The Gifts of the Godhead

By Dr. Paul Walker, Contributing Writer

New Spirit Filled Bible, 2002

I. The Gifts of the Father: Basic Life Purpose and Motivation (Romans 12:3-8)

1. Prophecy

a. To speak with forthrightness and insight, especially when enabled by the Spirit of God (Joel 2:28)

b. To demonstrate moral boldness and uncompromising commitment to worthy values

c. To influence others in one’s arena of influence with a positive spirit of social or spiritual righteousness

d. NOTE: Because all three categories of gifts involve some expression of “prophecy,” it is helpful to differentiate. In this category (Romans 12) the focus is general, characterized by that level of the prophetic gift which would belong to every believer – “all flesh.” The Holy Spirit’s “gift of prophecy” (1 Corinthians 12) refers to supernatural prompting, so much so that sometimes tongues with interpretation is equated with its operation (1 Corinthians 14:5). The office-gift of the prophet, which Christ gives to His church through individual ministries, is yet another expression of prophecy; those holding this office must meet both the Old Testament requirements of a prophet’s accuracy in his message and the New Testament standards of life and character required of spiritual leadership

2. Ministry

a. To minister and render loving, general service to meet the needs of others

b. Illustrated in the work and office of the deacon (Matthew 20:26)

3. Teaching

a. The supernatural ability to explain and apply the truths received from God for the church

b. Presupposes study and the Spirit’s illumination providing the ability to make divine truth clear to the people of God

c. Considered distinct from the work of the prophet who speaks as the direct mouth-piece of God

4. Exhortation

a. Literally means to call aside for the purpose of making an appeal

b. In a broader sense it means to entreat, comfort, or instruct (Acts 4:36; Hebrews 10:25)

5. Giving

a. The essential meaning is to give out of spiritual generosity

b. In a more technical sense it refers to those with resources aiding those without such resources (2 Corinthians 8:2; 9:11-13)

c. This gift is to be exercised without outward show or pride and with liberality (2 Corinthians 1:12; 8:2; 9:11,13)

6. Leadership

a. Refers to the one “standing in front”

b. Involves both the exercise of the Holy Spirit in modeling, superintending, and developing the body of Christ

c. Leadership is to be exercised with diligence

7. Mercy

a. To feel sympathy with the misery of another

b. To relate to others in empathy, respect, and honesty

c. To be effective, this gift is to be exercised with kindness and cheerfulness – not as a matter of duty

II. Gifts of the Holy Spirit: available to all Believers as the Spirit Wills (1 Corinthians 12:8-10,28)

1. Word of Wisdom

a. Supernatural perspective to ascertain the divine means for accomplishing God’s will in given situations

b. Divinely given power to appropriate spiritual intuition in problem solving

c. Sense of divine direction

d. Being led by the Holy Spirit to act appropriately in a given set of circumstances

e. Knowledge rightly applied: wisdom works interactively with knowledge and discernment

2. Word of Knowledge

a. Supernatural revelation of the divine will and plan

b. Supernatural insight or understanding of circumstances or a body of facts by revelation: that is, without assistance of any human resource but solely by divine aid

c. Implies a deeper and more advanced understanding of the communicated acts of God

d. Involves moral wisdom for right living and relationships

e. Requires objective understanding concerning divine things in human duties

f. May also refer to knowledge of God or of the things that belong to God, as related in the Gospel

3. Faith

a. Supernatural ability to believe God without doubt

b. Supernatural ability to combat unbelief

c. Supernatural ability to meet adverse circumstances with trust in God’s messages and words

d. Inner conviction impelled by an urgent and higher calling

4. Gifts of Healing

a. Refers to supernatural healing without human aid

b. May include divinely assisted application of human instrumentation and medical means of treatment

c. Does not discount the use of God’s creative gifts

5. Working of Miracles

a. Supernatural power to intervene and counteract earthly and evil forces

b. Literally means a display of power giving the ability to go beyond the natural

c. Operates closely with the gifts of faith and healings to bring authority over sin, Satan, sickness, and the binding forces of this age

