AN OVERVIEW OF THE GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT
THREE GREAT LIBERATING TRUTHS:
1. Man can't save himself–he needs God's grace. – Eph. 2:8,9
2. Man can't live the Christian life by himself–he needs God's Spirit. Gal.5:22,23
3. Man can't do the work of Christ by himself–he needs God's gifts. 1 Cor.12:11
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THE GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT ENABLE THE CHRISTIAN TO CARRY ON THE MINISTRY OF CHRIST THROUGH THE CHURCH. |
1. A breathtaking promise. Jn. 14:12
2. How can it be fulfilled save through the manifestation of God's Spirit in man. 1 Cor. 12:7
3. An O.T. example ~ Ex. 35:31
4. Every born-again believer has at least one gift – 1 Pet. 4:10
(It may be dormant but it is there. 2 Tim. 1:6)
5. The gifts of the Spirit are God's tools (special equipment) enabling you to do His work in the world. Rom. 1:11
LISTINGS OF THE GIFTS IN THE N.T. :
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Rom. 12:6-8 |
1 Cor.12:7-11 |
1 Cor.12:28 |
Eph.4:ll |
1 Pet.4:10,11 |
CLASSIFICATION OF THE GIFTS:
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MOTIVATIONAL GIFTS |
MINISTRY GIFTS |
MANIFESTATION GIFTS |
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(Rom. 12: 6-8) They are foundational gifts. They provide the basic drive and direction for our ministry. They motivate us to serve our Lord. |
(Eph. 4:11; 1 Cor. 12:28) They are gifts that become recognized as official min- istries by the Church. They are gifts that equip us to serve God in a particular and official way. |
(1 Cor. 12:7-11) They are momentary mani- festations of God's Spirit enabling us to meet particular current needs within the Church body. |
THE GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT
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MOTIVATION GIFTS |
MINISTRY GIFTS |
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(Rom.12:6-8) |
(Eph.4:ll) |
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1. PROPHECY(A message from God) The desire to be God's spokesman-to speak God's truth and point up man's sin. |
1. APOSTLE One sent by Christ into the world on behalf of the Church. |
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2. SERVING The desire to meet the practical needs of others. |
2. PROPHET One who proclaims God's message, primarily to Christians. |
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3. TEACHING The desire to search out God's truth and to clarify it for others. |
3. EVANGELIST One who proclaims God's message, primarily to non-Christians. |
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4. EXHORTATION (Urgently Advise) The desire to tell others how to apply God's truth to their daily lives-to live by faith. |
4. PASTOR One who oversees and cares for the needs of Christians. |
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5. GIVING The desire to use money and personal possessions for God's work. Desire to entrust money to others for ministry. |
5. TEACHER One who searches out & clarifies God's truth. (1 Cor.12:28) |
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6. ORGANIZING (Administering-leading) The desire to organize, coordinate & administer the activities of others to accomplish God's work. |
6. WORKER OF MIRACLES One who performs supernatural deeds for God. |
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7. MERCY (Empathizing) The desire to identify and "feel" with others, to comfort them & deliver them from distress. |
7. HEALER One who exercises the gift of healing. |
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8. HELPER One who assists leadership in the work of ministry. |
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9. ADMINISTRATOR One who guides and directs the business and activities of the church. |
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10. SPEAKER IN TONGUES One who speaks God's message to others in an unlearned language. |
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*11. INTERPRETER One who translates the tongues of others into spiritual truth. |
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*Not specifically mentioned in 1 Cor.12:28, but implied in 1 Cor.l2:30. |
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MANIFESTATION GIFTS
(1 Cor.12:7-ll)
1. WORD OF WISDOM
Gift of God's truth
in answer to specific
problems.
2. WORD OF KNOWLEDGE
Gift of special informa-
tion enabling you to
minister more effective-
ly in a particular sit-
uation.
3. FAITH
Gift of divine certainty
that something is right
so you can initiate its
realization,
4. HEALING
God's use of you as an
instrument for healing
ministry.
5. WORKING OF MIRACLES
God's use of you in per-
forming extraordinary
manifestations of God's
power defying natural
causes.
