Part 4 – The Gifts of the Holy Spirit

Gifts of the Holy Spirit Today many people claim the gifts of the Holy Spirit, including speaking in tongues We have some questions for which we want Bible answers Read 1 Corinthians 12:4-11 We are told that the gifts were distributed as the Holy Spirit willed, but nowhere in 1 Corinthians are we told how the gifts were given by the Holy Spirit wisdom distinguishing of spirits knowledge miracles tongues prophecy healing faith interpretation of tongues Gifts of the Holy Spirit

Gifts of the Holy Spirit Our initial question is: How are the gifts of the Holy Spirit given? The Spirit is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8) The Holy Spirit never operates in a manner contradictory to His written word – see John 10:35 Therefore, the Spirit gives the gifts in the same way now as He did in the New Testament Gifts of the Holy Spirit

Gifts of the Holy Spirit Read Acts 8:14-19 A man named Philip (not the apostle) was one of the seven men set apart in Acts 6 Philip went to Samaria to preach the gospel As Philip preached, he confirmed the word with signs and wonders, and many Samaritans believed and were being immersed in the name of Jesus Gifts of the Holy Spirit

When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John Peter and John came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Spirit The Spirit had not yet fallen upon any of them; they had simply been immersed in the name of the Lord Jesus Peter and John began laying their hands on them and they were receiving the Holy Spirit Gifts of the Spirit

Gifts of the Spirit Consider these points: The Scripture doesn’t contradict itself The baptism with the Spirit isn’t indicated here, for it was given by Jesus (not the apostles), and consisted of a sound like a mighty wind, tongues like fire, and speaking in other languages The indwelling of the Spirit isn’t indicated here, for the indwelling is given at immersion in Jesus’ name, which all of these had received Whatever it was concerning the Spirit that was given in Samaria, it was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands Gifts of the Spirit

Let’s guess that it was the gifts of the Spirit which were given in this fashion Let’s test our guess by digging further into the Scripture Read 1 Corinthians 14:26-33 In this passage, we find that two gifts in particular are mentioned Gift of tongues Gift of prophecy Gifts of the Spirit

Paul gives specific instructions concerning these two gifts If there was no interpreter, the user of the gift of tongues was to keep silent in the church A prophet was to stop speaking and let another talk, if that other received a revelation while the first was prophesying The gift of prophecy was under the control of the user – see verse 30 The principle is that the user of the gift is in control of his own gift and can use it, not use it, or misuse it at his discretion Gifts of the Spirit

Gifts of the Spirit Read 2 Timothy 1:6 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus, tells Timothy to “rekindle the gift of God that is in you by the laying on of my hands” A gift that one can “rekindle” or “fire up” is obviously under the control of the user Notice the parallel between the gifts of 1 Corinthians and this gift that was in Timothy – in both cases, the gift was under the control of the user Also notice that Timothy’s gift was in him by the laying on of hands of an apostle Gifts of the Spirit

Gifts of the Spirit In Acts 6:6, the apostles laid hands on seven men In Acts 6:8, we find that Stephen (one of those seven) is suddenly performing great signs and miracles Stephen had possession of these gifts of the Holy Spirit after the apostles laid hands on him In Acts 8:4-7, we find Philip (another of the seven) also performing signs and miracles This too was after the apostles laid hands on him Gifts of the Spirit

In Acts 19, Paul immersed about 12 men in the name of Jesus for the forgiveness of sins and that they might receive the gift of the Holy Spirit Read Acts 19:6 Paul laid hands on them; then they began to speak in tongues and prophesy Gifts of the Spirit

We now have an answer to our question as to how the gifts of the Spirit were given The gifts of the Spirit, without exception, are given in the New Testament by the laying on of the apostles’ hands The Holy Spirit continues to operate in our day as He did in the pages of the New Testament Since there are no living apostles of Christ now, no one in our time can receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit Gifts of the Spirit

We can cross-check our conclusion by asking another question: Does the Bible give us information concerning the duration of the gifts of the Spirit? Read 1 Corinthians 13:8-13 After exhorting the Corinthians to use their gifts in love, Paul then compares something that is “in part” with something that is “perfect” He points out that the gifts of the Spirit (particularly prophecy, knowledge, and tongues) are temporary – they are in part Gifts of the Spirit

He then compares those partial gifts to something that is perfect The words translated “the perfect” are the Greek words to telion – a something, not a someone The Scripture here refers to something that is complete, in contrast to something that is partial Gifts of the Spirit

The only thing which is “complete” which can be contrasted with the “partial” is the New Testament The New Testament writings are now complete, but were only in the making at the time of Paul’s writing to the Corinthians The gifts were “partial” and were only in use until the “complete” came With the completion of the New Testament, the gifts were phased out Gifts of the Spirit

Notice the usage of the word “mirror” in 1 Corinthians 13:12 In James 1:21-25, the “mirror” is clearly the New Testament Also notice that James calls the New Testament “the perfect law” This is consistent with usage of “the perfect” in 1 Corinthians 13 2 Corinthians chapter 3 contrasts the Old Testament with the New Testament 2 Corinthians 3:18 also calls the New Testament “the mirror” Gifts of the Spirit

Even Paul only “knew in part and prophesied in part” When the New Testament was completed, these “childish things” were done away Now the mature church in the “man” stage could begin to operate Prior to the completed New Testament, men could only see themselves incompletely Now we can know ourselves “fully” just as we have been “fully known” – see Hebrews 4:12 Gifts of the Spirit

This checks with the conclusion we reached from a different direction The gifts of the Spirit died out when the apostles died, and could no longer pass them on through the laying on of hands The New Testament was completed when John wrote the book of Revelation sometime around AD 95 Most of the other apostles had been dead 30 or 40 years by this time Gifts of the Spirit

One final question needs to be answered in reference to the gifts of the Spirit What was the purpose of the gifts? In the New Testament church, prior to the completion of the New Testament, it would be very important for someone to have the various gifts of the Spirit Gifts of the Spirit

Gifts of the Spirit How does a person know that Jesus is coming soon? We have the book of Revelation; 1st century church had the gift of prophecy How does a person know the qualifications of elders? We have the text of 1 Timothy; 1st century church had the gift of knowledge Whereas we have the completed Scriptures, the first century church needed the gifts of the Spirit to confirm the word – see Hebrews 2:3,4 Gifts of the Spirit

Today we can say, “Thus says the Lord,” and then quote the Scripture How could they test the spirits during the time when the New Testament was still being written? It would be important for someone to have the gift of “distinguishing of spirits” Gifts of the Spirit

This is why it was necessary for Peter and John, apostles of Jesus Christ, to come up to Samaria from Jerusalem and lay hands on the new Samaritan Christians Philip was leaving Samaria Who would teach them further? The apostles came up and laid hands on them, and the Spirit gave gifts as He willed Thus the church in Samaria was established – see Romans 1:11 – not lacking any gift – see 1 Corinthians 1:7 Gifts of the Spirit

Gifts of the Spirit Summary The gifts of the Spirit were given by the laying on of the apostles’ hands They consisted of nine different manifestations They were necessary in the early church The gifts lasted until the writings of the New Testament were completed The user of the spiritual gift was in control at all times, and was exhorted to use his gift in a spirit of love Gifts of the Spirit

Part 5 – The Filling With the Holy Spirit and 2 special studies