6. Prophecy

a. Divinely inspired and anointed utterance

b. Supernatural proclamation in a known language

c. Manifestation of the Spirit of God – not of intellect (1 Corinthians 12:7)

d. May be possessed and operated by all who have the Baptism of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8; 2:1-4; 1 Corinthians 14:31)

e. Intellect, faith, and will are operative in this gift, but its exercise is not intellectually based. It is calling forth words from the Spirit of God

7. Discerning of Spirits

a. Supernatural power to detect the realm of the spirits and their activities

b. Implies the power of supernatural insight – supernatural revelation of plans and purposes of the Enemy and his forces

8. Different Kinds of Tongues

a. Supernatural utterance in languages not know to the speaker; these languages may be existent in the world, revived from some past culture, or “unknown” In the sense they are a means of communication inspired by the Holy Spirit (Isaiah 28:11; Mark 16:17; Acts 2:4; 10:44-48; 19:1-7; 1 Corinthians 12:10, 28-31; 13:1-3; 14:2, 4-22, 26-32)

b. Serve as an evidence and sign of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit

9. Interpretation of Tongues

a. Supernatural power to reveal the meaning of tongues

b. Functions not as an operation of the mind of man but as the mind of the Spirit

c. Does not serve as a translation (interpreter never understands the tongue he is interpreting), but rather is a declaration of meaning

d. Is exercised as a miraculous and supernatural phenomenon as are the gift of speaking in tongues and the gift of prophecy

III. Gifts of the Son: to Facilitate and Equip the Body of the Church (Ephesians 4:11; 1 Corinthians 12:28)

1. Apostles

a. In apostolic days referred to a select group chosen to carry out directly the ministry of Christ; included the task given to a few to complete the sacred canon of the Holy Scriptures

b. Implies the exercise of a distinct representative role of broader leadership given by Christ

c. Functions as a messenger or spokesman of God

d. In contemporary times refers to those who have the spirit of apostleship in remarkably extending the work of the church, opening fields to the Gospel, and overseeing larger sections of the body of Jesus Christ

2. Prophet

a. A spiritually mature spokesman/proclaimer with a special, divinely focused message to the church or the world

b. A person uniquely gifted at times with insight into future events

3. Evangelist

a. Refers primarily to a special gift of preaching or witnessing in a way that brings unbelievers into the experience of Salvation

b. Functionally, the gift of evangelist operates for the establishment of new works, while pastors and teachers follow up to organize and sustain

c. Essentially, the gift of evangelist operates to establish converts and to gather them spiritually and literally into the body of Christ

4. Pastor/Teacher

a. The word “pastor” comes from a root meaning “to protect,” from which we get the word “shepherd.”

b. Implies the function of a shepherd/leader to nurture, teach, and care for the spiritual needs of the body

5. Missionary (some see “apostle” or “evangelist” in this light)

a. Implies the unfolding of a plan for making the Gospel known to all the world (Romans 1:16)

b. Illustrates an attitude of humility necessary for receiving a call to remote areas and unknown situations (Isaiah 61:1-13)

c. Connotes an inner compulsion to lead the whole world to an understanding of Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 5:14-20)

IV. Special Graces

1. Hospitality

a. Literally means to love, to do, or to do with pleasure

b. Illustrates Peter’s notion of one of the two categories of gifts (1) teaching, (2) practical service (1 Peter 4:10,11)

c. Was utilized in caring for believers and workers who visited to worship, work, and become involved in the body of Christ

d. Illustrated in the teaching of Jesus concerning judgment (Matthew 25:35,40)

2. Celibacy (Matthew 19:10; 1 Corinthians 7:7-9,27; 1 Timothy 4:3; Revelation 14:4)

a. The Bible considers marriage to be honorable, ordained of God, and a need for every person

b. Implies a special gift of celibacy, which frees the individual from the duties, pressures, and preoccupations of family life, allowing undivided attention to the Lord’s work

3. Martyrdom (1 Peter 4:12,13)

a. Illustrated in the spirit of Stephen (Acts 7:59,60)

b. Fulfilled in the attitude of Paul (2 Timothy 4:6-8)