Spiritual Gifts and Church Officers

Believer since the Day of Pentecost have all received at least three spiritual gifts to use edify [build up in membership and strength] the Church (I Corinthians 14:12; Ephesians 4:7-8, 11-12).  The Bible days that “the gifts and calling of God are without repentance” (Romans 11:29; James 1:17).  “Neglect not the gift that is in thee” (I Timothy 4:14), and “stir up the gift of God which is in thee” (II Timothy 1:6).  “As every; man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.” (I Peter 4:10)  No one need pray for any of the gifts of the Spirit, because God gives them “according to His own will” (Hebrews 2:4; I Corinthians 12:11, 18, 28).  We are to be “zealous of spiritual gifts,” “desire spiritual gifts,” and “covet earnestly the best gifts” (I Corinthians 12:31, 14:1, 12).  The question follows: which ones are “the best gifts?”  The best gifts are the ones that God has give you personally to “profit with” (I Corinthians 12:7).  We are to “desire,” and be “zealous” of those gifts!  And how do we “profit” from our spiritual gift?  By using it in God’s service?  “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 through Jesus Christ, to be praise and dominion for ever and ever.  Amen.” (I Peter 4:11; I Corinthians 3:11-15)  There are a total of at least spiritual gifts, (Romans 12:4-6; I Corinthians 12:4-7).  These 16 are in 3 categories:  1) sign gifts, 2) revelation gifts, 3) service gifts.  Today only the service gifts remain, because the sign gifts were to authenticate those with revelation gifts, and when the Bible was completed both were done away with (I Corinthians 13:8-10; Jude 3; Mark 16:17, 20: Hebrews  2:3-4; Revelation 22:18).  There were 6 offices in the Church, but 2 have been abolished (Ephesians 4:7-8, 11-12; I Corinthians 12:28; I Timothy 3:1-13; Acts 6:1-3).  Listed here are all the spiritual gifts listed in the Bible by category:

1.  The Sign Gifts (These authenticated the apostolic and prophetic offices):

a.  Special miracles (Acts 19:11; I Corinthians 12:10), such as raising the the dead (Acts 9:36-42, 20:7-11), healings form the mere shadow of an apostle or from handkerchiefs touched by an apostle (Acts 5:15, 19:11-12), the casting out of evil spirits (Acts 5:12, 16, 8:6-7, 16:16-18), and other signs and wonders (Mark 16:17-18, 20: Hebrews 2:3-4; II Corinthians 12:12).

b.  Healings (I Corinthians 12:9; Mark 16:18).

2.  The Revelation Gifts (The Bible was given by special revelation by God):

a.  The word of knowledge (I Corinthians 2:11, 12:8, 13:8).  This is special knowledge that we could not know except that God revealed it to us.  It is the special historical, scientific, and expecially spiritual knowledge that we find throughout the Bible.  Jesus promised and it has been fulfilled that “when He the Spirit of Truth, is come, He will guide [the apostles] into all Truth [spiritual knowledge]…” (John 16:13).  Today and since the end of the apostolic age(approximately 30  100 A.D.) this gift has ceased operation (I Corinthians 12:4-6, 13:8-10).

b.  Prophecy (Romans 12:6; I Corinthians 12:10).  This is the Spirit given ability to foretell future estimony is the spirit of  prophecy.” (Revelation 19:10)  Jesus promises and it has been fulfilled that “when He, the Spirit of Truth, is come, He…will shew [the apostles] things to come” (John 16:13).  The gift of prophesy is also no longer in operation (I Corinthians 13:8-10; Revelation 22:18).