6. PROPHECY
God's use of you to com-
municate a special mes-
sage.
7. DISTINGUISH SPIRITS
(Discernment)
Insight into motivation
of self and others.
Discriminate between
true Spirit and false
spirits.
8. TONGUES
When used for the Church
it is someone giving a
communication from God
in an unlearned language
needing interpretation.
When used privately it
is one's spiritual com-
munion with God for per-
sonal edification.
9. INTERPRETATION OF TONGUES
Gift of translating
tongues into spiritual
truths.
THE MOTIVATIONAL GIFTS ELABORATED
GIFT OF PROPHECY
BASIC MOTIVATION DEFINED
Motivated to be God's spokesman; to meet particular needs by delivering God's message;
to reveal unrighteous motives or actions by presenting God's truth.
AMPLIFICATION
A prophet is an "interpreter" – one who interprets and declares the mind of God.
God's mouthpiece. He speaks under the influence of the H.S. His message is always
relevant, always aimed at a particular person, people or situation in response to
a particular need.
The word of the prophet has the following results:
(Note 1 Cor. 14:3 "…he who prophesies speaks to men for their upbuilding and
encouragement and consolation."
1. It builds up the Christian life (upbuilding)
-it provides building materials for the Christian life.
2. It stimulates the Christian will (encouragement)
-it stimulates us to be obedient to the truth and to make right decisions.
3. It strengthens the Christian spirit (consolation)
-it calms the storms of life. It helps us to rest in the presence of Jesus.
It does us good.
4. It discloses the secrets of sinners' hearts and leads to their recognition of
God's presence in our midst and to their conversion. – 1 Cor, 14:24,25
-it brings to light things previously concealed.
5. It foretells future events enabling the Church to be prepared and to respond
appropriately. – Acts 11:27-30
6. It builds up the Church – 1 Cor. 14:4
-it helps us make wise decisions. It gives us the mind of God – 1 Cor. 13:3
CHARACTERISTICS OF ONE EXERCISING THIS GIFT
1. Speaks as one who knows.
2. A burning desire that God's truth be applied to life's situation.
3. An overriding passion that God's purposes be vindicated.
4. Needs to express his message verbally.
5. A directness, frankness and persuasiveness in speaking. At times a boldness
that hurts.
6. The ability to discern the character and motives of people.
7. The capacity to identify, define and hate evil.
8. A burning desire to break the self-will of others.
9. A dependence upon Scriptural truth to validate his authority.
10. A desire for outward evidences to demonstrate inward conviction.
11. An inward weeping and personal identification with the sins of those he is
speaking to.
12. An eagerness to have others point out his blindspot, so he can minister more
effectively.
DANGERS IN EXERCISING THIS GIFT
1. Being proud of his rhetoric and persuasiveness.
2. Thinking he has a special in with God since he speaks on God's behalf.
3. Becoming hard, insensitive to people.
4. Being bull-headed.
5. Seeing people as groups rather than individuals with personal needs.
6. Being deceived in thinking he has all the answers.
7. Lacking in love.
8. Wanting to be taken at face value without evaluation.
(Note 1 Jn. 4:1; 1 Cor. 14:29)
9. Speaking personal feelings and wishes rather than a word from God.
10. Getting emotionally carried away. A prophet is lifted above himself but never
beside himself. God's Spirit in the prophet is subject to the rational con-
trol of the prophet's own mind – 1 Cor. 14:32
MISUNDERSTANDINGS
1. Frankness and boldness may be viewed as harshness and unloving.
2. Interest in groups may be interpreted as disinterest in individuals.
3. Focus on right and wrong may be judged as intolerance of partial good.
They speak in superlatives without any gray areas.
4. Emphasis on decisions may appear as neglecting spiritual growth.
5. Public coldness and strict standards may hinder intimate personal relationships.
6. The strong desire to convey truth may be interpreted as little interest in
listening to another person's point of view. Can get the reputation of being
"hard-headed".
GIFT OF SERVING
BASIC MOTIVATION DEFINED
Motivated to demonstrate love by meeting the practical needs of others.
