November 14 , 2009

An Overview of the Gifts of the Holy Spirit

What is a spiritual gift?

• A divinely enabled attribute that is empowered by the Spirit of God.

• A skill or ability imparted by the grace of God.

Rom 12:6 “We have different gifts, according to the grace given us.” NIV

Why should we study spiritual gifts?

• God doesn’t want us to be ignorant! The scriptures make it our responsibility to study, seek and practice the development of our spiritual gifts. He desires that we understand them and pursue them.

1 Cor 12:1-2 “Now about spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be ignorant.” NIV

• God eagerly desires us to have the gifts! The idea of gifts is not just a novelty with the Father. He eagerly desires that we would pursue the gifts

• Because we are told to eagerly desire these gifts.

1 Cor 14:1 “Follow the way of love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy.” NIV

Why does God give spiritual gifts to men?

• To reveal the love of a Father. Every time someone is touched by the power of the Holy Spirit through the operation of the gifts it is God saying “I love you!” We must remember that when we serve God by the power of the Holy Spirit we are God’s revelation of Himself in the same way that Jesus said “If you have seen me, you have seen the Father.”

James 1:16-17 “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” NIV

• To confirm God’s word. Throughout all of the gospels Jesus related to supernatural signs as the Father’s means of confirming the preached message that Jesus was bringing. The gifts are heaven’s way of saying “Amen!”

Heb 2:3-4 “…how shall we escape if we ignore such a great salvation? This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him. 4 God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.” NIV

John 5:36-37 "I have testimony weightier than that of John. For the very work that the Father has given me to finish, and which I am doing, testifies that the Father has sent me.” NIV

• To confirm His messenger. (This is not the only test.) Acts. 2:22 The gifts of the Holy Spirit are one of God’s methods of confirming a vessel as chosen of him. In the life of Christ it was said by some of those trying to confirm his authenticity that no man could do the things Christ was doing if he wasn’t the Messiah.

Acts 2:22 "Men of Israel, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know.” NIV

• To make us strong. It brings glory to God when His church is bold, strong and walking in power and the gifts of the Holy Spirit build us up for that purpose.

Rom 1:11 “I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong-“ NIV

• To reveal himself to unbelievers. When God reveals the secrets of a man’s heart it draws that man towards God.

1 Cor 14:22-25 “Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers; prophecy, however, is for believers, not for unbelievers. 23 So if the whole church comes together and everyone speaks in tongues, and some who do not understand or some unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are out of your mind? 24 But if an unbeliever or someone who does not understand comes in while everybody is prophesying, he will be convinced by all that he is a sinner and will be judged by all, 25 and the secrets of his heart will be laid bare. So he will fall down and worship God, exclaiming, "God is really among you!" NIV

• To inspire awe and bring glory to God. Acts 2:43

Acts 2:43 “Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles.” NIV

• To establish our faith on a right foundation. Christianity is not an earthly philosophy to be studied by intellect alone. The gifts of the Holy Spirit are one of the means that God uses to point the heart of men towards the reality of the Spirit and a life of faith in God’s power rather than in man’s wisdom,

1 Cor 2:4-5 “My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, 5 so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power.” NIV

• To express his compassion for the suffering of others. When the Lord releases the power of His Holy Spirit into situations of need it reveals His tender compassion towards their trials.

Matt 14:14 “When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick.” NIV

• To set people free from captivity to oppression. We were created to be worshippers of God and deliverers of men.

Luke 10:8-10; 17-20 "When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is set before you. 9 Heal the sick who are there and tell them, 'The kingdom of God is near you…” “17 The seventy-two returned with joy and said, "Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name." 18 He replied, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19 I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.” NIV