Gifts of the Holy Spirit

GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

INTRODUCTION: When Jesus began his public ministry, He came preaching and teaching a new set of doctrines, a new way of worship, and a new way of life.

I.     Jesus came performing miraculous signs in order to prove to the Jews who He was and that
         the new doctrines and new way of worship, was from God, Acts 2:22.

A.   Jesus gave His New Testament Church the gift of healing and the power to cast out evil
        spirits, Matthew 10:1,5,6,8; Luke 10:1,8,9,17.

B.   Those signs and miracles were their credentials to prove to the Jews that the new cov-
        enant with its new laws and new way of worship was ordained of God, Mark 16:20;
        Hebrews 2:3,4.

II.     Another miraculous gift, which was given to the New Testament Church on the day of Pen-

tecost, was speaking in tongues.

A.    Pentecost was a Jewish feast day, and devout Jews had gathered at Jerusalem from

every nation.

B.    God chose this particular period of time to give the gift of speaking in tongues (lan-

guages) to His New Testament Church in order to get the attention of the Jews, who

were there from every country.

C.    The Word of God is clear in its use of the word “tongues”; it means languages, Acts

2:6-8.

1.     The Jews heard the Word of God spoken in each individual language in which they

were born.

2.     This was to prove to them that the “New Message” was from God.

D.    God specifically declares that tongues (languages) were given for a sign to them that

do not believe, I Corinthians 14:22.

1.     Tongues (languages) served as a sign only when the unbelievers understood what

was spoken, I Corinthians 14:23.

2.     If the words spoken could not be understood, they would consider them mad or

drunk as also seen in Acts 2:13,15.

E.    Speaking to the Jews in tongues (languages) was a fulfillment of prophecy, I Corin-

thians 14:21.

F.    Peter also declares this to be the fulfillment of a prophecy in Joel, Acts 2:16.

1.     Notice that this was a double prophecy; half of it was fulfilled on the day of Pente-

cost, Acts 2:17,18.

a.   “The last days” has reference to the last age before Jesus returns to set up His

reign on the earth.

b.   “The last days” began with Jesus’ first advent, Hebrews 9:26; Hebrews 1:2.

2.     The other half of the prophecy in Joel will be fulfilled in the last half of the tribula-

tion period, Acts 2:19,20.

III.   Various gifts, miracles, and helps were given to the early New Testament Church, I Corin-

thians 12:7-11,28.

A.   Certain problems arose in the Corinthian church concerning spiritual gifts.

1.     Paul, in addressing this problem, said he did not want them to be ignorant con-

cerning this subject, I Corinthians 12:1.

2.     The Corinthian church had become preoccupied with speaking in tongues, consid-

ering it to be a superior gift.

B.   Paul said that the most valuable gift given to the early church was prophecy, I Corin

thians 14:1.

1.     Prophecy was speaking forth the council of God to the church until the New Testa-

ment was completed.

2.     This is why prophecy was of such value to the church; it served to edify, comfort,

and encourage them, I Corinthians 14:3.

3.     Prophecy also served to convict unbelievers of sin and to constrain them to wor-

ship, I Corinthians 14:25.

C.   Paul said one that prophesied was greater than the one that spoke in tongues (lan-

guages) unless he also interpreted what he had spoken, I Corinthians 14:5,31.

IV.    In the fourteenth chapter of first Corinthians Paul gave explicit regulations concerning

speaking in tongues in the early church.

A.    Let it first be observed that the word “unknown” tongue is not in the Greek text. It was

added by the translators. (Notice that it is in italics.)

B.    The Corinthian church was zealous of spiritual gifts, especially tongues.

1.     Paul instructed them to seek to edify the church, I Corinthians 14:12,13.

2.     If there were no interpreter he was commanded to be silent, I Corinthians 14:28.

C.    Women were forbidden to speak in tongues in the church, I Corinthians 14:34,35.

1.     Keep in mind the subject under discussion in chapter fourteen is speaking in

tongues.

2.     Paul reminded the Corinthians that the things he wrote unto them were the com-

mandments of the Lord, I Corinthians 14:37.

D.    Paul exhorted the church in Corinth to speak in words that were easy to understand so

that all could benefit (be edified), I Corinthians 14:6,9.

