Holy spirit gifts

HOLY SPIRIT GIFTS
EDITED BY GLENN PEASE
"Does the Bible have a spiritual gifts list?
There are three main passages that mention spiritual gifts in the New
Testament. First Corinthians 12:4-11, 28 lists at least 11 gifts, Romans
12 mentions seven gifts, and 1 Peter notes two gifts for a total of 20
specific gifts. They include:
1 Corinthians 12:4-11, 28
Wisdom or Word of Wisdom: Special ability to understand truth or
situations.
Knowledge or Word of Knowledge: Special understanding of
information that helps others.
Faith: Ability to see what has yet to take place or believe when it is
difficult.
Healing: Ability to help those with physical problems.
Special powers/Miracles: Ability over circumstances and/or evil spirits.
Prophecy: Ability to speak truth and/or future information.
Discernment: Special ability to tell right from wrong or truth from
deception.
Tongues/Languages: Ability to communicate in other languages.
Interpretation of Tongues/Languages: Ability to interpret other
languages.

Helps: Ability to assist those in need; some consider this gift the same as
the gift of mercy in Romans 12.
Administration: Ability to organize people and information for more
effective service.
Romans 12:6-8
Prophecy: Ability to speak truth and/or future information.
Serving: Likely concerns the ability to help with practical needs.
Teaching: Ability to instruct others in God's truth.
Encouragement: Ability to help others feel encouraged.
Giving: Ability to generously give time, money, or resources to others.
Leadership: Ability to govern, cast vision, and/or organize others.
Mercy: Ability to help others in areas of need.
1 Peter 4:10-11
Speaking: Ability to communicate Christian truth well.
Serving: May be the same gift mentioned in Romans 12.
Some also include Ephesians 4:12 that mentions apostles, prophets,
evangelists, pastors, and teachers (some consider pastor-teacher one
office). However, this passage specifically refers to these roles as offices
rather than as spiritual gifts.

There is much dispute regarding the definitions of some gifts, which
gifts continue to operate today, how many gifts a person can have (all
agree a believer has at least one), and whether additional spiritual gifts
exist. Brief definitions are listed above. Additional articles provide
further details regarding these gifts." UNKNOWN
Our Gifts and How to Use Them
by
C. H. SPURGEON
(1834-1892)
© Copyright 2004 by Tony Capoccia. This updated file may be freely copied,
printed out, and distributed as long as copyright and source statements remain
intact, and that it is not sold. All rights reserved.
Verses quoted, unless otherwise noted, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE: NEW
INTERNATIONAL VERSION ©1978 by the New York Bible Society, used by
permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers.
This sermon, preached by Tony Capoccia, is now available on Audio Cassette or CD:
www.gospelgems.com
“I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying
on of my hands.” [2 Timothy 1:6]
I suppose that Timothy was a somewhat shy and timid youth and that from the
gentleness of his nature he needed to be exhorted to be bold in his witness and
testimony. He is told not to be ashamed to testify about our Lord, and to endure
hardship like a good soldier of Jesus Christ. He is called to the front though his
timid nature would have kept him in the rear, and he is exhorted to command and
teach, allowing no one to despise his youth. Perhaps, also, he was not a man of very
forceful action, and needed every now and then a little touch of the spur to induce
him to awaken all his dormant energy to energize himself and his church in

passionate labor for Christ. He had a very choice spirit, and therefore it was
desirable to see it strong, brave, and energetic. No one would wish to arouse a bad
man, for like a viper he is all the more worse when awakened; but in proportion to
the excellence of the character is the desirability of its being full of force. The apostle
Paul tells Timothy, in his first epistle, not to neglect the gift that is in him, and in the
text before us he tells him to fan into flame that gift: in each case Paul is sounding
the trumpet in his ear, and commanding him to passionate action.
Paul speaks of the gift that was conferred on Timothy by the laying on of his hands,
and in the former epistle he connects that with the hands of the elders. Now, it was
no doubt the custom to lay on hands at the ordination of Christian ministers by the
apostles, and there was an excellent reason for this, for gifts were thereby conveyed
to the ordained, and when we can find anybody who can confer some spiritual gift
upon us, we will be glad to have their hands laid on our heads; but we don’t care for
empty hands. Rites cease when their meaning ceases. If practiced any longer they
lead to superstition, and are fit instruments of Roman Catholic priests. The
upholding of the hands of the eldership, when they give their vote to elect a man to
the pastorate, is a wise proceeding, and is, I suspect, all the apostle means when he
speaks of the elders; but empty hands it seems to me are fitly laid on empty heads,
and to submit to an empty ceremony is an idle waste of time. If Paul were here, and
could confer a gift, we would rejoice to receive it; yes, and if the lowliest man in
Christendom, or woman, could confer the smallest amount of grace by the laying on
their hands, we would bow our head in the lowliest manner; till then we will beg to
decline submitting to the imposition, or assisting in it. For this reason, and others,
we cannot use the text exactly as it stands in addressing this congregation, but
leaving out the reference to laying on of hands, we may honestly, without violation of
the current of inspiration, proceed to exhort each one of you to fan into flame the
gift that is in you.
There are many kinds of gifts. All Christians have some gift. Some may have only
one gift, but all have at least one. The Great Master has apportioned to every
servant a gift. No single part of a vital body is without its function and position.
True, there are some parts of the body whose function has not yet been discovered;
even the physician and the anatomist have not been able to tell why certain organs
are in the human body, or what purpose they serve, but as even these are found to
be necessary, we are quite sure that they fulfill some useful purpose. Truly, there are
some Christians who might be put in that category: it might puzzle anybody to
know what they are capable of; and yet it is certain they have some charge

committed to them to keep, and that, if they are true believers, they are essential
parts of the body of Christ. As every beast, bird, fish, and insect, has its own place in
nature, so has every Christian a proper position in the economy of grace. No tree, no
plant, no weed, could be dispensed with without injury to nature’s perfect balance;
neither can any sort of gift or grace be lost to the church without injury to her
completeness. Every living saint has his or her charge to keep — their talent, over
which they are a steward. A measure of gift is in all of us, needing to be fanned into a
flame.
Some have external gifts rather than internal ones — gifts, for instance, of worldly
position, estate and substance. These ought to be well used and considering that in
these times we have a starving world to deal with, and that one of the great
impediments to the spread of the gospel is with some of us the lack of means for the
support of those who should preach the word, it does seem a strange thing that
Christians would lay aside God’s money and use it as if it were their own. When for
our orphans, our students, and our missionaries, we need funds, how can men and
women love the Lord with all their hearts, and yet keep thousands stored in their
bank accounts, or the extra money in their purses and wallets? They have not
learned to provide for themselves purses that do not wear out. They do not
understand that to keep their money they must give it away, that truly to preserve it
they must dedicate it to God. For that which is kept by the miserly for themselves is
not really preserved, but wasted. That which is expended in the Master’s service is
laid up in heaven, where neither moth nor rust can destroy. But I am not going to
speak about that: I don’t have much reason to speak upon that subject to those who
are immediately connected with me, for I would rather praise you. Most of our dear
friends here do serve the Lord with the gifts that are outside of them — not all as we
should, but many with more than ordinary liberality, and some up to the full extent
of their means, if not beyond them. There are, however, exceptions to all rules; and
there are a few who attend this church who need more than a gentle hint to excite
generosity in them. But we must go at once to the point in hand; — “the gift that is
in you.”
First, we will discuss the gift that may be in each one of us; and then, secondly, how
we are to fan it into flame; and in conclusion, we will give reasons for fanning it into
a flame.
I. First, then, WHAT GIFT DO WE HAVE IN US?

1. In some here tonight there are gifts of the mind, which are accompanied with
gifts of speech.
It is no small thing to be able to read the Scriptures and to see their inner meaning,
to be able to compare spiritual things with spiritual, and to be so taught in other
matters, that we are able to see the hand of God in history, and can teach others on
all such subjects. However, not every one who has gifts of the mind also has the gift
of speech, but where God is pleased to give to any man mind and mouth, he
possesses a gift which he ought to use abundantly. Many a man is mighty in the
Scriptures, but not eloquent when the two things meet, but when a man has the
mind, and the speech, and a fervent spirit, then that man of God has great power.
May I suggest that every Christian man here who is possessed with the gift of
eloquent discourse is obligated to use it for Jesus Christ. Some young men spend
their evenings in Debating Clubs and the like, and I haven’t anything to say against
that, but I have this to say — whatever you may do with this talent in other
directions, the Lord, who has bought you with his blood, if you are a Christian man,
has the first claim on you, and you are obligated to use your powers of speech for his
cause. “But I am not a preacher!” What do you mean by that? Do you find anything
in Scripture about clergy and laity? If so, you have read it with different eyes from
mine. There were men called especially to the oversight of the Church and the
preaching of the Word, but every one according to his gift also had a call, and there
is no man in the God’s Holy Church who has ability to speak who has any license to
be silent. Not only the golden-mouthed orators, but the silver-tongued speakers —
men of the second as well as of the first order — should serve in the gospel of the
Son of God. I will not ask any young man whether he ought to preach, but whether
he can prove that he ought not. Every man is bound to tell another who is in danger
to escape from that danger. Everyone who has recovered from a dreadful disease is
bound to tell others what remedy was made effectual in his case. Nothing can excuse
us from, in some way or other, sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ; and, if we have the
ability to speak, we will be held accountable if we have been silent with our fellow
men. The stones in the street might surely cry out against some professed Christians
who stand before the representatives of government, before Councils, in the Courts
of Justice, and ring with their voices, and yet not preach Jesus — who can argue
points of politics and the like, but not speak a word for Christ, — eloquent for the
world, but silent for Jesus. May God deliver us from this! If you have any gift,
young man, come out and use it — or old man, if you have laid it aside until late in
your life. In these difficult times when the harvest is ripe and the laborers are few,

