Understanding Spiritual Gifts

Understanding Spiritual Gifts

Selected Scriptures

Introduction

“Spiritual Gifts” are one of the most misunderstood, abused, misused and underused blessing that Christ has bestowed on the church and its members.

This is particularly so since Pentecostal and Charismatic movements started to make appearances in Christian circles.

Pentecostalism & Charismatism

Pentecostalism is similar to the Charismatic movement, but developed earlier and separated from the mainstream church denominations.

Charismatic Christians, at least in the early days of the movement, tended to remain in their respective denominations.

• Pentecostalism first began to appear in the late 1800, as some members of “holiness movement” in the USA, started to advocate “baptism” of the Holy Spirit, tongue speaking and miracles.
• Although there were claims of Pentecostal expereinces of tongues prior to 1906, The Azusa Street Revival led by William J. Seymour is the watershed of the Pentecostal movement in the U.S and worldwide.
• Beginning April 9, 1906 in Los Angeles, California at the home of Edward Lee who claimed the infilling of the Holy Spirit as of such date.
• William J. Seymour claimed that he was overcome with the Holy Spirit on April 12, 1906.
• On April 18, 1906, the Los Angeles Times ran a front page story on the revival, "Weird Babel of Tongues, New Sect of fanatics is breaking loose, Wild scene last night on Azusa Street, gurgle of wordless talk by a sister".
• By the third week in April, 1906, the small but growing congregation rented an abandoned African Methodist Episcopal Church at 312 Azusa Street and subsequently became organized as the Apostolic Faith Mission.
• Almost all mainline Pentecostal denominations today trace their historical roots to the Azusa Street Revival.
• Since then the modern Christian world has seen constant growth of their teachings and practices.
• Today it has gone into almost all the mainline denominations and is generally known as Charismatism.
• From the beginning they have emphasized that ecstatic and miraculous gifts as proofs of the baptism of the Spirit.
• This fast wide spreading movement has been spinning farther and farther from the proper Scriptural teachings since its inception.

Their preoccupation with the ecstatic experiences has produced some very strange, totally unbiblical phenomena in their midst, such as

• Mass hysteria of gibberish (Tongues)
• Claims of healing, signs and wonders (Faith Healing)
• Prosperity and health to all who believe and receive blessings from their anointed leaders (Health-Wealth Gospel)
• Falling backward and rolling on the ground (Slain in the Spirit)
• Uncontrolled laughter, accompanied by animal like sounds and behaviour (Holy Laughter)

Are these true manifestations of the Spiritual Gifts that the Lord Jesus Christ offered to the members of His Church?

If those modern manifestations are not consistent with the Scripture, then they are not from God, but self-generated or satanic.

The Scriptures warn us that in the last days there will be an upsurge of spiritual deception through miracle workers. The Scriptures clearly teach us that in the last days many will be deceived to follow false teachers by their wonders and signs. The false prophets would mislead people through their miraculous, ecstatic deeds. In fact, a sure sign of the end times is the form of godliness that is devoid of truth and holiness, and yet with manifestation of miraculous.

• Mathew 24:4-5, 11-13, 24
• Matthew 7:21-23;

Foundational Gifts

• These were generally miraculous gifts.
• They were given as part of the revelation of God’s Word in the early church
• They were either “revelatory gifts” or “sign gifts”
• These are non-permanent gifts. They ceased as soon as their purpose was accomplished.

Revelatory Gifts – Not to be continued

In 1 Corinthians 13:8, Paul emphasizes the permanence of love by contrasting it with spiritual gifts that are meant to be temporary.

Verse 8 says,

• “Charity never faileth” (Hē agapē oudepote piptei): Love never faileth. It is expressive of the perpetuity of love. Love survives everything.
• “but”
• “whether there be prophecies, they shall fail” ("shall fail": katargēthēsontai): First future passive of katargeō (from argos): to make idle, to be inoperative. Prophetic gift will be made inoperative (when the Bible, complete revelation of God’s truth, comes to existence cf. vv.9-10).
• “whether there be tongues, they shall cease” ("shall cease": pausontai): Future middle indicative of pauō, which means “to make cease.” The middle voice suggest that the gift of tongues shall make itself cease or automatically cease of itself.
• “whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away” ("shall vanish away": This word is also from the same Greek word as “fail” (katargeō). The gift of knowledge shall no more take place.

Paul clearly said that all of these special spiritual gifts, that were given for the purpose of revelation would pass away.

The Reason for their cessation:

1 Corinthians 13:9-10
9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.
10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.