3.  Tongues:  Both a sign and a revelation gift (Mark 16:17; I Corinthians 14:6):

a.  Tongues were a sign 1) to the Jews (Isaiah 28:11-12; Acts 10:45-46),  2) to enable lost people to here the gospel and get saved (I Corinthians 14:22; Acts 2:4-8, 41), and 3) especially to authenticate the apostles authority from God to speak on His behalf (Mark 16:17, 20).

b.  Tongues and their interpretation contained special revelation from God.  Tongues related “the wonderful works of God” (Acts 2:11).  They contained prophecy, and the word of knowledge (Acts 2:18, 19:6; I Corinthians 14:6).  They conveyed the gospel of Jesus Christ (I Corinthians 14:21-25).  With the passing of the apostolic age tongues, as all the other sign and revelation gifts, have ceased.  God did away with them all when He completed His Petfect Law of Liberty, the Bible (I Corinthians 13:8-10; James 1:25; Jude 3; Revelation 22:18).

4.  The Service Gifts (Romans 12:6-8; I Corinthians 7:6-9, 12:7-10; I Peter 4:11):

a.  The word of wisdom (I Corinthians 12:8).  This is the gift of communicating “the Oracles of God” (I Peter 4:11; cf. Romans 3:2; Hebrews 5:12-14).  It is the Spirit given ability to preach (prophesy) and teach from God’s Word (Romans 12:6-7).  Note:  To prophesy means both to foreatell and also to tell forth what has been foretold; it is to reveal “things to come” (John 16:13), and it is also “to speak…the gospel of God” (I Thessalonians 2:2) and “declare..all the counsel of God” (Acts 20:28).  The “word of wisdom” is to “speak the wisdom of God…which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual” (I Corinthians 2:6-7, 13-14) “precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little…that they might go, and fall backward, and be  broken, and shared, ad taken” (Isaiah 28:9-13).

b.  Ruling or governing (Romans 12:8; I Corinthians 12:28).  This is the gift leadership.  The Greek word translated “governments” literally means “guides” (I Corinthians 12:28).  The phrase “he that ruleth” comes form a Greek word that literally means “to stand before,” hence, “to lead” (Romans 12:8; cf. I Timothy 5:17).  (Vine)

c.  Discerning of spirits (I Corinthians 12:10).  This is the God given ability to distinguish between the doctrine “which the Holy Ghost teacheth,” and the false “doctrines of devils,” and men (I Corinthians 2:13; I Timothy 4:1; Ephesians 4:14;  Colossians 2:8, 18; Hebrews 5:13-14, 13:9).  These also are gifted to “be vigilant, and to “try the spirits whether they be of God” (I Peter 5:8-9; I John 4:1-6) so that the Church may better do battle with the forces of Satan (Ephesian 6:10-18; II Corinthians 10:4-5; James 4:7).

d.  Ministry or helps (Romans 12:7; I Peter 4:11; I Corinthians 12:28).  This is the spiritual gift of serving and helping in various Church duties including caring for the poor and sick, and other business (Acts 6:1-3; Romans 16:1-2).

e.  Faith (I Corinthians 12:9).  This is not saving faith Ephesians 2:8), and it is not the measure of faith that God hath delt to every man (Romans 12:3); but it is a special faith to believe for, and pray for great things from God (Mark 11:20-24) including healing (James 5:15-18).

f.  Giving (Romans 12:8; II Corinthians 8:1-7).  This is the Spirit given ability to trust God for finances to be given for the work of the ministry over and above the tithe.  Every Christians has this spiritual gift (II Corinthinas 9:7-13).

g.  Exhortation (Romans 12:8).  This is the Holy Spirit given ability to give Biblical counciling.  It is used to admonish, encourage, comfort, and consol (I Thessalonians 4:18; Colossians 4:8; II Corinthians 1:3-5, 2:6-8; Titus 1:9; Roans 12:1-2, 15:4; I Peter 2:11).

h.  Showing mercy (Romans 12:8).  This is the spiritual gift of soul winning.  It consists of having pity and compassion of the lost, and expressing it by praying for, and telling them of salvation from Hell which only the risen Son of God, the Lord Jesus Christ, can provide (Matthew 9:36-39; Jude 22-23; I Peter 3:15-16; Proverbs 11:30; Daniel 12:3; Luke 6:32-26; Philippians 2:1-2, 15-16; Corinthians 4:5-6; John 14:6, 15:26-27, 20:20-23; Acts 1:8, 4:12). Every Christians has this spiritual gift (I John 5:9-12; Matthew 4:19, 5:7, 13-16, 28:18-19; John 15:26-27; Acts 1:8).

i.  Celibacy (I Corinthians 7:6-9).  This is a special gift of God that enables one to remain single in order to devote themselves to the work of the ministry (Matthew 19:11-12).