let every man that has his sickle go out into the field. Let no man say, “Please excuse
me from going,” because we were bought by the blood of Christ, if we have tasted of
the Water of Life then we need to cry aloud and let this be our message — “Come!"
Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of
the water of life.”
There are numbers of believers who don’t have the gift of utterance with the tongue,
who nevertheless can speak very fluently and admirably with the pen. If, then, you
have the gift of writing, are you using it for Christ as you should? I want to stir up
the gift that is in you. Letters and notes have often been blessed to conversions; are
you accustomed to write with that view? Perhaps you write many letters and notes;
let me ask you what sort of mail and communication it is that you send? Do you
write letters to your children and friends full of loving testimony to what the grace
of God has done for you? If you have not done so, dear friends, then do it at once.
Jesus needs sanctified writers, and in his name I claim your service. The writing of
tracts, and the dissemination of holy truth by means of the press, are most
important — any person who has any gifts in that direction should be sure to use
them. Why are Christian writers often so dull, while the world commands talent and
liveliness? How many thousands are writing every day the most useless nonsense,
and booksellers’ shelves groan with the literature of fiction! Are there none who,
with splendor of diction or in simple terms, could write interestingly of the gospel,
and tell of its power among the men and women? If anyone can handle the pen as a
ready and skillful writer, let them help the Lord — help the Lord against the mighty
forces of evil influences in the world.
2. Another form of a gift that belongs to us is influence.
We all have influence of some sort — some more, some less. What an influence the
parent has. To a great extent you mold your children’s lives. Some of us owe what
we never can repay to our mothers. What they have done for us will make us
grateful to them even when they will slumber in the dust. Those who have the care
of little children should be very careful, for a remark they may make without
intention may shape the character — yes, mar or bless the child’s character
throughout eternity. And you who associate daily with working men and women —
are there enough Christian managers and supervisors who have earnest zeal to use a
holy and loving influence among the employed? If classes are alienated one from the
other, which I fear they are, is it not because we meet each other just as a matter of

business, and that there is little of anything like Christian warmth and communion
between the one and the other? Indeed some think the idea is ridiculous, and tell me
I know very little of the world to dream of such a thing. I will leave that question to
the day which will reveal all things, and I think I know who will prove to be right.
Let every one of us consider what influence he has, and having done so, let us ask for
God’s grace that we may use it rightly. I will not go into details here. You are all
affecting those around you for good or evil. As Christian men and women you are
either leading others to Christ unconsciously, or else you are deadening their
consciences, and leading them to think that Christianity is not worth much after all;
and surely you would not wish to do that. You have the gift of influence: I encourage
you to fan it into flame.
3. Many of the elder members of the church have another gift, namely, experience.
Certainly, experience cannot be purchased, nor taught; it is given to us by the Lord
who teaches us for our good. It is a special treasure each person wins for themselves
as they are led through the wilderness. Experienced Christians are purposely put in
the church that they may guide the inexperienced; that they may help those who are
distressed with a word of comfort derived from their own experience of God’s
helping hand in time of trouble, that they may warn the careless by the troubles they
themselves have suffered through carelessness. Now, when an experienced Christian
merely uses their experiences for their own comfort or as a standard by which to
judge their fellow Christians, or makes use of it for self-exaltation as though they
were infinitely superior to the most zealous young men, such a man mars his gift,
does harm with it, and makes himself heavily responsible.
Dear brothers and sisters, I beg you who have long walked in the ways of godliness
to use your experience continually in your visitation of the sick, in your
conversations with the poor, in your meetings with young Christians, in your
dealings with backsliders, help them with the richness of your experiences; let the
anointing God has given you fall on those who are all around you. May you be like a
certain minister I heard of the other day. I asked a poor woman “What sort of man
is he?” She said, “He is the kind of man, sir, that if he comes to see you, you know he
has been there.” I understood what she meant: he left behind him some godly
saying, weighty advice, holy comfort, or devout reflection, which she could
remember after he had left her house. May our dear friends always have this said of
them.

4. Another gift which many have is the gift of prayer — praying with power, in
private for the church and with sinners.
There are some who have learned by years of practice how to knock at heaven’s
door, so as to get a quicker opening of the door than others. A number of these folks
have coupled this gift with the gift of utterance in public prayer. Such dear friends
ought never to be absent from the prayer meeting, except when absolute necessity
compels. They should not only be content with coming to prayer meetings that are
scheduled, but they should fan into flame the gift that is in them, and try to establish
other prayer meetings where there are none. There was never a period when the
church had too much prayer. Bible Studies may degenerate into mere discussion,
and even preaching into a show of oratory; but prayer has vital elements about it
which survive many an injury. Sad! So sad! for the churches that have given up
prayer meetings. You will be able to judge the presence of God by the prayer
meeting, as accurately as you will judge the temperature of the air by the
thermometer. It is one of the truest signs that God is with the people when they pray,
and it is one of the darkest signs that he has departed when prayer is lacking. You
who have sweet communion with God in private, look upon your frequency on your
knees as not only a blessing for yourselves, but as a gift that is bestowed upon you
for the good of others.
5. There is another gift which is a very admirable one. It is the gift of conversation.
By conversation I don’t mean a readiness for chit chat and gossip — (he who has
that wretched propensity may bury it in the earth and never dig it up again) — but
when we have the gift of meaningful conversation we should use it most carefully for
God. About fifty years or so ago there lived a set of great table-talkers, who were
asked out to dine because of their lively conversational powers. Now if this is in any
of you, then never waste it in mere pleasantries, but say something worth saying,
and aim at the highest results. Remember Jesus was a mighty conversationalist. I
wish I could with discreet skillfulness break in on a conversation in a public place
and turn it around to the Savior — turn it around to something worth speaking
about. I often envy those of my brothers and sisters who can go up to individuals
and talk to them with freedom. I don’t always find myself able to do so, though
when I have been divinely aided I have had a large reward. When a Christian can

get hold of an unbeliever and talk with them, it is like one of our old warships laying
alongside a French ship and giving her a broadside, making every timber shiver, and
eventually sending her to the bottom of the sea. How many souls has been brought
to Christ by the loving personal exhortations of Christian people who know how to
do it? To be able, like Elijah, to stretch yourselves out on the dead child, to put your
hands on their hands, your feet on their feet and breathe the life by God’s help into
the dead — oh, some of you can do this better, perhaps, than those who are called to
speak to hundreds and thousands. Please do if you have the ability; and try to get
the ability if you don’t have it. Perhaps you possess it, and haven’t found it out yet.
No unconverted person should come to this church without your speaking to them;
and as to a person attending our church three Sundays in a row without being
spoken to by some Christian, it ought to be an impossibility, and would be if all were
in the correct warm-hearted state, earnestly desiring the salvation of others. May
God teach us, if we can converse personally with individuals, to fan the gift into
flame, keep it in good condition, and continually use it.
My inventory of the gifts which are in us is not complete, nor is it intended to be.
Each person may have a separate gift. Even the gift to be able to lie still and suffer is
not a small one. The gift of being able to be poor and contented is not to be despised.
The gift of nursing the sick, or of attracting the attention of children, should be
lovingly employed, no talent should ever be hidden or kept back. But, whatever it is,
the word is, “Fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you.”
II. And this brings us, secondly, to the consideration of — HOW WE ARE TO FAN
INTO FLAME THE GIFTS OF GOD.
1. First, we should do it by examination to see what gifts we really have.
We should look over our people to see what God has entrusted to our stewardship.
May I ask you to take a minute to sit quietly and take stock of all that God has given
you. Remember you will assess yourself, for I am sure you will put yourself down as
being utterly without gifts. If somebody were to say of you that you didn’t really
have much to offer, then you would most likely defend yourself, and argue for your
own abilities in many areas. I would challenge you to acknowledge all your
capabilities. Now think of all the abilities you have, dear brother, dear sister. What

has God trusted you with? Add up each item, and compute the total sum. What
talents and gifts has the Lord given you? Remember, everyone who has been given
much, much will be demanded. What, then, has been given to you? Such an enquiry
will help you to stir up the gift that is in you. The self-examination of every mental
faculty, every spiritual attainment, every form of characteristic force or individual
influence, will be an excellent start for a more vigorous course of action. Ask
yourself what you can do, what more you could do, what more you might learn to
do, what more you ought at least to attempt. Don’t limit any of your possibilities;
and it will seriously tend to fan you into a flame, if you then ask, “How much have I
done what I could do? How far have I used all that has been committed to me? How
much of my life has been allowed to rust, and how much has been made bright by
wear and tear in the service of the Master?” It is not a pleasant duty to which I have
invited you. You would be much more gratified if I asked you to consider some
precious promise of the covenant, and certainly I would find it more comforting to
myself, but this is necessary. Sweet things are pleasant, but sharp things are often
the more beneficial. Pillows for our heads are not our main desire; we wish, as
soldiers of the cross, to be found faithful first of all and above all. We will have to
give an account before God. Oh, let us give an account before ourselves now, in the
forum of our own conscience, and so fan into flame the gift that is in us.
2. The next mode of fanning our gift into flame is to consider to what use we could
put the talents we possess.
To what use could I put my talents in my family? Am I doing all I could for the
children? Have I labored all I could for my wife’s conversion — my husband’s
conversion? Then what about the neighborhood — is there nothing more that I
could do for the salvation of my poor godless neighbors? Perhaps I see them
drunken, wicked, impure, irreligious, full of all kinds of disobedience to God, can’t
I, by God’s grace, lift them up in prayer? They never come to church: have I done
all I could to get them there? I was not placed in that neighborhood without a
purpose. If it is a dark part of the city, I am put there to be a light if I am a
Christian. Am I shining, then? Some people prefer to live where there is light, and
for them the choice is wise; but I think, for usefulness, loving hearts might prefer to
live in the bad parts of the city that they might do good. Are you doing all you can
for Jesus? Come, answer like an honest person!
But I ask you to continue in your self-inspection. Will you examine yourself in every