AMPLIFICATION
Is expressed by action and not by words. Is exercised under the leadership of
Christ, in the strength of the Spirit, and for the glory of God. (1 Pet. 4:11)
The server detects personal needs of others and overlooks personal discomforts
in order to meet those needs.
CHARACTERISTICS OF ONE EXERCISING THIS GIFT
1. The ability to recall specific likes and dislikes of people.
2. The alertness to detect and meet practical needs. Especially enjoys manual
projects.
3. The motivation to meet needs as quickly as possible. He doesn't want to go
through red tape.
4. Physical stamina to fulfill needs with disregard to weariness.
5. The willingness to use personal funds to avoid delays.
6. The desire to sense sincere appreciation and the ability to detect insincerity.
7. The desire to complete a job with evidence of unexpected extra service.
Just doing a job is not enough, they want to do it extra well.
8. An involvement in a variety of activities with an inability to say "no".
9. A greater enjoyment of short-range goals with frustration over long-range goals.
10. A frustration when limitations of time are attached to jobs.
DANGERS IN EXERCISING THIS GIFT
1. Being proud of his good deeds.
2. Being pushy or premature in meeting the needs of others before they realize
their needs.
3. Becoming bitter when deeds are not recognized or appreciated.
4. Over-emphasizing practical needs to the neglect of basic spiritual needs.
MISUNDERSTANDINGS
1. Quickness in meeting needs may appear to be "pushy".
2. Avoidance of red tape may result in excluding other from jobs, and "going
around others".
3. Their disregard for personal needs may extend to their own family's needs.
4. Their eagerness in serving may prompt suspicion of self-advancement.
5. May react to others who do not detect and meet obvious needs.
6. Insistence on serving may appear to be rejection of being served.
7. Desire to sense sincere appreciation may result in being easily hurt.
8. Quickness in meeting needs may interfere with spiritual lesson God is teaching
those with needs. (Often we learn most through suffering.)
9. Emphasizing the need to meet practical needs may be judged as lack of interest
in spiritual matters.
10. Their stamina may be interpreted as insensitivity or impatience with others
helping.
11. The enjoyment of short-range goals may result in leadership positions and
frustration or disorganization with long-range objectives.
12. Inability to avoid others' needs may result in sidetracking employer's
directions.
THE MOTIVATIONAL GIFTS ELABORATED
GIFT OF TEACHING
BASIC MOTIVATION DEFINED
Motivated by the desire to explain the Word of God to others; to clarify the
truth.
AMPLIFICATION
The teacher is not content with the Word simply being proclaimed, it must also
be explained. He wants God's Word elaborated and made clear. The gift involves
research and detailed study; a digging out of the facts and accumulating know-
ledge.
CHARACTERISTICS OF ONE EXERCISING THIS GIFT
1. Believe that this gift is foundational to all other gifts.
2. Emphasize the accuracy of words.
3. Test the knowledge of others who teach you.
Example—"Give me the authority…"
4. Delight in research and personal study.
5. Evaluate new information on how it fits into already established ideas
or system of truth.
6. Seek to present the truth in a clear, orderly, systematic way.
7. Resist Biblical illustrations out of context.
8. Have greater joy in research than in presenting it.
9. Desire that people be well grounded in the Word.
10. Want disciples and not just converts.
DANGERS IN EXERCISING THIS GIFT
1. Develop a know-it-all attitude.
2. Become so involved in your presentation you fail to listen.
3. Underestimate the importance of communication skills.
4. Fail to study how Jesus taught.
5. Lose touch with real life.
6. Become more concerned about the research than the response of the hearers.
7. Develop agenda anxiety.
8. Fail to understand the role of the Holy Spirit in teaching.
MISUNDERSTANDINGS
1. The emphasis on the accuracy of Scriptural interpretation may appear to
neglect its practical application.
2. The research of others and what he learns through research may appear
to be more important to him than the teaching ministry of the Holy Spirit
through meditation.
3. The use of knowledge in testing others may appear to be pride of learning.
4. The concern of imparting details of research may appear to be unnecessary to
those listening—even boring at times.
