is in fact stated in the form of a command.  If we are commanded to be filled, how could we wait for it as a “gift?”  Eph 5:18  And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; In this passage Paul gives an interesting contrast.  He brings before his readers, believers in the Ephesian Church, the image of a person consuming alcohol to the extent that he becomes drunk.  A person in such a state has yielded himself completely over to the control of the substance which has placed him in that state.  He is no longer controlling himself but is now controlled by the alcohol.  Paul then uses this image to show us how we ought to submit to the Spirit of God.  The believer should, in contrast, be filled with the Spirit, i.e. in a daily pursuit of a deeper relationship with God, yielding himself over to Him allowing God, by His Holy Spirit, to have total control of his life.  A yielding which is so complete in its surrender that it resembles the total abandon of self-control one sees in drunkenness; not in its behavior but in its absence of self will.  

The gifts of the Spirit are reserved for those who are saved; those who have the Holy Spirit of God dwelling in them (passages to this effect will be studied shortly).  Never does the Bible show the unregenerate receiving such gifts.  The gifts of the Holy Spirit are given to the body of Christ, the Church, for the growth, formation, and edification of that body.  I am not of the opinion that the Bible gives a complete list of all of the gifts anywhere.  The lists which are given represent some of the ways in which believers can fit into the body and have a part in its daily work.  Surely, God was well aware that as the Body of Christ would grow the requirements it had for daily ministry would also multiply and change.  What we can be sure of is that with the lists God does provide for us is the message that He will equip the believer to become an active part of the body in an area which suites best each persons’ own ability or capability (Phi 4:13  I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.) 

As Paul begins to list some of the gifts the Spirit of God gives to the church he makes it clear that these gifts are administered by the Spirit and not by the local assembly.  The Pastor of a church should be careful to place members in areas of service which correspond to the gifts God has given those believers.  Likewise, the members should be seeking areas of service which enable the use of the gift/gifts which the Holy Spirit has given them.  In a truly Spirit filled assembly the Pastor ought only to have the difficulty of finding a sufficient number of ministries to utilize all of the members and their respective gifts.  Unfortunately, in most of our churches today Pastors find themselves placing unqualified people into positions which need to be filled because there simply aren’t enough members volunteering for those openings.  If all of God’s children sought to utilize the gift/gifts God has given to them our churches would have a wider variety of ministries and we would not likely find ourselves wanting for workers.  The list Paul provided in Romans and I Corinthians while not all encompassing, does cover most of the gifts which are needed in our modern churches.

1Co 12:4 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.

1Co 12:5 And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.

1Co 12:6 And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.

1Co 12:7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.

1Co 12:8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;

1Co 12:9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;

1Co 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:

1Co 12:11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.

Rom 12:6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;

Rom 12:7 Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching;

Rom 12:8 Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that showeth mercy, with cheerfulness.

Word of wisdom and word of knowledge have been corrupted today to mean some kind of mystical ability often characterized by one sitting expectantly and waiting for a special message from God.  However, it is doubtful that Paul meant much more than what is on the surface.  There will be some in our congregation who have the unique ability to make clear and understandable to us the teachings of God’s word which, without their gift, might otherwise seem confusing.  Especially in the early church such a gift would be needed.  They were to begin understanding the Old Testament in light of new revelation.  It would take wisdom, often divinely granted, to see this new application of God’s unchanging truth.

Another might be a wealth of knowledge; his understanding of Old Testament history would be far beyond what was common to most other members of the congregation.  One with the gift of knowledge could teach the facts of the old and those of the new, but it would take wisdom to fully comprehend their unity.  The gift of knowledge in the early church might go beyond what was already known and somewhat into special revelation.  The early church did not have the Bible to refer to.  Those teaching in its’ infancy would find it necessary to seek special revelation from the Spirit until God’s plan for the ages was fully compiled into one source.  Yet, the gift of wisdom would still be needed to understand it application in the church and the world in which we live.

Another could have the capacity to believe God in all things.  How often have we needed prayer, a prayer which truly believed God for the end result, a prayer that was, “in faith believing” yet we knew we lacked that simple faith?  It is at times like that when we need to pray with someone who has that special ability to believe God for the miraculous, someone who truly has the gift of faith; we often call them prayer warriors. 

In Acts chapter 5 Luke records Peter’s use of the gift of discernment or the discerning of spirits.  He was able to see through the facade or pretense Ananias had erected.  We often need people like this in the assembly to help as the church places people in positions of leadership and teaching, or even as we accept new members.  We must be very careful who we allow to teach and even who we invite into our fellowship.  Many of us are so trusting we could overlook the proverbial wolf-in-sheep’s-clothing.  We might not have the discernment to see through the outer veneers which cover so many dangerous doctrines or even evil intents.

The gift of ministry is similar to that of the office of deacon.  The same word is used for each; although, in this context it seems to be a gift of service given to many members of the church rather than an office such as that begun in Acts 6.  The church is regularly in need of people who have the ability to truly serve others.  When a church begins to grow in size the needs, and also the number of people with needs, grows as well.  A shut-in might need to have food delivered, a single parent might require help shuttling the kids, or a low income family could be helped by someone offering to do a small chore, but without pay.  Certainly, all of us are called to be servants but, some have an ability to do so as though it is just a part of their nature; they do it joyfully. 

The gift of teaching is almost self-explanatory, some can teach and some cannot.  If you have ever sat through a history class with someone who fully understood the topic but had no ability to share that knowledge you will understand.  History can be interesting or brutally boring, depending solely on the professor’s ability to teach.  In the church our teachers are to be gifted by the Spirit.  Before a Pastor designates a member to teach it should be clear that the candidate has the gift of teaching.  When a gifted teacher is not available for a class or other teaching position, one of two things is likely to be true.  Either, the Lord is suggesting the class be canceled, or a person with that gift has not made himself available as he should.  We should never force a person into a position they are not gifted for.

Exhorting has the idea of encouraging, beseeching, or urging.  This is different from teaching.  One could almost relate this to a church “cheerleader” if you will forgive the comparison.  This gift seems to be incorporated into others often in the modern church.  It could be understood as one who just comes alongside another worker who seems to be losing-steam and picks them up again refreshing their energies.  A person with the gift of exhortation often seems to have a positive outlook and an encouraging word when we appear to have the doldrums. 

The gift of giving is separate from that of tithing.  Tithing is expected, whereas giving is additional and not always monetary.  Those with the gift of giving seldom appear to have their eyes on worldly possessions, they give without reservation and they frequently exhibit a sense of when and where that giving is most needed.  They give financially, but they also give of themselves.  A correlation is often seen between the one who has the gift of giving and the one who has the gift of ministering.

The gift of ruling is primarily for those who minister in the body in positions of leadership and most likely the pastors.  It has the idea of presiding over, being over and maintaining.  The pastor should be gifted in leading or ruling and presiding over the church body; 1Ti 3:4-5  One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)

Last, and certainly not least, is the gift of mercy.  From an historical perspective it appears that the early church cared for its own sick and afflicted.  Not having hospitals and other personal care institutions the church tended to those in its assembly personally and designated certain members as care givers.  These were given the gift of showing mercy with a cheerful attitude.  Today we have many who are shut-ins or recovering at home who need cheerful care givers to assist them, they need those with the gift of mercy to give them a warm smile, or a tender touch, as well as caring for their physical needs without complaint.