relation in which you stand. As an employer, manager or supervisor, fan into flame
your gift in reference to those you employ. As an employee, fan into flame the gift
towards your coworkers. As a salesperson, fan into flame your gift in reference to
those with whom you come in contact. Are you a soldier or a sailor? What an
opportunity you have, my friend, in going to many countries, of doing something for
Christ, here and there and everywhere. Are you a commercial traveler, and do you
go to many places? Surely you might travel for our Lord with gospel tracts, printed
sermons, and Bibles, to be distributed without cost, yet still attend to your own
business none the less. If our churches were in a right state of spiritual health, men
would not first say, “What can I do to make money?” but “What can I do to serve
Christ, for I will take up a profession that is subservient to that.” But if we can’t
bring men to that point, we must at least say (to all of you who profess to be
Christians, at any rate), in whatever situation you are placed, high or low, rich or
poor, you should live unto Christ. You should each ask yourselves, “What can I do
for the Lord in my present situation?
What special service does my position involve?” In this way, dear friends, you can
fan into flame the gift that is in you.
3. But, next, fan it into flame not merely by consideration and examination, but by
actually using your gift.
We talk a lot about working, but working is better than talking about working:
really to get at it, and to do something for soul-winning and spreading around the
glory of God, is infinitely better than planning and holding committees. Away with
boasters and big talkers, let us get to acts and deeds. None of us know what we can
do until we try. The hunter will tell you that there may be many birds in a field, but
you don’t know how many till you walk through, and then you discover them and
watch them fly up. When the Old Mill wheel turns you will be able to see the force of
the current. You will see the speed of the horse when you put him to his best. Work,
work! and even the tool that is blunt will get an sharp edge by being used. Shine,
and the light you have will grow in the very act of shining! He who has done one
thing will find himself capable of doing two; and doing two will be able to
accomplish four; and having achieved the four will soon go on to twelve, and from
twelve to fifty; and so by growing multiples he will enlarge his power to serve God
by using the ability he has.

Does this tire you? Does my subject seem too much like salvation by works? Nothing
is further from my thoughts, I am not speaking about salvation at all, neither am I
addressing those who are seeking after salvation; I am speaking to you who have
already been saved by the grace of God. You are saved, and on that point all is
complete. You are resting in the finished work of Christ. Should it ever seem hard to
you to be stirred up to serve him? Let the vision of his tearful face come to your
mind. Behold his thorn-crowned head! Let him turn his back to you, and note the
gashes the Roman scourges made. Look at him — a spectacle of blood and love! And
is it possible that any service for him can by you be considered hard? To burn at a
stake! if we could do it a thousand times, he clearly deserves that we should make
the sacrifice! To give him every pulse, and every drop of blood, and every breath we
breathe — he well deserves it--glory be to his name, he merits all we could ever do a
thousand times over. I will not fear to press on you again and again and again, that
you use the gifts which are in you by actual service to so precious a master.
4. And then, dear friends, in addition to using our gift, every one of us should try to
improve it.
We have for years endeavored to stir up the young Christians of this congregation to
educate themselves. Our evening classes are intended to train young men who
preach in the street that they may get a deeper education in order to be better able
to preach the gospel of Christ; and out of this congregation have gone hundreds
whom God has called as ministers of Christ, and many are being trained right now;
I desire that every man put himself in training. I think every man ought to feel, “I
have been Christ’s man with a few talents; I will be Christ’s man with ten talents if I
can be. If presently I don’t thoroughly understand the doctrines of his gospel, I will
try to understand them; I will read, and search, and learn.” We want an intelligent
race of Christians, not a race of boasters of culture, mental aristocrats, who pretend
to know a great deal and know nothing; but we need diligent students of the Word,
adept in theology, like the Puritans of old. Roman Catholicism will never gain a
foothold with people who know the doctrines of the Word of God; Roman
Catholicism is like a bat, and hates sunlight. Every one of us ought to be students
and learners, trying to gain more ability for usefulness as well as being built up in
our most holy faith. This is especially true for the younger members of our churches.
Give yourselves to reading, study, and prayer. Grow mentally and spiritually. Do
you lead a Bible Study? You do well, but couldn’t you do better if you knew more?

And when you speak to children in Sunday School we are glad for it, but wouldn’t
you do that better if you studied more perfectly the truth of God? Apollos was not
ashamed to be taught, nor need the most successful laborer be ashamed to learn.
Improve your gift, for that is one way of fanning it into flame.
5. And then pray over your gifts: that is a blessed way of fanning them into flame.
Go before God, and spread out your responsibilities before him. In my own case I
have often cried out to Him, “Lord, you have given me this Congregation, and Oh it
is hard to be innocent of all their blood, and to speak with affection, and prudence,
and courage to everyone, so as not to leave one unwarned, unhelped, untaught. Help
me, my Lord, that I may leave no one without nourishment of the Word in due
season. Who is sufficient for these things? Only your grace is sufficient for me.” It
fans one into flame to preach with all of his might, when he has laid before God in
prayer his weakness; and the ability which God has given him, too, and asked that
the weakness may be consecrated to God’s glory and the ability accepted to the
Lord’s praise. Shouldn’t we do just the same, whatever our calling is — take it to
the Lord and say, “Assist me, O, Great and Holy God, to live to you. If your grace in
me is only as a handful of flour and a little oil; make it hold out — make it hold out.
I really can’t do much, my Master; help me to do it well, and to continue steadfast
and unwearied in it.” Pray over yourself, as it were: Put your whole self on the altar,
and then let the drink-offering be the pouring out of your tears before God in
prayer that he would be pleased to accept you, to qualify you, to anoint you, to
direct you, and bless you in all that you do. This would be the most excellent manner
of stirring up the gift that is in you. O Spirit of the living God, lead all your people
to downright, earnest, and actual service to the Redeemer, and especially work in us
to that end.
I will not linger longer there, but close with the third observation for this evening:
III. WHY IS IT THAT WE SHOULD FAN INTO FLAME THE GIFT THAT IS IN
US.
There are many replies to this. One or two will answer our purpose.
1. We should fan into flame the gift that is in us, because all we will do when we have

fanned ourselves into flames to the utmost, and when the Spirit of God has
strengthened us to the highest degree, will still fall far short of what our dear Lord
and Master deserves at our hands.
Ah! what must Jesus think of us when he remembers his own love. Was there ever
such a contrast between his furnace seven times hotter, and our iceberg spirits? He
did not spare himself, and we are always sparing ourselves. He gives us everything,
and hangs naked on the cross: we keep almost everything to ourselves, and count
self-sacrifice to be hard. He labors, is weary, and yet never ceases: we are a little
weary, and before long we faint. He continued to preach on, notwithstanding all the
evil men said and did to him; but we take offense and quit our work, because we are
not appreciated as we should be. Oh, the little things which put some workers out of
sorts and out of heart. Oh, the looks or the looking away, the words, or the silence,
that will make some Christians give up their soul winning, their Christian service,
and Christian work. “Bearing with one another” seems to have gone out of fashion
with many people. “Forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you,” is
forgotten. Brothers and sisters, if being door mats for Christ for all the church to
wipe their feet on would honor him, we ought to think it a great glory to be so used.
Among genuine Christians the contention is for the lowest place: among sham
Christians the controversy is for the higher positions. Some will ask the question
nowadays — “Which is the higher office — that of elder or deacon,” and so on. Oh,
what pettiness! When the Master was going up to Jerusalem to die, there was a
argument among the disciples over which of them would be the greatest; and so it is
with us; at times when grace is low, our opinion of ourselves is very high, and then
our love to Christ is little, so that we soon take affront, and are quick to resent any
little insults, as we think them to be, where perhaps nothing of the kind was meant.
Beloved, may we be saved from all this littleness of soul!
2. And remember what obligations we have to our Master — how we should have
been dead in trespasses and sins but for him and his grace — how we should have
been in hell but for him and his grace— how our expectations tonight would have
been “a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire, but for him and his
grace;” but we are washed and cleansed, and on the way to heaven, and we owe it all
to him. Therefore let us fan into flame the gift that is in us and serve him with all of
our might.
3. Another reason is that these are busy times. If we are not fanning our talents and

gifts into flames then we need to remember everybody else is.
The church of the Living God, it seems to me, is traveling along the road to heaven
in a horse drawn wagon and the rest of the world is going its own way by express
speed. If men become earnest in the cause of God, worldly critics shout out
“Fanaticism! Extremism!” Did you ever hear the raving, raging excitement of those
stock-brokers as they are trying to buy various types of stock! Nobody says, “Look
at these men! See how fanatical they are!” No, they expect to see excitement when
publicly buying and selling stock; but if we were half as excited for God and his
gospel, there would be a hue and cry all over the country, “Here’s a bunch of
madmen! Here’s a set of fanatics let loose.” They once said of that great old
preacher, Rowland Hill, “The dear old gentleman is too intense.” “Why,” said Mr.
Hill, “Once when I was walking by a gravel pit I saw a large piece of the gravel pit
fall in on two or three men, so I walked into the city as fast as my aged legs could
carry me, and I shouted with all my might ‘Help! Help! Help!’ and nobody said “the
dear old man’s too intense.” Oh, no, you may be as intense and serious as you like
about saving people’s lives, but if their souls awaken your sympathy, some
lukewarm Christian or some one else is sure to be ready with a wet blanket to cool
your passion. And yet was there ever a time when the wheels of life revolved so
swiftly as now. The world marches with giant strides: everybody is up and awake,
but for the most part the church is asleep. For other things men labor, and tug, and
toil, and make sacrifices; for an idea they slaughter one another; for the unity of a
race they fatten fields with blood, and make rivers run with gore; but to preach
Christ, and snatch sinners from the jaws of hell, they require of us to be somber, and
insist that we must not be too intense, we must not go too fast; we must be prudent,
we must be reserved! Dear Lord deliver us from “prudence” and “coldness”! From
“decorum” and “propriety” (wherein they stand in the way of our winning souls)
Dear Lord deliver us! And from every tradition, and every idol that has been set up
among us, which prevents our being thoroughly useful and serviceable to the cause
of God, Dear Lord deliver us! Because these are busy times, we ought to fan into
flame the gift that is in us.
4. And then, again, we must fan into flame our gift because it needs fanning.
The gifts and graces of Christians are like a coal fire which frequently requires
stirring and fanning as well as feeding with fuel. You must not stir it up too much;
the poker does not give heat; and, stirring up a man of itself does not make him

