Discovering your spiritual gifts by way of your abilities

1 Corinthians 12:1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware.

Discovering your spiritual gifts
Today we continue on with where we left off two days ago with respect to understanding how one discovers their spiritual gifts. Whenever a Christian wants to discover what spiritual graces or gifts God has given them, it is sometimes helpful to take a spiritual gifts test.  

As you study the Bible's teaching on spiritual gifts, three areas are used by God in developing every Christian: their calling, burdens and opportunities.  In yesterday's post I gave the reader the first part of the spiritual gifts test that evaluates a Christian's gifts in the realm of their calling.  In this particular part of the test, you will be answering questions pertaining to the area of your God-given abilities. Think of a spiritual gift test as a compass to point you in the right direction.  I would encourage the reader to read the next several days of blogs, since today's post is the second leg of the spiritual gift's test - namely the area of your abilities. 

Directions: At the end of each question circle the numbered response that best reflects how you really feel: 1=Never; 2= Once in a while; 3=Many times; 4= Always.  

The Gifts looked for in this test (Look back at the day before yesterday's post for definitions): Missionary, Reformer, Soul winner, Shepherd, Teacher, Leader, Communicator, Exhorter, Hospitality, Helps/Service, Administrator, Encourager, Giver, Mercy, Wisdom, Knowledge, Discerner, Intercessor

YOUR ABILITIES = “What I am capable of doing by God’s strength”  Please circle 1 answer

1. I can adapt quickly to new people or cultures in order to openly share Christ                                                                                      1 2 3 4

2. I can point out to people a possible direction that God might be leading them            1 2 3 4

3. I have no problem sharing the gospel in different ways with my friends/family                                                                            1 2 3 4

4. People tend to confide in me when looking for practical biblical solutions to life                                                                            1 2 3 4

5. I can spend hours studying commentaries that uncover the Bible’s deeper meaning                                                                        1 2 3 4

6. I can get a group of people excited about aiming at and accomplishing God’s goals                                                                      1 2 3 4

7. People have told me that I have a knack for explaining things in a simple way                                                                                  1 2 3 4

8. I can cut away the “fluff” and get to the true root of what’s causing spiritual imbalance                                                                     1 2 3 4

9. I can make my home a very welcome place where you’d want to come and fellowship                                                                     1 2 3 4

10.  I serve best and get results when I’m working behind the scenes or under someone                                                              1 2 3 4

11.  If people are needed to be given tasks to accomplish a goal, I can help out                                                                                  1 2 3 4

12. I make phone-calls, send cards and say words to help people cope through issues                                                                     1 2 3 4

13.  I have been blessed with the resources and willingness to give whatever it takes to God                                                       1 2 3 4

14. I can love the un-loveable, and I find it hard to say “no”                                                                                                               1 2 3 4

15. I can counsel people whenever the need arises to be asked for biblical advice                                                                             1 2 3 4

16. I can recall scripture or biblical examples that have met specific problems or situations                                                                1 2 3 4

17. I can sense when something or someone is either for or against God                                                                                             1 2 3 4

18. I can tell what needs to be prayed for and persevere in prayer until the need is met                                                                       1 2 3 4

Enjoyment of Jesus Christ - Reflections upon John 3:22-36

John 3:22-24 "After these things Jesus and His disciples came into the land of Judea, and there He was spending time with them and baptizing. 23 John also was baptizing in Aenon near Salim, because there was much water there; and people were coming and were being baptized— 24 for John had not yet been thrown into prison."

Introduction:

I thought today we would break away momentarily from our study on the spiritual gifts to consider the chief end for which they are given: namely enjoyment of Jesus Christ. We can scarcely miss the significance of Jesus' miracles, teachings and conversations that stretch from John 1:19-3:21. In today's post we want to consider the importance of John the Baptist's testimony about Jesus and Jesus further remarks following John's testimony in John 3:22-36. Specifically, we want to consider the joy we can find in Jesus Christ as the treasure of our soul. The appearance of the "bridegroom" theme in this text prompts us to focus in on how Jesus causes joy in John the Baptist's life. John the Baptist is recorded saying in John 3:29 "He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. So this joy of mine has been made full." These remarks are as a pebble thrown into a pond, with the ripples extending from center to circumference. Each verse in John 3:22-36 is affected somehow by the presence of Jesus and the joy He brings. 