5.  Spiritual Offices (I Corinthians 12:28; Ephesians 4:11):

a.  Apostles:  Those holding this office received special authority from the Lord Jesus Christ to complete the Bible (Mark 16:17-18, 20; II Corinthians 12:12; Hebrews 2:3-4; John 16:13-15, 17:17-20).  With the passing of the apostles all the sign and revelation gifts ended (I Corinthians 13:8-10; Revelation 22:18).

b.  Prophet:  Not all prophets of the Church were writing prophets.  Some like Agabus and others did not write God’s Word, but spoke direct revelation form the Lord to the Church till the completion of he Word of God (Acts 11:27-28, 13:1).  The writing prophets of the Church are Mark, Luke, James, and Jude.  The Lord Jesus Christ, the writing apostles, (Matthew, John Paul, and Peter), and writing prophets (Mark, Luke, James, and Jude) formed the foundational teachings of the New Testament Church through their written records (Ephesians 2:20, 3:5).  With the completion of the 27 books of the New Testament God abolished the offices of both apostles and prophets (Jude 3).

c.  Teachers:  A spiritually gifted teacher will at least have the gifts of:  1) the word of wisdom, 2) disce3rning of spirits, and may have 3) exhortation and other gifts. 

d.  Evangelists:  An evangelist is a traveling preacher, and church planter, like Philip out of the Church of Jerusalem (Acts 8:1-7, 12, 26-40, 21:8), and Timothy out of the Church of Derbe (Acts 14:20-23, 16:1-2; II Timothy 4:5) (Romans 10: 13-15).  An evangelist will have the gifts of:  1) the word of wisdom, 2) discerning of spirits, and 3) perhaps ruling or helps, and other gifts.

e.  Pastors:  The pastor of a church will normally have the gifts of: 1) the word of wisdom, 2) discerning of spirits, 3) ruling, and perhaps 4)  exhortation or other gifts.

f.  Helpers:  These are the deacons of the church (I Timothy 3:8-13; Acts 6:1-3; Romans 16:1-2).  Deacone are the ministers or servants of the church who take care of all kinds of business from large to small (I Peter 4:10-11).  Helperts will have the spiritual gift of ministry, and may have the word of wisdom, ruling, or other gifts.

Conclusion:

The Lord Jesus Christ bestows at least 2 of these gifts on us when we He baptizes us with the Holy Ghost (I Corinthians 12:13).  In the days of the apostles the Lord’s baptism was initiated by the presence of or laying on of hands by an apostle (Acts 2:38, 8:14-17, 10:44-15, 19:6; II Timothy 1:6), but since the apostolic transition period everyone receive the Lord’s baptism instantly when he is saved (Matthew 3:16; John 1:33, 7:38-39; Acts 1:4-5, 11:15-17; I Corinthians12:13).  If you are saved you have the gift of giving, and the gift of showing mercy, and perhaps others.  Don’t neglect your gifts, but find out what gifts you have, stir them up, and be zealous for them (I Timothy 4:14; II Timothy 1:6; I Corinthians 12:31, 14:1, 12).  Be a good steward of your spiritual gifts and use them to edify your local church (I Peter 4:10; Ephesians 4:7-8, 11-12, 16; I Corinthians 14:12).  If you will use your spiritual gift in God’s service, the Lord will surely reward you (Matthew 16:27; I Corinthians 3:11-15, 12:7).  God will reward you for winning souls (Daniel 12:3; I Thessalonians 2:19-20).