Impartation of Spiritual Gifts

  BY Argie Simonis

In the previous message we explained the baptism of the Holy Spirit and its necessity, and gave an introduction to spiritual gifts. Here we will talk about their importance and impartation .

Paul used the teaching on the gifts to illustrate the unity of the Body of Christ. I believe that is where the whole emphasis of 1 Cor. 12-14 is.

Paul also writes in Romans:

"For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift, to the end you may be established;" Rom. 1:11

The first thing we notice in this verse is that spiritual gifts can be transmitted from one person to another. The second is that spiritual gifts edify and empower a person. When the gifts are operating in the Church service they bring exhortation, comfort and edification to the whole congregation, while when they are operating privately, they edify the individual himself. I will explain this later.

Some believe that the baptism of the Holy Spirit and the impartation of gifts by the laying on of hands is the privilage of the apostles or the presbytery (elders) alone. In the book of Acts we read:

"And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord." Acts 9:10

"And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared to you in the way as you came, has sent me, that you might receive your sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost." Acts 9:17

Paul received the gift of the Holy Spirit from the Lord's disciple Ananias, of whom there is no other mention in Scripture. I believe that this is the necessary condition for the impartation of spiritual  gifts: To be a disciple of the Lord and to be baptized in the Holy Spirit. You can't give something you don't have.

Paul writes to Timothy:

"Neglect not the gift that is in you, which was given you by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery." 1Tim. 4:14

Paul here advises Timothy not to neglect his gift. Neglect means not paying the necessary attention. In other words, it is not only rejection on our part that cancels the gifts, but negligence is equally destructive.

"But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asks you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:" 1Peter 3:15

All believers should be able to teach someone and publicly confess their faith, but that does not make them teachers.

All believers can prophesy but that does not make them prophets:

"For you may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted." 1Cor. 14:31

All believers are called to lay hands on the sick, but not all have gifts of healing or miracles. Everyone can speak in tongues, but not everyone has the gift of tongues:

"And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;

They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover." Mark 16:17-18

"Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely you have received, freely give." Matt. 10:8

Likewise, all believers can and should minister to the lost, but that does not make them evangelists. In the following messages we will explain these differences and examine the spiritual gifts from 1 Cor. 12-14 and Rom. 12, compared to the ministry gifts (fivefold ministry) in Eph. 4.

To be continued...