Furthermore, the additional remarks Jesus makes at the end of John 3 propels the reader to further consider why it is a joyful enterprise in relating to Jesus Christ on a Personal level. In my own life, the need for enjoyment of Jesus Christ must be met as I face what can be, at times, not-so-joyful trials. Such trials drive me to him. To see Jesus in His Person as the true source of my joy requires further illumination from the Holy Spirit as I attend to the scriptures, prayer and daily reliance upon Him. John the Baptist's words in John 3:30 echo this particular point, wherein he says: "He must increase, but I must decrease." 

As we consider this stretch of scripture, we can note the following of what is entailed in the joy of Jesus Christ...

1. Sovereignly given joy. John 3:24-27
The sequence of John 3:24-36 opens with the disciples of John discussing matters of ritual purification. To have one's conscience purified was, and still is, a matter of utmost importance. How one can obtain peace of mind and heart is pursued very much by every religion, philosophy and effort of people. How could human beings ever hope to experience the joy that comes with all accounts being settled in the courts and chambers of the deepest innermost being? John the Baptist responds to his disciples by explaining the only way such joy can be obtained in John 3:27. We read in John 3:27 "John answered and said, “A man can receive nothing unless it has been given him from heaven."

The joy of peace in the heart is a Sovereignly given reality. True joy is a "top-down" working of God by the Person of the Holy Spirit. In other contexts we discover that the reality spoken of here begins with the New Birth (see John 3:3,6; Titus 3:5-6; James 1:17-18; 1 Peter 1:23). Further thoughts carry us to consider how other spiritual realities such as the strength to live for God in spiritual maturity or "sanctification" is credited to God working in proportion to our cooperation (see Galatians 2:20; Philippians 2:12-13). John Gill in his commentary notes on this point: 

"Yea, this is true of every man, who has nothing of his own; and whatever he has in nature, providence and grace, is a gift to him; and all he enjoys is in a way of receiving: nor can he receive it,
except it be given him from heaven; from God who dwells there...who is the author and donor of every gift, temporal, spiritual, and eternal; particularly he cannot perceive, and discern spiritual things, nor receive Gospel truths; as it appeared to John his disciples could not, unless spiritual light is given from above."

So the enjoyment of Jesus Christ, as with any spiritual grace, must first be Sovereignly given by God to be placed in my otherwise empty hand. Let's notice a second truth about the enjoyment of Jesus Christ, namely...

2. Source of such joy is Jesus Himself. John 3:28-30
As John the Baptist expounds further on this joy that is Sovereignly given by God, we discover that the joy given is not some ethereal, abstract quanity we call "joy". Instead, the joy given is none other than in whatever is connected to the Person of Christ Himself. John the Baptist likens his particular ministry to that of being the "friend of the bridegroom". 

In the days of the first century, the "friend of the bridegroom" was responsible for helping to set the arrangements for the wedding and the events that would bring together the groom and bride-to-be. He was usually the closest friend of the groom, hand-picked as one who could be trusted to make the union of the groom and his bride to go forth without a hitch. The Holman New Testament Commentary remarks: 

"So the bride and bridegroom imagery is well established in both the Old Testament and the New Testament. As the friend of the bridegroom, John emphasized his delight and joy rather than jealousy over Jesus’ arrival and instant popularity. It is said of the pioneer missionary, William Carey, that when he was close to death he turned to a friend and said, “When I am gone, don’t talk about William Carey; talk about William Carey’s Savior. I desire that Christ alone might be magnified.”

The question before us is this: do we enjoy Jesus for the perceived benefits He can bring, or is the joy we have in Jesus Himself? Is Jesus enough? Is He truly my joy? Is the joy of the Lord really our strength (see Nehemiah 8:10)? The Apostle Peter states it best in 1 Peter 1:8 "and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory." Is it no wonder then why John the Baptist was prompted in decrease, so that Jesus might increase. Jesus was His source of joy. 

So enjoyment of Jesus Christ is Sovereignly given, sourced in Jesus Himself and then finally...

Seals us to enjoy Jesus ever more. John 3:31-36
We read in John 3:33 "He who has received His testimony has set his seal to this, that God is true." What does it mean to have the "sealing of God" on one's life as a Christian? A seal in this sense represents an impression one would had found on wax sealing a document or perhaps an impression or words signifying a building constructed in the name of some dignitary. 2 Timothy 2:19 speaks of such a seal upon the Christian - "Nevertheless, the firm foundation of God stands, having this seal, “The Lord knows those who are His,” and, “Everyone who names the name of the Lord is to abstain from wickedness.” Other texts such as Ephesians 1:13-14 reveal to us how such a seal protects us from totally defecting from the faith in the face of sore trials that will most definitely occur prior to our departure from this world. Such a sealing speaks not only of one's position before Christ, but the power to live out and to persevere. Included in our sealing is the fact of the worthiness of Jesus Christ as above all others and things (John 3:31-33); the words of Christ to sustain us (John 3:34-35, also see John 6:67-70) and warnings to those who have not yet trusted in Jesus Christ (John 3:36). 

