| Harvestime Assembly Spiritual Gifts (Cont'd) |
| Congregational Gifts " Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness." Romans 12: 6-8 " And above all things have fervent love for one another, for love will cover a mulititude of sins. Be hospitable to one another without grumbling. As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers , let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus the Messiah..." 1 Peter 4: 8-11 Exhorter A person who has the ability to minister hope, encouragement and strength to the body of Mesiah. Teacher One who communicates clearly the truth of the gospel. (i.e. childrens teacher-example) Service/Helps The ability or desire to assist others by assuming their responsibilities to release them for other works of service. Hospitality The ability to offer resources-food, home, etc. to others. Benevolence/Mercy The ability and desire to offer compassionate service to helpless people. Giving The capacity to offer material resources to the body of Messiah with cheerfulness. Administration The ability to organize or direct the activities of the local congregation. 9 "Charismatic" Manifestation Gifts "But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all; for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.". 1 Cor. 12:7-10 Word of Wisdom A supernatural "fragment" of prudence. A word of wisdom giving GOD'S wisdom to a particular situation. Word of Knowledge A supernatural word from God that gives the believer information or facts which only God could know. This gift is used to show that God is in the congregation and through the word of knowledge people can be ministered to. Faith This is not normal saving faith. This is a special level of faith given to the believer to fulfill a specific service or ministry. Gifts of Healing These gifts are listed as plural in the text. These are manifestations of God to minister healing to people. Working of Miracles The supernatural intervention by God to break natural laws. God uses this working of power to substantiate the gospel in many cases. Prophecy This is an inspired word of God through an individual to edify the local congregation. This gift is not to be confused with the gift of prophet. This gift is a manifestation of God to bring a word of edification to the body of Messiah. Discerning of Spirits The supernatural ability to discern a person's spiritual character and their actions and words i.e. the Holy Spirt, demon spirits or the human spirit. Different kinds of Tongues An utterance in an unlearned language which must be interpreted as "Devine revelation" to the body of Messiah for their edification. (This is different from "praying" in tongues, which is used to edify the believer- 1 Cor. 4:14) This manifestation is limited in the congregation to three times within a gathering. Interpretaion of Tongues This is an interpretation of a message in tongues to an understandable message to edify the congregation. These gifts are manifestation gifts they are not permanent gifts to the believer, although God may use someone powerfully in any of these gifts as the believer yields himself to that area. Many claim ministries of manifestation gifts but these gifts are designed to be used as the Spirit directs and the believer is available to be used. Three kinds of Tongues There is much discussion and controversy in the body of Mesiah concerning tongues. Much of this could be eliminated with a proper understanding of the three different kinds of tongues mentioned in the Bible. I will try to briefly give an overview of these different gifts as outlined in the Bible. Tongues : Initial Evidence There are five accounts in the New Testament that speaks of "Baptism in the Spirit". Acts 2:1-4, Acts 8:14-19, Acts 9:17-19, Acts 10:44-46, Acts 19:1-6. These Biblical accounts clearly show subsiquent "Spiritual Baptisms" depicted by evidence of speaking in other unknown tongues. Tongues : Prayer language (Language of Angels) This word translated "tongue" is a reference to what Paul and Jude called "praying in the Spirit" (Eph 6:18, Jude 20). This also coincides with Paul's statement found in 1 Cor. 14:15 " I will pray with the Spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding." Paul went as far as calling this "Language of Angels" 1 Cor 13:1. The intent of your personal prayer language is to enter into the Spirit of God during times of prayer. God intends for his children to enter into prayer not just say a prayer. That is why Paul said "Likewise, the Spirit also helps our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered." Tongues: Revelation/Manifestation gift 1 Cor 14 clearly is dealing with both tongues as a prayer language and tongues as a manifestation gift of the Spirit for the local assembly. As far as the manifestation gift of tongues Paul laid down guidelines for use during worship services. Paul goes as far as stating that the manifestation gift of tongues must be limited in the congregation to no more that three and always with an interpreter. Paul gives clear guidelines how the manifestation gift of tongues must be used in the congregation to "edify the congregation" whereas the prayer language is for the "edification of the believer". Many people have confused these three separate gifts of the Spirit to the point of limiting or not even allowing a person to "pray in the Spirit" at appropriate times during a worship service. This is clearly not what Paul was intending when he gave guidelines to control a "manifestation" of revelation tongues with interpretation. We must finally look at what the apostle Paul spoke on concerning tongues in 1 Cor 14:39 " Therefore, brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy and DO NOT forbid speaking in tongues." I pray that the assemblies of God's people today heed these words from the apostle Paul. References: NKJV Back To Spiritual Gifts Page 1 Full Life Study Bible To Articles Menu Spiritual Gifts, B.E. Underwood |