5. The need to be objective in research may appear to lack warmth and feeling
when speaking.
GIFT OF EXHORTATION
BASIC MOTIVATION DEFINED
Motivated to give encouragement and wise counsel to persons in need.
AMPLIFICATION
Teaching stimulates the mind; exhortation stimulates the will and faith.
The exhorter encourages spiritual growth through counseling and speaking.
Urges another to pursue a course of conduct based on Scripture.
Tells another how to apply God's truth to daily life.
CHARACTERISTICS OF ONE EXERCISING THIS GIFT
1. A desire to visualize specific achievements and prescribe precise steps
of actions.
2. A tendency to avoid systems of information which lack practical applica-
tion.
3. The ability to see how tribulation and suffering can produce new levels
of maturity.
4. A dependence on visible acceptance when speaking to individuals or
groups. A real awareness of his listeners. Watches the faces of his
hearers. (A prophet doesn't pay much attention to reaction of listeners.)
5. The discovery of insights from human experience which can be validated
and amplified in Scripture.
6. A grief when teaching is not accompanied by detailed, practical steps
of action.
7. A delight in personal conferences that result in new insight.
DANGERS IN EXERCISING THIS GIFT
1. Giving home made advice rather than Biblical truth.
2. Spending too much time with those who want only temporary relief.
3. Relying too much on your own understanding and not the leading of
the Holy Spirit.
4. Becoming discouraged with lack of progress.
MISUNDERSTANDINGS
1. The emphasis on specific steps of action may appear to oversimplify
the problem.
2. The urgency to give steps of action may appear as having an over
confidence in them,
3. The desire to win non-Christians through living examples may appear
as lack of interest in personal evangelism. More concerned for
sanctification than justification.
4. The use of Scripture for practical application may appear to take
it out of context.
5. The emphasis on steps of action may appear to disregard the feelings
of those being counseled.
THE MOTIVATIONAL GIFTS ELABORATED
GIFT OF GIVING
BASIC MOTIVATION DEFINED
Motivated to entrust personal assets to others for the furtherance of this
ministry.
AMPLIFICATION
Has the God given ability to organize personal business in order to gain assets.
Motivated by the Spirit to make quick decisions regarding the immediate needs
which others have.
CHARACTERISTICS OF ONE EXERCISING THIS GIFT
1. An ability to make wise purchases and investments. Astute in handling money.
2. A desire to give quietly to effective projects or ministries.
a. Wants to avoid the pressure of publicity.
b. Often reluctant to give when something is "pushed" on him.
3. He has an innate sense of whether the proposed ministry is effective or not.
4. He often attempts to use his giving to motivate others to give.
5. He has a particular alertness to valid needs which he fears that others
may overlook.
6. He gets a real enjoyment out of meeting needs without the pressure of
appeals. In fact, pressure turns him off.
7. There is a special joy when he learns that his gift is an answer to a
specific prayer. Then he senses that God led him in his giving.
8. He is often dependent upon his partner's (wife's) counsel for confirming
the amount of his gift.
9. He has a special concern that the gift be used in a high quality way.
(Example: Instead of giving money for a person to buy some cheap clothes,
he will go out and buy good clothes for him.)
10. He has a need to know that he has a definite part in the work of the person
(or organization) to whom he gives.
DANGERS IN EXERCISING THIS GIFT
1. Being proud of his giving.
2. Measuring spiritual success by material assets.
3. Overlooking long-range goals in meeting immediate needs.
4. Giving not only to meet needs of others but to pander to his own vanity
and self-motivation.
5. Giving with a sense of duty and not with a radiant sense of joy.
6. Giving a moral lecture and criticism along with the gift.
MISUNDERSTANDINGS
1. The need to deal with large sums of money may appear to be a focus on
temporal values.
2. The desire to increase the effectiveness of a ministry by his gift may
appear as an attempt to control the work or person.
3. His attempt to encourage others to give may appear as lack of generosity
on his part or unnecessary pressure.
4. The lack of response to pressure appeals may also appear to others as a
lack of generosity.
5. The personal frugality by which he lives may appear to friends and
especially relative as selfishness in not meeting their wants.
