Explorations Class #34

Gifts of the Spirit

Gifts of the Spirit present a very difficult problem for Seventh-day Adventists. Paul's exhortation that everything be done "decently and in order" (1 Cor 14:30 KJV) is often taken culturally as a prohibition on ecstatic outbursts and miraculous events. "Raising holy hands" (1 Tim 2:8) is even frowned upon. With this degree of stigma attached, it is a problem to even broach the question. But since modern Christians are experiencing apparently miraculous events they associate with the Holy Spirit, we must venture forward to examine the issue.

1. Paul presents three separate lists he identifies as spiritual gifts. What specific gifts does he identify?

a. Rom 12:6-8

 

b. Eph 4:11

 

c. 1 Cor 12:8-10

 

2. In these lists, is there any evidence that the lists are exhaustive? (John 14:26, 1 Cor 10:13)

3. What is a gift of the spirit? What is the common characteristic of gifts of the Spirit? (Rom 12:6, Eph 4:12-13, 1 Cor 12:6-7) What is the purpose of the gifts?

4. How long are the gifts stated to be present with the church? (1 Cor 13:8-10) Is there any evidence that they are to stop before the second coming? (1 Cor 1:4-8, John 14:11-14, Matt 28:19-20, Acts 2:17-21 cf. Joel 2:28-32)

5. What is the purpose of the gifts? (Eph 4:11-13, 1 Cor 12:7; 14:12, 26)

6. Are the gifts something which God simply dispenses at his own whim, or are they something which we should earnestly seek to obtain? (1 Cor 12:31)

7. Does everyone get every gift? (1 Cor 12:1-11)

8. Is there any gift which all Christians receive? (1 Cor 12:3, James 1:5)

9. Eph 4:11-12 lists a number of church offices and refers to them as gifts. Does this give us any guidance as to the nature of the task presented to church committees tasked with selecting church officers? When a church "ordains" an elder or a minister, just what does that mean?

As we explore specific spiritual gifts, it is necessary to examine the context in which they are discussed. In particular, Paul's largest discussion of spiritual gifts is addressed to the church at Corinth. This is done because of serious problems in Corinth. In some cases this exploration will lead us to a completely different understanding of a particular gift than might be understood on a face value reading of a passage.

The first listed gift in 1 Cor 12 is the "word of wisdom." One author defines it as "the supernatural gift of a portion of divine insight, judgment, or guidance for a particular need."* It is commonly understood by charismatic Christians to imply a specific revelation guidance for a particular moment.

10. What is the nature of spiritual wisdom? (1 Cor 1:18-30)

11. What is the nature of the problem Paul is addressing? (1 Cor 2:4-5; 3:18-20)

12. When Paul states that a "word of wisdom" is given by the Holy Spirit, what is he telling the Corinthians? (1 Cor 12:3) Is this consistent with the definition offered above?

The second gift listed is the "Word of Knowledge." The same author defines it as "a revelation of divine information to someone who does not know it by natural means."** It is commonly understood by charismatic Christians to refer to a revelation of otherwise hidden knowledge.

13. What is the nature of "knowledge" in Paul's discussion" (1 Cor 1:4-8)

14. What is the problem Paul is addressing? (1 Cor 2:12-3:3)

15. When Paul states that a "word of knowledge" is given by the Holy Spirit, what is he telling the Corinthians? Is this consistent with the definition offered above?

16. What does Paul intend by including faith (v. 9) in the list of gifts? (Eph 2:8, Rom 1:16-17, Gal 5:22, 1 Cor 3:1-3, Matt 8:26, Luke 12:28-29)

We now move into the part of the list where the gifts are clearly identified by all as being of supernatural character, not just in source, but in manifestation.