better; indeed, it is just as injurious to a weak man to stir him up as it would be to
an expiring fire in the grate; but yet there must be stirring and fanning, and fires go
out sometimes for the lack of it. There are times with us when we become dull and
heavy, doing little or nothing, — restless, indifferent, — and then it is that we
require rebuking. If there is a solid foundation of real grace in us, we only need to be
fanned into flame, and right away the fire begins to burn. How I like to fan into
flame some of you!
I remember a dear brother dropping in one night to hear the word preached — an
excellent Christian, but sluggish, and the Lord touched his heart with the word
spoken, and he began to preach in the streets of the city where he resides. He has
now one of the largest churches, and God has given him hundreds of souls. He only
needed fanned into flame. Is there no other brother here, who, hearing this earnest
word, will find it like a live coal from off the altar, touching his lips and moving him
to go forth and preach the word, and serve his Master according to his ability. We
must then, dear friends, fan ourselves into flame, because if we don’t, we may lose
the faculty, and rob ourselves of the power of usefulness. The knife which is not used
loses its edge, and the man who does not work for God loses much of his ability to do
so in the future.
5. I will give you another reason, and that is this. If we will only fan ourselves into
flame, beloved, or rather, if God’s Holy Spirit will fan us into flame, we, as a church
can expect some very great things.
I can hardly tell you how thankful I felt last Monday evening. I said on Sunday,
“The Elders and Deacons will meet to pray, and those of you who love souls and are
concerned about them are invited too, at six o’clock, Monday evening.” I was glad to
see many of you who I know love the Lord fervently, and through that warm prayer
meeting which we had before our more public gathering, we felt that we had laid
hold upon our God. I know there is a blessing coming; I am sure of it. The Lord is
with us. He never made his people agonize in secret, and join together publicly in
deep soul earnestness, without intending to bless them. We might as well fear when
the months are warm, that there will be no ripening of the wheat, as to say when
Christian’s hearts are warm towards God that there will be no conversions. It can’t
be. Saints that seek God’s blessings always cause sinners to seek God’s forgiveness
and salvation. If we ask God for sinners, sinners will soon ask for themselves. Up,
therefore; up, therefore, beloved! Arouse yourselves, for God is fanning us into

flames.
And remember, there will be great stirring of excitement in the future. Business will
all end; politics will be done with, and all the matters in which you are concerned
will be eternally closed. What a stir there will be on that day, for we will stand
before the Judgment Seat of Christ to give an account for what we did with our gifts
on earth in the church! What a stir about ourselves! What a stir about others we
had opportunity to reach for Christ! Where will they be? Will they be on the right
hand, or on the left? Will I see my children in heaven, or will they be cast into hell?
What a stir there will be about your husband or your wife! What a stir there will be
about your neighbors! Think of it! Think of it, I say, I must fan myself into flame
today! If they die as they are, they will be damned: they must be. They must sink
into hell! There is no hope of their escape if they die unsaved. What a stir there will
be throughout all the nations in that day! And, surely, if we look at it in the light of
eternity, in the light of that tremendous day when Christ returns; we will feel that
there is nothing worth living for except serving God; that the very core and center of
all life is to bring glory to God by bringing sinners to Jesus Christ. God grant you
may live as if you expected to die. We ought always to preach as though we would
step right out of the pulpit right into heaven, always to pray in that way; and always
to spend every day as if we didn’t have another day to spend. For this we need a lot
of the Holy Spirit’s power. But he rests upon his people. May he come and rest upon
us now, for Jesus Christ’s sake. Amen.
Added to Bible Bulletin Board's "Spurgeon Collection" by:
Tony Capoccia
Bible Bulletin Board
JACK HYLES
GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT
Before our Lord returned to Heaven, He told us that we would do the
same works after He left that He did while He was here. John 14:12,
"Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on Me, the works that I

do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I
go unto my Father." He then gave us what we call the Great
Commission. Matthew 28:19, 20, "Go ye therefore, and teach all
nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and the Son, and of
the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have
commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the
world. Amen."
It is obvious then that every believer is to do the work that Jesus did
while He was on earth. We are supposed to win folks to Christ, get them
baptized, and then we are to teach them how to win folks to Christ and
get them baptized. This is our task. Such a task, however, is very
involved. If we are going to baptize people, someone has to prepare the
baptistery or find a suitable place. Someone needs to get converts cared
for concerning proper clothing for baptism. As we go forward obeying
the command of our Lord, someone no doubt will become ill. They need
to be cared for. As we increase in numbers, there must be buildings. This
involves finances. Some must take care of the finances. Some must take
care of the buildings.
Realizing this, our Lord through His Holy Spirit, gives special gifts to
believers in order that the work of evangelizing might be done more
efficiently and effectively. Some of these gifts are listed in I Corinthians
12:8-10, 28, "For to one is given by the Spirit the word of knowledge by
the same Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts
of healing by the same Spirit; to another the working of miracles; to
another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers
kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues; and God hath
set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly
teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healing, helps, governments,
diversities of tongues." These gifts are not given as substitutes for soul
winning but rather as aids for soul winning. One of the soul winners, in
addition to his winning folks to Christ, is given a gift of helps. Another,
in addition to his soul winning, is given the gift of governments. Another,
in addition to his soul winning, is given the gift of healing. It should be
noted that soul winning is not one of the gifts. Soul winning is a

command given to all believers; whereas each Christian is given a gift or
different gifts in order that soul winning be done more effectively.
How sad it is when a Christian feels that his service for God is simply
the exercising of his gift! There is no need of the gift if there is not the
soul winning.
It must be noted that these gifts are given by grace. It is God Who
makes the decision concerning the distribution of the gifts. I
Corinthians 12:11, "But all these worketh that one and the selfsame
Spirit, dividing to every man severally AS HE WILL."
There are those who choose one of these gifts and insist that every
Christian is to have a particular gift. Some say that if a person does not
have one particular gift, he is not even a Christian. Others say that the
obtaining of one particular gift is an evidence of being filled with the
Holy Spirit, but even a casual look at the passages in I Corinthians 12
reveals to us that one is given one gift, another is given another gift, and
another is given another gift. For example, in verse 10 it says, "To
another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another
discerning of spirits," etc. It is obvious then that no one has all the gifts
and there is no gift that all have.
The Bible plainly teaches how ridiculous it would be to assume that all
would have the same gift. I Corinthians 12:17, "If the whole body were
an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were
the smelling?" It is also evident that each of us needs the gifts of the rest
of us. I Corinthians 12:14-16, "For the body is not one member, but
many. If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the
body; is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear shall say, Because I
am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?"
Our Lord established the New Testament church in order that the
Gospel of Christ might be propagated more effectively. In a church,
somebody plays the organ, somebody leads the choir, somebody cares
for the church business, somebody works in the PA room, somebody has
a special gift to pray for the sick, somebody has exceptional faith, etc.

All of these gifts simply oil the machinery so that soul winning might be
done more effectively. It is a sad condition when the gifts are substituted
for soul winning, leaving in a real sense little need for the gifts.
Many churches are encumbered by multitudes of unnecessary
committees who have been delegated responsibility of doing the work of
the various gifts. When these duties have been discharged, these
committees feel that they have done their work for the Lord, while an
unsaved world perishes without the Gospel. There are thousands of
churches all over this nation and all around the world who have
treasurers, finance committees, deacon boards, music committees,
Christian education committees, and even committees on committees
and yet there is not one soul winner to be found! These dear saints have
been deceived into believing that the using of their gifts is their main
service for God. So the well-oiled machinery works beautifully while
Hell enlarges herself. It is a sin; it is a shame; it is a crime that hundreds
of churches in America do not baptize one convert a year.
We have our choirs, we have our Sunday schools, we have our ladies
missionary groups, we even have our mission programs where we hire
people to do our soul winning for us in order that we may salve and
soothe our consciences. Even preachers feel that their pulpit work is the
discharging of their obligation of service for God. Our churches are
filled with deacons who never make an effort to tell anybody how to be
saved, with musicians who never win a soul to Christ, with committee
members chosen because they are wealthy or well-to-do in the
community who never lift a hand to obey the great commission. To
many of these affluent people, soul winning is left to a few of the old
ladies, some of the overly-zealous new Christians and others who are
not spiritual enough or learned enough to sit on committees and boards!
A good illustration is that of the fire department. Every fireman is hired
for one main purpose, and that is to fight fires. However, in the fire
station there are duties that must be performed. Suppose, for example,
one fireman is given the duty of sweeping the building. Another is given
the duty of cleaning the rest rooms. Another's gift is that of caring for

