THE NINE GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. 1Cor.12v7-11.

The gifts of the Holy Spirit are called "demonstrations," 1Cor.2v4., "signs," "distributions," Heb.2v4., "operations," 1Cor.12v6., however, it is probably best to call them "spiritual gifts," or "manifestations of the Spirit," as Paul does in 1Cor.12v1,4,7,9,31. 14v1.. In 1Cor.12v1. and 1Cor.14v1., the word translated "spiritual gifts" simply means "spirituals." However, the proof that these manifestations of the Spirit can be called " spiritual gifts" is found in 1Cor.12v4,9,31., for Paul uses "charismata," which means "gifts of grace." The following Scriptures also confirm our right to call these manifestations of the Holy Spirit by the name of spiritual gifts. Rom.12v6. Eph.4v8. 1Tim.4v14. 2Tim.1v6. So it is quite correct to call these "spirituals," "gifts of the Spirit," or "manifestations of the Spirit." The first shows us that "spirituals" are a gift of grace and we cannot earn them, and the second shows that these "spirituals" have their source in God the Holy Ghost. These nine gifts fall into three definite divisions, and these divisions help considerably in the study of the manifestations of the Spirit.

Three gifts can be called "gifts of revelation and information." They spring from God's omniscient love.
1. The manifestation of a word of knowledge.
2. The manifestation of a word of wisdom.
3. The manifestation of discerning of spirits.

Three gifts can be called "gifts of power and demonstration." They spring from God's omnipotent love.
4. The manifestation of faith.
5. The manifestation of working of miracles.
6. The manifestation of gifts of healings.

Three gifts can be called "gifts of inspiration and edification." They spring from God's omnipresent love.
7. The manifestation of prophecy.
8. The manifestation of various kinds of tongues.
9. The manifestation of interpretation of tongues.

The description that we have given to these three groups of gifts show the major characteristics of each group, obviously the description of one group can apply in a lesser measure to the other groups of gifts. The description that we have given shows the major characteristics and uses of these three groups of gifts. It is worth noting that Paul speaks of one Christian having several manifestations of the same gift in one meeting, whereas other gifts are spoken of in a singular to show us that we cannot expect them to be so common.

The co-ordination of Spiritual Gifts.

The apostle Paul divides the manifestations of the Spirit into nine separate divisions, nine gifts that can operate quite separately from each another. However, though these gifts can occur quite separately from one another, very often several gifts can be manifested at the same time. The gifts are various aspects of the love, power, wisdom and knowledge of God imparted to us by the Holy Spirit. These gifts complement and overlap each other in their ministries, sometimes we may need one gift, but at other times we may need several to meet our needs. Sometimes we may need the love and assurance that are given through the encouraging gifts of inspiration, at other times we may need the knowledge and wisdom imparted by the gifts of revelation, and at still other times we may need the mighty power of God manifested through the gifts of power to meet the needs put before us. Paul urges the Corinthians in 1Cor.11 to 14., to earnestly seek God so that all the gifts could be manifested in their Christian gatherings. It is not by chance that Paul discussed spiritual gifts immediately after his instruction on the Lord's supper, the manifestation of spiritual gifts was part and parcel of the communion service. God the Holy Spirit wants to directly meet the needs of Christ's flock as they are gathered together to remember the death of their Lord. A correct reading and exposition of God's Word will lead to a manifestation of spiritual gifts. If we fail to obey God's command in His Word to seek for His spiritual gifts, we shall find little blessing on our Christian gatherings. The Holy Spirit is Lord, He has come to rule, not to take a back seat. 2Cor.3v17,18. If we insist on keeping to our programs, we shall miss the things that God has for us, and very little will be accomplished. Men love to rule and take the place that belongs to Christ alone, Christ is the head of the Church, and the Church should follow His plans and designs, but the Church has to many human designs that God will never put His stamp of approval upon.