The joy of Jesus Christ confronts unbelievers who are finding their joy in the flesh or the things of this world. The joy of the Lord Jesus Christ also causes believers to audit their own hearts to see whatever distractions or worries are attempting to quench the flame of love. 

Closing remarks
Today we considered what it means to enjoy Jesus Christ. We noted three important truths about the joy of Jesus Christ as derived from our time in John 3:22-36..

1. Sovereignly given joy. John 3:24-27

2. Source of such joy is Jesus Himself. John 3:28-30

3. Seals us to enjoy Jesus evermore. John 3:31-36

May we be those who enjoy Jesus every day.  

Wednesday August 17th - Discovering you spiritual gifts by way of your calling

1 Corinthians 12:1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware.

Discovering your spiritual gifts
Whenever a Christian wants to discover what spiritual graces or gifts God has given them, it is sometimes helpful to take a spiritual gifts test.  The following spiritual gift test is based upon the 18 gifts that were discussed in the last post. As you study the Bible's teaching on spiritual gifts, three areas are used by God in developing every Christian: their calling, burdens and opportunities.  In this particular test, you will be answering questions pertaining to God's area of your calling. Think of a spiritual gift test as a compass to point you in the right direction.  I would encourage the reader to read the next several days of blogs, since today's post is the first leg of the spiritual gift's test - namely the area of your calling. 

Directions: At the end of each question circle the numbered response that best reflects how you really feel: 1=Never; 2= Once in a while; 3=Many times; 4= Always.  

The Gifts looked for in this test (Look back at yesterday's post for definitions): Missionary, Reformer, Soul winner, Shepherd, Teacher, Leader, Communicator, Exhorter, Hospitality, Helps/Service, Administrator, Encourager, Giver, Mercy, Wisdom, Knowledge, Discerner, Intercessor

YOUR CALLING = “What I’m led or burdened to do” Please circle 1 answer

1. I am burdened to represent Christ to those who have never heard the gospel                                                                               1 2 3 4

2. I feel compelled to speak of where God is wanting to move in today’s church and culture                                                             1 2 3 4

3. I am burdened to think of different ways in sharing the gospel                                                                                                      1 2 3 4

4. I am burdened to direct people to God’s word for answers to life’s issues          1 2 3 4

5. I find it a thrill to unpack God’s word for others to explore                                1 2 3 4                                             

6. Motivating people towards a set of God’s goals excites me                                                                                                        1 2 3 4

7. I am comfortable explaining complex ideas in simple ways for people to understand  1 2 3 4

8. I am burdened to motivate others to focus on God and not their problems                 1 2 3 4

9.  I enjoy opening my home up to Bible studies or get-togethers.                                 1 2 3 4

10. I serve better behind the scenes than out in the public eye                                     1 2 3 4

11. I enjoy analyzing situations and figuring out who needs to go where                       1 2 3 4

12. I desire to pour my soul out to people who need strengthening                             1 2 3 4

13. I endeavor to give all I can without hesitation to further the work of the gospel                                                                  1 2 3 4

14. Its my mission to befriend those who are in emotional or physical need                  1 2 3 4

15. I believe in practical and systematic problem solving before rushing to conclusions                                                            1 2 3 4

16. I desire to use God’s word to give insight into a specific situation or need           1 2 3 4

17.  I make it a priority to pray and proceed cautiously before acting in any situation                                                             1 2 3 4

18. I usually will sense the need to pray-for others and to pray for long stretches of time                                                                 1 2 3 4

