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3.2 Gifts in the Church
It is also necessary for us to keep in mind that Paul was not talking to people who were ignorant. He was talking to people who were informed about the expressions of the Holy Spirit indeed. They only didn’t know how to use these expressions in an effectively and orderly way. Paul talks about it extensively in the chapters 12 and 14 of 1 Corinthians.
He starts by naming the many possible expressions of God.
For the sake of education he gives some distinction.
Distinction does not always mean: separation! There is a harmonious connection between the different activities of the Lord.
In 1 Corinthians 12 we read about:
1. expressions of the Spirit (pneumatics);
2. gifts of mercy (charismata);
3. ministries (diakonia);
4. works (energèmeta).
A short description beforehand:
Expressions of the Holy Spirit are: spontaneously raised, spiritual revelations; some call these expressions ‘gifts of the Spirit’. With ‘gifts’ the impression is given that we own it. In this chapter it is about the way in which the Spirit wants to manifest Himself in us, after receiving the gift (doorea).
Gifts of mercy are: empowerments granted for specific situations. These empowerments stay until the ultimate goal is reached or until the task is fulfilled.
Ministries are: assignments, tasks and established functions granted by God.
Works are: all the multiple expressions of the energy, the power of God.
It’s really great, for in this way God “…works all of them in all men.” (1 Corinthians 12:6) and God wants to give “…to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.” (verse 7).
It is not a performance, meant to entertain. It is the working of his power for the wellbeing, for the good of all in Church and by this way also for the ones outside of Church.
In 1 Corinthians 12 it is primarily about the meetings of the Church. It is an instruction for the use of the gifts when the Church meets. To let the Holy Spirit, as He wants and as He thinks necessary, express the works by Him giving out. To whom is He giving? To them, who ask Him, who aim for love and strive after the expressions of the Spirit!
It is all about the living and active function of the Church. Everyone is involved. There is no distinction according to status with God . All that are filled with God’s Spirit, can count on the inspiring and revealing work of the Holy Spirit within him or her.
How great it is of God to involve us so intensively in his actions in this world and in the spiritual world. It is the never ending great measure of God’s love to be able to be under the inspiration, the ‘enthusiasm’ (= to ‘be in God’) of the Holy Spirit. This is designated for every serious believer.
I do not want to leave you ignorant concerning the expressions of the Spirit… We are going to discuss these different excellent expressions.
A beautiful way to explain the expressions of the Holy Spirit was written down in ‘The Gifts of the Spirit’ by Harold Horton:
“These are glorious beams of heavenly beauty, radiating, white glowing, beautiful. These are disease banishing beams, demons destroying, insight giving, tongue loosening, mind enlightening, life stimulating, thirst quenching, heart rejoicing, soul refreshing. Not by the power of the crowd or organisation. Not by the power of position, culture or science. But by my Spirit, says the Lord”.
Yes, that’s it. It is a message filled with vitality, full of the rich, strong making power of Jesus Christ. This is how God wanted it to be. This is how God can show himself in his people. In this way the Kingdom of God comes nearby.
Following is a summary of the nine expressions of the Spirit. The body can function spiritually in all its parts (members, limbs) under the guidance and direction of the Holy Spirit, who is poured out in every member personally and individually.
There is no biological link. The many members that are connected in a non-
The Lord can stimulate by inspiration, revelation and by power-
In this way an energetic cooperation is created for the building and growth of the body and to therefore be a service of God and to this world again.
All members should be actively involved. Therefore it is necessary for all members to be baptized in that one Spirit individually.
When the (?)Church meets, it is, of course, not possible for all members to express themselves at the same moment.
That would become chaotic. This is what happened in Corinth, that’s why we have (good for us) Paul’s letter!
This is the reason why God wisely gives expressions to the different parts of the body.
Every time in a different way, according to what is necessary for the situation in God’s opinion.
Every time a different thing for a different person, that may be in reversed order the next time. This is how the Holy Spirit gives wisely as He thinks necessary.
Here we can clearly see the inspiring work of harmony when being directed by that one Spirit. After all, God is a God of order.
What kind of expressions do we find in Corinth?
There are nine of them. In biblical order these are:
1. wisdom;
2. knowledge;
3. faith;
4. gifts of healing;
5. works of powers;
6. prophecy;
7. distinguishing of spirits;
8. speaking spiritual languages;
9. translation or interpretation of spiritual languages.
We can divide them in three groups according to the content of their character. Each of these three groups gives a special feature of the expressions that are part of it:
We have:
• three expressions of inspiration;
• three expressions of revelation;
• three expressions of power.
So there is a mutual connection between the different expressions. Different expressions function together. This is probably the reason why the Lord didn’t give a schematic classification for this. All the different expressions come from the same Source!
To be able to get more insight we will study them according to the three groups. We will stick to Paul’s call:
• strive after the expressions of the Spirit;
• try to excel in order to edify;
• every time you meet everyone has something
Here are the three groups, consisting of three points:
1. Expressions of inspiration
• a. several(?)different) spiritual languages;
• b. translation or explanation of spiritual languages;
• c. prophecy.
2. expressions of revelation
• a. word of wisdom;
• b. word of knowledge
• c. distinction of spirits.
3. expressions of power
• a. faith (wonderworking faith);
• b. gifts of healing
• c. works of powers.
We emphasize once again: “The revelation of the Spirit is given to all for the wellbeing of all”.
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