The reasons why Paul says "Follow after love, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy," in 1Cor.14v1. is because prophecy is particularly edifying to the Church, and it can be the channel of so many gifts. It can be a channel for words of wisdom and knowledge and reveal the presence of spiritual powers, and as a channel of words of wisdom it can reveal God's desire to manifest gifts of healings, working of miracles, and the gift of faith. The gift of prophecy comforts, encourages and edifies the Church, and as a channel of the word of wisdom it can co-ordinate the manifestation of spiritual gifts. Paul states in 1Cor.12, that the gifts are intended to operate in the local church like the various parts of the body operate together in perfect co-operation and co-ordination. What wonderful things we shall see when we begin to follow the Scripture pattern and see the Holy Spirit manifesting all His gifts in every local church, when this happens the churches will have no difficulty in getting the unconverted to become Christians. In the early Church multitudes of people became Christians when they heard the Gospel message and saw it confirmed by the miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit, and the same thing will happen today when those same gifts are manifested. God desires every church to be a centre of revival, salvation and healing, with all the gifts of the Holy Spirit operating in real power and love, a veritable heaven upon earth. This is the meaning of 1Cor.14v1., "Follow after love and desire spiritual gifts." Christians and Christian churches should radiate God's power and reflect God's love to the world. When a church works together in love and the gifts operate in perfect co-ordination together through the members of that church, it means that Christ can perform all that He desires to do through that church and His name is abundantly glorified.

The two main areas of spiritual gifts are defensive and offensive, they protect and they attack, they defend us from Satan's attacks, and they empower us to attack Satan. Usually one experiences the defensive manifestations of spiritual gifts first and the attacking manifestations later. Indeed, in the Scriptures we read of many people who only experienced the defensive manifestations of the gifts, they never experienced the offensive manifestations of the gifts. In manifesting the gifts of the Holy Spirit we will find that God increases the power of the manifestations as we grow in grace, and that God will develop the revelation gifts by using them in a defensive role in secret before they are manifested in public in an attack upon Satan's kingdom. The Lord Jesus did no miracles before His baptism at Jordan, but He certainly had many manifestations of the gifts of revelation during His life as a carpenter at Nazareth, as it is shown by His mothers words, "Whatever He saith unto you do it." Jn.2v5,11, Once a person is familiar with the operation of the gifts of revelation, the gifts of power can follow, for those who understand and have God's purposes revealed to them, can also receive God's gift of power to fulfil those purposes. It is essential for everyone who is seeking spiritual gifts to get as close to God in prayer as it is possible to do so. It is important to realise that it is not emotion that brings a manifestation of spiritual gifts but rather faith that is nourished and exercised in prayer. Prayer in tongues has a vital part to play in the manifestation of the other spiritual gifts, and this is why Paul said, "I speak with tongues more than ye all," and he thanked God for this means of spiritual edification. 1Cor.14v18. How necessary it is to build the character up in God and love through communion with God, we must earnestly desire "great grace" as well as "great power." We must desire spiritual gifts to bless others, i.e. the motive must be love for God and others and not self-aggrandisement.

1. The Word of Wisdom.

This is the first gift mentioned in the list in 1Cor.12v8-10., and it is without doubt the most important of the nine spiritual gifts. Much confusion has arisen from a purely human explanation of the word of wisdom, so we will start our study of this gift by stating what it does not consist of.

1. It is not wisdom sanctified to the service of God.

No more than speaking with tongues is the consecration of linguistic ability to God, or the gifts of healings are the sanctified ministrations of a Christian doctor. It is not even natural wisdom augmented by divine blessing. The word of wisdom often carries with it prediction, a thing quite outside the realm or range of human wisdom. Human wisdom cannot reveal God's purposes for the future.

It is not the ability to guide and counsel people wisely.

All Christians who know Scriptures can do this in some measure, and those who have had a long walk with God through many years and many trials are especially able to give wise words of counsel and guidance. 2Cor.1v3-10. The apostle Paul does not say that a person is given a gift of wisdom, but rather a gift of a word of wisdom that is entirely supernatural. Usually the guidance for everyday affairs needs common-sense and Christian wisdom, if we need a word of wisdom, God can break into our lives and routines as He did into the lives of Noah, Abraham, Moses, Gideon, David, Elisha, the apostles and many other of God's people, both inside and outside the Scripture records.