the paper work. Now these duties are not substitutes for the fire
fighting.
Suppose, for example, that there is a fire alarm. A building is burning!
Someone gives the signal to man the trucks. One man says, "I'm sorry; I
can't go.. My job is to sweep the building, and every time we come back
from a fire the building is filthy. The rest of you go ahead and fight
fires; I will stay here and sweep."
Another says, "I can't go either. I have noticed the rest rooms aren't real
clean, and I'm supposed to have them clean by noon every day. You
fellows go ahead; my job is to clean the rest rooms."
Another says, "I have some papers that must be filled out and mailed in
this afternoon. It is my job to care for the paper work, you know, and
besides fires are very messy and spectacular. I believe I would rather
stay here and do my paper work, and when I finish with that, I'll study
the history of the fire department."
"Absurd!" you say. Yes, it is absurd, but no more absurd or ridiculous
than for God's people to stay home from the battle administering their
gifts when the main job of every believer is that of winning folks to
Christ. While the world goes without the Gospel people are dying and
plunging into eternal torments, one stays home to perform miracles; the
other stays home to prophesy; another stays home to discern spirits;
another stays home to talk in some kind of a tongue; another stays home
to pray for the sick; another stays home to care for the church
government; another stays home to teach the Bible; another stays home
to prepare the baptistery.
Now the gifts are important, but they are important ONLY as they
improve our soul- winning work and help us to do the Lord's work
more efficiently so we can win more soul to Christ. It must be
emphasized again and again that the gifts are not given to some so that
they can make it easier for others to go soul winning; the gifts are given
to all so that ALL of us can make it easier for ALL OF US to go soul
winning and to do it decently and in order.

There are many who choose the most glamorous of the gifts and place
them in a position of importance above those gifts that are less exciting.
The Apostle reminds us that every gift is necessary. I Corinthians 12:22,
23, "Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be
more feeble, are necessary. And those members of the body, which we
think to be less honorable, upon these we bestow more abundant honor;
and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness."
A perfect illustration of the purpose of the gifts is given in Mark 16:15-
18, "And He said unto them, Go ye into all the world and preach the
gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be
saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. And these signs shall
follow them that believe; In My name shall they cast out devils; they
shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents; and if they
drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on
the sick, and they shall recover." You will notice the command in verse
15, "Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature."
In verse 17 notice the words, "follow them that believe." In verse 17 and
18 you will notice some of the things that follow those that believe: "In
My name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall
not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover."
The key word here is the word "follow."
This, of course, implies that someone is going somewhere. Until one is
going, he cannot be followed. Now where were these people going? The
answer is in verse 15. "Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel to
every creature." Now if we do not GO, these things do not FOLLOW.
The Scripture does not say, "These signs shall be with those that
believe." IT says, "These signs shall FOLLOW them that believe."
Consequently, the promises in verses 17 and 18 are only to those who
are soul winning. These things are aids to soul winning. God is not
admonishing us to pick up deadly serpents, not is He admonishing us to
go up and down the corridor of the hospital laying our hands on sick
folks, not is He admonishing us to speak glibly in some strange
language. He is promising us that when we go and obey the commission,

these things will follow us in order that they may help us while we get
out the Gospel.
God is saying that if, WHILE WE ARE SOUL WINNING, a serpent
bites us, God will intervene. He is saying that if, WHILE WE ARE
SOUL WINNING, someone tries to poison us, God will intervene. He is
teaching us that WHILE WE ARE SOUL WINNING we may come
across someone who cannot understand the language in which we speak.
This very thing happened on Pentecost. There were people there from
every nation under heaven who could not understand the language in
which Peter was preaching and with which the people were soul
winning. Acts 2:4-14, "And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and
began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
And they were dwelling at Jerusalem, Jews, devout men, out of every
nation under Heaven. Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude
came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard
them speak in his own language. And they were all amazed and
marveled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak
Galilaeans?
And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?
Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia,
and in Judaea, and Capadocia, in Pontus, and Asia, Phrygia, and
Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and
strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes, Cretes and Arabians, we do
hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God. And they
were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What
meaneth this? Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine. But
Peter, standing up with eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them,
Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known
unto you, and hearken to my words." Notice that this gift of tongues
was an aid to soul winning. It was not an end in itself to make the
Christian feel better or for self-edification for the saints. It was what all
the gifts are for; it was to make soul winning easier.
One Sunday morning here at the First Baptist Church of Hammond a

man came to the platform during the invitation time and said, "Pastor,
we have a Chinese lady here that we believe would get saved if someone
soul speak Chinese to her." I stopped the service and asked if anyone
could speak Chinese. No one could. I told the soul winner that I was
very sorry that no one in the crowd could speak Chinese. The invitation
was finished, the names were read, the converts were baptized and the
service was dismissed. This soul winner, who is a very fine, refined
young man, came up to me after the benediction with a face as white as
a ghost. He said, "Pastor, you won't believe what happened! I took the
Chinese lady to the back of the auditorium, sat down beside her on a
pew and told her, `I'm going to tell you how to be saved in English even
though you can't understand me.' The lady had a puzzled look on her
face, pointing to her ears, and shook her head from side to side in a
negative fashion."
When the soul winner started talking about the plan of salvation,
suddenly she brightened up, shook her head up an down affirmatively,
pointed to her ears and grinned. She was understanding! God was
giving her the ability to understand what the soul winner said! When
the soul winner asked her to bow her head, she did! As soon as she
received Christ, the man talked further, but she then shook her head
from side to side in a negative fashion, pointed to her ears and frowned.
She no longer could understand! Now this has never happened to me,
but I know the man to whom it happened, and he was as surprised as I
was and as the lady was. He did not seek the gift, but God miraculously
allowed that lady to understand him as he was speaking. On one other
occasion the same thing happened with a Vietnamese. This is exactly
what happened on Pentecost.
How tragic and how pitiful it is that so many have taken the gifts and
played with them as toys and even formed movements emphasizing the
gifts! When you are around these people, you can hardly start a
conversation without their bringing up one of the gifts. Usually it is one
of the more glamorous ones. For example, did you ever have anyone
come up to you and say, "Have you been baptized by the Holy Ghost as
evidenced by the gift of helps?" Of course not. Did anybody ever ask

you, "Do you believe in the gifts- especially the gift of government?" Of
course not. They are interested only in some kind of a movement that
emphasizes one or tow or three of these gifts at the expense of the others,
and all the while people are perishing and plunging toward a Christless
eternity without the Gospel!
Now practically, beloved Christian, let us face the issue in summary.
Each of us is to give himself to soul winning. Bow your head now and
promise God that you are going to obey the commission of our Lord,
that you are going to start telling folks how to be saved and leading folks
to Christ. Then, in your local New Testament church be faithful and
busy. Do not see, a certain gift, but ask God to show you where to serve,
and as He gives you a place of service, He will give you the gift to fulfill
that place of service, but do not accept any place of service unless it will
aid in the carrying out of the great commission-that of soul winning,
baptizing and teaching, training and growing Christians to be mature so
they can go soul winning, as we all together obey the command that God
has given us and as each of us uses what gifts God gives to us to aid all
of us in pointing people from an eternity without Christ to the glories of
salvation and eternal life.
There is a beautiful story in Genesis 24. Notice verses 1-4, "And
Abraham was old, and well stricken in age:; and the Lord had blessed
Abraham in all things. And Abraham said unto his eldest servant of his
house, that ruled over all that he had, Put, I pray thee, thy hand under
my thigh; and I will make thee swear by the Lord, the God of heaven,
and the God of the earth, that thou shalt not take a wife unto my son of
the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell: but thou shalt go
unto my country and to my kindred, and take a wife unto my son
Isaac."
In verse 2 Abraham is a beautiful type of God the Father. In verse 2 his
servant is a beautiful type of the Holy Spirit. In verse 3 the wife, which
was to be Rebekah, is a beautiful symbol of the bride of Christ, His
believers. In verse 3 the son is a beautiful type of the Lord Jesus. The
son in this case was Isaac. In verse 4 the country was a beautiful type of

the world.
Abraham (representing God the Father) sent his servant (representing
the Holy Spirit) back to his country (representing the world) to seek a
bride (representing believers) for his son Isaac (representing Jesus).
Here we have a beautiful picture of God the Father sending the Holy
Spirit to the world to choose a bride for the Lord Jesus. The Holy Spirit
does this as redeemed people are filled by this selfsame Holy Spirit and
go throughout the world proclaiming the Gospel of salvation through
faith in Christ.
Now notice that the one main supreme task of the servant was to get a
bride for his master's son. The one supreme task for the church and for
the believer is to be busy in getting a bride for the Lord Jesus. In other
words, our job is soul winning!
Now concerning the gifts, notice Genesis 24:22, "And it came to pass, as
the camels had done drinking, that the man took a golden earring of
half a shekel weight, and two bracelets for her hands of ten shekels
weight of gold." The servant gave gifts to Rebekah, but the gifts were
ONLY AIDS in helping to secure the bride. Abraham did not tell his
servant to go into the far country and give out earrings and bracelets.
Suppose when the servant returned to Abraham this would have
happened: Abraham asked him if he got the bride. The gifts were only
to make it easier to get the bride.
Our Father has sent us into this would to get a bride for His Son. In an
effort to help us get the bride, He has given each of us gifts that He has
chosen. These gifts are not to be used as ends in themselves but rather as
helps in getting the bride. Soul winning is the main business. The gifts
are to make soul winning more productive in order that we may present
our souls as trophies at the feet of our Saviour at the marriage of the
Lamb when the Bridegroom receives His bride.
The same thing is true concerning the FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT. Just as
the gifts of the Spirit are aids in getting the bride, so is the fruit of the
Spirit a manner of behavior that we are to have as we win souls. Bear in

