1. Spiritual Gifts & Application in Ministries Brother Rajan Thomas Bahrain

2. SPIRITUAL GIFTS = GRACE GIFTS PNEUMATIKON = THINGS OF THE SPIRIT = 1 COR.12:1 CHARISMA = GRACE GIFTS Out of 17 times in the NT, 13 instances it is used as “ Divine enablement for believers in the power of the Holy Spirit”. DEFINITIONS EXTRAORDINARY POWERS, DISTINGUISHING CERTAIN CHRISTIANS AND ENABLING THEM TO SERVE THE CHURCH OF CHRIST, THE RECEPTION OF WHICH IS DUE TO THE POWER OF DIVINE GRACE OPERATING IN THEIR SOULS BY THE HOLY SPIRIT “ EXTRAORDINARY POWERS, DISTINGUISHING CERTAIN CHRISTIANS AND ENABLING THEM TO SERVE THE CHURCH OF CHRIST, THE RECEPTION OF WHICH IS DUE TO THE POWER OF DIVINE GRACE OPERATING IN THEIR SOULS BY THE HOLY SPIRIT” - J.H.THAYER, GREEK- ENGLISH LEXICAN OF THE NT. “Divine enablement for Believers in the power of the Holy Spirit” – John F.Walvood “ God given ability for service: - Charles Ryrie

3. Natural Talents, Acquired abilities & Spiritual Gifts Natural Talents are interwoven in a person by birth, skills, abilities to sing, painting, writing, etc. Acquired abilities are learned such as cooking, sewing, Eng., Med., computer knowledge, scientific knowledge, etc Spiritual Gifts are given by the Holy Spirit by the new birth ( 1 Cor.12:7) As natural abilities are latent in a newborn babe - the Holy Spirit invest certain spiritual gifts in a spiritually newborn believer according to God’s plan to use a Believer in His ministries. Exactly how a child on his/her growth has to develop the natural abilities, a born again believer while on spiritual growth must “ stir” (exercise) the spiritual gifts – ◦ a) 1 Tim 4:14 – under Elders ◦ b) 2 Tim 1: 6- under other Lord’s Servants.

4. Distinctiveness of Spiritual Gifts 1. Spiritual Gifts are sovereignly bestowed (1 Cor.12:11) 2. Every born again Christian has some gifts.  1 Cor.12:11 in the context of previous verses.  1 Cor.12:7 in the context of following verses. 3. Gifts differ in value ( 1 Cor.12:31 & 14:4). 4. Spiritual Gifts to be used in love (1 Cor.13:1) 5. No Christian has all the gifts (1 Cor 12:28-30) 6. Exercise of Gifts is not necessarily the sign of true spirituality - 1 Cor.1:7

5. PURPOSE OF SPIRITUAL GIFTS 1. Common profit (1 Cor.12:7) 2. Spiritual edification (1 Cor., 14: 12, 14:26, Eph.4:13) 3. Perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry (Eph.4:12).

6. LIST OF SPIRITUAL GIFTS 1 Cor.12:8-10 – AD.551 Cor.12:28 – AD.55Romans 12:6-8 – AD.57 Ephesians 4:11- AD.601 Pet 4:11 –AD 63,64. 1.Word of Wisdom ( logos sophias ) 1.Apostles(apostolous)1. Prophecies (Propheteian) 1. Apostles (apostolous)1. Whosoever speaks(lalei) 2.Word of Knowledge (logos gnoseos) 2.Prophet(prophetas)2. Serving (Diaknian)2.Prophet (prophetas)2. Whosoever renders service ( diakonei) 3.Faith ( pistis)3.Teacher(didaskalous)3. Teaching (Didaskon) 3.Evangelist (euggelistas) 4.Healing(lamaton)4.Miracles(dunameis)4. Exhortation (Parakalon) 4.Pastor- Teacher(poinensas kai didaskalou) 5.Miracles (denameon)5.Healings(lamaton)5. Giving ( metadeidous) 6.Prophecy(propheteia)6.Helps(antilempseis)6. Ruling (proistamenos) 7.Distinguishing between spirits (diakriseis pnematon) 7.Administration (govering -kubernEsis) 7. Mercy (Eleon) 8.Tongues ( Glosson) 8.Tongues(Glos-son) 9.Interpretatio-n of Tongues ( hermeneia Glosson)

