11.06.16~“The Fundamentals of Spiritual Gifts: Part One”
November 6, 2016,
“The Fundamentals about Spiritual Gifts: Part One”
As Christians, if it were not for the gift of God’s Spirit we would have nothing, we would be nothing, and we could do nothing pleasing to God.
God gives spiritual gifts to believers, so that we might serve in God’s church. (1Corinthians 12:1, 4-7, 11), “Now about spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be ignorant.” “There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the the same God works all of them in all men. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.” “All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and He gives them to each one, just as He determines.”
And so, we see that the gifts are given by the God’s Spirit, and that they are given for the “common good,” and (1Peter 4:10-11) they are given to every believer, for the purpose of serving one another.
Just as there are many different organs and parts in a single physical body, there are also many diverse gifts and functions among the members of Christ’s body.
1Corinthians 12:12, “The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ.” 27, “Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.”
Some of our physical body parts are more obvious and seemingly more important to the function of the body (eyes, ears, mouths, hands, feet, brains); but there are organs and parts of our body that are hidden(kidneys, liver, bones, muscles, blood vessels); that is, until those less noticeable parts begin to fail or not function properly.
Just as all of our physical body parts work together and are contained in one body, connected together and created to work in unity; so it is with the spiritual body of Christ, the church, and with the use of spiritual gifts.
There are two major passages where spiritual gifts during the church age are listed, 1Corinthians 12 and Romans 12. Romans was written after 1Corinthians, and it is worth mentioning that none of the sign gifts mentioned in 1Corinthians 12:9-10 (the gifts of healing, miracles, speaking in tongues, etc.) are found in Romans 12; nor are they found in other books written later, but instead these later books mention only the speaking and serving gifts.
There are two major categories of spiritual gifts, those that were temporary, during the 1st century church, and those that are permanent, until the church is taken to be with the Lord.
Before the New Testament was completed, there was no standard or authority by which to judge the preaching or teaching of someone, as to whether or not they spoke the truth of God; and so, God gave sign gifts to the apostles and prophets, to verify that they were proclaiming God’s message.
2Corinthians 12:12, “The things that mark an apostle — signs, wonders and miracles — were done among you with great perseverance.”
Hebrews 2:3b-4, “This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard Him. God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to His will.”
Ephesians 4:11-14, “It was He [Christ] who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful
scheming.”
The signs and wonders gifts were used by the Apostles in the New Testament; but these gifts came to an end when the apostles passed from the scene and the New Testament was completed; signs and wonders were given to the apostles to validate their authority, since there was no way, apart from the written Word of God, to test their teachings or approve their authority from God.
The next time “signs and wonders” appear, will be after the church is caught up to be with Christ; the Antichrist, along with false christ and false prophets, will perform signs and wonders empowered by Satan himself.
Matthew 24:24, “For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect — if it were possible.”
2Thessalonians 2:9-10, “The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.”
Revelation 13:13-14, “And he [the False Prophet] performed great and miraculous signs, even causing fire to come down from heaven to the earth in full view of men. Because of the signs he was given power to do on behalf of the first beast [the
Antichrist], he deceived the inhabitants of the earth.”
On another note, the gift of “speaking in different kinds of tongues” (cf 1Corinthians 12:10) allowed a person to speak a language unknown to him, but known to his hearers in their own native language, proclaiming the works of God.
Tongues [lit. languages], was never intended to be permanently effectual in the work and function of the church.
1Corinthians 14:22, “Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers; prophecy, however, is for believers, not for unbelievers.”
The Book of Acts (the History of the Church), has 28 chapters; but chapter 19 (which takes place around 60 A.D.) is the last time the gift of tongues is recorded as happening, this “gift” ceased to be operative by 100 A.D., after the completion of the New Testament.
Paul said that tongues-speaking would cease (1Corinthians 13:8).
Therefore, it is very significant that of the seven gifts mentioned in Romans 12:6-8, there is no mention of the gifts of healing, miracles, or speaking in tongues; but instead, all the gifts listed there fall into the two categories of speaking gifts and serving gifts. Any idea why that might be so? Perhaps because it is the speaking and serving gifts that are used
Ephesians 4:12-14, “to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and
craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming.”
Next week I want to spend the time looking at the importance of these permanent gifts, and how you are to know your gift and to use it to bring honor, glory and praise to God and benefits to God’s people.
Pastor Mike <‘(((><