E.    Anyone who spoke in a foreign tongue (language) that was not understood by the con

gregation, spoke in mysteries to all but himself and God; this served to edify only himself, I Corinthians 14:2,4.

F.    Paul, using himself as an example, said if he prayed in a tongue (language) with his

understanding, yet it was unfruitful if others did not understand also, I Corinthians

14:14-17.

G.    Paul did not use his gift of speaking in tongues in the church, but he used it for the

purpose it was given — to preach to the Jews in their own languages as a sign to them that they might believe, I Corinthians 14:18-20.

V.      Gifts were very needed in the early New Testament Church, but they were also incomplete.

A.   When the church met together, each person who had a gift was to contribute to edify
        the church, even though they had only bits and pieces of knowledge, I Corinthians
        14:24-26.

B.   No wonder Paul said, “I will show you a more excellent way!” (I Corinthians 12:31)

C.    Paul said that love would never cease, but temporary gifts would lose their usefulness

and be done away, I Corinthians 13:8.

1.     This is why the gift of tongues is not found in any later writings of the Scriptures.

2.     These gifts that could only contribute in part began to vanish as the writings of the

Scriptures neared completion.

D.    The completed Scriptures are God’s perfect revelation to man, I Corinthians 13:10.

1.     Some have supposed the statement “that which is perfect” has reference to Christ

at His second coming. If this Scripture had reference to Christ, a personal pronoun
        would have been used, He who is perfect, not that which is perfect.
 2. Notice a more literal translation from the Greek text… “Then therefore shall come
        the finished, or completed thing, (neuter gender) that which out of part shall be
        made idle, (brought to naught or done away).

3.     In their efforts to prove Christ is referred to “that which” the following scripture is

used, Luke 1:35.

a.  This question, however, is forever settled when it is considered in the Greek
      text.

b.   … “And having answered the angel said to her, the Holy Spirit shall come
      over you and the power of the Highest shall overshadow you, therefore the
      HOLY ONE (masculine gender) begotten shall be called the Son of God.”

E.    The Word of God is called a mirror; not until it was completed could we see in it clearly,

(or get the whole picture).

1.     When we look into that mirror, we see ourselves as God sees us, I Corinthians

13:12.

2.     We also clearly see God’s will for our lives, James 1:23,24.

F.    The Word of God is the perfect law of liberty, James 1:25.

1.     The Word is perfect and complete; we are to add nothing to it.

2.     All scripture is essential and profitable; we are to take nothing from it, II Timothy

3:16,17.

G.    There are three gifts that will remain in His church until He returns; they are faith, hope

and love.

1.     Faith and hope will vanish at the glorious appearing of Christ.

2.     Faith and hope will no longer be needed because Christ, in His physical presence,

is the reality of our faith and hope — only love will remain, I Corinthians 13:13. 

A warning Testimony by  giacintobutindaro


Since I am acquainted with the situation of the Pentecostal Churches in this nation also, I feel I have to warn those who are seeking the baptism with the Holy Spirit, so that they may not fall victim to the devices of the devil.
Today among many Churches many believers are deceived by many Church leaders into speaking with false tongues. Now I am going to explain to you how these Church leaders deceive these believers. Usually, during the prayer meeting or an evangelistic crusade they ask those believers who want to be baptized with the Spirit (or filled with the Spirit) to come forward so that they may pray for them. And while they are standing near the pulpit or the platform, the church leaders tell them to begin to speak a word then another word and so on, or they even put strange words in the mouth of these believers, or they begin to shout in their ears, ‘Speak in tongues, speak in tongues, come on, speak in tongues!’, or they pound their backs, so they, being influenced by these Church leaders and this kind of atmosphere, begin to utter syllables and vowels, which give the impression to themselves as well as to those who hear them speaking that they have received the baptism with the Holy Spirit, for the Scripture teaches that speaking in tongues is the sign that accompanies the reception of the baptism with the Holy Spirit. However, they actually have received nothing, for those strange words they speak are not true foreign languages which the Spirit enables them to speak, but just meaningless words. So these believers have deceived themselves, for they think they have received the baptism with the Holy Spirit, while as a matter of fact they have not yet received it. Of course, those church leaders who act in this way have deceived themselves too, because it is evident that since they teach believers to do these things they also one day were deceived into speaking meaningless words. Unfortunately, this is something that has been dragging on for many years and has brought forth bitter and evil fruits.