Gifted for God's Glory
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Introduction
Introduction
1. A spiritual gift is not a place of service. The gift is the ability, not where that ability is used. Teaching can be done in or out of a formal classroom situation and in any country of the world. Helping can be done in the church or in the neighborhood.
2. A spiritual gift is not an office. The gift is the ability and can be exercised whether one holds an office in a local church or not. In this regard much confusion exists over the gift of pastor. The gift is the ability to shepherd people. This can be done by the person who occupies what we call, in our modern ecclesiology, the office of the pastorate. Or it can be done, say, by a dean of men or a dean of women in a school. Or it can be done by the wife and mother in a home.
3. A spiritual gift is not a particular age group ministry. There is no gift of youth work or children’s work. All ages need to be served by pastors, teachers, administrators, helpers, etc.
4. A spiritual gift is not a specialty technique. There is no spiritual gift of writing or Christian education or music. These are techniques through which spiritual gifts may be channeled.
5. A spiritual gift is different from a natural talent. I have already mentioned that a talent may or may not serve the body of Christ, while a spiritual gift does. Let’s notice some further contrasts between spiritual gifts and natural talents.[1]
[1] Charles Caldwell Ryrie, Basic Theology: A Popular Systematic Guide to Understanding Biblical Truth (Chicago, IL: Moody Press, 1999), 423–424.
12 So with yourselves, since you are eager for manifestations of the Spirit, strive to excel in building up the church.
I. What is a Spiritual Gift?
I. What is a Spiritual Gift?
The most used word in the New Testament that refers to spiritual gifts is charisma and the word used in context with spiritual gifts is pneumatikos.
Definition:
Ryrie’s Basic Theology B. What is Not Meant
Thus a spiritual gift is a God-given ability to serve the body of Christ wherever and however He may direct.
New Testament List of Spiritual Gifts (Insert Lists Slide)
There are four major New Testament passages that inform our doctrine of spiritual gifts: 1 Corinthians 12–14; Romans 12:5–8; Ephesians 4:11-16; 1 Peter 4:10–11.
II. Who gets Spiritual Gifts?
II. Who gets Spiritual Gifts?
1. All individual believers get at least one spiritual gifts. (1 Peter 4:10a; compare Acts 2:38, Acts 10:45)
10 As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace:
2. Churches are given spiritual gifts–persons uniquely equipped for the church’s edification and maturation.
11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,
III. From Whom and How do believers get Spiritual Gifts?
III. From Whom and How do believers get Spiritual Gifts?
1. They originate from God the Father by virtue of conversion?
(Acts:11:17; 1 Corinthians 12:28)
6 and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone.
7 I wish that all were as I myself am. But each has his own gift from God, one of one kind and one of another.
17 If then God gave the same gift to them as he gave to us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God’s way?”
28 And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues.
2. They are bestowed on the church by the resurrected Jesus (1 Corinthians 12:5, Ephesians 4:11)
5 and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord;
11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers,
3. They are distributed by the Holy Spirit at His will (1 Corinthians 12:11, Hebrews 2:4)
11 All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.
18 But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose.
4 while God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.
4. It is possible to acquire them later. (1 Cor 12:31, 14:1)
31 But earnestly desire the higher gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way.
1 Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy.
IV. What is the purpose of Spiritual Gifts?
IV. What is the purpose of Spiritual Gifts?
1. To build the foundation of the church (Ephesians 2:20)
20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone,
9 For we are God’s fellow workers. You are God’s field, God’s building.
10 According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it.
2. To build up and carry out particular functions in the “body” (Ephesians 4:12; 1 Cor 14:3-4, 12, 31; Romans 12:4-8)
12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,
3 On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation. 4 The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself, but the one who prophesies builds up the church.
31 For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all be encouraged,
12 So with yourselves, since you are eager for manifestations of the Spirit, strive to excel in building up the church.
4 For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function,
5 so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.
6 Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith;
7 if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching;
8 the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.
3. To serve one another for our collective good (1 Peter 4:10; 1 Corinthians 12:7)
10 As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace:
7 To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.
V. The Ultimate Goal of Spiritual Gifts
V. The Ultimate Goal of Spiritual Gifts
To Glorify God through Jesus Christ (1 Peter 4:11)
11 whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
Excursus for further study:
Disuse and Misuse of Spiritual Gifts
Disuse and Misuse of Spiritual Gifts
Example of Disuse of Spiritual Gifts
14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. 15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.
Based on the Ephesians 4:8-16 passage’s teaching, the exalted Lord Jesus Christ gave gifts to His church in order to build it up and to protect against the devices of Satan:
no longer be children - immaturity; ignorant of the doctrines of Christ; not knowing how to live for Christ or what to believe. No skill in the word of God
tossed to and fro – meaning unstable in the knowledge of things spiritual; of spiritual teaching
human cunning – deceitful doctrines that try to outwit believers
craftiness in deceitful schemes – all kinds of traps and snares set to deceive the believer from following godly course of action in his/her life
speaking the truth in love – the best defense against deceit and error is to actually know the truth! The truth will spur growth in Christ.
joined together and held together by every joint – all parts of the body benefit from all other parts of the body being in working order. We need each other to be sound in the faith so was to help each other grow.