mind, the purpose of it all is to get the bride! If the servant had gone to
the far country with an unkind disposition or with a sullen, discouraged
or hateful manner, he would not have been successful in getting
Rebekah to come to Isaac. No doubt he was kind. No doubt he had love,
joy peace, longsuffering, gentleness, kindness, etc. However he was not
commanded to go into the far country and be kind. He was commanded
to go into the far country to bet the bride. Being kind was simply the
manner and behavior that he was to have as he went about his mission.
The Holy Spirit is that servant. He goes into the far country working
through believers. As we are used by Him in the securing of the bride
for our Saviour, that is, soul winning. He gives us His fruit. Notice the
singular. These are not fruits, but one fruit! This fruit is in Galatians
5:22, 23, "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering,
gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is
not law." In other words, as we go soul winning, we are supposed to
have love. As we go soul winning, we are supposed to have joy. As we go
soul winning, we are supposed to have peace, longsuffering, gentleness,
goodness, faith, meekness and temperance. Again this, like the gifts of
the Spirit, is an aid to soul winning. A loving soul winner is a better soul
winner. A peaceful soul winner is a better soul winner. A patient soul
winner is a better soul winner. A gentle soul winner is a better soul
winner, etc.
Suppose this happened when the servant returned from the far country:
Abraham asked, "Did you get the bride for Isaac?" The servant said,
"No, but I had love." Abraham said, "But I did not send you into the far
country to have love; I sent you into the far country to get a bride, and
love was a tool in the securing of that bride!" Abraham asked again,
"Did you get the bride?" "No, but I had joy. I shouted, praised the Lord
and rolled the aisles while I was there!" Abraham said, "But I didn't
send you to the far country to shout and praise the Lord and roll in the
aisles. I sent you to get the bride."
One day every believer shall face his Lord. The Lord shall ask, "Where
are the souls?" Many believers will say, "I had love." The Lord will say,

"I didn't send you into the world to love. I sent you into the world to
win people to Christ, and you can win folks better with love." Many
believers will say, "But I had joy. I shouted, talked in tongues, joined the
charismatic movement, and hollered `Hallelujah' in a fundamental
Baptist church."
Then the Master shall say, "I didn't send you into the world to shout or
roll in the aisle or be happy. I sent you into the world to obey Me.
Happiness will help you obey Me better, and obeying Me will help you to
be happier. I sent you to get a bride."
Suppose a father sends his son to the grocery store to get some bread
and milk. As he leaves, the father says, "Son, don't forget now to behave
yourself while you are gone. I want you to be a good boy." After a while
the boy returns. The father asks, "Did you get the bread and milk?"
The boy says, "No, I didn't get the bread and milk, but I had love. I
hugged the butcher, kissed the baker, walked up and down the aisles of
the grocery store saying, `I love you, I love you, I love you.'" The father
asks, "But did you get the bread and milk?" The son replies, "No, but I
had joy. I shouted in he dairy department, and I hollered `Praise the
Lord' as I walked in the store. Everybody in that store said I was the
happiest boy who had ever been there." The father asks, "But did you
get the bread and milk?" "No, Dad, but I had peace. I stopped two
fights, prevented another, wore a peace symbol, carried a peace flag and
song "Peace in the Valley,' all the time I was in the store." The dad asks,
"But did you get the bread and milk?" "No," replies the boy, "but I had
longsuffering.
There were two lines waiting to get checked out. One line had 4 people;
one had 47, and I got in the long line. I waited for an hour to get
checked out, and all the time I quoted Scripture, `And let us not be
weary in well doing, for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.' In
fact, everybody was talking about how patient I was." The father asks,
"Son, did you get the bread and milk?" "No, but I was gentle. I helped
an old lady pick up some groceries that she dropped. I helped an old
man across the street. I kissed a little baby on the brow. Everybody was

talking about my gentleness." The father asks, "But son, did you get the
bread and milk?" "No, Dad, I didn't," he said, "but I was good. I read
my Bible all the way, and I prayed while I was coming back home. I
didn't drink or smoke or curse or go with the wrong crowd to the
grocery store. Daddy, they said I was one of the best boys who ever went
to that store."
The father asks, "But, son, did you get the bread and milk?" "No,"
replies the son, "but I had faith. I believed all the time I was going that I
would get there, and I believed all the time I was coming back that I
would get back. I believed the Word of God, and I had faith in God, and
I knew God would take care of me." The father asks, "But, son, did you
get the bread and milk?" "No, Dad, I didn't get the bread and milk, but
I was meek. In fact, I told people how great God was and how little I
am. I didn't boast. I even stopped a fellow in the store and confessed my
sins, I asked one of the stock boys to pray for me because I felt
unworthy to be there." The father asks, "But, did you get the bread and
the milk?" "No," says the son, "But I had temperance. Dad, I didn't
take a drink all the time I was gone. I was offered a bottle of whiskey; I
was offered a martini, a bloody many, a screwdriver and a bottle of beer,
but, Dad, I didn't take a drink of one.
Not only that, I was temperate in everything I did while I was on my
way to the store, while I was at the store, and while I came back." "But,
" asks the father, "did you get the bread and the milk?" "No," says the
son, "I didn't not get the bread and milk." The father says, "Son, you
have not been faithful. I did not send you to the store to love; I sent you
to get the bread and milk and be loving as you did. I did not send you to
the store to have joy; I sent you to the store to get bread and milk and
be happy as you did. I did not send you to the store to have joy; I sent
you to the store to promote peace; I sent you to the store to buy bread
and milk, and I wanted you to be peaceful as you did. I did not send you
to the store to be gentle; I sent you to the store to get bread and milk,
but I wanted you to be gentle as you purchased your merchandise.
I did not send you to the store to be good; I sent you to the store to get

bread and milk, and I wanted you to be good as you shopped. I did not
send you to the store to have faith; I sent you to the store to get bread
and milk, but I wanted you to have faith as you went. I did not send you
to the store to have meekness; I sent you to the store to get bread and
milk, but I wanted you to be meek as you went. I did not send you to the
store to be temperate; I sent you to the store to get bread and milk, and
I wanted you to be temperate as you went. Son, you are not a good son.
You have the fruit, but you did not obey my command."
One day we shall stand before God. The command of our Lord is clear
and plain. We are to do the works that Jesus did. John 14:12, "Verily,
verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on Me, the works that I do shall
he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto
My Father." Jesus came to seek and to save the lost. Luke 19:10 says,
"For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost."
We are commanded to go into all the work and preach the Gospel to
every creature. Mark 16:15, "And He said unto them, Go ye into all the
world and preach the Gospel to every creature." We are commanded to
go into the world and teach all nations. Matthew 28:19, "Go ye
therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the
Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost." However, as we go, God
has said, "I want to make it an effective ministry and an effective
endeavor, so I'm going to give gifts to My people so that the soul
winning job may be more efficient and more effective, and I'm going to
give you the fruit of the Spirit so that you may be loving, happy,
peaceful, gentle and patient as you go."
How sad we will be if we face our Lord having played with the gifts as
toys and having used the fruit without obeying the simple and yet direct
command of our Lord! It is our job to obey the command given in every
one of us and then to receive the gifts given to each one of us severally as
the Lord wills and to ask to Holy Spirit to go with us, imparting to us
the fruit of the Spirit, so that we may efficiently and graciously bring
back the bride so that one day we can lay the trophies of the souls that
we have son at the feet of Jesus and hear Him say, "Well done."

WALVOOARD
The Work of the Holy Spirit in Bestowing Spiritual Gifts
The church from the beginning has been plagued by two opposing
extremes in its doctrine of spiritual gifts. From the first, as the
Corinthian epistles bear witness, there was abuse of spiritual gifts. In
the course of the history of the church, excesses of the wildest kind are
found in relation to this doctrine. On the other hand, there has been an
appalling failure to appreciate the importance of spiritual gifts as
determining the ministry of the church and as being essential to all its
fruitfulness. The proper balance of doctrine is found in the Scriptures,
and excesses have been noteworthy in their neglect of what the
Scriptures actually teach. In the Scriptural revelation, certain facts are
of great importance. First, the nature of the gifts of the Holy Spirit must
be determined from the Scriptures. This at once distinguishes the true
from the false. Second, spiritual gifts which clearly abide throughout the
Christian dispensation must be examined and analyzed. Herein is
provided the gifts without which even saved men would find it
impossible to minister for God. Third, spiritual gifts as found in the
apostolic age must be studied to determine whether, indeed, they are
included in the program of God after the apostolic age. In other words,
were certain spiritual gifts temporarily given the apostles for specific
purposes which ceased to exist after their passing?
1. The Nature of Spiritual Gifts.
Something of the nature of spiritual gifts is revealed in the various
words used in the New Testament to express the idea. The chief passage
in the New Testament on the subject of gifts is found in 1 Corinthians
12-14. In the opening verse of the passage, the subject is introduced by
the word extraordinary powers, distinguishing certain Christians and
enabling them to serve the church of Christ, the reception of which is
due to the power of divine grace operating in their souls by the Holy
Spirit.”1 This word brings out the ground and nature of spiritual gifts.