• Through those revelatory gifts, the early Christians were given portions of God’s truth each time when one was led to exercise them.
• The word “in part” (appears twice in v.9) is translated from the Greek word, meros, which means, “one of the constituent parts of a whole, or in a measure, or severally, or individually.”
• In the early church, the truth of God was given to edify the congregation through these revelatory gifts, but the truth was revealed in portions.
• The New Testament was not yet written. So those gifts continued until the revelation (N.T) was complete.
• After the revelation (the Scripture / the New Testament) was complete (apostolic period) and then put together (canonization 350 A.D – 451 A.D), these revelatory gifts were vanished.
• We have plenty of credible testimony from the church fathers that those revelatory gifts and the accompanied confirmatory gifts or sign gifts ceased after the completion and acceptance of the New Testament.

John Chrysostom (347-407) concerning the spiritual gifts of 1 Corinthians:

“This whole place is very obscure: but the obscurity is produced by our ignorance of the facts referred to, and by their cessation, being such as then used to occur but now no longer take place” (“Homilies on 1 Corinthians,” Vol. XII, The Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Hom 29:2).

John Calvin (1509-1564):

“...the gift of healing, like the rest of the miracles, which the Lord willed to be brought forth for a time, has vanished away in order to make the preaching of the Gospel marvellous for ever” (Institutes of the Christian Religion, Bk IV:19, 18).

John Owen (1616-1683):

“Gifts which in their own nature exceed the whole power of all our faculties, that dispensation of the Spirit is long since ceased and where it is now pretended unto by any, it may justly be suspected as an enthusiastic delusion” (Works IV, 518).

Thomas Watson (1620-1686):
“Sure, there is as much need of ordination now as in Christ's time and in the time of the apostles, there being then extraordinary gifts in the church which are now ceased” (The Beatitudes, 140).

Matthew Henry (1662-1714):
Speaking of the ‘gift of tongues,’ he said, “These and other gifts of prophecy, being a sign, have long since ceased and been laid aside, and we have no encouragement to expect the revival of them; but, on the contrary, are directed to call the Scriptures the more sure word of prophecy, more sure than voices from Heaven; and to them we are directed to take heed, to search them, and to hold them fast ...” (Preface to Vol IV of his Exposition of the OT & NT, vii).

Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758):
“Of the extraordinary gifts, they were given 'in order to the founding and establishing of the church in the world. But since the canon of Scriptures has been completed, and the Christian church fully founded and established, these extraordinary gifts have ceased” (Charity and its Fruits, 29).

George Whitefield (1714-1770):
“... the karismata, the miraculous gifts conferred on the primitive church ... have long ceased ...” (Second Letter to the Bishop of London, Works, Vol. IV, 167).

James Buchanan (1804-1870)
“The miraculous gifts of the Spirit have long since been withdrawn. They were used for a temporary purpose” (The Office and Work of the Holy Spirit, 34).

Robert L. Dabney (1820-1898)
“After the early church had been established, the same necessity for supernatural signs now no longer existed, and God, Who is never wasteful in His expedients, withdrew them ... miracles, if they became ordinary, would cease to be miracles, and would be referred by men to customary law” (‘Prelacy a Blunder,’ Discussions: Evangelical and Theological, Vol. 2, 236-237).

Charles Haddon Spurgeon (1834-1892)
Speaking of the office of the apostles, “an office which necessarily dies out, and properly so, because the miraculous power also is withdrawn” (Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit 1871, Vol. 17, 178).

Benjamin B. Warfield (1851-1921)
“These gifts were ... distinctively the authentication of the apostles. They were part of the credentials of the apostles as the authoritative agents of God in founding the church. Their function thus confirmed them to distinctively the apostolic church and they necessarily passed away with it” (Counterfeit Miracles, 6). After the revelation (the Scripture / the New Testament) was complete (apostolic period) and then put together (canonisation 350 A.D – 451 A.D), these revelatory gifts were vanished.

Sign-Gifts

Together with the revelatory gifts, the Lord also bestowed upon those who were called to be the Apostles, miraculous gifts for the confirmation of their message. These miraculous were not found with every believer. They were seen being performed only by those who were in the Apostolic band.

The following verses and all the evidences in the Acts and elsewhere in the epistles point to this truth.

• 2 Corinthians 12:12 - "Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds.”
• Acts 2:43 - "And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.”
• Acts 5:12- "And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; (and they were all with one accord in Solomon’s porch."
• Romans 15:19 - "Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God; so that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ." These signs were done by the Apostle Paul.

