Understanding Spiritual Gifts

Their Origin and Purpose

Notes from Dr. Dale A. Robbins & Pastor Tony Catron

Quotations are directly from Dr. Robbins

“The ministry of Spiritual Gifts originates in the New Testament…the Holy Spirit [was sent] to equip His [Jesus] church with power and spiritual gifts (Greek— charismata)…” Ephesians 4:11 lists gifts of the 5 fold ministry, which every ministry should have to show the fruit of their calling the Jesus. Anyone can set up a ministry, or call themselves a Pastor or Bishop, yet what are their fruit presenting?

Ephesians 4:11 states the following: And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

Moving on to Romans 12:3-7 and 1 Corinthians 12:1-12;28, we find more gifts.

Romans 12:3-7

³ For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. ⁴ For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: ⁵ So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. 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; ⁷ Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching;

1 Corinthians 12:1-12; 28

12 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.² Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led.³ Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.⁴ Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.⁵ And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.⁶ And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.⁷ But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.⁸ For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;⁹ To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;¹⁰ To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:¹¹ But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.¹² For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. ²⁸ And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.

People rush out and try to operate in a gift that they don’t have. Jumping out ahead will cause you to have a shipwreck, bringing discouragement in ministry. People go out without no foundation and no support. Be careful. The gifts listed in Ephesians 4:11, Romans 12:3-7 and 1 Corinthians 12:1-12;28, are “generally assigned to one of three categories , as listed below”:

• Ministry (office) gifts: Apostle, Prophet, Evangelist, Pastor, and Teacher.
• Motivational (practical) gifts: Service, Exhortation, Giving, Leadership, Mercy, Helps and Administration.
• Charismatic (spiritual) gifts: Wisdom, Knowledge, Discernment, Prophecy, Tongues, Interpretation, Faith, Healing and Miracles.

Are Charismatic Gifts for Today?

1 Corinthians 13:8-10 is as follows:

⁸ Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.⁹ For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. ¹⁰ But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.

This passage is often cited to say that spiritual gifts are done away with. However, history says otherwise. “Church History clearly refutes any notion that charismatic gifts faded away after the apostolic era. Other than diminishing somewhat during the middle ages (probably due to the inaccessibility to scripture by the common people), it is obvious that spiritual gifts were never completely absent from the church. Scores of statements to this effect were recorded by church leaders such as Irenaeus, who wrote around A.D. 150 ‘…we hear many of the brethren in the church who have prophetic gifts, and who speak in tongues through the spirit, and who alos bring to light the secret things of men for the benefit…'”

1 Corinthians 13:8-10 does not describe gifts coming to an end, it means that prophecies can fail die to people not being moved by the Holy Ghost, and that tongues and knowledge will fail for the same reason.

Next week will will continue with the 9 Charismatic Gifts.