Spiritual Gifts (Parts 5 & 6)
We continue with a description of the spiritual gifts. And we now come to The Gift of Knowledge. The Greek word is "gnosis" from which an early heretical sect got its name -- Gnostics. They believed that all one had to do was to acquire knowledge and nothing else really mattered.
But the "word of knowledge" is to "know the timeless truths and facts relating to God’s will and the mission of the church." No doubt Paul had this gift as he committed to Timothy the great treasure of the truth of the gospel (2Tim.1:13-14). Paul said he would rather speak with knowledge than with tongues (1Cor. 14:6). And while every Christian has some general knowledge from the Holy Spirit (1Cor. 2:12-16) the person gifted with knowledge has an insatiable need to know and study. See also Rom. 11:33; 1Cor. 12:8, 2Cor. 11:6; Eph. 3:19; Col. 2:3).
Next we will review the Gift of Exhortation. There was a man whose name meant "son of encouragement" and who gave money to the early church. He then became an apostle and worked with Paul His name? Barnabas! See Acts 4:31-37; Acts 9:26-28.
Barnabas was put in charge of the Antioch church but went to fetch Paul. Evidently, he felt Paul’s gifts could help strengthen the church (Acts 11:22-29). He wasn’t worried about his position. He could have had the head title all to himself but he felt Paul could bring special edification to that congregation.
The Greek word for exhortation is "parakaleo" which means to "call along side." It has to do with companionship, being with and for another, guiding, encouraging, strengthening, consoling, motivating, begging, and comforting. It is related to the word for "Comforter" which is used of the Holy Spirit.
When Barnabas wanted to take John Mark on their second journey, Paul refused because Mark had left them at Pamphylia on the first journey. But the "son of encouragement" insisted to the point he was willing to take Mark even if it mean going on a separate journey (Acts 15:36-41). Later Paul came to realize that Mark had changed and acknowledged that he was profitable (2Tim 4:11).See also Rom. 12:8; 1Thes. 2:11; 1Tim. 4:13; Heb. 10:25.
There is a gift called Discerning of spirits (1Cor. 12:10). The word "discerning" comes from the Greek "diakrisis" which means to discriminate, separate, judge, estimate, dispute or oppose. It is the super ability to "differentiate between good and evil, right and wrong, what is of God, human nature, or evil, and to use this knowledge for the protection and health of the body of Christ." While every Christian has some ability to discern the spiritual truths of God not all have the ability to discern the spirits and attitudes of those around them accurately and beneficially. See also the following passages: Matt. 7:6; Acts 5:1-11; 8:22-23; 1Cor. 12:10; 2Pet. 2:1-3; 1John 4:1-6.
There is a gift called Giving (Rom. 12:8). While everyone is to give, there are persons who have an ability beyond normal to do so. They delight in the sheer act of giving. The Greek word for giving is "metadidomi" and it means "to turn over, to give, share, transfer, deliver from one’s substance to the needs of another."
We see this when we read of the widow who gave her all. Jesus made this statement, ""Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them; for they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all the living that she had" ( Luke 21:2; Mark 12:41-44).
We might say that those who have the gift of giving give to the point that it appears unreasonable. But they do so for the sheer joy of doing so. The widow referred to above gave all that she had to live on. One would not expect anyone to give to a church or temple everything they had. That’s unreasonable. But she did and Jesus noticed and commented on it.
We see what the Macedonian church did when it came to contributing to the saints in Jerusalem. Paul stated that they went beyond their means (2Cor. 8:1-7). Again we see that people who have the gift of giving do so beyond what would be considered reasonable to others. This giving brings them joy and they often are blessed with more to give. It seems that they are never left without.
Those with the gift of giving do so without any motive for self-exaltation. They often give anonymously See also Acts 20:35; 1Kings 17:8-16.
There is a gift called Helps (1Cor. 12:28). This gift can be defined as the super ability and eagerness "to aid or assist others in need to such an extent that the helper receives as much joy as the person helped." There is a reciprocity between the one helped and the one helping. People with this gift feel compelled to give from their skills, talents and energy to help others who have need. They delight in the relationship that comes from giving that help.
The Bible speaks of the gift of Evangelist (Eph. 4:11; 2 Tim..4:3-5). An person with this gift has the super ability to present the truth of the gospel so that it moves others to accept that truth and become disciples of Christ. This person would be well versed in the understanding of God’s Word and His plan. That person would have extraordinary ability to make those truths plain and clear to whatever audience there was. The would necessitate understanding a particular audience’s objections, culture, difficulties, sins.
There is also the gift of Faith (1Cor. 12:9). This may be defined as the extra ability to extend one’s basic or saving faith to serve the Body of Christ and individuals in their needs related to the life and service of the Church. See Mark 9:23; Acts 11:22-24. While every one has to have, some people have extraordinary amounts as a result of a spiritual gift.
