Page 155 - Discipleship Ministries Student E-Book

Spiritual gifts are not particular positions. Youth ministry leader or nursery worker are not gifts although
those ministries definitely can put to use spiritual gifts such as teaching, serving, etc.

Spiritual gifts are not the same as natural talent (music ability or mechanical aptitude, etc.) although
God may often give spiritual gifts that make use of natural abilities. A musician may have the gift of
encouragement. An experienced schoolteacher may have the gift of teaching, etc.

What are the different spiritual gifts?
Some of the gifts listed in the above four passages seem to have been temporary, serving to establish
the early church and to verify the gospel to people as Christianity began (Eph. 2:20; Heb. 2:3, 4) The
temporary sign gifts included apostleship, healing, miracle-working, tongues, and interpretation of
tongues. Also temporary were the word of wisdom, word of knowledge, and prophecy – by which God
gave direct revelation to man. These gifts were needed before the New Testament was complete. They
were also seemingly the gifts needed to write the New Testament. These gifts were referred to in
Scripture as the “signs of the apostles.” They validated their authority among believers so that they
would know that God was speaking through the apostles.

The gifts listed in Romans 12 exist today and include teaching, helps (serving), giving, administration
(leadership), showing mercy, evangelism, pastor-teacher (shepherding) and exhortation. These gifts are
crucial to the ongoing function of the church throughout this age.

The Gifts of the Spirit

When a person receives Christ as Savior, upon his rebirth the Holy Spirit
comes into the believer and brings with Him special spiritual gifts to
empower the believer for service. These gifts are for the edification of
others, not for the believer himself. Every person receives one of these
special gifts, and perhaps multiple gifts. It should become your desire to seek to determine with what
special gift did the Spirit empower you so you can start being a blessing to other believers.

There are actually three Biblical lists of the “gifts of the Spirit”, also known as spiritual gifts. The three
main passages describing the spiritual gifts are Romans 12:6–8; 1 Corinthians 12:4–11; and 1 Corinthians
12:28. The spiritual gifts identified in Romans 12 are prophesying, serving, teaching, encouraging, giving,
leadership, and mercy. The list in 1 Corinthians 12:4–11 includes the word of wisdom, the word of
knowledge, faith, healing, miraculous powers, prophecy, distinguishing between spirits, speaking in
tongues and interpretation of tongues.

Many of these gifts are considered permanent gifts given to believers throughout the church age.
Others were given as temporary “sign gifts” for the purpose of validating the message of the one
exercising the gift. They were given to the early church to enable the gospel to be preached throughout
the world to all the nations and in all known languages. It involved the divine ability to speak languages
previously unknown to the speaker. This gift authenticated the message of the gospel and those who
preached it as coming from God. The phrase “diversity of tongues” means several kinds of languages
and it eliminates the idea of a personal prayer language as some today say the gift of tongues is. I
Corinthians 13 tells us that the gift of tongues will cease of itself or fade away.

154