Defining the spiritual gifts of the New Testament

1 Corinthians 12:1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware.

Today I want to explore some of the specific spiritual gifts we find mentioned in the New Testament. When we talk of spiritual gifts, we are referring to Divinely empowered graces given to Christians to do the will of God. As we have seen in past posts, the spiritual gifts can be sub-divided into categories which have been recognized by Bible teachers for many years: motivational gifts, leadership gifts, serving gifts and sign (i.e occasional gifts). The fourth category is mainly not included in the list below due to their situational nature, Sovereign distribution and in some cases, near cessation or entire cessation. This is not to say that the so-called sign gifts are not vital nor possibly used by God in the world today. Rather, such gifts function in extraordinary ways, whereas the remaining gifts below operate in more predictable patterns. I recognize that some Bible teachers may distinguish what is listed below in a different fashion. Be-that-as-it-may, the following 18 gifts listed below derives from surveying scripture, major books and literature on the vast subject of spiritual gifts. The Bible teaches that every child of God is given specific "graces" or "giftings" by the Holy Spirit to serve the Lord and to bless others.  This suggests that the spiritual gifts function as God's fingerprints in the lives of individual Christians and the church. Below is a list of the ones that seem to be the most clearly defined and spoken of gifts (or gracings) in the New Testament.  

Defining the spiritual gifts in the New Testament

A spiritual gift is an ability from God to do His will in the area He has called me to serve as a believer. 1 Corinthians 12:1-6

1. Missionary = Plants churches or shares the Gospel with the unevangelized. 2 Cor 8:23   Translated in other versions as “representative or apostle of the churches”. Different from “Apostles of Christ” (2 Corinthians 12:12), or the twelve disciples and Paul that ended in the 1st century.

2. Visionary  = Alerts the church about what direction its heading for God.  1 Cor 14:3

Understood also as “the gift of prophecy”. As time advanced in the New Testament, prophecy became more of a gift to challenge the church to refocus on living out God’s directions for it through His word.  Some highly visible preachers have the ability to “prophetically” speak to the church and culture from God’s word. This is to be distinguished from the predictive elements of the O.T office of “prophet”.

3. Soul winner = Has the burden and effectiveness to reach unbelievers. Eph 4:11; 2 Tim 4:5 

Also called an evangelist or termed as having the “gift of evangelism”.

4. Shepherd= Loves to feed and nurture people with God’s word. Eph 4:11; 1 Tim 3; Titus 1

5. Teacher = Unpacks God’s word and makes complex ideas easy to understand Eph 4:11; Ro 12:7

6.  Leader = Can manage believers effectively in maintaining God’s goals. Rom 12:8

7        7. Communicator = Clearly verbalizing  complex ideas in simple ways. 1 Peter 4:11  

          8. Exhorter=Persuade others of the need to  do God’s will.  Also translated “encourager”  Ro 12:8

         

          9. Hospitality = Loves to share with God’s  people who are in need. Romans 12:13

          10. Helps/service= Works behind the  scenes to make the ministry work  smoothly. Rom 12:7

        

          11. Administrator = Loves to organize  people and events. Romans 12:8; 1  Corinthians 12:28

   12. Encourager = Ability to get people to  joyfully look to God amidst difficulty. Rom  12:8

          Same Greek word for “encourager” can also  be translated “exhorter” (see above definition).  

13. Giver = Displays incredible willingness and faith to give generously to God’s work. 1 Cor 12:8

14. Mercy = Can gently and calmly minister effectively to difficult people or situations. Rom 12:8

15. Wisdom = Can personalize the scriptures for other people in practical ways. 1 Cor 12:8

Most who advise other believers or who do Biblical counseling have this gift

16. Knowledge= Can personalize the Bible for people to better grasp God’s will. 1 Cor 12:8

Influencial Bible teachers have this gift.

17. Discernment = Can tell whether a teacher, ministry or movement is of God or Satan. 1 Cor 12:10

      18. Intercessor = A great desire to pray fervently for others that yields dramatic results.  Col  4:12

P2 - An Outline of God's Supernatural Gifts - 1 Corinthians 12-14

1 Corinthians 12:1 "Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware."

Introduction
Thus far we have attempted to establish Paul's stated intentions for writing 1 Corinthians 12 (as well as 13 & 14) when it comes to this vital subject of the gifts. Today, we want to consider a possible way of outlining these three key chapters of 1 Corinthians. Yesterday's post focused on outlining part of 1 Corinthians 12. Today we will conclude our overall study of 1 Corinthians 12-14 by offering an outline of the remainder of 1 Corinthians 12, 13 and 14.  It is hoped that the proposed outline below will aid readers in the study of these chapters.

