Putting spiritual gifts in perspective

[Ezra]

When Christians discuss spiritual gifts today, they generally focus on the sign gifts and insist that all the sign gifts are operational (which is not really true). But the non-spectacular gifts are generally ignored. There are twenty one spiritual gifts mentioned in the Bible, but all we hear about are tongues and healings.

There are five portions of the New Testament in which the gifts of the Holy Spirit are mentioned – Mark 16:17-18, Romans 12:3-8, 1 Corinthians 12-14, Ephesians 4:4-16, and 1 Peter 4:10-11. Also, we have what were called “the signs of an apostle”, which overlap these gifts (2 Corinthians 12:12 and Hebrews 2:1-4).

sign gifts

1. Exorcism (casting out devils)

2. Tongues (speaking with new tongues)

3. Immunity to snake venom

4. Immunity to poisonous drinks

5. Healings

6. Miracles (signs, wonders, mighty deeds, gifts of the Holy Ghost)

OTHER GIFTS

7. Apostles

8. Prophets

9. Evangelists

10. Pastors

11. Teachers

12. Ministry (serving)

13. Exhortation or speaking (preaching)

14. Giving

15. Ruling (governments)

16. Mercy

17. Wisdom

18. Knowledge

19. Faith

20. Helps

21. Discerning of spirits

Purpose of the sign gifts

The sign gifts were associated with miracles (since miracles were deemed by the Hebrews to be signs from God), and these miracles were designed to authenticate the prophet or apostle as well as his message – “God bearing them witness”.  Thus the miracles wrought by Christ authenticated His Divine authority (Acts 2:22).  This also applied to the apostles and their companions as seen below:

Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds... How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will? (2 Corinthians 12:12 and Hebrews 2:3,4).

Since (1) the apostles are now in Heaven, (2) we have a complete Bible, and (3) “faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God”, there is no further need for sign gifts (which were primarily for the Jews and Israel).

PURPOSE OF THE OTHER GIFTS

In brief, the other spiritual gifts are for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, and for the edifying of the Body of Christ (Ephesians 4:11-16):

And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

THE PROBLEM TODAY

From general observation, it appears that the majority of Christians do not really know what their spiritual gifts are.  As a result, they do not exercise them as they should.  Furthermore, most churches do not teach about all the gifts as they should, neither do they encourage each and every believer to exercise all of their gifts within the churches.