Sermons - 2007 Week 39
The Varieties of Spiritual Gifts (Part 2)
1 Corinthians 12:10-11
The Gift of Miracles
A God who cannot do the miraculous is not God. The claims of Christianity stand or fall depending on the authentication of the miraculous. Christianity is not a dogma.
Many people would say “it is a miracle that I did not fall down the staircase in spite of slipping, etc.” These are not miracles by strict definition. They are workings of providence by God. God uses other Christians, ordinary circumstances, natural laws or even non Christians to effect workings of providence but they are not miracles. A miracle is a supernatural intrusion into the natural laws. It has no other explanation other than God’s intervention.
Having defined a miracle, Jesus was the greatest miracle worker. Miracles validate God’s revelation. Throughout Biblical history, signs and wonders were used to validate God’s revelation. The apostles too performed miracles. However, when revelation stopped, the signs stopped.
Is there a need for miracles to validate revelation today? Are there any more new revelations?
The Gift of Prophecy
Prophecy is not just foretelling but forth-telling. While foretelling may be a temporary sign gift and it was a revelatory gift and ceased when revelation ceased, forth-telling is in existence even today. This gift is the gift of being able to proclaim God’s word effectively. In 1 Corinthians 14:3, Paul says, “But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men.”
Thus, prophecy is not confined to preachers and teachers alone, but every Christian should, in Paul’s words, be able to speak edification and exhortation and comfort to men.
Is it true then that it is the responsibility for every Christian to be equipped to do just that?
The Gift of Discernment
This important gift is the ability to determine what is true and false. It was particularly important at that time because false teachings abound. It is equally true today. It is this special ability to recognize truths, to see through Satan’s lies, and to see beyond a person’s words and actions. Such believers are helpful in helping the church to make a decision. It is closely related to the gift of wisdom.
One must be well versed in the Scriptures to exercise this gift. Is this true or should this gift be over and above this ability?
The Gift of Tongues and of Interpretation of Tongues
These are temporary sign gifts and were, again, necessary only to validate the message and power of the gospel. In fact they were abused in the Corinthian church, and Paul continued to discuss this in Chapter 14. It is mentioned as one of many Spiritual gifts, unlike what the Corinthian church had overemphasized.
The gift of Interpretation is closely tied to this Gift of tongues, for without interpretation, the words spoken have no meaning and are of no use. (“Gibberish cannot be interpreted except by more gibberish.” Discuss.)
The Gifts Distributed
Verse 11 summarises that although there are different gifts, they are all given by one and the same Spirit. Not only that, it emphasizes the individuality of the gifts as well as the fact that it is given to every individual.
The Holy Spirit is the source of the Spiritual gifts, the Holy Spirit works through all Spiritual gifts, and the Holy Spirit distributes all Spiritual gifts.
Be what God created and gifted you to be. Our primary goal is to submit to Him. We should manifest these gifts and not keep it stored away.
We should never become doubters of the miraculous but be biblical in the beliefs that we have.
Dr and Mrs ET Chua
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