~MEDITATION~

Hebrews 2:4 (NIV)

Hebreos 2:4 (NVI) God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will. A la vez, Dios ratificó su testimonio acerca de ella con señales, prodigios, diversos milagros y dones distribuidos por el Espíritu Santo según su voluntad.

“Different Spiritual Gifts, But Still Unity”

I Corinthians 12:4-11

I. Gifts—Who Gets the Credit?

A. Grace Gifts B. Works of the Trinity

II. Gifts—Why All the Variety?

A. Due To Need B. Unity Is Not Uniformity

III. Gifts—What Are They?

A. Their Meaning B. The Gifts Today

Wayne Grudem

Research Professor of Theology and Biblical Studies at Phoenix Seminary

“A spiritual gift is any ability that is empowered by the Holy Spirit and used in any ministry of the church…this is done both through the natural and supernatural gifts.”

“Different Spiritual Gifts, But Still Unity”

I Corinthians 12:4-11

I. Gifts—Who Gets the Credit?

A. Grace Gifts B. Works of the Trinity

II. Gifts—Why All the Variety?

A. Due To Need B. Unity Is Not Uniformity

III. Gifts—What Are They?

A. Their Meaning B. The Gifts Today

The Message of Wisdom: God given insight into the mysterious purposes and workings of God in and through Jesus Christ. These wise insights can be both natural and supernatural. The message of Christ crucified is God’s true wisdom. The Message of Knowledge—information that could not be known without the Spirit’s aid, but could just mean inspired teaching, great insight into the meaning of Scripture. Probably revelatory because in between revelation and prophecy in 14:6.

Faith is not here saving trust in Jesus Christ which is a requirement for all Christians. It is related to gifts of healings, miracles. “A Spirit-given ability to know what God wants to do, coupled with an extraordinary confidence, which comes from an inward conviction, that He will do it.’ (Alvin J. Vander Griend) This is faith that moves mountains (13:2).

Gifts of Healings—not all diseases at all the times, but instances of actual healing of various kinds—physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual. No such thing for Paul as a faith healer or a ministry of healing. Healing is not an end in itself. God is the one who heals. Sometimes God chose not to heal through Paul-- Epaphroditus and Trophimus. Miraculous Powers—a person through whom God performs his extraordinary works called miracles. The power for miracles resides in God, not in the gifted person.

Prophecy—declaration of God’s will to the people, or speak the Word in a way that brings encouragement, comfort, or conviction to people summoning them to repentance. Some foretelling, but mostly clear speech.

Discernment—distinguishing true prophecy from false, true miracles and healings from false. These require testing like tongues in worship require interpretation. See 14:29.

Tongues are listed last in all three groups in 1 Cor. 12, because the Corinthians put too much focus on this gift. Usually this gift is expressed privately, not publicly. It is the language of the Spirit working with our spirit. Language, but not foreign languages, not gibberish, but may sound like unintelligible sounds to others—14:2, benefits only the speaker, 14:4, who communicates with God through prayer and praise (14:15). The Spirit helps our weakness by interceding for us with groans that words cannot express (Rom. 8:26).

Interpretation of Tongues is not a word for word translation, but a summary of the mysteries spoken to God. To put in articulate speech for the benefit of the whole congregation.

“Different Spiritual Gifts, But Still Unity”

I Corinthians 12:4-11

I. Gifts—Who Gets the Credit?

A. Grace Gifts B. Works of the Trinity

II. Gifts—Why All the Variety?

A. Due To Need B. Unity Is Not Uniformity

III. Gifts—What Are They?

A. Their Meaning B. The Gifts Today