2. It is not the ability to rightly interpret the Scriptures.

A word of wisdom is a supernatural process. For example; Daniel, Paul and Peter received the revelation of Christ's second coming by divine revelation, not by consecrated intellect and careful study. In Lk.10v20-24. Christ rejoiced that God's purposes had been revealed to the babes and hidden from the wise and prudent. The word of wisdom is not human wisdom, or even Christian wisdom, it is a fragment of divine wisdom. In 1Sam.9v15,27. the word of God was not an exposition of Scripture, it was a revelation of the will and purposes of God. Lk.11v49. with Mt.23v34-39. 1Thes.4v15.

A word of wisdom is not the ability to preach the Scriptures. All who have felt the power of God when they are preaching will know that they are carried beyond their human ability by the anointing of the Holy Spirit. However, this is not a manifestation of a word of wisdom, which is a revelation of previously unknown purposes of God, it is the exposition of known truth under divine blessing. This anointed teaching and preaching is a spiritual ministry, but it is not within the sphere of the word of wisdom. Christian exposition of known truth is in the sphere of the ministry gift of a teacher, and some Christians have a remarkable teaching ministry from God. The word of wisdom is in the realm of divine revelation, direction and prediction, and not in the realm of teaching and exposition. A teacher expounds the revealed words of wisdom in the Scriptures under the anointing of God, but if he manifests a word of wisdom, as he sometimes should, it is a previously unknown fragment of the mind and purposes of God.

The word of wisdom is not the guidance into Scriptural truth by the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit guides all Christians into truth whether they be a Sunday School scholar or a Bible School principle. The word of wisdom works in a much more specialised sphere than the guiding into all truth, which is based upon interpretation and application of Biblical truth. The reception of Scriptures was by word of wisdom, its interpretation needs sanctified common-sense, study and the breath of the Holy Spirit, and this will guide one into a knowledge of the truth. The apostle Paul told the Christians at Corinth to seek the greater gifts, and infers that they were very rare or limited in their operation in the Corinthian church, this shows that the gift of a word of wisdom was not the ability to interpret the Scriptures, which all Christians do in some measure. 1Jn.2v25-27. Jn.16v13.

To say that this mighty gift of a word of wisdom is only at work through teaching and preaching and is usually unknown or unobserved in its operation is complete nonsense, and is quite contrary to the whole of Scriptural revelation about this gift. This humanistic interpretation robs much of Christ's Church from desiring or obtaining the most important weapon in its spiritual armoury. It is a fact confirmed again and again by the Scriptures, that the prophets had visions of God and His great purposes in order to give them sufficient strength to perform the tremendous tasks before them. Because of the extreme pressure and great persecution they faced many of the prophets and some New Testament Christians experienced God's truths and spiritual realities by vision, an intellectual appreciation of these truths and realities was not sufficient, Some divine truths and spiritual realities can only be revealed to there full extent by the Holy Spirit manifesting His greater gifts. The Church needs men today who are transformed by the revelation of God and His purposes, men of heavenly vision and spiritual insight, such men make the truth of God live by their confirmation and demonstration of it by the gifts of power and revelation. We need teachers who not only rightly interpret the Scriptures, but above all we need teachers who can fulfil the Scriptures and manifest spiritual gifts, men who have visions of God and His purposes.

N.B. A Word of Warning.

