Gifts of the Spirit: A Study in the Scriptures, by Diane Dew

Don't wear out your printer. Order a printed, bound set of these studies, available AT COST!

THE GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT

"As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another,
as good stewards of the manifold grace of God ... that God in all things may be glorified .."
1 Peter 4:10, 11

I. Spiritual gifts were never intended to be mysterious; God wants us to understand and use them.

I Corinthians 12:1 "Now concerning spiritual gifts (literally, ‘spirituals'),
brethren, I would not have you ignorant."

II. What is the purpose of the distribution of spiritual gifts in the body?

A. Edification, exhortation and comfort.

I Corinthians 14:3-5 "But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification,
   and exhortation, and comfort. He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth
   himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church ... that the church may
   receive edifying."

B. Confirmation.

Hebrews 2:4 "God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders,
and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will"

C. Establishment in ministry.

Romans 1:11 "For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual
gift, to the end ye may be established."

III. How can the gifts of the Spirit be received?

A. By prophecy, through the laying on of hands.

I Timothy 4:14 "Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given
thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery."

2 Timothy 1:6 "Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up
the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands."

B. Through prayer.

   Matthew 7:11 (Luke 11:11-13) "If ye then, being evil, know how to
   give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father
   which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?"

I Corinthians 14:13 "Wherefore let him that speaketh in an unknown
tongue pray that he may interpret."

C. Through the gift ministries.

Romans 1:11 "For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some
spiritual gift ..."

D. Purely by grace.

   Romans 12:6 "Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is
   given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the
   proportion of faith"

   I Corinthians 4:7 "For who maketh thee to differ from another? And
   what hast thou that thou didst not receive? Now if thou didst receive it,
   why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?"

   I Peter 4:10, 11 "As every man hath receive the gift, even so minister
   the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
   If any man speak ... let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that
   God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ ..."

IV. How does the Spirit distribute the gifts among the members of the body?

A. "Severally" (not everyone has the same gift).

   Romans 12:4-8 "For as we have many members in one body, and
   all members have not the same office: so we, being many, are one
   body in Christ, and every one members one of another. Having then
   gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether
   prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;
   or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on
   teaching; or he that exhorteth, on exhortation; he that giveth, let him
   do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth
   mercy, with cheerfulness."

   I Corinthians 12:14-27, 29, 30 "For the body is not one member,
   but many. If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not
   of the body; is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear shall say,
   Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not
   of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing?
   If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? But now hath
   God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased
   him. And if they were all one member, where were the body? But now
   are they many members, yet but one body. And the eye cannot say unto
   the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have
   no need of you. Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem
   to be more feeble, are necessary: and those members of the body, which
   we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant
   honour; ... And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it;
   or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it. Now ye are
   the body of Christ, and members in particular. ... Are all apostles? Are all
   prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? Have all the gifts
   of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret?"

B. "According to the will of the Spirit" (His choice).

   Matthew 25:15 "And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to
   another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway
   took his journey."

I Corinthians 12:11, 18 "But all these worketh that one and the selfsame
Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will."

Hebrews 2:4 "God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders,
and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?"

C. "Without repentance" (He doesn't change His mind or take a gift back again).

Romans 11:29 "For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance."

   Numbers 23:19, 20 "God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of
   man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? Or hath he
   spoken, and shall he not make it good? Behold, I have received commandment
   to bless: and he hath blessed; and I cannot reverse it."

V. Each member of the body has a gift (I Corinthians 12:7; 14:26; Ephesians 4:16), and we
are accountable to God for the gift we have been given, to use it.

Colossians 4:17 " ... Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in
the Lord, that thou fulfill it."

I Peter 4:10 "As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same
one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God."

A. It is our responsibility to "stir up the gift."

2 Timothy 1:6 " Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou
stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands."

B. We are responsible for the manner of its operation in the assembly.

   I Corinthians 14:26-33, 40 "How is it then, brethren? When ye come
   together, everyone of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue,
   hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto
   edifying. If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or
   at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret. But if
   there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him
   speak to himself, and to God. Let the prophets speak two or three,
   and let the other judge. If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth
   by, let the first hold his peace. For ye may all prophesy one by one,
   that all may learn, and all may be comforted. And the spirits of the
   prophets are subject to the prophets. For God is not the author of
   confusion, but of peace ... Let all things be done decently and in order."

C. It is not to be neglected.

I Timothy 4:14 "Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee
by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery."

D. The gifts are given to us not for ourselves but for the edification of the body.

I Corinthians 12:7 ("to profit withal," KJV = "for the common good")

I Corinthians 12:12-30

I Peter 4:10 "As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the
same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God."

E. We operate in the gifts according to the measure of our faith.

   Romans 12:6 "Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is
   given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the
   proportion of faith."

VI. What does God have to say about those who discredit the operation of spiritual
gifts in the church?

A. The unspiritual man cannot receive "the things of the Spirit of God: for they
are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are
spiritually discerned."

I Corinthians 2:14

B. God can take the very gifts such an one refuses to acknowledge as divine,
and use them to convince his heart of their validity.

   I Corinthians 14:23-25 "If therefore the whole church be come together
   into one place, and ... there come in one that believeth not, ... he is
   convinced of all ... And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest;
   and so falling down on his face he will worship God, and report that
   God is in you of a truth."

C. The operation of spiritual gifts in the assembly is not to be forbidden or despised.

I Corinthians 14:39 "Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid
not to speak with tongues."

I Thessalonians 5:20 "Despise not prophesyings."

VII. If we "are zealous of spiritual gifts," we must be sure that our motive is right.

I Corinthians 14:12 "... as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may
excel to the edifying of the church."

A. The gifts are to be desired.

I Corinthians 12:31 "But covet earnestly the best gifts ..."

   I Corinthians 14:1, 12, 39 " ... desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may
   prophesy. ... forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye
   may excel to the edifying of the church. ... Wherefore, brethren, covet to
   prophesy ..."

B. However, God is to receive all the glory for their operation in the assembly.

   I Peter 4:11 "If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any
   man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth; that God in all
   things may be glorified ..."

COPYRIGHT/REPRODUCTION LIMITATIONS:
This material is solely for personal use and is not to be posted publicly on other web pages. Diane S. Dew holds exclusive rights to publicly post these messsages on this web page. You are free to download, copy, print and distribute one copy of this material for your own personal use, so long as you do not post it on a different Internet site. You may, however, link this site to reference these messages.

This file is the sole property of Diane S. Dew. It may not be altered or edited in any way. One copy of this study may be reproduced only in its entirety for your own personal use, without charge. Permission for any other use must be obtained, in writing, from the author: Diane S. Dew, PO Box 340945, Milwaukee, WI 53234.

Complete, printed and bound copies of these studies (75 topics, 600+ pages)
may be obtained, at cost, from:

Diane S. Dew, PO Box 340945, Milwaukee, WI 53234

Loneliness: A Study in the Scriptures

MAIN PAGE

|| Pro-life Perspective || Bible Studies || The Prayer Place || Poems ||
|| 'Comfort Ye My People' || Apologetics || Chat Rooms || Testimonies ||
|| Devotional Articles || Articles on Political & Social Issues || Fav Links ||
|| Music Links || Bible Q&A || Seniors' Section || Kids' Site || Humor ||
_____________________________________________________________________

Email: Diane@dianedew.com
Diane Dew o PO Box 340945 o Milw WI 53234