Conclusion

All the foundational gifts have been ceased with completion of the New Testament.

Now we must build upon that is revealed and confirmed, the Bible.

Ephesians 2:20 – “And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone”

• The apostles and prophets were the two major offices of the early which the Lord has given to the church, that they may reveal the Word of God, which will be the foundation of the church. Their gifts were foundational and temporary. Those gifts have vanished with them. Today, as Paul said in Ephesians 2:20, we ought to build upon using the gifts that are for our times, such as preaching, teaching, ministering, etc.
• Anyone who claims to have those foundational gifts and their confirmatory (sign) gifts is a pretender and deceiver. Christ has already laid the foundation through the revelation of His Word through the apostles and prophets, He Himself being the chief cornerstone. The Lord is no more in the work of laying the foundation. The foundation is already laid.
• Today the members of the church, must proclaim, teach and live according to the foundational truth of His Word, which is given to us by the Apostles and prophets. If anyone today appears with the claim that he is an apostle or a prophet, we must reject such. Their miracles are not of God (Matt 7:21-23; 24:24), they are counterfeits, like those of the ancient Egyptian magicians who performed the miracles that Moses did.
• Let us therefore do not seek after the charismatic ecstasy and miracle signs because they are counterfeits. But let us seek to build upon the Word of God, which is handed down to us by the Apostles and prophets of the church.

Our Service in the Church - II

Our Service in the Church - II

Romans 12:4-8

Introduction

• God has called us to be living, active, serving members.
• Every Christian ought to function like a member of the body (cf. vv.4-5).
• The Church is Christ’s body. We, the members of the church, though diverse in our abilities function in unity.
• A non-serving member weakens the Church, as its members remain dysfunctional.

Basis for Our Service in the Church

• The basis is God’s gracious bestowing of spiritual gifts.
• Romans 12:6a - "Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us.”
• “having then gifts”- All true believers are bestowed with “gifts” to equip them to serve.
• Those gifts are given “according to the grace that is given to us.”
• We can/must serve in the church because God has given us “gifts” to enable us to serve.
  – While speaking of the gifts, Paul said in 1 Corinthians 12:7 “But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.”
  – 1 Peter 4:10 “As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.”
  – We ought to be “stewards” or faithful servants in managing God-given gifts by using it appropriately and promptly.
  – Because God has bestowed all Christians, every one who claims to be a Christian is without excuse for not serving the Lord actively in His church.
• The Greek word for “gift” (charismata) speaks of God’s grace in blessing us with spiritual abilities.
  – God is the giver of the spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 12:4-6). He has graciously given us the gifts.
  – The Spiritual gifts are not cultivated or earned by oneself, but “received” from God’s hands.
  – So spiritual gifts do not reflect a person's greatness, but the greatness of God who gave the gift.
  – Since we are enabled by His grace, none of us should be proud of our gifts and service.
  – We must serve in the church with thankfulness, humility, willingness and vigour.
  – Not to serve God is to neglect the grace and gift of God. (1 Timothy 4:14; 2 Timothy 1:6).

Use of Gifts in Our Service

• Seven spiritual gifts are mentioned in verses 6-8.
• (i) Prophecy (v.6), (ii) Ministry, (iii) Teaching (v.7) (iv) Exhortation, (v) Giving, (vi) Ruling (Administration), and (vii) Mercy (v.8).
  – Only one of this is a “sign-gift”
  – In the Scripture, there are about 18 catgegories gifts are mentioned.

i) Prophecy (v.6):

“let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith”

• Purpose of prophesying—communicating God’s message, to strengthen, encourage, and comfort (1 Cor. 14:3).
• One’s “prophesying” ought to be proportionate to the (not his) faith.” (tes pisteos).
• It is to be in right relationship to the body of truth already revealed (“faith” as doctrine in Gal. 1:23; Jude 3, 20).

ii) Ministry (v.7):

“Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering”

• Ministry (diakonia): All kinds of services, let us be occupied with it.

iii) Teaching (v.7):

“he that teacheth, on teaching”

• Acts 13:1; 1Corinthains 12:28
• Pastors ought to be good teachers. There is no such thing as “music-pastor”.
• Only diligent students of God’s Word can be teachers. God equips some for the feeding of the flock by giving them the gift of teaching; and they should labour in the word (1 Timothy 5:17).

iv) Exhortation (v.8):

“he that exhorteth, on exhortation”