1. Spiritual gifts: the finger prints of God's activity. 1 Corinthians 12:12-27

Note: When I say that spiritual gifts are likened to fingerprints, I mean the way in which the Holy Spirit distributes the gifts in various mixes and clusters among individual Christians and churches. The first thought regarding "spiritual gift fingerprints" has to do with how God so-gifts individual Christians, hence...

a. Spiritual gift finger prints apply to individual Christians. 1 Corinthians 12:12-23a

This idea can then be expanded to include God's spiritual-gift finger print for local churches, hence...

b. Spiritual gift finger prints apply to churches. 1 Corinthians 12:23b-26
It would seem that if a church-body can identify the make-up of spiritual gifts in the church body, then the "spiritual gift finger-print" for that church has been identified. Such information can go a long way in seeing how to structure the church around the needs and gifts of the membership and more importantly, to understand how God has gifted that local church to fulfill a particular God-preferred future (i.e vision) for that area. 

thus, in apply these thoughts, we can note...

c. Spiritual-gift fingerprints define God's vision for the believer and the church. 1 Corinthians 12:27

which entails...

i. God has given the right mixture of gifts to result in uniquely gifted Christians. 

ii. God has given the right mixture of gifts to result in different looking churches.

note: When we consider the six places in the New Testament where the gifts are mentioned, it seems that each church was gifted by God to achieve whatever vision God wanted for that area. Romans 12:6-8; 1 Cor 12:8-10; 12:28; 12:29-30; Ephesians 4:11-12; 1 Peter 4:10-11. 

2. God's love coursing through the gifts.  Corinthians 13

a. Problem of exercising the gifts without His love. 1 Corinthians 13:1-3

b. Power for the gifts is associated with His love. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7

c. Purpose of the gifts is found in God's love. 1 Corinthians 13:8-13

3. Gaining a right perspective on the gifts. 1 Corinthians 14
Note: It is in this chapter that Paul devotes space to the issue of tongues, interpretation of tongues and having the right perspective on the gifts. The latter emphasis ought to be focused upon more so than the gift of tongues. Paul's point in this entire chapter is to issue forth a need to not emphasize the gifts too much nor avoid them all together. If anything, Paul is ending his section on the gifts of the Spirit by correcting the excesses and abuses of gifts in 1 Corinthians 14 whilst beginning his discussion by raising awareness of them in 1 Corinthians 12. The middle chapter of 1 Corinthians 13 serves to maintain the proper perspective by emphasizing God's love manifested and ministered by the gifts.

Closing thoughts
We have spent the last two days outlining 1 Corinthians 12-14. The following five headings were put forth:

1. Every Christian is supernaturally gifted by God. 1 Corinthians 12:1-7

2. Defining the supernatural gifts of God. 1 Corinthians 12:8-11; 28-29
(and other passages)

3. Spiritual gifts: the finger prints of God's activity. 1 Corinthians 12:12-27

4. God's love coursing through the gifts. 1 Corinthians 13

5. Gaining a right perspective on the gifts. 1 Corinthians 14 

P1 - An outline 1 Corinthians 12-14, God's Supernatural Gifts

1 Corinthians 12:1 "Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware."

Introduction
In previous posts we have considered how the spiritual gifts function as a means of demonstrating the activity of the true and living God in the world and in the local church. God, by the Person of the Holy Spirit, exercises Agency in the distribution of the gifts. The Person of the Holy Spirit divinely and Sovereignly disperses the gifts as He so chooses (1 Corinthians 12:8). The Person of the Son administrates the ministries in which the gifts will operate (1 Corinthians 12:4). The in conjunction with the Spirit and the Son, the Person of the Father affects the ways in which each gift, working through each Christian, will accomplish the counsel and shared will of God that is expressed through Him and the Son and the Spirit. 

We have also considered as well how every Christian is gifted by God to do His will. Thus far we have attempted to establish Paul's stated intentions for writing 1 Corinthians 12 (as well as 13 & 14) when it comes to this vital subject of the gifts. Today, we want to consider a possible way of outlining these three key chapters of 1 Corinthians. Today's post will focus on outlining part of 1 Corinthians 12. It is hoped that the proposed outline below will aid readers in the study of these chapters.

1. Every Christian is Supernaturally Gifted by God. 1 Corinthians 12:1-7

a. The gifts are given at salvation. 12:1-3

b. The gifts are given to show forth God 12:4-6

c. The gifts are given to serve one another 12:7

So we see that every Christian is supernaturally gifted by God. How then do we define and categorize the gifts of the Spirit. Theologian Wayne Grudem has defined a spiritual gift as a supernatural ability given by God to do a specific ministry or task. Other writers, such as the late Dr. John Walvood, Dr. Charles Ryrie and Dr. Charles Stanley have identified the various lists of spiritual gifts found in the New Testament, along with a method of categorization. Below, I list four categories of spiritual gifts that in one way or another are drawn from observations of several major Christian thinkers. 