In this present dispensation there is no need for either prophet or priest to come between Christians and their God, we can all be personally led by the Holy Spirit, if we abide in Christ and walk in the Spirit, God will guide us. Rom.8v14. Jn.14v16-26. 16v7-15. We are told in Heb.8v8-13. that the new covenant does away with one person directing another in the will of God for them, for "they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me from the least unto the greatest." Heb.10v19-22. tells us that the blood of Christ has made it possible for every child of God to come right into the presence of God, and in Heb.4v14-16. all Christians are personally invited to come directly to the Father and Son for grace and mercy. To direct others in such things as marriage, or their work for God is quite unscriptural and very wrong in this dispensation, these things are between a person and their Saviour as Peter found out in Jn.21v20-22., when he tried with genuine concern and love to find out Christ's plan for John. God can use the members of the body of Christ to confirm guidance, or to reveal a person's crushing problems, or to reveal great dangers ahead, and a person can be warned by a child of God at the Holy Spirit's direction if they are going out of God's way and into danger. In other words God can use one Christian, or a group of Christians, to deliver another Christian from danger in an emergency, but to direct them in life's everyday affairs is quite another matter altogether, each Christian has a personal responsibility to seek God for themselves for divine guidance. As we see in Acts.21v4,10-13. that the Holy Spirit warned Paul "that he should not go up to Jerusalem," through the Christians at Tyre, at Caesarea the prophet Agabus, again warned Paul of the consequences of going up to Jerusalem. Paul ignored these warnings and the warning that Christ had given to him personally many years before, Acts.22v16-21., that the Jews would not listen to him, and so he got himself into circumstances quite out of the will of God, because his love for his own people and his desire to see them saved. Rom.10v1. 9v1-5. One is filled with admiration for a man who could say that he wished that he could be cut off from Christ if it meant that it would save his country-folk, but this beautiful love for his people led Paul out of God's will, so we can see that we have to watch even our strong loving desires, otherwise we can be led out of the will of God. The Church can experience direction from God, but great care should be taken when making important decisions, and personal direction from others should be treated with the greatest caution and never swallowed without question. The apostle John had Christ's purposes and desires for the seven churches in Asia revealed to him, and through him Christ reproved sin in these churches, however, Christ never told John to try to direct Christians in their private lives or their manner of work for him, this was a personal matter between Christ and themselves.

3. It is not a good administrative ability.

It is not the ability to lead or govern large meetings, conferences, etc., though some leaders of meetings sometimes experience a real word of wisdom from God. e.g. James. Acts.15v12-22,28. It seemed good to the Holy Ghost and us. Some unconverted worldly people are excellent in chairing meetings and have real administrative ability. The ability to administrate is a necessary ministry in the Church of Christ, and deacons without doubt fulfil the two ministry gifts of helps and governments spoken of in 1Cor.12v28. "Helps," Gr. "antilepssis," suggests, "a taking over," or "a laying hold of to support," and "administration." The word "governments," Gr. "kubernesis," means ability to steer and guide, like a ships master or pilot. Acts.27v11. One could hardly think that Paul would omit a reference to the ministry of deacons in his list in 1Cor.12v28., as this was an important New Testament office, the ministries of "helps" and "governments," ideally describe the office and work of deacons.

4. The word of wisdom must not be confused with the normal gift of prophecy.

The word of wisdom contains either direction or prediction, whereas the normal gift of prophecy spoken of in 1Cor.12v10. does not. Any prophecy that contains either direction or a prediction of God's purposes, contains a word of wisdom, and what we usually call "prophecies" in the Old Testament were really predictions. The simple gift of prophecy edifies, exhorts and comforts; whereas the word of wisdom directs, predicts and reveals the purposes of God. 1Cor.14v3,23,25.

The seer of the Old Testament and the prophet spoken of in Eph.4v8-11., are both the same office, and both experience a regular ministry of the gifts of revelation. They can also manifest the simple gift of prophecy words of edification, exhortation, and comfort. For example David prophesied many times in his psalms to edify, exhort and comfort, but on other occasions he manifested the word of wisdom and revealed the mind and purposes of God. So we can see that the simple gift of prophecy is the same in the Old Testament and New Testament, the person who possessed it ministered words of comfort and edification. Those who continually manifested gifts of revelation had a prophetic office, whether they were an Old Testament or New Testament prophet. The person with a simple gift of prophecy may occasionally manifest a word of wisdom, but that does not make them a major prophet with a prophetic office, it is the continual manifestation of the gifts of revelation that proves a person has this office. Doubtless, the faithful exercise of the simple gift of prophecy will result in God entrusting a Christian with the exercise of the greater gifts of revelation. When Paul in 1Cor.14v1. puts prophecy at the head of the gifts that we should desire, "Desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy," he does so because prophecy edifies the Church, and because it can be a channel of the gifts of revelation. The simple gift of prophecy does not hold the pre-eminent place in the gifts, it is the prophecy that reveals the mind, purposes and knowledge of God, that is the most important gift. It is divine sovereignty, grace and wisdom that ordains major prophets and apostle, not human desire. Jer.1v4-10. Acts.9v15,16. Eph.4v8-11. 1Cor.12v28.

