TOOL KIT TABLE OF CONTENTS
Sermon Passage breakdown for Sundays
Three Foundational Questions on Spiritual Gifts
The Specific Gifts of the Holy Spirit
Let us now turn to the specific matter of Paul’s attention in these chapters of First Corinthians. Obviously there was some confusion, condescension, self-rejection, misunderstanding and misappropriation of spiritual gifts in the church of Corinth. To understand the situation more clearly we must first survey the gifts themselves, working towards a biblical and practical understanding of each of them.
The gifts of the Holy Spirit are explicitly mentioned in five passages of the New Testament:
As a way of getting to know the Father’s heart in His grace gifts, let’s proceed briefly through each spiritual gift, simply in the order in which they appear in the Scripture passages listed above. Some background will be provided for each. There is obviously a great diversity of opinion on some of the particulars of these gifts. But we must start somewhere, so the following descriptions are aimed at biblical accuracy and contextual clarity, especially as Paul and Peter discuss them in their epistles.
As you read, take note of which gifts seem to connect with your experiences with the Lord and how He has already used you in the lives of others. This could be the first clue to which gift(s) the Father has given you.
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In this first term, many see the fiery face of someone foretelling a dismal future. But that picture is not the full story. There is a technical use (very strict interpretation of usage) of the term “prophet” in the Old and New Testament. Technically speaking, this was an individual who heard directly from God and was commissioned by God with a responsibility to deliver God’s message to others. Think of Elijah, Isaiah, Zechariah, Ezekiel, Micah, Nathan (some wrote and collected their oracles, some did not). But, much like the apostle below, the spiritual gift of prophecy seems to be wider than this technical use, illustrated simply by the fact that Paul discusses this gift with members of a local New Testament church. Prophecy, as a gift, is best described in 1 Corinthians 14, where Paul says “One who prophesies speaks to men for edification and exhortation and consolation. ...one who prophesies edifies the church” (14:3-4).
Paul also says that prophecy is a “greater” gift than speaking in tongues (14:5; 39), to which we will come in due course. This comparison may reflect a specific question or controversy in the Corinthian church. Later Paul says “prophecy is for a sign, not to unbelievers, but to those who believe” (14:22). Finally, Paul reveals “if all [in the church] prophesy, and an unbeliever or an ungifted man enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all; the secrets of his heart are disclosed; and so he will fall on his face and worship God, declaring that God is certainly among you” (14:24-25). Taking all of these inspired revelations into account, prophecy seems to be an active speaking gift of special insight and spiritual edification that may overlap somewhat with the gift of exhortation, teaching, speaking or words of knowledge and wisdom. Notice prophecy appears in each list except First Peter, and is “second” on the prioritized list in 1 Corinthians 12:28.
This gift is not greatly expanded upon in our texts, but it is not difficult to discern. The Greek term is diakonia, and is the root of the word and office of deacon. This term describes a role of service, support, administration or mediation. It is used 34 times in the New Testament and is most often translated “ministry.” This gift is mentioned in Romans 12 and 1 Peter 4. Please remember this is a spiritual gift. While a generalized service may seem common, the spiritual gift of service is exceptional and noteworthy. Men and women with a practical employment and enjoyment of this gift are desperately needed in the local church. They possess a God-given and Spirit-infused facility to serve the family of the church in various ways. Thus they experience both joy and success in the service. Hospitality, which is perhaps mentioned as a specific gift in 1 Peter 4:9, may also be a specific aspect of the gift of service.