2. Defining the Supernatural gifts of God. 1 Corinthians 12:8-12; 28-31

a. Motivational Gifts (Romans 12:6-8; Ephesians 4:11; 1 Peter 4:10-11)
Note: These include evangelist, prophecy, teaching, exhortation, leading, speaking. In many situations, we will find these motivational gifts combined with the leadership gifts (see below). For example, pastors can preach with a prophetic gifting that exhorts a church or the church at large to be reignited to seek after God in a specific way. These gifts can also partner up with the service gifts (see below). Hence, a pastor can be an effective mercy shower to those in the community that are in need.  

b. Leadership gifts (1 Cor 12:28-30; Ephesians 4:11
Note: These include pastor, teacher, administrator, leadership. Much like the motivational gifts, we find the leadership gifts often in combination with the service and motivational gifts.

c. Service gifts (Romans 12:6-8; 1 Corinthians 12:28; 1 Peter 4:11)
Note: These include the gifts of service, mercy, giving, helps. As we have noted in the prior to categories of gifts, service gifts can also work in concert with leadership and motivational gifts. 

d. Sign gifts (occasional gifts) (1 Cor. 12:8-10, 29-30, 4:11)
Note: These include Apostle, Prophet, word of wisdom, word of knowledge, faith, healing, miracles, discerning of spirits, tongues, interpretation of tongues. It can be also noted that not all are in agreement concerning the operations of these gifts with respect to their continuance today. Whereas most would classify the first three categories of the gifts above as "normative" or "regular" occurring gifts, the sign gifts occur infrequently, are for specific occasions and, in some cases, may cease all together for the sake of the other three categories of gifts. 

The last two gifts in the list are most fully treated in 1 Corinthians 14: namely "tongues" and its associated gift of "interpretation of tongues".  The gift of tongues in particular is considered the least of the sign gifts and must be approached with great caution, attention to scripture and precise definitions.1 



3. Spiritual gifts: the finger prints of God's activity. 1 Corinthians 12:12-27

Note: When I say that spiritual gifts are likened to fingerprints, I mean the way in which the Holy Spirit distributes the gifts in various mixes and clusters among individual Christians and churches. The first thought regarding "spiritual gift fingerprints" has to do with how God so-gifts individual Christians, hence...

a. Spiritual gift finger prints apply to individual Christians. 1 Corinthians 12:12-23a

This idea can then be expanded to include God's spiritual-gift finger print for local churches, hence...

b. Spiritual gift finger prints apply to churches. 1 Corinthians 12:23b-26
It would seem that if a church-body can identify the make-up of spiritual gifts in the church body, then the "spiritual gift finger-print" for that church has been identified. Such information can go a long way in seeing how to structure the church around the needs and gifts of the membership and more importantly, to understand how God has gifted that local church to fulfill a particular God-preferred future (i.e vision) for that area. 

thus, in apply these thoughts, we can note...

c. Spiritual-gift fingerprints define God's vision for the believer and the church. 1 Corinthians 12:27

which entails...

i. God has given the right mixture of gifts to result in uniquely gifted Christians. 

ii. God has given the right mixture of gifts to result in different looking churches.

note: When we consider the six places in the New Testament where the gifts are mentioned, it seems that each church was gifted by God to achieve whatever vision God wanted for that area. Romans 12:6-8; 1 Cor 12:8-10; 12:28; 12:29-30; Ephesians 4:11-12; 1 Peter 4:10-11. 

4. God's love coursing through the gifts.  Corinthians 13

a. Problem of exercising the gifts without His love. 1 Corinthians 13:1-3

b. Power for the gifts is associated with His love. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7

c. Purpose of the gifts is found in God's love. 1 Corinthians 13:8-13

5. Gaining a right perspective on the gifts. 1 Corinthians 14
Note: It is in this chapter that Paul devotes space to the issue of tongues, interpretation of tongues and having the right perspective on the gifts. The latter emphasis ought to be focused upon more so than the gift of tongues. Paul's point in this entire chapter is to issue forth a need to not emphasize the gifts too much nor avoid them all together. If anything, Paul is ending his section on the gifts of the Spirit by correcting the excesses and abuses of gifts in 1 Corinthians 14 whilst beginning his discussion by raising awareness of them in 1 Corinthians 12. The middle chapter of 1 Corinthians 13 serves to maintain the proper perspective by emphasizing God's love manifested and ministered by the gifts. 