They are bestowed in grace, are entirely undeserved, and their power
and operation is due to God alone. This thought is further emphasized
by the use of the verb ural powers of man, or even from any spiritual
qualities which are universal among the saved. Spiritual gifts by their
nature are individual and come from God.
A distinction may be observed in the New Testament between spiritual
gifts and gifted men. While the two ideas are inseparable, spiritual gifts
has reference to the supernatural powers possessed by individuals, while
gifted men has reference to the sovereign placing of gifted men in the
Church for the purpose of ministering to the body. While the principal
thought of 1 Corinthians 12-14 is that of spiritual gifts, we find
reference to the bestowal of gifted men on the Church in Ephesians 4:11.
The two ideas are not strictly separated as indicated by the references in
the Corinthian passage to both spiritual gifts and to gifted men. It may
be noted, however, that gifted men are normally a gift of Christ or of
God, while spiritual gifts are a work of the Third Person. The sphere of
spiritual gifts is peculiarly a doctrine of the Holy Spirit, and therefore is
the primary concern of the present study.
The principal word for spiritual gifts ( 2 Cor 1:11; 1 Tim 4:14; 2 Tim
1:6; 1 Pet 4:10). Most of these instances add little to the central passage
of 1 Corinthians 12-14. All except the one passage in Peter are found in
the Pauline epistles. A number of these instances do not have reference
to extraordinary powers evidenced in spiritual gifts proper. In Romans
5:15, 16, the gift in view is that of justification, while in Romans 6:23,
eternal life is the gift. The sovereign plan of God for each life, some to
marry, some not to marry, is referred to as a gift in 1 Corinthians 7:7.
The blessings of God in general as resulting from the prayers of God’s
people are spoken of as a gift in 2 Corinthians 1:11. In Romans 1:11,
Paul speaks of imparting a spiritual gift to the Romans, either in the
sense of a distinct blessing through his ministry, or in the specific sense
of imparting a special power, or a spiritual gift properly. The apostle
may have had extraordinary authority in this regard as indicated in the
impartation of a spiritual gift to Timothy (1 Tim 4:14; 2 Tim 1:6),
though the act of laying on of hands seems to have been in reality simply

a solemn recognition of spiritual gifts already imparted by God, and a
setting apart to their full exercise. In any case, there is no warrant to
believe that anyone has power to impart spiritual gifts except God in
post-apostolic times. The other references to spiritual gifts (Rom 12:6; 1
Cor 1:7; 12:4, 9, 28, 30, 31; 1 Pet 4:10) may be taken as reference to
spiritual gifts proper, extraordinary powers given by God as tokens of
His grace and the means by which the individual’s place in the ministry
of the body of Christ may be fulfilled.
Before turning to the discussion of the gifts themselves, certain general
factors relating to gifts may be mentioned. First, spiritual gifts are
revealed to be given sovereignly by God, and as such, they are not
properly the objects of men’s seeking. To the Corinthians, who were
exalting minor gifts to the neglect of more important gifts, Paul wrote,
“But covet earnestly the best gifts” (1 Cor 12:31), yet in his other
epistles it is clear from his silence on the subject that seeking spiritual
gifts is not a proper subject for exhortation. Because their bestowal is
sovereign, it follows that it is not a question of spirituality. A Christian
unyielded to the Lord may possess great spiritual gifts, while one
yielded may have relatively minor spiritual abilities. According to the
Scriptures, “All these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing
to every man severally as he will” (1 Cor 12:11). It remains true, of
course, that proper adjustment in the spiritual life of the believer is
essential to proper exercise of his gifts, but spirituality in itself does not
bring spiritual gifts.
The question has been raised whether spiritual gifts are a part of the
original bestowal of grace accompanying salvation, or whether they are
a subsequent work. The Scriptures give no clear answer, but from the
nature of the baptism of the Holy Spirit, which occurs at the moment of
new birth, and the resultant placing into the body of Christ, it would be
reasonable to infer that spiritual gifts are bestowed at that time in
keeping with the place of the believer in the body of Christ, even if these
gifts are not immediately observed or exercised. Accordingly, spiritual
gifts probably attend the baptism of the Holy Spirit, even though their
bestowal is not included in the act of baptism. In the analogy of natural

gifts as seen in the natural man, it is clear that all the factors of ability
and natural gift are latent in the new-born babe. So, also, it may be true
for spiritual gifts in the one born again. In both the natural and
spiritual spheres, it is a matter of proper use and development of gifts
rather than any additional gifts being bestowed.
Second, it may be observed that every Christian has some spiritual gifts.
According to the Scriptures, “The manifestation of the Spirit is given to
every man to profit withal” (1 Cor 12:7), and “All these worketh that
one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will”
(1 Cor 12:11). Christians are “members in particular” (1 Cor 12:27),
and “are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another”
(Rom 12:5). However small the gift, or insignificant the place, every
Christian is essential to the body of Christ. As the Scripture puts it,
“Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more
feeble, are necessary” (1 Cor 12:22). There is divine purpose in the life
of every Christian, and spiritual gifts are in keeping with that purpose.
It is the challenge of the Scriptures on this subject (cf. 1 Pet 4:10) that
every Christian fulfill the ministry for which he has been equipped by
God.
Third, it is clear that gifts differ in value. While there is equality of
privilege in Christian faith, there is not equality of gift. According to 1
Corinthians 12:28, “God hath set some in the church, first apostles,
secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of
hearings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.” In the nature of
the various gifts, some are more effective and essential than others. Paul
contrasts the gift of prophecy and the gift of tongues with the words, “I
would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied” (1
Cor 14:5); and again, “Yet in the church I had rather speak five words
with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than
ten thousand words in an unknown tongue” (1 Cor 14:19).
Fourth, as 1 Corinthians 13 bears witness, spiritual gifts to be profitable
must be used in love. Spiritual gifts in themselves do not make great
Christians. Their use in the proper way motivated by divine love, which

is the fruit of the Spirit, is effective and bears fruit to the glory of God.
A fifth general feature of spiritual gifts is that certain gifts were
temporary in their bestowal and use. It is clear that the great body of
Bible-loving Christians does not have all the spiritual gifts manifested in
its midst as did the early apostolic church. On the other hand, certain
gifts clearly characterize the entire present dispensation. The
considerations leading to the classification of each gift will be noted in
its individual treatment.
A sixth and concluding feature of spiritual gifts which is of great
importance is the evident contrast between spiritual gifts and natural
gifts. While God may choose men of natural ability, it is clear that
spiritual gifts pertain to the spiritual birth of Christians rather than
their natural birth. The qualities of the spiritual gifts are not evident in
the individual before his salvation. The spiritual gifts pertain to his new
nature rather than his old. Spiritual gift must not be regarded, then, as
an enlargement of natural powers, but a supernatural gift bestowed in
keeping with the purpose of God in placing that individual in the body
of Christ. It may be frequently observed that individuals with little
natural talent are often used mightily of God when those with great
natural talent, though saved, are never similarly used. The spiritual gift
is not, then, a demonstration of what man can do even under favorable
circumstances, but rather it reveals what God can bestow in grace.
2. Permanent Spiritual Gifts.
An examination of the fifteen spiritual gifts revealed in the New
Testament will disclose considerable differences in the character of the
gifts. Certain gifts are clearly the possession of the Church today as
exhibited in their exercise in gifted men throughout the present
dispensation. There is little doubt that some men today have (1) the gift
of teaching, (2) the gift of helping or ministering, (3) the gift of
administration or ruling, (4) the gift of evangelism, (5) the gift of being a
pastor, (6) the gift of exhortation, (7) the gift of giving, and (8) the gift of
showing mercy. In contrast to these, as their individual exposition will

demonstrate, stand other spiritual gifts known by the early Christians,
which seem to have passed from the scene with the apostolic period.
Some of these are claimed for today by certain sects, whose neglect of
the Scriptural instructions for use of these gifts is in itself a testimony to
the spurious quality of their affected gifts. Among these temporary gifts
the following can be named: (1) the gift of apostleship, (2) the gift of
prophecy, (3) the gift of miracles, (4) the gift of healing, (5) the gift of
tongues, (6) the gift of interpreting tongues, (7) the gift of discerning
spirits. The purpose of the present discussion is to examine, first, the
spiritual gifts admitted by all as the possession of various gifted men
throughout the present dispensation, leaving the treatment of the
controversial aspects of the doctrine for the discussion to follow.
a. The Gift of Teaching.
The gift of teaching is mentioned specifically a number of times in the
New Testament (Rom 12:7; 1 Cor 12:28; Eph 4:11), and it must be
considered as one of the major gifts. The foundational character of a
teaching ministry is demonstrated in the activities of the apostles. Their
principal work was teaching the new-born Christians who had been
saved from their heathen estate. The teaching gift consisted in a
supernatural ability to explain and apply the truths which had been
already received by the Church. As such it is related to, but not identical
with, illumination, which is a divinely-wrought understanding of the
truth. Obviously, many Christians are taught of the Spirit, but they do
not possess the ability to teach what they know to others as effectively as
those who possess the gift of teaching. The teaching gift does not claim
any superior knowledge of the truth necessarily, and is distinct from the
prophetic gift, in which the prophet speaks as the mouthpiece of God.
The teacher must understand the truth and be taught by the Spirit, but
the gift of teaching concerns the explanation and application of the
truth rather than the method by which the truth was originally received.
In the present day, the gift of teaching is exclusively that of teaching the
Word of God by means of divinely-wrought ability.
b. The Gift of Ministering.