7. Peter’s Classification of Gifts (1PET.4:11) Speaking Gifts 1. Word of Wisdom 2. Word of Knowledge 3. Faith 4. Healing 5. Miracles 6. Distinguishing between spirits 7. Tongues 8. Interpretation of Tongues 9. Exhortation Ministering Gifts 1. Apostles 2. Prophets 3. Teacher 4. Helps/Serving 5. Administration/Ruli ng 6. Giving 7. Evangelist 8. Pastor-Teacher 9. Mercy

8. Temporary & Permanent Gifts Temporary 1. Faith 2. Miracles 3. Apostleship 4. Prophet 5. Healing 6. Tongues 7. Interpretation of Tongues 8. Discerning spirits 9. Word of Wisdom 10. Word of Knowledge Temporary 1. Faith 2. Miracles 3. Apostleship 4. Prophet 5. Healing 6. Tongues 7. Interpretation of Tongues 8. Discerning spirits 9. Word of Wisdom 10. Word of Knowledge Permanent 1. Exhortation 2. Teacher 3. Administration/Rul ing 4. Serving/Helps 5. Giving 6. Evangelist 7. Pastor-Teacher 8. Showing mercy

9. Permanent Gifts Definitions and Descriptions 1. Gift of Exhortation Romans 12:8 – Practical application of preaching ministry. The word ‘parakalon’ embodies the idea of encouragement, comfort, admonishment and entreaty. 1 Thess.2:3, 2 Cor.1:4-7. 2.The Gift of Teaching – didaskon- Romans 12:7, Acts 13:1, 1 Cor.12:28, Eph.4:11 - Supernatural ability to explain and apply the truths based on the illumination of the already revealed Word of God. 3.Gift of Administration – proistemi Rom 12:8, kybernesis 1 Cor.12:28 – presiding, leading, protecting, caring, guiding, directing - Gift that needed for the ones who rules ( Elders) – Heb.13:17 & 13:24.

10. Definitions and Descriptions 4.Gift of Serving – diakonia- Roman 12:7 and antilempsis 1Cor.12:28 are close together - Service or Ministry- Providing loving services and helpful deeds especially to the sick. e.g. Phebe – Romans 16:1 5.Gift of Giving – metadidomi - Rom 12:8 – sharing - especially to the Poor ( 1.Cor.13:3) 6.Gift of Showing Mercy – Eleeo- Romans 12: 8 – mercy, compassion, pity – kindness or good will towards the miserable and afflicted, joined with a desire to relieve them. 7.Evangelist – euangelistes - Eph.4:11 Well messenger – occurs elsewhere only in Acts 21:8, 2 Tim 4:5. 8.Pastor-Teacher – poimeinas kai didaskalous - Eph 4:11 – The concept is evident in 1 Tim 5:17, Titus 1:9. “The teaching of God’s truth is basic to all pastoral care”.

11. Temporary Gifts Definitions and Descriptions 9.Gift of Apostleship - apostolos - 1 Cor. 12:27, Eph.4:11- Delegate, one sent forth with orders, etc. Only meant the 12 Apostles who were directly chosen by Christ and have seen the risen Christ, including Paul. Paul claims that he is the ‘last’ Apostle. Limited to 12 only in view of Rev.21: 14. Apostles were the recipients of revelations ( Eph.3:5). Signs of Apostleship are defined in Heb.2:3 and 2 Cor.12:12. 10.Gift of prophecy ( prophet) – prophetas, Romans 12: 6, 1 Cor.12:10, 1 Cor.12:28, Eph.4:11 – Recipients of revelations as the Apostles ( Eph.3:5) – e.g. Augubus. List of prophets in Acts 13:1, four Daughters of Philip in Acts21:9. ‘Mysteries’ and ‘knowledge’ are received through prophecies as indicated in 1 Cor.13:2. When compared Ephesians 4:11with 2:11, it is evident that both these gifted positions were discontinued by the foundation work of the Church was complete, which is the completion of the New Testament doctrines by AD.96.

