Concerning Spiritual Gifts

GIFT OF KNOWLEDGE

The gift of knowledge is the special ability that God gives to certain members of the Body of Christ to discover, accumulate, analyze and clarify information and ideas which are pertinent to the well-being of the Body.

SUGGESTED POTENTIAL STRENGTHS & CHARACTERISTICS OF THIS GIFT

• Is able to speak by divine revelation the specific facts (Matthew 21:2; Mark 14:13-15; Acts 5:1-3).
• Ability to supernaturally know certain facts
• Is able to reveal to individuals or groups their specific needs (John 4:16-26; Acts 9:11-12, 17; Luke 5:2-4).
• Receives supernatural facts or information (Matthew 16:16-17; Acts 10:19).
• Is able to discern the voice of the Lord (Acts 10:17-23).
• Humility and childlikeness (Luke 10:21).
• Is able to discern what is in a man’s heart (Acts 14:9; John 2:24).

SUGGESTED POTENTIAL WEAKNESSES & WARNINGS OF THIS GIFT

• May have false impulses that are contradictory to God’s Word or revelation.
• Extreme care must be taken in the case of secrets revealed.
• Might have a tendency to use acquired knowledge through observation, conversation and reveal it as a Word of Knowledge.
• Might try to operate on one’s own experience of God and His ways rather than supernatural revelation.
• Can be a source of pride with the individual.

GOOD BIBLICAL EXAMPLES – ELISHA & PETER

GIFT OF FAITH

The gift of faith is the special ability that God gives to certain members of the Body of Christ to discern with extraordinary confidence the will and purposes of God for His work.

The Faith of Moses

²³ By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the king’s command. ²⁴ By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, ²⁵ choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the ^[g]passing pleasures of sin, ²⁶ esteeming the ^[h]reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures ^[i]in Egypt; for he looked to the reward.

²⁷ By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured as seeing Him who is invisible. ²⁸ By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, lest he who destroyed the firstborn should touch them.

²⁹ By faith they passed through the Red Sea as by dry land, whereas the Egyptians, attempting to do so, were drowned.

Hebrews 11:23-29

SUGGESTED POTENTIAL STRENGTHS & CHARACTERISTICS OF THIS GIFT

• Often more interested in the future than history (Acts 27:25).

²⁵ So take heart, men, for I have faith in God that it will be exactly as I have been told.

Acts 27:25

•  Unmoved by circumstances, suffering, or obstacles (Acts 13:46-52).
• Great trust in God (Acts 14:8-10).
• Positive attitude, hopeful.
• Often are visionaries, dreamers, promoters (Acts 9:27).
• Very courageous (Acts 6:5; 7:1-60; 27:25).
• Senses the moment when “prayer of faith” is needed (Acts 3:1-10).
• Is goal centered (Acts 27:25).
• Actively reminds others of the promises of God.

SUGGESTED POTENTIAL WEAKNESSES & WARNINGS OF THIS GIFT

• May be viewed as non-realist because of positive attitudes.
• Can become impatient when others don’t have their kind of positive faith outlook.
• Have a difficult time understanding “the system” and why it works as it does to slow down progress.
• Exercise Gift of Faith without works.
• Often irritated by criticism because they are assured they know God’s will.

GOOD BIBLICAL EXAMPLES =ABRAHAM / MOSES

GIFT OF HEALING

The gift of healing is the special ability that God gives to certain members of the Body of Christ to serve as human intermediaries through whom it pleases God to cure illness and restore health apart from the use of natural means.

Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. ² And a man lame from birth was being carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple that is called the Beautiful Gate to ask alms of those entering the temple. ³ Seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked to receive alms. ⁴ And Peter directed his gaze at him, as did John, and said, “Look at us.” ⁵ And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them. ⁶ But Peter said, “I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!” ⁷ And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong. ⁸ And leaping up, he stood and began to walk, and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God. ⁹ And all the people saw him walking and praising God, ¹⁰ and recognized him as the one who sat at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, asking for alms. And they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

ACTS 3:1-10

SUGGESTED POTENTIAL STRENGTHS & CHARACTERISTICS OF THIS GIFT

• Enjoys and senses the need to pray for the healing of the sick (1 Corinthians 14:1; John 5:14-16).
• Has great faith that God can heal apart from natural means (Acts 3:6).
• Has compassion on others who are sick or suffering and is willing to take time in ministering healing to them (Acts 3:6; 9:32-42).
• Has experienced miraculous healing of their own body.
• Understands that Jesus is the healer and hence faith is directed away from self (Acts 3:12).