A gift possessed universally among Christians, though varying in its
qualities, is the gift of ministering or helping (Rom 12:7; 1 Cor 12:28). It
is difficult to imagine any Christian who does not possess some ability to
minister or help in spiritual things. While to other few is committed the
gifts of teaching and leadership, all Christians are able to minister and
help. While this ability is universal, it remains a gift sovereignly
bestowed according to each individual’s place in the body of Christ. The
distinctions within the gift are many, different individuals being able to
minister in different ways, thereby retaining a peculiar quality to the
gift according to the purpose of God in its bestowal. The task of the
Church would be impossible apart from the gift and its exercise,
however greatly endowed might be its leaders.
c. The Gift of Administration.
Necessary to the work of the Church is the leadership given to it by
God. In keeping with this need, the gift of administration and ruling is
sovereignly bestowed upon a few (Rom 12:8; 1 Cor 12:28). It is clear
that all Christians are on the same level of privilege in spiritual things,
but in the providence of God some are given places of greater authority.
To those possessing the gifts of administration and ruling all Christians
should give proper heed, being exhorted to observe such gifts and honor
them by obedience (Heb 13:7).
d. The Gift of Evangelism.
Of primary importance in propagating the Gospel is the gift of
evangelism (Eph 4:11). By its title, it is clear that this gift has reference
to effective preaching of the Gospel message to the unsaved, and as such
it is to be compared to the teaching gift which gives instruction to the
saved. It is clear, experimentally, that knowledge of the Gospel does not
bring with it the ability to preach it with success to others. Men may
possess the gift of teaching, for instance, without possessing the gift of
evangelism, and vice versa. In some cases, men have possessed both the
gift of teaching and of evangelism, as illustrated in the person of the
Apostle Paul. While all are called to bring the Gospel to the lost by

whatever means may be at their disposal, and accordingly, like Timothy,
should do the work of an evangelist (2 Tim 4:5), it is the sovereign
purpose of God that certain men should have a special gift in
evangelism.
e. The Gift of Being a Pastor.
The general care of the Christian flock is the work of a pastor, and to
this end some are given the gift of being a pastor (Eph 4:11). By its very
title, it compares to the work of a shepherd caring for his sheep, the
word pastors being the translation of res for his flock. As in the natural
figure, no small skill is required to care for the flock properly, so in the
spiritual reality a pastor needs a supernatural gift to be to his flock all
that a pastor should.
An interesting light on the character of a true pastor’s work is afforded
by the close connection between pastoral work and teaching.
In Ephesians 4:11, the use of remendous significance. While it is not
necessary for a teacher to have all the qualities of a pastor, it is vital to
the work of a true pastor that he teach his flock. It is obvious that a
shepherd who did not feed his flock would not be worthy of the name.
Likewise in the spiritual realm the first duty of a pastor is to feed his
flock on the Word of God. Quite apart from being merely an organizer,
promoter or social leader, the true pastor gives himself to preaching the
Word.
f. The Gift of Exhortation.
As a part of the work of preaching, exhortation fills an important place.
Differing from teaching in that it is an appeal for action, exhortation is
ever the practical aspect of a preaching ministry. Some are given special
gift in this work, enabling them to lead Christians into the active
realization of the will of God. The Greek word translated exhort (Rom
12:8), rtation.
g. The Gift of Giving.

While the gift of giving borders on the graces which are found
universally in all Spirit-filled believers, it has a definite place in the list
of spiritual gifts revealed in Romans 12:8, having in view the proper use
of temporal means in relation to others. While exercised to some degree
by all Christians, and its manifestation is connected somewhat with
ability to give, it may be observed as a distinct spiritual gift in some
Christians, who demonstrate in the superlative the quality of
committing earthly possessions to the Lord for His use.
h. The Gift of Showing Mercy.
The concluding gift revealed in the series of gifts mentioned in Romans
12 is the gift of showing mercy (Rom 12:8). While the gift of giving had
in view the poor and needy in respect to temporal needs, this gift is
related to the sick and afflicted and any other who might fall within the
sphere of needing succor. In dealing with such, some Christians are
given special ability to show mercy with cheerfulness. The unusual
Greek word here for cheerfulness, ning propitious.3 It is this attitude
which is divinely-wrought of the Spirit in some Christians, and these
may be said to possess this gift.
3. Temporary Spiritual Gifts.
It is clear from a comparison of present-day Christian experience to
that of the apostolic age that certain evident contrasts exist. While the
Gospel remains unchanged, and many of God’s methods of dealing with
His own continue throughout the present dispensation, certain factors
disappeared with the passing of the apostles and their generation.
Different explanations have been offered to account for this. No doubt
the church as a whole has drifted from its moorings and is unworthy of
the same display of spiritual power. In every generation, however, there
has been a faithful remnant of saints true to God, and to these God can
continue to reveal Himself in fullness, but even those who have
remained close to apostolic doctrine have failed to evidence the same
outward phenomena.
The best explanation of the passing of certain gifts and their

manifestation is found in the evident purpose of God in the apostolic
age. During the lifetime of the apostles, it pleased God to perform many
notable miracles, in some cases quite apart from the question of whether
the benefit was deserved. A period of miracles is always a time when
special testimony is needed to the authenticity of God’s prophets. Three
notable periods of miracles are recorded in the Bible as history: (1) the
period of Moses; (2) the period of Elijah and Elisha; (3) the period of
Christ and the apostles. In each of these periods there was need of
evidence to authenticate the message of God. In the case of Moses, the
miracles performed witnessed to his office as prophet and leader,
causing the people to accept his messages as from God. In the time of
apostasy and declension under Elijah and Elisha, there was need for
unusual witness to the power of God to call a people back to Himself,
especially in lieu of priests who were true to God. In the time of Christ,
again there is special need for miracles to witness to His Person, to give
the proper credentials for the Messiah, and in the case of the apostles, to
demonstrate that their Gospel was a message from God. An unusual
display of miracles is, therefore, not an ordinary feature of each
generation, to be called down at will even by the godly, but is rather
articulated in the purpose of God for its value in promotion of His truth.
With the completion of the New Testament, and its almost universal
acceptance by those true to God, the need for further unusual display of
miraculous works ceased. The preacher of today does not need the
outward evidence of ability to heal or speak with tongues to substantiate
the validity of his Gospel. Rather, the written Word speaks for itself, and
is attended by the convicting power of the Spirit. It is not a question of
the power of God to perform miracles, but simply whether it is His
purpose to continue the same form of manifestation of divine power as
seen in the apostolic times. Certain sects have clung to the idea that the
unusual features of the apostolic age will be reproduced in any age
where people truly seek them in faith from God. It is evident, however,
that some of the most godly people of recent generations have been
entirely without the spiritual gifts which are here classed as temporary.
It is evident, also, that some who have claimed these temporary gifts in

the present day have evidenced a gross indifference to the Bible as a
whole, to Christian morality, and to the higher claims of a spiritual life.
The history of these sects is most convincing in demonstrating that the
undue seeking of spiritual gifts results only in excesses of the most
unholy kind.
It is impossible in the nature of the case for anyone to cover the whole
realm of Christian experience. Not only in the realm of spiritual gifts
but also in other fields of doctrine there has been a constant parade of
those who justify doctrines on the basis of varied experiences. The final
test must always be what the Scriptures actually teach. Experience may
serve as a partial test of the conclusions, but in itself the Bible must be
taken as the final authority. Experience ever possesses two fatal grounds
for error: (1) a misapprehension of the experience itself in its content
and divine origin; (2) a faulty conclusion as to the doctrinal meaning of
the experience. Hence, on the one hand, an experience supposedly of
divine origin may be purely psychological, or worse, a deceiving device
of Satan himself. On the other hand, a genuine experience may be
misunderstood and mislabeled, as the common denomination of the
work of the filling of the Spirit as the baptism of the Spirit. The
Christian seeking the truth must come in all humility and dependence
on the Spirit to the Word of God, relying on its teachings implicitly,
avoiding even by undue emphasis any warping of the truth.
a. The Gift of Apostleship.
The word apostle, a translation of the Greek er (after Lightfoot) it is
used 79 times in the New Testament, with 68 of these instances in Luke,
Acts, or the epistles of Paul.5 Its first use in the New Testament is found
in the sending of the twelve to preach the imminency of the Kingdom
(Matt 10:2; Mark 3:14; 6:30; Luke 6:13). Among those called to the
office of apostle was Paul (Rom 1:1; 1 Cor 1:1, etc.), Barnabas (Acts
14:14; cf. Gal 2:9); Matthias (Acts 1:25, 26); and possibly James (1 Cor
15:7; Gal 1:19; and Apollos (1 Cor 4:6, 9). To these some have added
Silvanus and Timothy (1 Thess 1:1; 2:6); Epaphroditus (Phil 2:25, cf.
Greek and A.S.V. margin); the unnamed brethren (2 Cor 8:23, cf.

Greek); and Andronicus and Junia (Rom 16:7). of imparting the Spirit
to Jewish-Christian believers; a new relation, that of foundation stones
of the new temple (Eph. 2.20-22); and a new function, that of preaching
the glad tidings of salvation through a crucified and risen Lord to Jew
and Gentile alike. (7) The indispensable qualification of an apostle was
that he should have been an eye-witness of the resurrection (Acts 1.22; 1
Cor. 9.1).”8
In view of the distinct nature of the apostolic office, it is designated a gift
in the New Testament (1 Cor 12:28; Eph 4:11). It is expressly declared to
be the most important gift (1 Cor 12:28), in that “God hath set some in
the church, first apostles...” Apostles are distinguished from prophets,
teachers, workers of miracles, etc. (1 Cor 12:28). It is clear, then, that
the apostolic gift is given only to those who are apostles in the strict
sense of the word. As Scofield indicates, as quoted above, the work of
the apostles prior to Pentecost and after Pentecost must be
distinguished. The work prior to Pentecost was chiefly in announcing
the kingdom as at hand. During the period immediately following
Pentecost, they were leaders in introducing the Gospel of salvation,
having a divine commission and authority in this leadership, and given
special revelation as the foundation of their teaching. The apostles in
most instances had also the prophetic gift, and the gift of working
miracles (2 Cor 12:12), though not all who had these gifts were apostles.
The apostolic office died with the first generation of Christians, there
being no provision for successors, nor have there been in the history of
the church any who could stand with the apostles. The fact that apostles
were chosen from those who were eyewitnesses of the resurrected Christ
in the nature of the case eliminates any possibility of later generations
participating in the call to apostleship. The inventions of the Roman
church in the attempt to continue the apostolic office have been often
refuted.
b. The Gift of Prophecy.
Classed second in importance in the list of spiritual gifts is the gift of
prophecy (1 Cor 12:28). The importance of this gift is attested by

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