GIFT OF ORGANIZING
(Administering-leading)
BASIC MOTIVATION DEFINED
Motivated to give leadership, to coordinate the activities of others for the
achievement of common goals.
AMPLIFICATION
To take the lead. To be the head of. To preside. To distinguish major objec-
tives and to help those around him to visualize and realize them.
CHARACTERISTICS OF ONE EXERCISING THIS GIFT
1. An ability to see the overall picture and to clarify long-range goals.
2. A motivation to organize that for which he is responsible.
He usually sticks to one job at a time.
3. A desire to complete tasks as quickly as possible.
(a) Similar to Server here, except Server is interested in immediate
task and Organizer is interested in long-range.
(b) When the job is finished the Organizer loses interest and is ready
to move on to another job.
4. An awareness of the resources available to complete a task.
(a) He goes a great deal on past performances of people as resources.
(b) He is able to "see" the resources around him.
5. An ability to know what can or cannot be delegated.
Here, again, he goes on past performances.
6, A tendency to stand on the sidelines until those in charge turn over
responsibility to him.
7. A tendency to assume responsibility if no structured leadership exists.
8. A willingness to endure reaction from workers in order to accomplish the
ultimate task.
9. A fulfillment in seeing all the pieces coming together and others enjoying
the finished product.
10. A desire to move on to a new challenge when a previous task is fully completed
DANGERS IN EXERCISING THIS GIFT
1. Being proud of his power.
2. Using people to accomplish his goals rather than meeting their needs.
3. Overlooking major character faults in those who are useful to reaching
his goals.
MISUNDERSTANDINGS
1. The ability to delegate responsibility may appear as laziness in avoiding
work himself. .
2. The willingness to endure reaction may appear as callousness.
3. The neglect in explaining why tasks must be done may prompt workers to feel
they are being misused.
He doesn't often explain "why" to workers.
4. The viewing of people as resources may appear that projects are more
important than people.
5. The desire to complete tasks swiftly may appear to be insensitivity to the
schedule, weariness or priorities of workers.
GIFT OF MERCY
BASIC MOTIVATION DEFINED
Motivated to identify with and comfort those who are in distress.
AMPLIFICATION
To feel empathy with the misfortunes and misery of others. To mentally and
emotionally relate to their needs and give them aid.
CHARACTERISTICS OF ONE EXERCISING THIS GIFT
1. The ability to feel an atmosphere of joy or distress in an individual or
group.
(a) They can walk into a room and they can "feel" it.
(b) They are more sensitive to hurts than to joy.
2. An attraction to and an understanding of people who are in distress.
3. A desire to remove hurts and bring healing to others.
4. A greater concern for mental distress than physical distress.
5. An avoidance of firmness unless he sees how it will bring benefit and
healing.
6. A sensitivity to words and actions which will hurt other people.
They can also be hurt personally by insensitive people.
7. An ability to discern sincere motives in other people.
(A Prophet has a similar characteristic, but his has more to do with the
character of the other person; while this has more to do with the "feelings"
of the other person.)
8. An enjoyment and unity with those who are sensitive to the needs and feelings
of others.
9. A closing of his spirit to those who are insincere or insensitive.
DANGERS IN EXERCISING THIS GIFT
1. Being proud of his ability to empathize.
2. Resenting others who are not sensitive to personal needs.
3. Failing to be firm when necessary.
4. Being guided by emotions rather than logic.
MISUNDERSTANDINGS
1. The avoidance of firmness may appear to be weakness and indecisiveness.
2. The sensitivity to the spirit and feelings of others may cause some to feel
he is guided by emotions rather than logic.
3. The attraction and understanding of those in distress may be misinterpreted
those of the opposite sex.
(a) Also, may be misunderstood by a mate who has not discerned his
partner's gift.
4. The sensitivity to words and actions which cause hurts may appear to be
taking up another's offenses and "butting in where ha has no place"
5. The ability to detect insincere motives may cause some to feel he is hard
to get to know.
6. His sensitivity may cause others to be less than frank with him at times,
for fear of "hurting" him.