SUGGESTED POTENTIAL WEAKNESSES & WARNINGS OF THIS GIFT

• Temptation to pride—boasting after a clear manifestation of the power of God
• Tendency to become critical toward others who try to rationalize sickness or who do not believe in God’s power to heal.
• May become discouraged if healing does not take place.
• Temptation to stop listening to God and operate in his own strength or in the flesh.
• Temptation to doubt God’s power, especially with a drastic sickness or illness.
• Temptation to rush through prayer for the sick and tell the person to “just receive your healing.”

GOOD BIBLICAL EXAMPLES – PETER & PAUL

GIFT OF MIRACLES

The gift of miracles is the special ability that God gives to certain members of the Body of Christ to serve as human intermediaries through whom it pleases God to perform powerful acts that are perceived by observers to have altered the ordinary course of nature.

“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father.

John 14:12:

SUGGESTED POTENTIAL STRENGTHS & CHARACTERISTICS OF THIS GIFT

• Often sees supernatural miracles (Acts 5:1-10; 13:8-11).
• Has a great interest in supernaturalism rather than naturalism (Acts 20:9-12).
• Is compassionate.
• Can point to specific instances where their prayers resulted in miracles (Acts 9:32-41).

SUGGESTED POTENTIAL WEAKNESSES & WARNINGS OF THIS GIFT

• Can be easily abused through selfishness or pride.
• May feel that everything is okay between them and the Lord because they have done miracles (Matthew 7:21).

GIFT OF PROPHECY

The gift of prophecy is the special ability that God gives to certain members of the Body of Christ to receive and communicate an immediate message of God to His people through a divinely anointed utterance.

SUGGESTED POTENTIAL STRENGTHS & CHARACTERISTICS OF THIS GIFT

• Builds up the community. The whole purpose is positive, although there may be admonition and warning, even exhortation, to desist from some evil. Has a real lifting power and gives real light on the truth to those who hear.
• Finds consent and agreement in the minds and hearts of others in the community. There should be a prevailing sense in the community that the prophecy was divinely inspired.
• May be spoken in a variety of ways as the Lord Himself wills it.
• It comes forth in the power of the Spirit of God.
• Spontaneity marks such an occasion, and the words are divinely inspired.
• The prophetic word should be given in an orderly manner (1 Corinthians 14:26-40).
• Not infallible and the utterance must be judged by the infallible Word of God. The person should be humble enough to allow his word to be judged (1 Corinthians 14:29). If it is the mind of God, there is nothing to fear.

29 Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others judge.

1 Corinthians 14:29

• Prophecy has a vital connection with faith; the individual must prophesy according to the measure of faith (Romans 12:6).

⁶ Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith;

Romans 12:6

• Paul has a tendency to prefer prophecy to other gifts (1 Corinthians 14:1).
• It may convict nonbelievers (1 Corinthians 14:24-25).
• Prophecy should be harmonious with God’s Word; it must not take away from nor add to Scripture, but should intensify and quicken that which has already been given to us from God (1 Corinthians 14:27-33; Revelation 22:19).
• It may be spoken in a variety of ways; it is the Lord speaking through a human vessel (1 Corinthians 14:3-6, 27-33), in the power of the Holy Spirit (12:4-11).
• Speaks as one speaking the very words of God (1 Peter 4:10-11). 

SUGGESTED POTENTIAL WEAKNESSES & WARNINGS OF THIS GIFT

• Must remain humble enough to allow your prophecy to be judged.
• Must remain on guard against anything designed to make you think that you are superior to those whom God has put in the church to rule the church.
• Forgets to praise partial progress (due to goal consciousness).
• Can be misused if not properly judged (1 Corinthians 14:29).
• Not all prophecies may be of God (2 Corinthians 11:3-4, 13-15; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-2). (False prophets)
• The person giving the prophecy may be forbidden or hindered by leaders or the congregation (1 Thessalonians 5:19-20).