Endnotes

1. For now, further elaboration on this point will be reserved for future posts. A definition of the gift of tongues, as so understood from studying passages such as Acts 2; 8; 10; 19 and 1 Corinthians 12 & 14, refers to a supernatural ability to speak a previously unlearned language in instances of evangelization of unreached people groups. It appears that this particular gift's use ranges from extreme infrequency (for who is anyone to limit God) to total disuse as one goes further away from the apostolic era. 1 Corinthians 13:8 hints at this general pattern with respect to Biblical defined tongues.  

As a general pattern, once the Gospel has sufficiently saturated a given people group, more typical methods are employed by God: such as Bible translation and missionaries that are trained to go to such areas. The so-called "gift of tongues" practiced in both Pentecostal and Charismatic church bodies is a different sort of phenomena all-together. Pentecostal believers associate tongues as a form of prayer language; whilst Charismatic believers view "tongues" as an initiatory experience into the full-range of the miraculous gifts. 

These trends and interpretations of tongues is different from the tongues we see in the scripture, and thus, for this author at least, would suggest that whatever we may call the phenomenon it is not strictly speaking the Biblical gift of tongues. In other words, it would seem far less probable to see a genuine exercise of true Biblical tongues and its attendant gift of interpretation in today's world, given that God employs either more ordinary methods of propagating the Gospel or other spiritual gifts to achieve the Great Commission. 

P1 - An outline 1 Corinthians 12-14, God's Supernatural Gifts

1 Corinthians 12:1 "Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware."

Introduction
In previous posts we have considered how the spiritual gifts function as a means of demonstrating the activity of the true and living God in the world and in the local church. God, by the Person of the Holy Spirit, exercises Agency in the distribution of the gifts. The Person of the Holy Spirit divinely and Sovereignly disperses the gifts as He so chooses (1 Corinthians 12:8). The Person of the Son administrates the ministries in which the gifts will operate (1 Corinthians 12:4). The in conjunction with the Spirit and the Son, the Person of the Father affects the ways in which each gift, working through each Christian, will accomplish the counsel and shared will of God that is expressed through Him and the Son and the Spirit. 

We have also considered as well how every Christian is gifted by God to do His will. Thus far we have attempted to establish Paul's stated intentions for writing 1 Corinthians 12 (as well as 13 & 14) when it comes to this vital subject of the gifts. Today, we want to consider a possible way of outlining these three key chapters of 1 Corinthians. Today's post will focus on outlining part of 1 Corinthians 12. It is hoped that the proposed outline below will aid readers in the study of these chapters.

1. Every Christian is Supernaturally Gifted by God. 1 Corinthians 12:1-7

a. The gifts are given at salvation. 12:1-3

b. The gifts are given to show forth God 12:4-6

c. The gifts are given to serve one another 12:7

So we see that every Christian is supernaturally gifted by God. How then do we define and categorize the gifts of the Spirit. Theologian Wayne Grudem has defined a spiritual gift as a supernatural ability given by God to do a specific ministry or task. Other writers, such as the late Dr. John Walvood, Dr. Charles Ryrie and Dr. Charles Stanley have identified the various lists of spiritual gifts found in the New Testament, along with a method of categorization. Below, I list four categories of spiritual gifts that in one way or another are drawn from observations of several major Christian thinkers. 

2. Defining the Supernatural gifts of God. 1 Corinthians 12:8-12; 28-31

a. Motivational Gifts (Romans 12:6-8; Ephesians 4:11; 1 Peter 4:10-11)
Note: These include evangelist, prophecy, teaching, exhortation, leading, speaking. In many situations, we will find these motivational gifts combined with the leadership gifts (see below). For example, pastors can preach with a prophetic gifting that exhorts a church or the church at large to be reignited to seek after God in a specific way. These gifts can also partner up with the service gifts (see below). Hence, a pastor can be an effective mercy shower to those in the community that are in need.  

b. Leadership gifts (1 Cor 12:28-30; Ephesians 4:11
Note: These include pastor, teacher, administrator, leadership. Much like the motivational gifts, we find the leadership gifts often in combination with the service and motivational gifts.

c. Service gifts (Romans 12:6-8; 1 Corinthians 12:28; 1 Peter 4:11)
Note: These include the gifts of service, mercy, giving, helps. As we have noted in the prior to categories of gifts, service gifts can also work in concert with leadership and motivational gifts. 

d. Sign gifts (occasional gifts) (1 Cor. 12:8-10, 29-30, 4:11)
Note: These include Apostle, Prophet, word of wisdom, word of knowledge, faith, healing, miracles, discerning of spirits, tongues, interpretation of tongues. It can be also noted that not all are in agreement concerning the operations of these gifts with respect to their continuance today. Whereas most would classify the first three categories of the gifts above as "normative" or "regular" occurring gifts, the sign gifts occur infrequently, are for specific occasions and, in some cases, may cease all together for the sake of the other three categories of gifts. 

