A) INTRODUCTION.

B) SPIRITUAL GIFTS.

C) SPIRITUAL GIFTS LIST.

D) DEFINITION OF A GIFT.

 

 

A) INTRODUCTION

 

 

Not to be confused with, “Fruits Of The Spirit,” which are acquired, or grown, or given, just like talents.  Whereas, gifts are given.  Where does a gift come from, since you cannot learn a gift?  In this instance (Biblically) we would hope that you would conclude -- from God.

 

Something to always keep in remembrance -- the role of Spiritual Gifts and talents is to exalt our Lord Jesus Christ and His cause; just like The Holy Spirit magnifies Him and provides those gifts for that purpose.  To exalt the “gift” above that of the Gift Giver, is to essentially say:  “Look at me, look at what I can do,” thus detracting from the Spiritual work of our Lord and taking credit where credit is not due.

 

 

B) SPIRITUAL GIFTS

 

 

Here is the concluding state of the “Spiritual Gifts” as mentioned in First Peter 4:11:  “that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ.”  And here is First Peter 2:5:  “to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.”  And here is First Corinthians 10:31:  “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.”  Also, never forgetting were the gift(s) came from in the first place:  “Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us.”  Romans 12:6.

 

There is an interesting statement in regards to “Spiritual Gifts” by Paul, as found in Romans 1:11:  “For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established.”  Of course, we would be inclined to believe that this ability is only an attribute of our Lord.  However, as an instrument and ambassador of Such, by being face to face with them, by the laying on of hands, prayer, preaching the Gospel, and private conversation, Paul was better able to inspire them to begin using theirs.

 

With such gifts, the Corinthians, who had enjoyed the presence of Paul, then abounded (1Co. 1:7; 12:1; 14:1).  Likewise, so did the Galatians (Gal. 3:5).  And indeed, all those Churches, which had the privilege and presence of any of the Apostles, had the peculiar advantages in this in that they were then able to begin their laying on of their hands themselves (Acts 8:17; 19:6; 2Ti. 1:6); passing on what was given.  But as yet, the Romans were greatly inferior to the Corinthians in this respect, for which reason the Apostle says little, if any thing, of their “Spiritual Gifts.”  He therefore desires to impart some “spiritual gift,” that they might be established; for by these was the testimony of Christ confirmed among them.

 

The word “chaisma,” meaning “Spiritual Gifts,” with a single exception (1Pe. 4:10), occurs in the New Testament only in the Pauline Epistles, and in the plural form it is employed in a technical sense to denote extraordinary gifts of the Spirit bestowed upon Christians in order to equip them for the service of the Church.  Various lists of “charismata”(same Greek word with a slightly different application), are given in Romans 12:6-8; First Corinthians 12:4-11 & 28-30; Ephesians 4:7-12; and First Peter 4:8-11; none of which, it is evident, are exhaustive.

 

Some of the gifts enumerated cannot be said to belong in any peculiar sense to the distinctive category.  “Faith,” as found in First Corinthians 12:9 for example, is the essential condition of all Christian life; though there were, no doubt, those who were endowed with faith beyond their fellows.  “Giving” and “mercy,” as found in Romans 12:8, are among the ordinary graces of the Christian character; though some would possess them more than others.  “Ministry,” as found in Romans 2:7, again, i.e., “service,” was the function to which every Christian was called and the purpose to which every one of the special gifts was to be devoted (see Eph. 4:12).

 

Thus, the term “charisma,” is applied to any spiritual benefit endowed and confirmed by Christians in the faith.  This last statement cannot be overemphasized.  If one believes he has a certain gift of the Holy Spirit, it should be confirmed and recognized by fellow believers.  Let others speak of you, not you of yourself.

