The Gifts Of The Holy Spirit: Introduction

   BY Argie Simonis

Paul writes to the church of Corinth, a church that is already moving in the spiritual gifts and especially in chapter 14 gives instructions for the correct use of the gifts,

"for God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints." 1Cor. 14:33

Paul used the gifts to portray the unity of the Body of Christ. I believe that this is the general emphasis given on this letter.

"Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers, I would not have you ignorant." 1Cor. 12:1 

Paul devotes chapters 12-14 to dealing with ignorance on spiritual gifts. At best some people do not know the gift of the Spirit they have already received and therefore cannot operate in the gifts. But there is a large part of the body of Christ who has believed that all these gifts are gone after the first century. Those who believe this are in greater ignorance than the first.

In the letter to the Galatians we read:

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law." Gal. 5:23

If you noticed the word "fruit" here is in the singular. All these 9 things that Paul lists here, are characteristic of a "fruit" with 9 different flavors, in the same sense that light can be divided into iris colors when it passes through a prism. Those who have the Spirit of God have in them all these 9 characteristics of His fruit, whether they manifest them or not.

However, in contrast, Paul was saying here that there are various gifts (plural) of the Holy Spirit. No individual necessarily possesses all nine of the gifts of the Spirit mentioned here (1 Corinthians 12:8-10).

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

Thus, it is possible for a person to act on more than one of these gifts, but this does not work like the fruit of the Spirit we read in Gal. 5:22:

"Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles?

Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?" 1Cor. 12:30

Do not forget that Paul asks these questions to Christians who have already received the baptism of the Holy Spirit and are already operating on the spiritual gifts.

Did you know that spiritual gifts are not limited to these 9 basic gifts (word of wisdom, word of knowledge, faith, gifts of healing, miracles, prophecy, discernment of spirits, tongues, interpretation of tongues) mentioned here by Paul?

Let us see what Paul wrote to us in his letter to the Ephesians:

"Why he said, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts to men." Eph. 4:8

"And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;" Eph. 4:11

In his letter to the Romans, Paul mentions additional gifts of

- service

- exhortation

- giving

- administration

- mercy

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

Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teaches, on teaching;

Or he that exhorts, on exhortation: he that gives, let him do it with simplicity; he that rules, with diligence; he that shows mercy, with cheerfulness." Rom. 12:6-8

These are gifts from the Lord to the church "for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:" Eph. 4:12

Those whom the Lord has called into a particular ministry are to help the believers so that they can better share their faith with the world. Then all together as one body become witnesses of our Jesus and people are saved. Shepherds do not give birth to sheep. Sheep give birth to sheep.

Every believer can do the same miracles that Jesus performed (John 14:12), and Jesus said that miraculous signs would follow all who believe (Mark 16: 17-20). But not every member of the body will do these things as a gift of calling or ministry.

I will close this introduction to the gifts with a comment on Paul's words:

"But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet show I to you a more excellent way." 1Cor. 12:31

In the next chapter he talks about this more excellent way. He talks about love. Paul here of course does not mean that love abolishes gifts (as some believe), but that gifts operating without love are useless.

A series of messages on spiritual gifts will follow, explaining their characteristics, the purposes they serve and how they work.