5. The word of wisdom is not intended to add to the Scriptures. We read in Eph.2v20 and 3v5. that the Old Testament prophets, Christ and His New Testament apostles and prophets, have given us the Word of God. God has revealed His eternal truths and purposes to us in the Scriptures, those who say that they have a new revelation of truth that replaces, or adds to, the Scriptures, should be rejected. The next revelation of new truth will start with a new dispensation, at the start of the Millennial kingdom. God has revealed His new purposes for each age as the new age has begun. Certain moral truths are eternal, certain dispensational truths have an application within the age they are given. It is true that the Old Testament prophets prophesied truth for our dispensation but we read in 1Pet.1v10-12., that it puzzled them, until they were told that it was for our age.

After God had given the law to Moses, God did not expand the law through the prophets, He revealed His purposes to them in the light of their reaction to the law, e.g. Micah.6v8. "He hath shown thee, oh man, what is good, and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God."

After the Old Testament prophets, Christ and His apostles and prophets, had revealed New Testament truth, when God gave words of wisdom to the churches, it was to meet local circumstances or personal need, it was NOT to add to the truth of New Testament revelation. We see in Rev.22v19 what God thinks of those who add to, or take away from Scriptural truth. There are many today who are wolves in sheep's clothing, they try to make their false revelation replace the Scripture. They claim a new organisation, a new order and authority, new apostleship, new doctrine, and they deny Christ's deity, death and doctrines. Paul warns us that false teachers can use Christian phraseology, but they preach another Jesus, they are moved by another Spirit, and preach another Gospel, these are "deceitful workers," Satan's ministers making themselves out to be messengers of light and ministers of righteousness. 2Cor.11v3,4,13-15. All the truth we need for this dispensation is revealed to us in the Scriptures without any more being added, Christ and His apostles and prophets give us the only foundation upon which we can build as Christians. Eph.2v20. 3v5. Those who desire to manifest the word of wisdom will have to keep close to God and keep full of the Holy Spirit. Each person will not have the same power or authority in their manifestation of this gift, or for that matter any gift, a person's spiritual growth and authority given to them by God will decide the extent of a person's ministry, To receive direction for one's life is one thing, but to have the revelation of God's eternal purposes like the apostle Paul is something much greater.

The Word of Wisdom is the Greatest of the Gifts of the Holy Spirit.

a. Because nothing is so great, wonderful, or important as the revelation of the mind and purposes of God.

By words of wisdom we learn of God's plans to manifest the gifts of power. We are instructed, and informed of God's desires. We come into the secret place of the Most High to hear His secret purposes. God tells His children who seek Him, His secrets and plans. Gen.18v17-19. Jn.15v13-16. Mt.5v6,8. God gives to us His perfect wisdom, wisdom springing out of Hos omniscience, i.e. His unlimited knowledge God has given the Scriptures to us by this gift, it is the record of God's eternal purposes and His dealing with mankind in the light of these purposes. God has given these revelations of His purposes in the most magnificent and wonderful ways, by mighty vision, dream and spoken word, confirmed by sign and wonder, to stress the importance of the revelation given.

b. Because rejection of God's words of wisdom has always resulted in divine judgement.

Israel and Judah ended up in chains in captivity when they rejected the words of wisdom given through God's prophets. 2Chron.36v15-21. The people in the time of the Judges were oppressed because they would not obey God's purposes. The Jews killed their Messiah and about 30 years later they reaped the results of their folly, in A.D. 70 Jerusalem was destroyed by Titus and 1,100,000 people died, Christ predicted the results of their folly, and sobbed because His intentions to bless and protect them had failed because of their wickedness. Lk.19v41-44. In the time of the flood the people rejected God's purposes revealed by Enoch's and Noah's prophesying and preaching and so they were destroyed by the flood.

c. Because obedience to God's purposes has always caused God's saints to conquer.

The early Church conquered because their activities were directed by words of wisdom. No church or Christian fellowship can conquer where men rule instead of God, we have to be subordinate to the Lordship of Christ and the Holy Spirit.

DEFINITION.

A word of wisdom is a supernatural revelation given by the Holy Spirit of the mind and purposes of God. It is God's will, commands and plans revealed to man by the Holy Spirit. Through this gift the Holy Spirit has revealed divine truth, and He can still. give divine guidance under all circumstances, and can reveal God's plans and purposes for individuals, communities, churches and nations.


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