12. 11.Gift of distinguishing spirits - diakriseis pnematon- 1 Cor.12;10, 14:29. Why? ‘cos 1 Thess. 5:20. Therefore, 1 John 4:1-6. This gift is associated with the Gift of prophecy and discontinued with the same. Instead, 1 Cor.2:15 and be like the Berean Believers 12.Word of Wisdom ( sophia) & 13.Word of Knowledge (gnosis) - ‘Word’ here means utterance. In the absence of NT, these divinely granted gifts were given to as in the case of Peter in Acts 5:3-4. This could be what Paul intended in 1 Cor.13:4 ‘ all knowledge’ and associated with the Gift of prophecy, hence discontinued with prophecies. Temporary Gifts Definitions and Descriptions

13. Temporary Gifts ….. 14.Gift of Faith – pistis- 1 Cor.12:8-10 & 1 Cor.12:28. Not saving faith or faith defined in Heb.11:1. This is the faith lacked by the disciples to do miracles as indicated in Mt.17:14-21. This this Gift is the prerequisite of the ‘healing’ and ‘miracles’. 15.Gift of Healing – iaomai – 1 Cor. 12:8-10, 1 Cor.12:28 – Not the healing by prayer, but healing power as a Gift as exercised by Christ and Apostles. Healing as a Gift subsequently got waned as evident in Paul, Timothy, Triphimas ( 2 Tim.4:20) 16.Gift of Miracles –Dunamis – 1 Cor.12: 8-10, 12:28 - In 12:28 it is shown as secondary Gifts after the supporting Gifts. These three Gifts were given to authenticate the revelations of God to the Apostles and prophets as in the case of Moses and Joshua and Elijah and Elisha. As per Hebrews 2: 3&4, these Gifts were in order to ‘confirm’ the NT revelations.

14. Temporary Gifts …. 17.Gift of other tongues & 18.Gift of Interpretation of Tongues – 1 Cor. 12:8-10, 12:28. These Gifts ceased themselves by the completion of revelations as per 1 Cor.13:8.

15. Functional Division Functional Division Sign Gifts -1Cor.12:8- 10, 28 Service Gifts – Romans 12:6&10 Supporting Gifts – Ephesians 4:11, Rom12:28 Word of Wisdom, Word of Knowledge Serving,Apostles Faith, Healing, Working of Miracles, Prophecy, Discerning of spirits GivingProphets Tongues, Interpretation of Tongues, Showing MercyEvangelists Teachers Pastor -Teachers Administration /ruling

16. CESSATION OF SIGN GIFTS 1 COR. 12:8, 9 & 10 groups the whole 9 sign gifts into three by the usage of Greek word ‘ heteros’, means ‘another kind’. Paul confirm these three groups in 1 Cor. 13:8. A. Gifts of knowledge ( 1 Cor.13:8) Word of wisdom & Word of knowledge B. Gifts of Prophecy ( 1 Cor.13:8) Faith, Healing, Working of miracles, prophecy, discerning spirits. C. Gifts of Tongues ( 1 Cor.13:8) Tongues, Interpretation of Tongues

17. Cessation of Sign Gifts ( Cont.).. But whether there be prophecies (pl), they shall fail ( shall be being discarded - future passive voice) whether there be tongues (pl) they shall cease ( future middle voice rendering a meaning shall cease itself) whether there be knowledge(pl) it shall vanish away ( shall be being discarded) - 1 Cor13:8 WHEN? Verse 9 & 10.

18. Cessation ….. That which is perfect ( to teleion) is used as an adjective in neutral gender. * Cannot be related to the Lord Jesus Christ - Noun used in masculine gender. *Cannot be related to the coming of Christ as the related Greek words Parousia, Ephiphania, Apokalupsis, etc. are used in feminine gender. *Cannot be related to Eternity as the Greek word Aion is used in feminine gender. But, what is to teleion? The Greek words used for Bible are Biblion & Rhema and used in neutral gender.