If the gifts listed in this passage are not exercised, then it follows that these protectives are not being enacted in the church and the church will be at risk to the aforementioned problem of lack of spiritual growth in Christ due to not being built up by the word of God from those prepared with its handling (note that all the gifts in this passage deal with handling the word of God). This will in turn lead to the other problem of being immature and therefore unsettled in the faith as well as being susceptible to strange doctrines and men’s deceptions. Since the apostolic age is over, the canon is closed, and no one else can meet the qualifications of an apostle who can give new revelation from the Spirit and set it among the writing of the Scriptures, and since the gift of prophecy in the since of foretelling major future events has passed, it is vitally important for pastors and teachers of local churches fulfill their ministries and to equip the flock for the work of ministry as they themselves also do the work of an evangelist, proclaiming the gospel (2 Tim 4:5). When pastors and teachers disuse or neglect this vital function, the church’s growth is hindered and is not operating as Christ has ordained it to. This disuse will have far reaching ramifications if it persists since the faith is to be “entrust[ed] to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also” (2 Ti 2:2).
Example of the Misuse of Spiritual Gifts
1 Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy. 2 For one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God; for no one understands him, but he utters mysteries in the Spirit. 3 On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation. 4 The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself, but the one who prophesies builds up the church. 5 Now I want you all to speak in tongues, but even more to prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be built up.
6 Now, brothers, if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I benefit you unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or teaching? 7 If even lifeless instruments, such as the flute or the harp, do not give distinct notes, how will anyone know what is played? 8 And if the bugle gives an indistinct sound, who will get ready for battle? 9 So with yourselves, if with your tongue you utter speech that is not intelligible, how will anyone know what is said? For you will be speaking into the air. 10 There are doubtless many different languages in the world, and none is without meaning, 11 but if I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be a foreigner to the speaker and the speaker a foreigner to me. 12 So with yourselves, since you are eager for manifestations of the Spirit, strive to excel in building up the church.
13 Therefore, one who speaks in a tongue should pray that he may interpret. 14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays but my mind is unfruitful. 15 What am I to do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will pray with my mind also; I will sing praise with my spirit, but I will sing with my mind also. 16 Otherwise, if you give thanks with your spirit, how can anyone in the position of an outsider say “Amen” to your thanksgiving when he does not know what you are saying? 17 For you may be giving thanks well enough, but the other person is not being built up. 18 I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. 19 Nevertheless, in church I would rather speak five words with my mind in order to instruct others, than ten thousand words in a tongue.
20 Brothers, do not be children in your thinking. Be infants in evil, but in your thinking be mature. 21 In the Law it is written, “By people of strange tongues and by the lips of foreigners will I speak to this people, and even then they will not listen to me, says the Lord.” 22 Thus tongues are a sign not for believers but for unbelievers, while prophecy is a sign not for unbelievers but for believers. 23 If, therefore, the whole church comes together and all speak in tongues, and outsiders or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are out of your minds? 24 But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or outsider enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all, 25 the secrets of his heart are disclosed, and so, falling on his face, he will worship God and declare that God is really among you.
26 What then, brothers? When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done for building up. 27 If any speak in a tongue, let there be only two or at most three, and each in turn, and let someone interpret. 28 But if there is no one to interpret, let each of them keep silent in church and speak to himself and to God. 29 Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others weigh what is said. 30 If a revelation is made to another sitting there, let the first be silent. 31 For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all be encouraged, 32 and the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets. 33 For God is not a God of confusion but of peace.
As in all the churches of the saints, 34 the women should keep silent in the churches. For they are not permitted to speak, but should be in submission, as the Law also says. 35 If there is anything they desire to learn, let them ask their husbands at home. For it is shameful for a woman to speak in church.
36 Or was it from you that the word of God came? Or are you the only ones it has reached? 37 If anyone thinks that he is a prophet, or spiritual, he should acknowledge that the things I am writing to you are a command of the Lord. 38 If anyone does not recognize this, he is not recognized. 39 So, my brothers, earnestly desire to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues. 40 But all things should be done decently and in order.
The context of this passage actually begins several chapters before, as far back as chapter 8, but specifically as relates to spiritual gifts, back to chapter 12. Beginning in chapter 8, Paul instructs the Corinthian church concerning matters of their corporate worship. In chapter 12, he hones in on the issue of the exercise of gifts as relates to corporate worship and maintaining order in that worship in exercising their spiritual gifts. He explicitly binds his argument in chapter 14 to the church gathering in several verses including vs. 18-19, 23, and 26 with statements like “in the church” and “when the whole church comes together.” He does the same throughout chapter 14 (In vv. 1–5 by the intelligibility/edification motif; in vv. 6–12 by analogies that require hearers; in vv. 13–17 by the inability of others to respond by saying the Amen to what is said in tongues; in vv. 26–31 by the orderly sequencing of utterances.)[1] The Apostle Paul seems to aim now at the abuse of tongues in the assembly which he deemed out of order and having the wrong emphasis; out of order if done with more than one person at a time and with more than two or three total in one church gathering (v. 27), out of order if there is no interpreter, and women are not to speak in tongues in the assembly (v. 34–35) After all of his argumentation, we see that Paul teaches that speaking in tongues is really of no value in the assembly since no one understands what is being communicated.
As believers seek to fall under the Lordship of Christ (see 1 Cor 12:1-3) in all areas of corporate worship, and realize that God is not the God of confusion, the intent of the exercising of any gift is to edify the hearers so that they too can benefit in the worship experience and the whole assembly build one another up as they worship the Lord. He seals the chapter with an appeal to his own apostolic authority citing the fact that his commands are not to be disregarded since they are actually a command of the Lord Himself and that any who would disregard these commands should not be recognized in the church since he blatantly disregards not Paul, but Christ. We conclude therefore that to speak in tongues in a church assembly, is regulated by Paul in the New Testament with these restrictions: (1) one at a time, only two or three during any given assembly, no woman speaking in tongues, and that violating these restrictions is a direct violation of the commands of Christ.
[1] Gordon D. Fee, The First Epistle to the Corinthians, ed. Ned B. Stonehouse et al., Revised Edition., The New International Commentary on the New Testament (Grand Rapids, MI; Cambridge, U.K.: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2014).