The Gifts of the Holy Spirit
If you have been around the church at all chances are that you have heard of the Gifts of the Holy Spirit. You might not understand exactly what this means. This Blog entry will attempt to teach you what that means as well as what the Spiritual gifts are. There are 16 Spiritual gifts listed in the Scripture, these are not to be confused (but they often are) with the Fruits of the Spirit. It should be noted that unless noted otherwise, all scripture is in the NKJV version.
The Gifts of the Holy Spirit are as follows:
Leadership: encouraging and helping others to build the kingdom of God. This gift is found in Romans 12:8 he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness. (NKJV)
What is leadership? Webster's defines it as the capacity to guide the actions of a person or group. It involves providing direction, alignment, and commitment, and is a social process where individuals work together to produce results that they could not achieve alone.
What might this look like in Biblical terms Today? Someone who is tasked with the charge of shepherding others. The role might be different, a pastor/teacher, an elder, a deacon, maybe your church calls them by another term. But this is a person whose calling it is to guide others in a reaching a common goal. In the church this is primarily leading others to Christ's saving grace.
Administration: helping with long term goals and remaining on task. This gift is found in 1 Cor. 12:28 And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues. (NKJV)
What is Administration? Webster's defines it this way: Administration refers to the performance of executive duties. It involves the management of any office, business, or organization.
What might this look like in Biblical terms Today? Someone who is tasked with the charge of development of church programs and ministries, things like community outreach, maybe budget planning, development of Christian Education programs.
The next three all kind of go hand in hand. It is unusual, perhaps not possible to find someone working actively in one of these gifts without having the others active at the same time.
Teaching: instructing in truths and doctrines of God's Word.
Knowledge: teaching and discipleship. The ability to learn, know and explain God's Word.
Wisdom: the ability to discern works of the Holy Spirit and apply teaching and actions.
What is Teaching? Webster's defines it this way: Teaching is the process of conveying knowledge, skills, and information to individuals or groups by an instructor, often with the intention of helping them understand, learn and apply new concepts or principles. We must remember that ultimately the Holy Spirit is our primary teacher since Christ Ascended into heaven. John 14:26 states: "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you." Also in John 16:13 we see: "However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come."
What is Knowledge? Our buddies at Webster's define it this way: Knowledge is the acquaintance with facts, truths, or principles, acquired through study, investigation, observation, or experience. It involves clear perception of fact, truth or duty.
What is Wisdom? According to Webster's: Wisdom is the quality of being wise, having knowledge, and the capacity to make due use of it. It involves discernment, judgement, and sagacity. (quickness, or acuteness of sense perceptions, keenness of discernment or penetration with soundness of judgment and shrewdness).
What might this look like in Biblical terms Today? Someone who is tasked with the charge of teaching/preaching. Perhaps leading Bible studies.
Do you see why these three go hand in hand? They all involve knowledge, wisdom and teaching of principles learned through study or practical experience.
Prophecy: proclaiming the Word of God with boldness. We look at Rom. 12:6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; (NKJV) also consider: John 16:13 here we see: "However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come."
What is Prophecy? According to Webster's it includes: An inspired utterance of a prophet. The function or vocation of a prophet, specifically the inspired declaration of divine will and purpose. A prediction of something to come.
What might this look like in Biblical terms today? Prophecy is a unique gift because if a prophecy is truly from God, it will come true. Deuteronomy 18:22 states this: when a prophet speaks in the name of the Lord, if the thing does not happen or come to pass, that is the thing which the Lord has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously; you shall not be afraid of him. Prophecy can have what is known as Progressive fulfillment, meaning, it can be fulfilled multiple times over time. This is also sometimes known as dual fulfillment. An example of this would be in Joel 2:28-32 about the outpouring of the Spirit, which had an initial fulfillment at Pentecost (Acts 2) and anticipates a future fulfillment as well. Prophecy doesn't change over time, it is the same in the OT as it is in the NT, the topic of the prophecy can change though.
Discernment: being able to recognize the truth about a situation.
What is Discernment? Webster's defines it in the following way: The ability to judge well; (in Christian contexts) perception in the absence of judgement with a veiw to obtaining spiritual guidance and understanding.
Discernment is spoken of in several verses, in Matthew 7:1-2 Jesus urges us to be discerning and discriminating while remaining non-judgemental. In 1 Thess. 5:21-22 Paul urges us that we should examine everything carefully, holding fast to that which is good, and abstaining from every form of evil. Proverbs 17:24 tells us that the discerning sets his face toward wisdom. This is another gift that can and is often linked to other gifts, many times we see people operating in several gifts at once.
Exhortation: people with this gift are enthusiastic about the Lord and they can motivate others. This gift is found in Romans 12:8 as well (See reference above)
Websters defines Exhortation as an address or communication emphatically urging someone to do something.
In Biblical terms Today, this might look like strongly advising someone that they should change the way that they do something, perhaps how they speak to others, perhaps they are caught up in some pattern of sin that someone who may be more mature in the Lord has noticed. Exhortation would come into play, it might be the first step in church discipline. The scripture tells us to follow the following process in dealing with a sinning brother or sister in Matthew 18:15-17: Moreover, if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that 'by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established'. And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector. Some key points to discuss during this procedure are:
- Confront the person in their sin and look for conviction of sin.
- Discuss repentance and the cross.
- Discuss redemption.
- Discuss restoration and seeking forgiveness.
- Discuss habits and how to change.
Ephesians 4:25-32 says the following about grieving the Spirit: Therefor, putting away lying, "Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor," for we are members of one another. "Be angry, and do not sin": do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give place to the devil. Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need. Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.
We will discuss the remaining 8 gifts next week in part 2 of this series as well as ways to Identify and Nurture Your Spiritual Gifts.
Blessings,
Rev. Michael E. Washburn
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