• The gift of exhortation is about comforting, encouraging, and consoling fellow brethren (paraklesis).
• This does not necessarily involve public teaching. It is calling along side an individual to admonish, correct, guide, comfort and strengthen in the Christian walk.

v) Giving (v.8):

“he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity”

• When we give we must give with sincerity, without hypocrisy, (simplicity –Greek – haplotes).
• We should not seek self-promotion. No fanfare, when it comes to generosity.

vi) Ruling (v.8):

“he that ruleth, with diligence”

• The gift of ruling refers to leadership administration. The Greek word for rule” (proistemi) means “to be over,” “to superintend,” or “preside over.”
• This gift is to be carried with “diligence,” which in Greek(spoude), means “haste,” “forwardness” “earnestness,” etc.
• Every leader (elder) must fulfil the duty of his office with great earnestness. He must strive after in accomplishing the leadership roles.
• Leadership is not a promotion given, but a call to duty, which must be diligently fulfilled.

vii) Mercy (v.8):

“he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.”

• Showing mercy (eleeo) is about having compassion to the needy and the troubled. This is a believer being efficient in helping the afflicted or seeking aid, or one’s ability to bring help to the wretched.
• This gift ought to be done with “cheerfulness” (hilarotes). It is impossible to show mercy with a grumpy spirit. Showing mercy is often a very demanding and exhausting work. So those with this gift need not only patience but also “cheerfulness”.
• A ready and joyful heart must characterize those who are called by the Spirit to the ministries of compassion and mercy.

May God bless us abundantly by His grace through His blessed Spirit to carry out each of our gifts that our church may be edified and strengthened for His glory.

Our Service in the Church - I

Our Service in the Church - I

Romans 12:4-8

Introduction

• A large number of Christians give little consideration to their service in the church.
• It weakens the Christian, as he fails to appropriate God’s grace that is made available to him to serve God in His church.
• It also weakens the Church, as its members remain dysfunctional.
• Paul has already told us in the previous verses that we should not to think and act as we deem best, but according to God’s plan and decrees (vv. 2-3).

We are exhorted

• “ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” (v.2)
• “not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.” (v.3)

Church’s Body Functionality (vv.4-5)

Body Metaphor (v.4)

In verse 4 Paul introduces human body as a simile or an image to teach us the divine plan for the functionality of His church.

• “For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office” (v.4).
• The conjunction “for” introduces this verse as the reason why we should not think individualistically, an admonition he mentioned in verse 3. The reason for not thinking individualistically is that we are called to be joined to one body as its members.
• The term “as” tells us that Paul is using the concept of body functionality as a metaphor to teach the function of the church and its members ought to function.
  1 Corinthians 10:17 – “For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.”
  1 Corinthians 12:12 – “For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.”
  1 Corinthians 12:27 – “Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.”
  Ephesians 1:22-23 – “And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.”
  Ephesians 2:16 – “And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby.”
  Ephesians 3:6 - “That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel.”
  (cf. Ephesians 4:4,12,16; 5:23)
  Ephesians 5:30 – “For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.”
  Colossians 1:18 – “And he is the head of the body, the church . . .”
  (cf. Colossians 1:24; 2:17,19; 3:15)

Two major points of comparison

• The church is made up of believers, like the body that is made up of many members - “For as we have many members in one body”
• Believers in the church functions like members of the body – “and all members have not the same office.”

Church’s Functionality Explained (v.5)

“So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.”

• Diversity: “So we, being many”
• Unity: “are one body in Christ”
• Functionality: “and every one members one of another”

Diversity: “So we, being many”

• God has designed the church as a living organism with many members with various functions
• v.4b - “and all members have not the same office.”
• 1 Corinthians 12:14 says, “For the body is not one member, but many.”
• God has designed the church as a living organism with many members with various functions
• Church is not a “one man show.”
• The church has leaders, but it functions the best when all the members serve with their different abilities.
• 1 Corinthians 12:15-19

Unity: “are one body in Christ”

• Diversity does not mean that we stand disunited.
• In Christ, we function as one body.
• Members work out their diverse gifts as they like, but as Christ, the Head, would direct. Thus they function as members of one body
• 1 Corinthians 12:20-27

Functionality: “and every one members one of another”

• Mutual care and support are emphasised by these words.
• 1 Corinthians 12:25 - That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.
• Ephesians 4:11-13

Conclusion

• As a Christian, have you joined the church to be a functioning member by baptism (or transfer of membership)?
• As a member of the church, have you been actively serving other members according to the will your Saviour?
• Let us rise up to serve the Lord like one united body of Christ, as He instructed us this day.