Spiritual Gifts

What Does The Bible Teach About Spiritual Gifts?
Questions And Answers We Need To Consider.

Introduction
Why is it necessary to preach on Spiritual Gifts?
It is a Bible subject.
Because much is misunderstood about it
And because false teachers claim to have them today.
It is important to see why gifts were given and the purpose they served.

Concerning Spiritual Gifts
1 Corinthians 12:1-3
They had asked and Paul was answering.
Reminds them of their past of serving idols, which basically did NOTHING.
There are some ground rules by which people will know if the gifts are from God or not.

Diversity of Gifts
1 Corinthians 12:4-7
The Holy Spirit directs the usage of the gifts.
Various ministries, but all serve the same Lord.
No matter the type of gift, but it is God working through these people.
Each gift is given for the common good:
(of the church, of the truth, of the body, of each individual part).

Bible Gifts Of The Spirit
1 Corinthians 12:8-10
The word of wisdom
The word of knowledge
Faith by the Spirit
Gifts of healing
Performing miracles
Prophecy
The ability to distinguish between spirits.
Speaking in Tongues and interpreting Tongues.

The Spirit Gives Gifts
1 Corinthians 12:11
The same Spirit (the Holy Spirit of God)
Distributes the gifts as He wills.
People could not choose what gifts they could have----the Spirit decided that.
In chapter 14 there are disputes about the gifts and whose gift was greater.

What were the gifts?
Acts 2:22 “Men of Israel, listen to these words; Jesus the Nazarene, a man attested to you by God with miracles and wonders and signs which God performed through Him in your midst, just as you yourselves know--.
Miracles, wonders, signs is grouped together like other things.
Psalms, hymns, spiritual songs,
Supplications, prayers, intercessions, thanksgiving
An important thing is to recognize that a miracle in Scripture wasn’t merely an amazing occurrence or providential act, as the word gets carelessly tossed around in our everyday language.
Rather, it consistently referred to an occasion in which God superseded natural law.
It was not and could not have been a natural occurrence.

Priority of Gifts
1 Corinthians 12:28 “And God has appointed in the church, first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings, helps administrations, various kinds of tongues.
The word of the apostles took top priority.
Tongues came as the lowest of importance in God’s scheme of things.
Once the apostles spoke, and it was recorded in scripture, there was no need for any other gifts.

Who had these gifts?
John the Baptist Luke 1:11-15 he had a special role in preparing the way of the Lord.
Jesus had gifts during His own ministry,
Jesus also endowed his disciples and the seventy with gifts (but not tongue speaking or the ability to impart gifts).
That would come after Pentecost, and then, ONLY the apostles had that ability to impart gifts.
Since they are all gone, how can anyone receive gifts today?

When were these gifts used?
The power promised by Jesus in Acts 1 applied to the apostles only.
Acts 2, the spirit does something that captured the attention of all the people.
Then Peter explained to the crowd what was happening.
Later Paul would teach that the gifts were to cease (1 Corinthians 13:8-12)
This is ignored by many today.

Where were the gifts used?
Land air and sea (everywhere)
Always in the presence of witnesses.
Never done in private.
Never done to benefit a specific individual, (that was not the purpose)
But done to demonstrate that the person doing any sort of healing or other gift was speaking by the Holy Spirit.

How did the gifts happen?
The speaking of the word of Jesus.
The touch of His Hand
Or the touch of His garment
Or anything that was contacted by Jesus, and Peter (on one occasion).
With or without permission.

Why were the gifts done?
Because Jesus and God are compassionate.
But more to demonstrate the power of God.
And to show that the one performing the gift was from God,
And His/his/her message is what is important.
Or, To CONFIRM THE WORD being preached.
These gifts, signs, and miracles were used in the days before the Bible was written and compiled (as we have it today).
These gifts taught the people the word of God.
It is the same word and message that we have today in our Bible.
The Holy Spirit assisted the people in learning how to be Christians, and how to worship properly.

Conclusion
People who claim to have the spirit today do not teach the same message of God that has been revealed in the scriptures.
This causes confusion, and confusion does not come from God.
We have the Bible, and have no need for the gifts of the first century.
Could God do them again? Yes, but they would prove God inconsistent and a liar,
So do not expect to receive or witness any gifts of the Spirit.

By Carey Scott