The last two gifts in the list are most fully treated in 1 Corinthians 14: namely "tongues" and its associated gift of "interpretation of tongues".  The gift of tongues in particular is considered the least of the sign gifts and must be approached with great caution, attention to scripture and precise definitions.1 



3. Spiritual gifts: the finger prints of God's activity. 1 Corinthians 12:12-27

Note: When I say that spiritual gifts are likened to fingerprints, I mean the way in which the Holy Spirit distributes the gifts in various mixes and clusters among individual Christians and churches. The first thought regarding "spiritual gift fingerprints" has to do with how God so-gifts individual Christians, hence...

a. Spiritual gift finger prints apply to individual Christians. 1 Corinthians 12:12-23a

This idea can then be expanded to include God's spiritual-gift finger print for local churches, hence...

b. Spiritual gift finger prints apply to churches. 1 Corinthians 12:23b-26
It would seem that if a church-body can identify the make-up of spiritual gifts in the church body, then the "spiritual gift finger-print" for that church has been identified. Such information can go a long way in seeing how to structure the church around the needs and gifts of the membership and more importantly, to understand how God has gifted that local church to fulfill a particular God-preferred future (i.e vision) for that area. 

thus, in apply these thoughts, we can note...

c. Spiritual-gift fingerprints define God's vision for the believer and the church. 1 Corinthians 12:27

which entails...

i. God has given the right mixture of gifts to result in uniquely gifted Christians. 

ii. God has given the right mixture of gifts to result in different looking churches.

note: When we consider the six places in the New Testament where the gifts are mentioned, it seems that each church was gifted by God to achieve whatever vision God wanted for that area. Romans 12:6-8; 1 Cor 12:8-10; 12:28; 12:29-30; Ephesians 4:11-12; 1 Peter 4:10-11. 

4. God's love coursing through the gifts.  Corinthians 13

a. Problem of exercising the gifts without His love. 1 Corinthians 13:1-3

b. Power for the gifts is associated with His love. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7

c. Purpose of the gifts is found in God's love. 1 Corinthians 13:8-13

5. Gaining a right perspective on the gifts. 1 Corinthians 14
Note: It is in this chapter that Paul devotes space to the issue of tongues, interpretation of tongues and having the right perspective on the gifts. The latter emphasis ought to be focused upon more so than the gift of tongues. Paul's point in this entire chapter is to issue forth a need to not emphasize the gifts too much nor avoid them all together. If anything, Paul is ending his section on the gifts of the Spirit by correcting the excesses and abuses of gifts in 1 Corinthians 14 whilst beginning his discussion by raising awareness of them in 1 Corinthians 12. The middle chapter of 1 Corinthians 13 serves to maintain the proper perspective by emphasizing God's love manifested and ministered by the gifts. 

Endnotes

1. For now, further elaboration on this point will be reserved for future posts. A definition of the gift of tongues, as so understood from studying passages such as Acts 2; 8; 10; 19 and 1 Corinthians 12 & 14, refers to a supernatural ability to speak a previously unlearned language in instances of evangelization of unreached people groups. It appears that this particular gift's use ranges from extreme infrequency (for who is anyone to limit God) to total disuse as one goes further away from the apostolic era. 1 Corinthians 13:8 hints at this general pattern with respect to Biblical defined tongues.  

As a general pattern, once the Gospel has sufficiently saturated a given people group, more typical methods are employed by God: such as Bible translation and missionaries that are trained to go to such areas. The so-called "gift of tongues" practiced in both Pentecostal and Charismatic church bodies is a different sort of phenomena all-together. Pentecostal believers associate tongues as a form of prayer language; whilst Charismatic believers view "tongues" as an initiatory experience into the full-range of the miraculous gifts. 

These trends and interpretations of tongues is different from the tongues we see in the scripture, and thus, for this author at least, would suggest that whatever we may call the phenomenon it is not strictly speaking the Biblical gift of tongues. In other words, it would seem far less probable to see a genuine exercise of true Biblical tongues and its attendant gift of interpretation in today's world, given that God employs either more ordinary methods of propagating the Gospel or other spiritual gifts to achieve the Great Commission.