 

 

C) SPIRITUAL GIFTS LIST

 

 

As far as a Biblical list of “Spiritual Gifts” is concerned, here they are as given in Romans 12:6-8; First Corinthians 12:4-11 & 28-30; Ephesians 4:7-12; and First Peter 4:8-11:

 

(Romans) Prophecy; ministry; teaching; exhortation; giving; ruling; showing mercy; (First Corinthians) differences of administrations; diversities of operations; word of wisdom; word of knowledge; faith; gifts of healing; the working of miracles; prophecy; discerning of spirits; divers kinds of tongues; interpretation of tongues; (Ephesians) apostles; prophets; teachers; miracle workers; gifts of healings; helps; governments; diversities of tongues; grace; apostles; prophets; evangelists; pastors; teachers; (First Peter) charity; hospitality; minister; speak; minister.

 

However, never forget verse 12 of Ephesians, Chapter 4:  “For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.”  Other than for the glory of our Lord, these are the reasons for the giving of any of the “Spiritual Gifts.”

 

 

D) DEFINITION OF A GIFT

 

 

Another definition of a “Spiritual Gift” is:  “A God-given empowerment to minister to others.”  See Ephesians 4:11-12.  By contrast, Jesus explains in Matthew 15:5 that a “gift” is given without something expected in return: “But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me.”

 

From my favorite Bible Commentator again:

 

“[351] As he {Paul} worked at his trade, the apostle had access to a class of people that he could not otherwise have reached.  He showed his associates [352] that skill in the common arts is a gift from God, Who provides both the gift and the wisdom to use it aright.”  AA:351-352; CC:96.7.

 

“Daniel’s parents had trained him in his childhood to habits of strict temperance.  They had taught him that he must conform to nature’s laws in all his habits; that his eating and drinking had a direct influence upon his physical, mental, and moral nature, and that he was accountable to God for his capabilities; for he held them all as a gift from God and must not, by any course of action, dwarf or cripple them.  As the result of this teaching, the Law of God was exalted in his mind and reverenced in his heart.” CG:166.

 

“The thought that the righteousness of Christ is imputed to us, not because of any merit on our part, but as a free gift from God, is a precious thought.”  FLB:111.6; GW92:103.2.  NOTE:  “impute” means “to attribute,” while “impart” means “to give.”):

 

 

E) DEFINITION OF A TALENT

 

 

Matthew 25:14-30; Luke 19:12-27:  “one He gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability” = A “talent” from God is:  “The ability that God has given us in order to be a blessing to others.”  Now here is a key point.  God determines the amount of talents given to each individual, but man determines the increase.  In fact, God has determined mankind’s mission on earth as being an instrument in adding to and being a multiplier to His kingdom.  Jesus Himself states in Matthew 13:8:  “But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold.”

 

From my favorite Bible Commentator:

 

“[38] I was then shown that the parable of the talents has not been fully understood.  This lesson of importance was given to the disciples for the benefit of Christians living in the last days.  And these talents do not represent merely the ability to preach and instruct from the Word of God.  The parable applies to the temporal means which God has entrusted to His people.  Those to whom the five and two talents were given, traded and doubled that which was committed to their trust.  God requires of those who have their possessions here [39] to put their money out to usury for Him, to put it into the cause to spread the truth.”  4bSG:38-39.

 

“Talents that are not needed are not bestowed.”  9T:37.

 

“The talents God has given men and women are not all alike for He would have one supply the need of the other.  He desires His workers to help one another in the discharge of their various duties and thorough accomplishment of the work to which He calls them.”  19MR:264.

 

“The mind is a trust from God.  The powers of the mind are to be cultivated.   They are to be so wisely used that they will increase in strength. Each one is to use his entrusted talents in a way that the greatest good will be done.  The mind is to be educated that the best energies of the soul will be brought out and every faculty be developed.  We must not be contented with a low standard.  We are to move onward from one advanced line of work to another.”  Letter 106, 1901; 2MCP:665.1.

 

“The power of speech is a talent that should be diligently cultivated.  Of all the gifts we have received from God, none is capable of being a greater blessing than this.” ST, July 2, 1902; COL:335; RC:282; VSS:13; VRP:197.  NOTE: Notice that a talent can also be a gift.