We’ll continue with the definitions of more spiritual gifts in our next Sabbath Thoughts!
But the "word of knowledge" is to "know the timeless truths and facts relating to God’s will and the mission of the church." No doubt Paul had this gift as he committed to Timothy the great treasure of the truth of the gospel (2Tim.1:13-14). Paul said he would rather speak with knowledge than with tongues (1Cor. 14:6). And while every Christian has some general knowledge from the Holy Spirit (1Cor. 2:12-16) the person gifted with knowledge has an insatiable need to know and study. See also Rom. 11:33; 1Cor. 12:8, 2Cor. 11:6; Eph. 3:19; Col. 2:3).
Next we will review the Gift of Exhortation. There was a man whose name meant "son of encouragement" and who gave money to the early church. He then became an apostle and worked with Paul His name? Barnabas! See Acts 4:31-37; Acts 9:26-28.
Barnabas was put in charge of the Antioch church but went to fetch Paul. Evidently, he felt Paul’s gifts could help strengthen the church (Acts 11:22-29). He wasn’t worried about his position. He could have had the head title all to himself but he felt Paul could bring special edification to that congregation.
The Greek word for exhortation is "parakaleo" which means to "call along side." It has to do with companionship, being with and for another, guiding, encouraging, strengthening, consoling, motivating, begging, and comforting. It is related to the word for "Comforter" which is used of the Holy Spirit.
When Barnabas wanted to take John Mark on their second journey, Paul refused because Mark had left them at Pamphylia on the first journey. But the "son of encouragement" insisted to the point he was willing to take Mark even if it mean going on a separate journey (Acts 15:36-41). Later Paul came to realize that Mark had changed and acknowledged that he was profitable (2Tim 4:11).See also Rom. 12:8; 1Thes. 2:11; 1Tim. 4:13; Heb. 10:25.
There is a gift called Discerning of spirits (1Cor. 12:10). The word "discerning" comes from the Greek "diakrisis" which means to discriminate, separate, judge, estimate, dispute or oppose. It is the super ability to "differentiate between good and evil, right and wrong, what is of God, human nature, or evil, and to use this knowledge for the protection and health of the body of Christ." While every Christian has some ability to discern the spiritual truths of God not all have the ability to discern the spirits and attitudes of those around them accurately and beneficially. See also the following passages: Matt. 7:6; Acts 5:1-11; 8:22-23; 1Cor. 12:10; 2Pet. 2:1-3; 1John 4:1-6.
There is a gift called Giving (Rom. 12:8). While everyone is to give, there are persons who have an ability beyond normal to do so. They delight in the sheer act of giving. The Greek word for giving is "metadidomi" and it means "to turn over, to give, share, transfer, deliver from one’s substance to the needs of another."
We see this when we read of the widow who gave her all. Jesus made this statement, ""Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them; for they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all the living that she had" ( Luke 21:2; Mark 12:41-44).
We might say that those who have the gift of giving give to the point that it appears unreasonable. But they do so for the sheer joy of doing so. The widow referred to above gave all that she had to live on. One would not expect anyone to give to a church or temple everything they had. That’s unreasonable. But she did and Jesus noticed and commented on it.
We see what the Macedonian church did when it came to contributing to the saints in Jerusalem. Paul stated that they went beyond their means (2Cor. 8:1-7). Again we see that people who have the gift of giving do so beyond what would be considered reasonable to others. This giving brings them joy and they often are blessed with more to give. It seems that they are never left without.
Those with the gift of giving do so without any motive for self-exaltation. They often give anonymously See also Acts 20:35; 1Kings 17:8-16.
There is a gift called Helps (1Cor. 12:28). This gift can be defined as the super ability and eagerness "to aid or assist others in need to such an extent that the helper receives as much joy as the person helped." There is a reciprocity between the one helped and the one helping. People with this gift feel compelled to give from their skills, talents and energy to help others who have need. They delight in the relationship that comes from giving that help.
The Bible speaks of the gift of Evangelist (Eph. 4:11; 2 Tim..4:3-5). An person with this gift has the super ability to present the truth of the gospel so that it moves others to accept that truth and become disciples of Christ. This person would be well versed in the understanding of God’s Word and His plan. That person would have extraordinary ability to make those truths plain and clear to whatever audience there was. The would necessitate understanding a particular audience’s objections, culture, difficulties, sins.
There is also the gift of Faith (1Cor. 12:9). This may be defined as the extra ability to extend one’s basic or saving faith to serve the Body of Christ and individuals in their needs related to the life and service of the Church. See Mark 9:23; Acts 11:22-24. While every one has to have, some people have extraordinary amounts as a result of a spiritual gift.
We’ll continue with the definitions of more spiritual gifts in our next Sabbath Thoughts!
<< Home