The Strand Study Bible

I CORINTHIANS “MINI” SERIES The Doctrine Of Spiritual Gifts There are twelve truths concerning spiritual gifts that every believer ought to know: 1. Every believer is to be knowledgeable concerning his spiritual gift(s) (I Cor 12:1) No Christians should plead ignorance when it comes to knowing their spiritual gift(s). 2. GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT is in charge of the distribution of our spiritual gift(s) (I Cor 12:4,8-9,11) The Holy Spirit decides what gift(s) a believer receives, not the believer. 3. GOD THE SON is in charge of the administration (or, ministry) of our spiritual gift(s) (I Cor 12:5) Our Lord decides where a believer belongs in the ministry, not the believer. For example, Paul had many of the same gifts that a pastor would have, but Paul was never a pastor. He was a church- planter, an apostle, according to Christ’s call upon his life (I Tim 1:12). 4. GOD THE FATHER is in charge of the operation (or, energy; power) of our spiritual gift(s) (I Cor 12:6) God the Father decides how much power a believer receives when performing his spiritual gift(s) (Lk 11:13). 5. Every believer receives at least one spiritual gift upon salvation (I Cor 12:7-11) 6. The gifts to the Church (apostles, prophets, evangelists, and teaching pastors) are greater than the gifts of service (miracles, healings, helps, governments, tongues, etc.) that the HOLY SPIRIT bestows upon the Church (I Cor 12:28) The greatest gift(s) that God has given to the Church is leadership (apostles, prophets, evangelists, and teaching pastors). The reason the gifts to the Church are greater than the gifts for the Church is that God has always been more interested in the whole picture than in the individual parts that make it up. In other words, the good of the individual in God’s eyes is never more important than the good of the entire group (Lev 13:1-4,46). God is not nor has He ever been an advocate of individual “social” welfare. God is and always will be a God of “general” welfare (what is best for all). 7. Every believer is held accountable according to how he used his spiritual gift(s) ( Lk 19:11,17 , Mt 25:30 , I Pet 4:10 and Rom 14:12) 8. Spiritual gifts can be multiplied (Mt 25:16-17) 9. Every believer is to desire spiritual gifts for the sake of serving God better (I Cor 14:1 & 1:7) 10. Spiritual gifts are subject to the believer’s control (I Cor 14:27-32) 11. Spiritual gifts are to be used to minister and to help others spiritually (Rom 1:11 and I Pet 4:10) Wherever Paul journeyed he used his gift(s) in order to minister to others spiritually. Not to use one’s gift(s) for the sake of helping others is to fail as a Christian. 12. Spiritual gifts are to be administrated in love (I Cor 12:31) Spiritual gifts that are not administered in the spirit of love are without value. Whereas the speaking and serving gifts are performed for the sake of helping all believers (Rom 1:11 & 12:6-8 and I Cor 12:1-11), the sign gifts are performed solely for the sake of reaching unbelieving Jews (Exo 4:1-9, I Cor 1:22 and Acts 2:22). The three categories of the permanent gifts of service are: 1. The sign gifts (tongues, miracles, miraculous healings - Mk 16:17-20 and I Cor 14:21-22) According to the Bible, the sign gifts were always performed by a Jew for the sake of confirming the Word of God to the Jews (Mk 16:17-20, Exo 4:1-9, Heb 2:4, I Cor 14:21-22 and Acts 2:1-22). Consider the following examples: * Jesus often addressed the Jews by saying, “Except ye see signs and wonders , ye will not believe.” (John 4:46-48). However, He never addressed Gentiles that way. * Time after time the Jews would come to Jesus seeking a sign (Mt 12:38-40 & 16:1-4, Mk 8:11-12, Lk 11:29-30 and Jn 2:18-19). Outside of Herod desiring to see some of Jesus’ “magic” (Lk 23:6-8), the Gentiles were not interested in signs and wonders (I Cor 1:22). * Peter reminded the Jews that Jesus came to them with signs and wonders , not the Gentiles (Acts 2:22). * On two different occasions Jesus commissioned his disciples to preach the Gospel and to perform miracles . But they were to go to the Jews only, not the Gentiles (Mt 10:5-8 and Mk 3:14-15). * Jesus responded to John the Baptist’s request by reminding him of His miracles (Mt 11:1-5). However, He never responded to the Gentiles that way. * Jesus reminded the unbelieving Jews to believe Him because of the miracles He had performed (Jn 10:30-38 & 14:10-11). He never addressed Gentiles that way. NOTE - It is true that many of the Gentiles witnessed the miracles and wonders performed by the Apostles (Rom 15:18-19, Acts 15:12, Gal 3:5 and II Cor 12:12), but then so did the Egyptians (Exo 4:1-9).

Lesson #4. The three categories of the permanent gifts of service (I Cor 12:7-11)

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