¹⁹ Do not quench the Spirit. ²⁰ Do not despise prophecies.

1 Thessalonians 5:19-20

GOOD BIBLICAL EXAMPLES – JEREMIAH & ISAIAH & ELIJAH & EZEKIEL & MICAH , many more

GIFT OF DISCERNMENT

The gift of discernment is the special ability that God gives to certain members of the Body of Christ to know with assurance whether certain behavior purported to be of God is in reality divine, human or satanic.

SUGGESTED POTENTIAL STRENGTHS & CHARACTERISTICS OF THIS GIFT

• Able to tell good spirits from evil spirits and right spirits from wrong spirits (1 John 4:1).

4 Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.

1 John 4:1

• Enjoys spending time in and gaining a deeper understanding of God’s Word.
• Quick to recognize whether a specific teaching is true, false, or misleading.
• Often able to sense the true motivation lying behind the words and actions of others.
• Able to understand the spirits operating (1 Corinthians 14:29; Mark 5:6-13).
• Able to discern the spiritual condition of individuals (Acts 16:16-18).
• Sensitive to environments.

SUGGESTED POTENTIAL WEAKNESSES & WARNINGS OF THIS GIFT

• Can be viewed as a suspicion rather than a perception.
• Others may view discernment of subtle cues as personal bias or an overreaction; conversely, personal bias may masquerade as discernment.
• Tends to be judgmental; can lack mercy.
• May struggle to separate the person from spirit driving the person.
• An incorrect judgment of someone could cause great harm to that individual and to the Body of Christ.
• Have a tendency to forget using the authority of Jesus’ name (Jude 8-10; 2 Peter 2:1-11) and opening the door to spirit activity in his/her own life.
• May have a quick fix mentality regarding evil (Luke 11:24-26).

GOOD BIBLICAL EXAMPLES – PAUL & THE CHURCH AT EPHESUS

GIFT OF TONGUES

The gift of tongues is the special ability that God gives to certain members of the Body of Christ (a) to speak to God in a language they have never learned and/or (b) to receive and communicate an immediate message of God to his people through a divinely anointed utterance in a language they never learned.

SUGGESTED POTENTIAL STRENGTHS & CHARACTERISTICS OF THIS GIFT

• Has publicly spoken in an unlearned language (Acts 2:4).
• Enjoys prayer.
• Is personally edified by speaking in tongues (1 Corinthians 14:4, 17).
• The individual must do the speaking, although the Holy Spirit gives the words (Acts 2:4).
• This gift may be expressed as a form of prayer and also as a way of singing (1 Corinthians 14:14,15; Romans 8:26-27).
• The use of this gift has a strong relationship to the gift of the “interpretation of tongues.” For example in the context of a church service:
  • a. The one who speaks in a tongue should pray that he may interpret what he says (1 Corinthians 14:13) or know that someone present will be able to interpret or otherwise just speak quietly to God (1 Corinthians 14:28).
  • b. It is the accompanying gift of the “interpretation of tongues” that allows the church to be edified (1 Corinthians 14:5-19).
• May have experienced tongues as a sign of the initial reception of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:4; 10:44-46; 19:6).
• Sometimes speaks in a known language, yet unknown to the speaker (Acts 2:4-6).
• Tendency towards boldness in prayer.

SUGGESTED POTENTIAL WEAKNESSES & WARNINGS OF THIS GIFT

• Uncontrolled use and overemphasis can create confusion, distraction, and discomfort within local church.
• Tendency to overemphasize importance of tongues over other spiritual gifts
• May tend to view tongues as the “end-all” gift, failing to seek other gifts as well.
• May tend towards using gift loudly, ecstatically, or in a highly demonstrative manner; may question the commitment, ardency, or prayers of “quieter” believers.
• May so heavily rely on praying in tongues they feel uncomfortable or unprepared to pray for someone in their own language.
• May be tempted towards feelings of superiority or seniority over believers that have not experienced this gift.
• Tendency to force gift on others.
• May be viewed as too much “experience-oriented.”

GOOD BIBLICAL EXAMPLES – PAUL

QUESTIONS

Do you believe God can give you any of these gifts?

After studying these are there any gifts you desire?

Have you seen people use any of these gifts?