17. What is the nature of God's use of miracles throughout recorded history? (Gen 22:12-14, Ex 34:10, Deut 11:1-7, Ps 74:1,9; 77:7-9, 11-14 [esp. v. 14], Acts 2:22, Gal 3:5, Heb 2:3-4)

18. Why is David upset in Psalm 77? (Ps 77:1-20, esp v. 14)

19. The Holy Spirit is referred to as coming in power to John the Baptist (Luke 1:17), Jesus (Luke 4:14), and the apostles (Acts 1:8). Paul refers to the power of the Spirit in his ministry. To what specific aspect of the Holy Spirit do these references apply? (Rom 15:13, 18-19, 1 Cor 2:4, 1 Thess 1:2-5, Acts 2:43; 5:2-11)

20. How did God use miracles in the hands of the apostles? (2 Cor 12:12, Heb 2:1-4, Acts 3:12; 8:6: 13:11-12)

21. Miracles (v. 10) seem to have vanished in large measure from the church. What scriptural reasons may we suggest for this apparent lack of miraculous gifts? (Matt 13:54-58, Rom 12:3-6) What remedy may be suggested?

22. Does the performance of miracles indicate that the person performing miracles will be in the kingdom? (Matt 7:21-27; 24:24, 1 Thess 2:9)

23. The miracles listed in Q22 may be very real. Are there false miracles? (Matt 24:24) How can we distinguish between miracles from God and from Satan? (Matt 7:20, Gal 5:22-26)

24. What fruits will miracles produced by the Holy Spirit have? (Ezek 36:27, John 3:34: 15:26; 16:7-11, Acts 4:31; 15:8, Rom 8:1; 14:7, Eph 5:9 cf. Gal 5:22-26)

25. Gifts of healing is an obvious miraculous gift. Is it a gift which operates at the will of the person receiving the gift? (Acts 3:12; 14:8-15; 15:18-19, 2 Tim 4:20, 2 Cor 12:6-9 cf. Gal 6:11)

26. James appears to tell us that under certain circumstances an ill person will definitely be healed. (James 5:14-16) yet many are not healed. How are we to understand these "failures?" (Carefully note the language of the passage.)

27. Is healing a part of the gospel? (Matt 8:16-17, cf. Is 53:4-5)

28. Give reasons why God will heal.

a) Matt 14:14

 

b) John 11:4

 

c) Matt 9:22

 

d) James 5:14-16

 

e) Mark 7:32

 

f) Mark 1:31

 

g) Matt 9:5-6

 

h) Luke 5:8, Matt 11:20-24, John 15:24

 

i) Acts 8:6; 9:35, 42

 

j) John 14:11; 11:45; 12:11

 

k) Matt 12:28; 4:23; 10:1, 7-8, Acts 8:6-7, 12

 

l) Matt 12:9-13, Mark 3:1-5, Luke 6:6-10; 14:1-4, John 5:1-9

 

29. Give reasons why God does not heal.

a) Psa 74:9

 

b) Isa 29:13

 

c) Mark 6:5-6, Matt 17:18-20

 

d) James 4:2

 

e) Matt 12:38-39

 

f) 1 Cor 1:21b-25

 

g) 2 Cor 12:8-10

 

h) John 5:1-15

 

We will postpone the discussion of prophecy and tongues for the next session. However, one apparently miraculous gift remains: the discerning of spirits. The word translated "spirits" is pneuma. It commonly means "spirit" or "breath." Strong's Lexicon includes "the power by which a human being feels, thinks, or decides" (the mind or "heart") as one of the definitions of pneuma. In order to determine which meaning Paul wishes to us to use, we must consider the consequences of each possibility.

30. "Spirits" can have the obvious meaning of evil spirits as opposed to divine messengers (angels). Are only a few of the church members to be able to discern whether a spirit is from God? (1 John 4:1-3, 1 Tim 4:1-3, Rev 16:13-14 cf. Matt 24:24, 1 Thess 5:21)

31. Can all church members discern the heart of another? (1 Sam 16:7, Psa 90:8, Matt 6:6, Heb 4:12)

32. Does the Holy Spirit reveal the hearts of men in miraculous ways? (Acts 1:24-25; 5:1-11; 8:20-23) What is the "discerning of spirits?"

33. Should Christians expect to be the conduit for spiritual gifts? (1 Cor 12:31; 14:1)

34. Does God only work through the pure in heart? (Matt 10:1-4; John 12:4-6)

35. What are the keys to becoming a conduit for the Holy Spirit?

*Bernard, David K. Spiritual Gifts, Word Aflame Press, 1997, p. 104

** ibid, p. 109